The 12 Best TV Shows About Magazines
The boss asked me to compile a list of TV shows about magazines or are at least magazine-adjacent. So using an intricate, research-based methodology conferred upon me by my college education (Google), I have done so. By Ali Dening
Behind the cover of every glossy magazine lies the glamorous, chaotic, and sometimes cutthroat world of magazine publishing. Whether we’re following a scepter-wielding editor as she chases the perfect story, or a budding journalist as he navigates office politics, it’s clear: the true vitality of a magazine comes from the people who stitch together its pages. In these eleven shows you’ll find ambition, competition, comedy, romance and more. Let the publishing world be a mystery no more. Grab your red pen and take a peek behind the cover!
Note: ratings are pulled from IMDb. In the event of a tie, the title with more ratings wins.
1. The Bold Type (2017-2021)
Synopsis: A glimpse into the outrageous lives and loves of those responsible for a global women's magazine.
Stars: Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy
Score: 7.8/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 25k
Magazine connection: Three best friends work for Scarlet, a fictional global women's magazine.
2. Minx (2022-2023)
Synopsis: In 1970s Los Angeles, an earnest young feminist joins forces with a low-rent publisher to create the first erotic magazine for women.
Stars: Ophelia Lovibond, Jessica Lowe, Oscar Montoya
Score: 7.6/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 13k
Magazine connection: The story follows the editor of Minx, a women’s porn magazine.
3. The Name of the Game (1968-1971)
Synopsis: Sandy, a young woman in the research dept of Howard Publications has wild romantic daydreams about her boss Glenn Howard that confuse her sense of reality, hampering Howard in an investigation.
Stars: Gene Barry, Susan Saint James, Robert Stack.
Score: 7.6/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 23k
Magazine connection: The show is about three characters who work at Howard Publications, a large magazine publishing company.
4. Sex & the City (1998-2004)
Synopsis: Four female New Yorkers gossip about their sex lives (or lack thereof) and find new ways to deal with being a woman in the late 1990s.
Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis.
Score: 7.3/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 151k
Magazine connection: Carrie Bradshaw writes a column called Sex and the City for a fictional newspaper called The New York Star.
5. Just Shoot Me (1997-2003)
Synopsis: Hot-tempered journalist Maya got herself fired yet again. Unable to find a job anywhere else and facing eviction, she is forced to go work for Blush, her father's fashion magazine.
Stars: Laura San Giacomo, Enrico Colantoni, George Segal.
Score: 6.9/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 23k
Magazine connection: The show is set in the office of a fictional fashion magazine called Blush, comparable to the real-life magazine Vogue.
6. Dirt (2007-2008)
Synopsis: A tabloid editor and her photographer try to make their way in the world of celebrity journalism.
Stars: Courteney Cox, Ian Hart, Josh Stewart
Score: 6.9/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 7.2k
Magazine connection: The magazine featured in the TV show Dirt is called DirtNow. It's a fictional glossy tabloid magazine in Los Angeles.
7. Anything But Love (1989-1992)
Synopsis: Coworkers at a Chicago magazine, with a mutual romantic attraction, struggle to keep their relationship strictly professional.
Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Richard Lewis, Richard Frank.
Score: 6.9/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 582
Magazine connection: In the first episode, the protagonist returns from vacation to find that her magazine has been taken over by new owners, becoming a weekly publication and rebranding as The Chicago Weekly.
8. Playboy After Dark (1969-1970)
Synopsis: Hugh Hefner hosts a party at his home with celebrity guests.
Stars: Hugh Hefner, Nanci Roberts, Chris Cranston.
Score: 6.9/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 125
Magazine connection: The show is a televised representation of the lifestyle and content associated with the Playboy brand, including its iconic magazine.
9. Ugly Betty (2006-2010)
Synopsis: Smart but wholesome Betty embraces her unique appearance and independent attitude in the cutthroat world of New York fashion.
Stars: America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Tony Plana.
Score: 6.8/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 49k
Magazine connection: Betty Suarez lands her first job as the assistant to the editor-in-chief at MODE magazine, a fiction fashion magazine.
10. The Naked Truth (1995-1998)
Synopsis: A respected photojournalist loses everything and ends up taking a job at a sleazy celebrity tabloid.
Stars: Téa Leoni, Holland Taylor, Mark Roberts.
Score: 6.8/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 1.1k
Magazine connection: The show is about the staff at The Comet magazine and their romantic lives.
11. Ladies’ Man (1999-2001)
Synopsis: High-end custom furniture-maker Jimmy is trying to raise Wendy, the smart yet manipulative daughter he has with his wife Donna, and Bonnie.
Stars: Alfred Molina, Sharon Lawrence, Betty White.
Score: 6.3/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 181
Magazine connection: The show is about a divorced father who works as a feature writer at a magazine called Women’s Life.
12. Suddenly Susan (1996-2000)
Synopsis: Jack owns a magazine and is Susan's former brother-in-law. After she is left without her fiancé on her wedding day, Jack agrees to take her back to the magazine.
Stars: Brooke Shields, Judd Nelson, Kathy Griffin.
Score: 5.9/10
Number of IMDb ratings: 3.5k
Magazine connection: Susan writes a regular column about being suddenly single for a fictional magazine called The Gate.
SYNOPSES & SCORES ©IMDb
