Good Girls Revolt; a series worth saving
A series with a strong female ensemble cast that tells the story of the women who sued Newsweek for sex discrimination in the 70's; Good Girls Revolt seemed like the perfect show to bring to the sceen this year. But early December, a little over a month after season one was released, Amazon decided to cancel the series, to the dismay of many female viewers.
Based on the bestseller with the same name by Lynn Povich, a former researcher at Newsweek, Good Girls Revolt is the fictionalized version of what happened at the magazine (in the show called News of the Week) when the female fact checkers/researchers decided they wanted the opportunity to become writers and stood in solidarity to fight for this right. The feminist drama series created by Dana Calvo was loved by women, but did not get the same support from Amazon.
In a year where women, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, were responsible for some of the most powerful films and television (Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women, Ava DuVernay's 13th & Natalie Portman in Jackie, to name a few), you'd think keeping a show like Good Girls Revolt around would be an obvious choice. Despite the show's high ratings, an unparalleled following of women between 18-49, and the ability to drive customers from the entertainment section to the commerce section, Amazon passed on a second season.
It brings up the question 'Why was Good Girls Revolt cancelled?' If you ask Amazon executive Joe Lewis, it's because the series didn't do that well after all: "The show wasn’t performing at the levels we had hoped for—either in total viewership or completion rates." Something that creator Calvo questions. She told The Hollywood Reporter she felt that Amazon head Roy Price wasn't a fan of the show, which became apparent while she was pitching the second season to him. Price didn't even know the show's characters Calvo was referring to.
No women were included in the decision to cancel Good Girls Revolt. Which makes it understandable why Calvo told THR: "They run some people out". What is evident is that it's not the men that Amazon is getting rid of. The company has hugely invested in shows by Woody Allen, Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner and a two season order of David O. Russell's upcoming drama. One of the GGR leads, Genevieve Angelson (who portrays the free-spirited Patti Robinson), voiced a poignant truth, Tweeting '.@Amazon I dunno what to tell women, scared of their own president, who asked why you cancelled a hit feminist show 30 days in. What do I say?'
Soon after the cancellation (which came in the wake of Clinton losing the election) the hashtag #SaveGoodGirlsRevolt was brought to life and is used by women who are rallying to give the show a second chance. Sony Pictures Television seems to agree with that sentiment, as it is currently shopping the show to other outlets.
Sure, the period piece isn't perfect, but despite minor growing-pains, the show delivers with its dynamic characters and compelling storytelling. Most importantly, it addresses issues like equality and opportunities for women in the workplace that still resonate today. In this current political climate, it's vital for women's voices to be heard and their struggles to be taken seriously, and not (as so perfectly portrayed in Good Girls Revolt) to be silenced or dismissed.
To help save Good Girls Revolt, you can sign the petition here.