Lipstick Jungle [NBC, Thursdays, 10/9C] is Darren Star’s [Sex and the City] latest primetime soap. It’s about three women who have risen to the tops of their chosen professions while remaining good friends/confidantes/advisors. It is the second of two similarly themed series to premiere in the new year – it’s also the one that’s worth watching.
Lipstick Jungle is based around three New York City career women: Parador Pictures’ movie executive Wendy Healy [Brooke Shields], Bonfire Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Nico Reilly [Kim Raver] and top fashion designer, Victory Ford [Lindsay Price]. As the series opens, we meet them as they deal with crises both professional and domestic.
Wendy is trying to deal with rumors that Leo is signing on with a rival studio’s version of a film she’s greenlighted, while coping with her family – especially her handsome, but insecure husband, Shane [The Dresden Files’ Paul Blackthorne]. Nico is trying to revamp an important photo shoot without further alienating a client – and the magazine’s owner, Hector Matrick [Julian Sands] – which might put a crimp in her plans to become CEO. Victory’s latest show has been universally panned and her fashion empire is crumbling – just as multi-billionaire Joe Bennett [Andrew McCarthy] begins to pursue her romantically. Interestingly enough, Matrick owns both Bonfire Magazine and Parador Pictures, which gives Sands the opportunity to play hardball with both Shields and Raver.
In the two episodes made available for review, I was relieved to note that these three women may have their down moments and insecurities, but unlike the women in that other series, they neither bitch and moan, or whine – at least, not to the point where it becomes annoying. These women have strength without being any less feminine.
In the pilot, it’s a joy watching Wendy as she figures out how to handle both professional and personal crises. Nico takes a stand on her photo shoot while almost succumbing to a temptation that could make her the sexiest cougar on a primetime series. Lindsay’s fashion fortunes may be falling, but she’s not about to let a multi-billionaire deal with her through his intermediaries.
The writing for Lipstick Jungle may be as realistic as that of the other show [which is to say not all that much], but it differs in the way that these characters are strong-willed individuals who may not always need each other to lean, but aren’t afraid to take advantage of being able to when its necessary. There’s a wit and charm here that comes close to matching SatC – and there’s a certain amount of the not-quite over-the-top moments that provide one’s daily recommended dose of melodrama.
These women are more likeable than there counterparts on that other show, too. We can all relate to Wendy’s exasperation at work; Nico’s temptation, and Victory’s refusal to let her professional collapse keep her from moving on – professionally and romantically. Like I said, these are strong women.
The cast’s performances are first-rate, too. Shields really captures Wendy’s strength and her frustration; Raver makes her moments with young photographer Kirby reflect the unease of her troubled marriage, and Victory’s ability compartmentalize her professional and personal pride gives us reason to believe that she is as strong as her friends.
Andrew McCarthy’s blithe multi-billionaire, Joe, is fun – especially when Victory’s response to his initial request for a date is to take issue with a man who doesn’t have the time to call a girl himself. Paul Blackthorne’s harried Shane is also relatable – especially when he tries to convince Wendy that he’s made his peace with being in her shadow. Julian Sands makes his seemingly one-note character, Hector, something a little classier than a mere grumpy rich guy. His sparring with Raver, in particular, is great fun.
While there are bursts of brilliance here, there are also a few alarming thuds. The plot arc revolving around victory’s last, loyal assistant, for example, is really a case of closing the corral gate after the horses have been rustled. And next week’s guest villainess, Janice Lashera [Lorraine Bracco] is far too blunt an object for a series like this. No iron fist in a velvet glove here. Oh, no. More like a mailed fist wrapped around a mace! The character is salvaged by Bracco’s brio, but she’s more than a bit of a jolt in terms of the tone established in the pilot. [On the other hand, sometimes you need a character who is pure ruthlessness and venom, so we’ll see how she works out – it looks like the character will be recurring…]
Overall, then, Lipstick Jungle is solid soapy primetime fun.
Final Grade: B
I agree this is better than Cashmere Mafia. Even though ABC constantly hammers at how Lipstick Jungle is just like Sex and the City (same writer! same creator! please watch us and make us a hit!), the true parent is really Desperate Housewives. Like DH, Lipstick Jungle focuses on strong women that behave selfishly while hoping the audience will cheer them on.
In last night’s show, one character’s teacher (read: wimp) husband declines sleeping with her and attending a high-powered web site launch party. This gives the character license to sleep with a stranger (who keeps assuring her how sexy she is) and no doubt next week’s episode will only have a surface-deep marital consequences. The Brooke Shields character, meanwhile, rejects her husband’s request for sex, and instead the audience is expected to applaud her stern work-first attitude and laugh at the horny, silly husband. The third main character is single, yet a billionaire throws himself pathetically after her, even though he has never met her before. She berates him, which only makes him act more childish.
The DH parallels are strong: 3 characters regularly make selfish decisions while facing no consequences, with only the Marcia Cross getting regularly humiliated by the writers (“let’s make her son gay! let’s make her husband impotent!”) for no clear reason other than that she is conservative.
Anyway, Lipstick Jungle promises to be fun in the same way as DH. No villains last night, other than the men.