TV dramas that feature strong female leads continue to be popular this fall. First up is Madam Secretary where CBS is hoping to strike lightning twice having the new show be the lead in the award-winning The Good Wife. As with many other pilots, the producers crammed a lot into the first episode in an attempt to introduce us every character. The end result is an un-even performance with good potential to improve.

Téa Leoni, known more for her comedy work rather than drama, plays the Elizabeth McCord, the former college professor and CIA analyst who becomes the Secretary of State when her predecessor dies suspiciously. Leoni is fairly stiff in the role, but she does get to say a few zingers here and there. McCord is married to the seemingly perfect Henry (Tim Daly), a religion professor. The pair has two teenagers, Alison (Kathrine Herzer) who is obviously hiding something and Jason (Evan row). The family has amazingly made the difficult adjustment to a new life and neighborhood with very little problems. Everyone is super cheery and Leoni and Daly do have a good rapport, but it doesn’t seem real. However, it is nice to a see functional family and marriage thriving on network television. Though, they do call these types of shows dramas for a reason, so don’t be surprised if one of the children gets hooked on drugs or if there is an extra-marital affair. With that said, it would be great if this family could be used as a good example on what to do when things get tough.

Back in the oval office, McCord doesn’t fit the mold of a person in this role. She is unorthodox in her approach and ruffles feathers here and there, especially toward her superior, Russell Jackson (Željko Ivanek) who tries to block her access to the president. The best part of the show, and too little I might add, is the return of Bebe Neuwirth as the Chief of Staff, Nadine Tolliver. (Neuwirth played that part of Lilith Crane on both Cheers and Frasier TV series.) The best line of the night comes from her: “Operation stupid children.” The rest of the cast, speechwriter Matt Mahoney (Geoffrey Arend), press coordinator Daisy Grant (Patina Miller) and assistant, Blake Moran (Erich Bergen) are nothing special.

Madam Secretary airs on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on CBS. If you missed the first episode, you can watch it online here.