(S01E01) Earlier today, I gave you a take on what I thought NBC's new dramedy Lipstick Jungle was like. The series, based on a novel penned by Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell, premiered with a slightly revamped pilot and a whole lot of promos for Maybelline.I won't rehash what I said in my early look post since there weren't enough changes between the two versions of the pilot. The main change is the recast of Wendy's husband (Paul Blackthorne took over the role held by Christopher Wiehl); a good move if you ask me. Wiehl's performance in the pilot wasn't believable and strong enough. Blackthorne is more fitting in the role and will bring in a nice flavor to the show thanks to his English background.
Even if Jungle is not the next big TV hit, I liked the somewhat complex characters and their storylines from the pilot enough to tune in next week. I'm particularly rooting for Victory and Joe mainly because he's a jerk who hides a charming man underneath a truckload of money and she calls it as it is. It's probably why he likes her, she doesn't play games with him and tells him exactly what she thinks about his ways of doings things and using his assistant.
The show is clearly aiming at the Sex and the City audience. Moreover, it will most likely share viewers with Cashmere Mafia. The network is not hiding the fact that females are their main target. Maybelline ads and tips aside, the show's website offers an online issue of Bonfire Magazine, that links to beauty and relationship articles found at iVillage.com. Fans will also be able to find more information about the feature accessory of the week and how to get the Jungle look.
If you've missed the pilot, it is set to rerun on USA Network on February 10 at 11 a.m. ET and 14 at 12 p.m. ET. Seven out of the 13 ordered episodes were completed before production was shutdown due to the strike.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-08-2008 @ 12:54AM
vacelts said...
The show is betting on New York life, high-powered careers and fashions that I can’t even dream of affording to bring it the same success as Sex and the City and maybe it’ll work. Since I wasn’t drawn to that show, it’s no surprise that Lipstick Jungle isn’t an immediate hit with me.
http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/lipstick-jungle-pilot/
might’ve have been interested if it was billed as a romantic comedy movie, but Lipstick Jungle is not “must see” TV for me. I might tune into another couple of episodes to see if it grows on me.
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2-08-2008 @ 9:31AM
Sarah said...
i agree. after the show ended, i was left with an "ABC romantic TV movie" aftertaste in my mouth. not at all the feeling you get from reading the book. i understand they couldnt take completely from the book, but some of the more obvious changes could have added to the depth of the show.
2-08-2008 @ 10:31AM
vacelts said...
Sarah, so you would recommend the book? Maybe I'll check it out.
2-08-2008 @ 3:05AM
Brent McKee said...
I liked it. Certainly it is light years ahead of "Cashmere Mafia" in terms of characterization and writing. The problems that Nico and Wendy in particular are facing have a very real quality about them. It may not be the next big hit but I'd much rather watch this than "Bionic Woman" (or even what "ER" has become).
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2-08-2008 @ 7:04AM
Jen said...
Two of the biggest problems with Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia are that it was too "lovey-dovey" with the friends out of the box (all hugging and hanging over each other) and they were too serious to begin with. This type of show needs to be light hearted and fun for the first episode or two...Cashmere Mafia opens with a man cheating on his wife, a woman who doesn't have time for her kids or husband, and a woman being a cutthroat to her boyfriend, and Lipstick Jungle opens up with a career-devastating fashion show and a marriage in trouble.
In comparison, the show they both want to emulate opened with Samantha failing to get Big and Carrie learning about sex with no strings attached. A lot more fun, and a lot less heavy.
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2-08-2008 @ 7:52AM
Alicia said...
It was... ok. I will watch it next week... because well... I think it can work. I was certainly telling myself though, it was only the first episode... it was only the first episode (in that it is going to get better way).
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2-08-2008 @ 9:30AM
Jane Pickert said...
I was greatly disappointed. This was a great book, and as usual they ruined the script. In fact, I read all Candace Bushnell's books and they are wonderful. I don't know if it was the director, producer or script writer's fault, but somewhere they bored me to go to sleep. Her books are not boring, so stop changing scripts and leave it the way it should be. Maybe also; it could be the actors showing no emotions or it was so fake that it came across as boring.
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2-08-2008 @ 10:22AM
khamel said...
WORST .... SHOW .... EVER!
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2-08-2008 @ 10:34AM
vacelts said...
Jen, I think I might have liked it better if it had a lighter feel.
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2-08-2008 @ 10:43AM
vacelts said...
Brett, I'd rather watch Bionic Woman over Lipstick Jungle.
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2-08-2008 @ 10:48AM
Sarah said...
vacelts, i would def recommend the book. its a great read.
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2-08-2008 @ 12:09PM
rex said...
I thought Candace Bushnell was upset with the creation of this show. I remember reading that she was basically betrayed by a friend who decided to produce the show and cut Bushnell out of the way. I have told my wife that we shouldn't watch the show because of that. How can you expect the show to be good when the creater is shut out and swindled out of the process?
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2-08-2008 @ 12:57PM
klm said...
Actually, Candace Bushnell is still involved with Lipstick Jungle. The friend you're referring to is Darren Star, who went on to make Cashmere Mafia for ABC.
2-08-2008 @ 12:21PM
Cheri said...
At least with Cashmere Mafia I watched two or three episodes before I gave up. I couldn't even make it through the pilot of this one! I turned off the TIVO and deleted it at about halfway.
Predictable, boring, and poorly acted.
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2-08-2008 @ 1:07PM
Isabelle Carreau said...
After reading comments here, I think one of the things that helped me think LJ was not that bad was because 1) I never read the book, 2) I wasn't an avid watcher of SatC. Therefore, I didn't really have something to compare it too. I tried to push my SatC knowledge at the back of my brain so not to see the differences/similarities and be too disappointed.
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2-08-2008 @ 3:46PM
Sarah said...
i agree that Lipstick Jungle is not that bad. but, having read the book, i realize how the show could have been a whole lot better.
2-08-2008 @ 4:24PM
Tanya said...
Was looking forward to this one as the book was good and it was touted as the next big thing! Boy I was disappointed. Boring and the actors looks uncomfortable. I think Cashmere Mafia may just emerge the winner. Not going to watch it again.
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2-08-2008 @ 10:17PM
Marie said...
I have to say that I only watched it because Paul Blackthorne is such a tremendous actor. I wasn't at ALL disappointed in his performance as Shane. Excellent, as always!
Wendy - she hardly sees her family all day & instead of spending time at night with them & possibly trying to strengthen her marriage, she's off to the friend's house to drink & commiserate.
Nico - instead of talking with her husband and at least TRYING to work out what the problem is, she has an affair - in the 1st episode.
For such supposedly extremely busy business people, they sure have an abundance of time to goof off together...As for the series itself, I can't see how the vast majority of the population are going to relate to these people.
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2-09-2008 @ 12:27PM
LadyT_TNT said...
I have to admit that this is a show I would never watch based simply on the title and synopsis.
I'm only watching because Paul Blackthorne is in it (http://www.paulblackthorne.com). I like Brooke and Kim as well but I'll follow Paul anywhere.
I'm a little concerned that viewership is low because LJ is the 4th show this season featuring the Lifestyles of the Rich & Whiney: Dirty, Sexy, Money-- which I gave 20 minute to because of Donald Sutherland, Big Shots--- which I watched for 1-3 minutes of Paul each week, and Cashmere Mafia-- I tried that one because of it's competition with LJ but didn't make it past the first commercial.
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2-11-2008 @ 2:25PM
Gordy said...
You people need to lighten up...it's TV. I thoroughly enjoyed this show. Brooke Shields, as expected, was excellent. I was amazed by how much she resembled Lynda Carter.
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