Jane Fonda doesn't just "do" television. She conquers it. Honestly, if you look at her trajectory, it’s kinda wild how she transitioned from being a 1960s "sex kitten" in Barbarella to a workout mogul, then a two-time Oscar winner, and finally, the queen of the streaming era. But when people talk about the jane fonda tv show, they aren't usually referring to her guest spot on The Simpsons or her brief, albeit brilliant, turn as Leona Lansing in The Newsroom. They mean the behemoth. They mean Grace and Frankie.
It’s been a few years since the original series wrapped its 94-episode run on Netflix, making it the longest-running original series in the platform's history. That’s no small feat. Think about the "Netflix Curse" where shows usually die after season three. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin basically laughed in the face of that trend.
What People Get Wrong About Grace and Frankie
Many people assume the show was just a "golden girls" reboot for the 2010s. It wasn't. It was much grittier than that, underneath the beach house aesthetics and the martinis.
The premise was simple but devastating: two women in their 70s find out their husbands—divorce lawyers who have been partners for decades—are actually in love with each other. They aren't just leaving; they’re getting married.
Grace Hanson, played by Fonda, is a retired cosmetics mogul. She’s sharp, stiff, and honestly, a bit of a snob at first. Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin) is her polar opposite—a painting, sage-burning hippie. In the beginning, they can’t stand each other. But the show isn't really about the husbands, Robert and Sol. It’s about the slow-burn, messy, and deeply loyal friendship that forms when your entire life turns into a pile of ash.
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The Impact on Aging and Visibility
Before this jane fonda tv show hit screens in 2015, how many series featured women over 70 as lead characters with active sex lives, business ambitions, and genuine agency? Not many.
The show tackled things people usually whisper about.
- Arthritis.
- The indignity of not being able to reach a heavy jar on a high shelf.
- Starting a vibrator company specifically designed for older women (The "Menopause" project).
- The fear of being sent to an "assisted living" facility against your will.
It was revolutionary because it didn't treat these things as tragedies. They were just... life. Sorta like how we deal with a flat tire. It sucks, you fix it, you keep driving. Jane Fonda’s portrayal of Grace was especially nuanced. She showed the vulnerability behind the plastic surgery and the perfect hair. By season seven, Grace is a different person than the one we met in the pilot. She’s softer, but somehow tougher.
The "New Beginnings" Buzz in 2026
If you've been on social media lately, you've probably seen those "Grace and Frankie: New Beginnings" trailers floating around. It's got the internet in a bit of a tizzy. While the original series ended in 2022, the demand for more hasn't cooled off. People miss the chemistry.
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There's something about the way Fonda and Tomlin play off each other. It’s effortless. They’ve been friends for over 40 years in real life, ever since 9 to 5, and you can’t fake that kind of shorthand.
Why the Show Was Actually Canceled
Success doesn't always mean a show goes on forever. Jane Fonda recently shared some insights into why the series ended when it did. It wasn't because of low ratings—the show was still pulling massive numbers.
Basically, it came down to storytelling and the "Netflix model." Seven seasons is a massive run for any streamer. The creators, Marta Kauffman (the mind behind Friends) and Howard J. Morris, felt that the character arcs had reached a natural conclusion. Grace and Frankie had found themselves. Their ex-husbands had found their peace. The kids—Brianna, Mallory, Bud, and Coyote—had finally (mostly) grown up.
Ending on a high note is better than dragging it out until everyone is tired of it. Still, the legacy of this jane fonda tv show continues to influence how Hollywood views "older" actors. We're seeing more shows now that don't just use seniors as the punchline of a joke.
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Beyond Grace: Jane's Other TV Hits
We can't ignore The Newsroom. Fonda played the CEO of a major media conglomerate, and she was terrifying. She’d walk into a room and everyone would stop breathing. It was a masterclass in power. She also voiced Shuriki in Elena of Avalor, which is a fun bit of trivia if you have kids or grandkids.
But Grace and Frankie remains the crown jewel. It redefined the "Third Act" of life. It told us that you can start a business at 80. You can find love again. You can realize your best friend is the person you used to hate.
What You Can Do Next
If you’re looking to dive back into the world of Jane Fonda’s television work, here’s the best way to do it:
- Re-watch the "The Vagina" episode (Season 3, Episode 1). It’s arguably one of the best half-hours of comedy-drama ever written. It deals with Grace’s insecurities in a way that is both hilarious and heartbreaking.
- Check out "The Checkup with Dr. David Agus." It’s a newer docuseries where Fonda talks candidly about her real-life health struggles, including her cancer diagnosis and recovery. It’s a great companion piece to her fictional work because it shows the "real" Jane.
- Keep an eye on Netflix for specials. Even though the show is over, Fonda and Tomlin frequently do live events and "conversations" that are often recorded and uploaded.
The real takeaway from the jane fonda tv show phenomenon is that age isn't a decline. It's just a different stage of the game. Grace Hanson and Frankie Bergstein taught us that as long as you have a beach house, a bottle of vodka, and a friend who knows your secrets, you’re going to be just fine.
The series is still streaming in its entirety. It’s worth a second look, even if you’ve seen every episode twice. You might notice something new in Grace’s dry delivery or Frankie’s cluttered art studio that you missed the first time around.