Leap Years (2001–2002)

I guess any show that depicts minorities runs the risk of stereotyping, but I think compared to other portrayal of minorities in the media, Leap Years is leap years ahead. I mean, consider wildly popular The Sopranos and Will & Grace and their respective portrayal of Italian Americans and gays. Or the portrayal of minorities on Sex in the City. Oh wait - they're all white because we know what a white town New York is.

I for one am glad that the black and hispanic characters are NOT portrayed as poor or lazy, but rather middle class, hard working and well educated. And the gay guy is not THAT arty. He writes screenplays, but he also becomes a therapist, and has a policeman boyfriend. It's not like he's an effeminate sounding interior decorator. And Athena is a diva performer, but she's also likable (at least I think so).

In fact, I find all of the characters intensely more likable and the format more original than the insipid characters and constant babble about vaginas/orgasms/breasts on Sex in the City. (No one is as annoying as Sarah Jessica Parker!). Or yet another mafia/lawyer/hospital show.

The characters are intellectual - I like that. The women don't act like they found their personal philosophies watching Maybelline commercials and Cosmo articles, and the guys aren't the product of NFL promos and Playboy.