TVSquad

While the casting for the ladies to play the power brokers on NBC's Lipstick Jungle was imperative, no less attention was paid for the men with whom those women would be romantically entwined. For the character of Joe Bennett, the enigmatic, high-powered, complicated Prince Charming with a dark side, producers had to be looking for just the right combination of sexual appeal and sensitive undercurrent. They found the right guy when Andrew McCarthy was cast. The former Brat Packer could be the find of the TV season; the new McDreamy.

Are you in need for a TV series that may fill the void left by the departure years ago of the Sex and the City ladies and Cashmere Mafia ain't working for you? You may be interested to know that Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price return to the small screen this week in the new NBC dramedy Lipstick Jungle, based on a novel penned by SatC author, Candace Bushnell.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Brooke Shields has signed on to star in the pilot, Lipstick Jungle, for NBC. It's the newest creation based on a Candace Bushnell book- she's the author of the book that sparked Sex and the City. Shields will play one of three "power-hungry professional women". Her character is the president of a movie company, and also a wife and mother of three. So naturally she's going to have plenty of time to dine and shop with her girls.

Also, Eric Balfour has landed a lead role in the CBS drama, Protect and Serve. I bet you can guess what this one is about. Balfour will play an "intense and emotional" LA cop. It's nice to see Balfour land a leading role. He has done great work in 24 and Conviction. Let's hope this opportunity is a good one and we get to see him on CBS in the fall!

I thought we were all pretty much over Carrie and her Manolo Blahniks, weren't we? Too bad. Two of the big four networks have ordered pilots similar to Sex and the City.

ABC has ordered a pilot for the embarrassingly-named Cashmere Mafia, which was created Sex executive producer Darren Star. It's described as "the next generation of Sex and the City". Oh, please let it get a better name. It's about four women who have known each other since college and follows them as they date and work to further their various careers. ABC has also ordered a pilot for Women's Murder Club, described as "CSI meets Sex and the City." It's about a group of female friends who happen to be a homicide detective, a medical examiner, a reporter, and an assistant district attorney. The pilot is going to be directed by Brett Ratner, the man who destroyed The X-Men, so don't expect much.

And finally, NBC gave the greenlight to Lipstick Jungle, based on a novel by the same name about "three powerful New York businesswomen who will do anything to get ahead," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Who's the novelist? Why, it's Candace Bushnell, of course. She's the one who created Sex and the City in the first place.

[Thanks, Karen!]