When I recently learned that CBS’ “2 Broke Girls” and The CW’s “Ringer” were both picked up for full seasons by their respective networks, I breathed a sigh of relief. Television in the 21st century, after all, is a fierce business. Weaklings will be left behind, and axes will fall (sorry, “Free Agents” and “The Playboy Club”). So it was nice to see that the TV Powers-That-Be have hope in these girl-powered shows because both have the potential to really break out and gain even more momentum as the 2011-12 season chugs along.

“2 Broke Girls” – as you should know by now – chronicles the struggles of two NYC waitresses, Max and Caroline, who set a financial goal for themselves in order to open up a cupcake business. Max (Kat Dennings) is a hipster-hating, sharp-tongued Brooklyn gal who just left her cheating boyfriend, while Caroline (Beth Behrs) is the spoiled-rich daughter of a recently jailed mastermind behind a Ponzi scheme who loses everything. And as sitcom destiny would have it, the two opposites become roommates. Hilarity and hijinks ensue (natch).

Somewhat similar to the now-aging “How I Met Your Mother,” the show cleverly promises a payoff in which the girls will finally raise the $250,000 needed to get the ball rolling on their business venture (Each episode ends with an updated total showing their progress.). It’s a nifty little gimmick that guarantees several seasons’ worth of comedic storytelling.

The situational possibilities are endless as is the room for growth amongst its cast of characters. Matthew Moy adorably plays Han, the girls’ Asian manager at the diner; Jonathan Kite’s Oleg is the dirty-minded cook who ogles the ladies every chance he gets; and comedy veteran Garrett Morris sits back and chews his scenes as the diner’s veteran cashier. As for Dennings and Behrs, they may be a 21st century Laverne and Shirley (If you have no clue who those two gals are, do some serious Googling.), but they’re also their own gutsy dynamic duo – and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them.

Meanwhile, “Buffy” fans have rejoiced (me included) now that Fanboy It-Girl Sarah Michelle Gellar has returned to the medium that gave her a career. In “Ringer,” she plays twins Bridget and Siobhan. Bridget’s on the lam because she doesn’t want to testify against a Really Bad Man, so she runs to her wealthy sis in New York.

Siobhan dies in a boating accident, leaving Bridget to assume her identity (None of Siobhan’s friends, including her husband, know that she had a twin.). But Bridget quickly learns that she picked the wrong identity to steal. And to make matters even more complicated, there’s an FBI agent on her tail (Bridget’s) and someone out to kill her (Siobhan). Oh, and Siobhan’s really alive and hiding out in Paris with one hell of an ulterior motive – got that?

The convoluted serial is a juicy adult drama (much like ABC’s similarly plotted “Revenge”) and is also an indicator of the CW’s attempt to brand itself away from adolescent shenanigans and associate itself with more mature subject matter (case in point: “Nikita” and “Hart of Dixie”). The tactic is a smart one, and with GenY starting to turn 30, it’s also a timely one. I say, enough with the teen angst.

“Ringer,” with its noirish style, is really just a primetime soap disguised as a mystery-thriller. Rumor has it, producers already have plans for seasons 2 and 3, but that could just be the chatter of publicity concocted to keep its already small audience committed to the rest of this season. Whether or not fans will stick with it until May’s finale remains to be seen. At press time, episode 4 proved that the show is finding its pace (Gemma finds out about the affair AND that Siobhan is really Bridget!). Here’s hoping for more swift plot developments.

Keep bringing it, ladies.

“2 Broke Girls” airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS. “Ringer” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on the CW.

For more pop cultural ramblings, visit thefirstecho.com and hotterinhollywood.com