Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters : 600 Characters and Shows, 1950s to the Present

From Emma Peel with her “kinky boots” to Amanda King and her poppy seed cake, from Julie Barnes with her hippie pad to Honey West and her pet ocelot, television’s female spies and crimefighters leave an indelible impression, but there hasn’t been a reference work devoted to them until now. Television’s Female Spies and Crimefighters: 600 Characters and Shows, 1950s to the Present covers television series which feature female spies, private investigators, amateur sleuths, police detectives, federal agents and crime-fighting superheroes as lead or noteworthy characters. The focus is on live-action shows which aired in the United States on network TV, cable, or in syndication, wherever produced, from television’s inception through August 2014. For series which aired fewer than 25 episodes in the U.S., the coverage is selective, emphasizing shows with distinctive female lead characters.Every show in the book receives at least one entry under series title, arranged alphabetically, and the listing includes the range of years in production, number of episodes, and country of origin. Under the title is a listing of series credits, including creator, production company, original U.S. network, and main cast, followed by a synopsis of the series, covering notable plot points, important or fun facts, and sometimes critical commentary. Among those plot points, facts, and critical comments, the occasional spoiler creeps in, so readers using the book as a viewer’s guide should consider this a universal spoiler alert.Female characters whose names are highlighted in bold within the title entry also have entries under their own names (last name first) to provide more in-depth coverage, while female characters not receiving separate entries are listed with a cross-reference to the series title. Thus, readers are able to reference characters by either series title or the character’s name. Emma Peel wearing her "kinky boots." Amanda King and her poppy seed cake. Julie Barnes at her hippie pad. Honey West with her pet ocelot. Television's female spies and crimefighters make quite an impression, yet there hasn't been a reference book devoted to them until now. This encyclopedic work covers 350 female spies, private investigators, amateur sleuths, police detectives, federal agents and crime-fighting superheroes who have appeared in more than 250 series since the 1950s, with an emphasis on lead or noteworthy characters. Entries are alphabetical by series, featuring credits and synopses, notable plot points, interesting facts and critical commentary on seminal series and characters. A brief history of female spies and crimefighters on TV places them in chronological perspective and sociological context. "Television's female spies and crime fighters make quite an impression, yet there hasn't been a reference book devoted to them until now. This work covers 350 female spies, private investigators, amateur sleuths, police detectives, federal agents and crime fighting superheroes who have appeared in over 250 series since the 1950s, with emphasis on lead or noteworthy characters"-- Provided by publisher