In round one of the ratings, Courteney Cox’s new show Dirt on Five US seriously outperformed the debut of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine on UKTV Gold. Both actresses are synonymous with classic sitcom characters Monica Geller/ Geller-Bing (Friends) and Elaine Benes (Seinfeld) respectively though are trying to establish themselves in the new roles of trashy magazine editor Lucy Spiller and struggling single mother Christine Campbell. I’m sure if they were to bump into one another on the street, they would be perfectly civil and polite to one another. But the TV schedules have them competing for our attentions and so we have to ask – who is better of the two leading ladies? Let TV Scoop help you decide…

Let’s take the actresses and their old and new characters to see who you would choose in a variety of scenarios.

Monica versus Elaine
If you were in a fight
Oh, a tough one. When surprised or incredulous Elaine has a tendency to shove people hard in the chest whilst saying “get out.” Sometimes people fall over. Monica is also tough and “scrappy.” She is so strong that she hurts Chandler when giving him a ‘relaxing’ massage and is hard to beat at table football, table tennis and American football. I would say that in a general fight you would want Monica to have your back, though if it involved Elaine’s infamous nemesis Sue Ellen Mischke, it could be close.

If you were to work with one of them
This has to go to Elaine. Monica works as a chef and is bossy, controlling and unbearable. Think Gordon Ramsay and then double it. In contrast, Elaine is so docile that she removed the salt from pretzels for employer Mr. Pitt and even helped him put on his socks.

If you were in a dance competition
Monica, no contest. Her and her brother Ross impressed with ‘the routine’ during a New Years Eve TV broadcast. Elaine can’t dance and is even mocked by many of her work colleagues for her poor showing at a work function. George Costanza describes her kicking foot, flicking finger routine as “a full-bodied dry heave set to music.”

And their new incarnations, Lucy versus Christine
If you had to leave your children with one of them
Christine has a young son, Richie and though often embarrasses him with excessive affection knows how to be responsible and caring. Lucy couldn’t be less maternal, having chosen a career over children. This one has to go to Christine.

If you wanted to pick up men
Lucy. Christine’s experience with men is limited and uninspiring. In contrast, Lucy is always dressed to kill, used to getting what she wants and can pick up men half her age.

If you needed a shoulder to cry on
Back to Christine. She manages a variety of relationships which require different levels of understanding (her son, co-worker, ex husband and his new girlfriend) and though can be blunt and thoughtless is well-meaning and caring. Lucy, on the other hand is self-serving, unscrupulous and abrupt. Her job monopolizes all of her time and the small degree of fondness she manages to exhibit towards paparazzi chum Don Konkey is all to help her get what she wants. Not a people person.

And lastly, the actresses themselves (or as much as interfering tabloids will let us know about them), Courteney versus Julia
If you were short of cash
Tricky this. Both women have impressive bank balances for their careers, with Cox famously netting $1million per episode of ‘Friends’. Louis-Dreyfus inches it due to her family connections, her father is French billionaire (yes, I said billionaire) Gérard Louis-Dreyfus and her cousin Robert Louis-Dreyfus is the former CEO of Adidas. Nice work if you can get it.

If you wanted to impress at a party
Courteney. Cox has dated many famous men including Batman actor Michael Keaton, Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz and is now married to Scream co-star David Arquette. She was the first person to say “period” on US TV in a Tampax commercial, can play the piano and drums and was a cheerleader at school. You could work at least one of these into the small talk surely?

If you wanted to be entertained on a Monday night
Another toughie. Both actresses are funny and likeable. Both are heading up shows that are almost entirely dependent on their individual performances. And both are keen to establish a career away from their big break roles. So early in the runs of each show it is hard to judge, though I’ll be making sure I keep up with both of them. Can I pass?

And the verdict is – a tie.
With 4 points scored by each woman, the scores are equal. Though as a huge ‘Seinfeld’ and particularly Elaine Benes fan, I’m going to call it and give it to Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Just do me proud girl, that’s all I ask.