I got hooked on NBC's Lipstick Jungle during its first season, and can't wait to see what happens with the girls in season two, premiering Wed., Sept. 24 at 10/9c. Look for my reviews of the show on TV Squad, as well.
While I've already found my Mr. Right, I still identify with all three women in one way or another. Like movie exec Wendy (Brooke Shields), I'm doing my best to balance career and family. Like Victory (Lindsay Price), I have a whole bunch of dreams and goals on my list. And like Nico (Kim Raver), I'm an overachieving workaholic. And if not for the aforementioned Mr. Right, I'd have a really tough time saying no to Robert Buckley's bedroom eyes, too.
Good chemistry between TV couples is a rare commodity, but when Robert Buckley and Kim Raver heat up the screen as Kirby and Nico on Lipstick Jungle, there's some major fireworks flying around.
Much of that spark can be attributed to Buckley, who inhabits the role of Kirby so well that it hardly seems like he's playing a part. Buckley took over the role from Will Toale, who played the part in the pilot episode.
The 26-year-old actor really hasn't been on the TV scene all that long. He got his start playing two roles on MyNetworkTV prime time dramas: photographer Michael Bauer on 2006's Fashion House; and Matthew Wakefield on 2007's American Heiress.
(S01E07) "When fortune knocks, offer a chair." - Lorraine, the writer
NBC advertised this week's episode of Lipstick Jungle as the "season finale." Yet, about a month ago, they ordered six more episodes of the series saying that season one would get 13 episodes. NBC probably doesn't want LJ to face shows like Lost; so the network probably decided to air those six episodes next season in a less threatening timeslot. Let's face it, the series, even if it definitely got better over time, is not the best out there. It benefited a lot from the strike since it aired without much of competition.
Even if the season finale could have been more rocking, it was a satisfying episode that left viewers with a few questions such as: Was Charles really cheating?, Did Nico take the right decision?, Did Joe have a one-night stand or was this woman a "regular"?, Will Victory forgive Joe since, technically, he didn't cheat?, etc.
(S01E06) "It must feel like a really horrible surprise party" - Kirby to Wendy
I felt sorry for Wendy as I watched about 4/5 of the episode unfold. (I had to tape the episode and the VCR decided to not be my friend and stopped around 45 minutes in! Thanks NBC for complete recaps of the episodes.) Not only did Wendy go to a meeting she didn't want to go but she had the unpleasant surprise to learn that not only one of her best friend has been lying to her for weeks but that Nico also flew her boy toy half across the world for a booty call!
(S01E05) Well, I am certainly enjoying Lipstick Jungle more than Cashmere Mafia. I like it so much that I jumped at the opportunity to fill in for Isabelle and review this week's episode.
Of course, lots of people expected the two shows to be almost the same (just different nights and channels). And the shows do have similarities: big stars with big paychecks (Lucy Liu, Brooke Shields), female characters in powerful jobs, stupid titles, etc. But as I sat through the first few episodes of Lipstick Jungle, I knew it would be a much more gratifying show. LJ is nowhere near Sex and the City or Desperate Housewives, but it certainly has potential.
Okay, enough preamble. After the jump, I'll talk about "Chapter Five: Dressed to Kill," I promise.
(S01E04) "People like us are easy targets." - Hector to Nico
If we look at what Lipstick Jungleoffers us, indeed, people in the movie, fashion, or magazine business are easy targets. Wendy's ex-nanny wrote a book, Victory's career was destroyed by one bad collection, and Nico had to face a fake lawsuit that had some truth to it (even Nico admits that what she did could be seen as sexual harassment).
This week's episode closed the books on the lawsuit Kirby filed against Nico but it didn't end their relationship. Why did he really do it? Even if Mike was the snake behind the ordeal, Kirby agreed to go forward yet all he wanted was Nico...
NBC's Sex and the City-like fashionable show Lipstick Jungle received an order of six extra episodes. This means that the series will get a first season of 13 episodes.
TV Guide reveals that the series, based on the book of the same name written by SatC author Candace Bushnell, is winning its timeslot among women of the 18-49 and 18-34 categories.
(S01E03) "I could do a lot worse." - Madeleine about Wendy being her mother.
Indeed, Madeleine could do a lot worse. Wendy may not be a model mother but she is human and tries to make ends meet as best as she can. This week we saw more of how a scandalous book can affect someone and the control damage needed to smooth things over. Good thing that Wendy has a very good friend who is not afraid to play dirty!
(S01E02) "Tsunami for bad mommy." - Janice after seeing a picture of Wendy crying because of the book.
After watching the Lipstick Junglepilot last week, some of TV Squad readers commented on the fact that the series was not true to the book and that it was not light enough. One commenter even said that it left an ABC romantic TV movie aftertaste in her mouth. Other people thought it was good but not fantastic and that the actresses gave fair performances. Not having read the book, I cannot compare. The pilot didn't wow me but was interesting enough to have me turn up for more this week. However, "Nothing Sacred" was a let down and, if it had not been for the fact I had to write this review, I think I would have switched channels to watch Eli Stone live instead of tomorrow morning.
I don't know what I was expecting exactly this week. But it wasn't what I was offered by the NBC series.
(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.
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.
Well, we knew that replacement shows would be announced because of the strike, and here's one: NBC's Lipstick Jungle. It's going into ER's Thursday at 10pm slot in February, when the medical drama runs out of new episodes. I actually thought that ER would run out of episodes long before February, so this is good news for fans.
Lipstick Jungle stars Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan), Kim Raver (24, The Nine), and Lindsay Price (The Price Is Right - just kidding, she was on Pepper Dennis, Coupling, and Jack and Jill) as three sexy NYC execs who get involved with ... well, lipstick I imagine. Possibly even jungles.
In my latest New TV on DVD post the other night, some readers were wondering when the NBC show Third Watch was going to be released on DVD. Well, the home entertainment gods (or the folks at Warner Brothers) must have heard your prayers, because the first season set is coming on February 5!
The set will be six DVDs total, and wil include all 22 episodes from the first season, features, unaired scenes, and a gag reel.
Fans of ABC's canceled-too-soon series The Nine will be happy to know that the six unaired episodes of the series will see the light of the small screen this summer.
The series, starring actors such as Tim Daly, Chi McBride, John, Billingsley, and Kim Raver, will return to ABC in its old 10 p.m. ET on Wednesdays timeslot starting August 1.
I got hooked on NBC's Lipstick Jungle during its first season, and can't wait to see what happens with the girls in season two, premiering Wed., Sept. 24 at 10/9c. Look for my reviews of the show on TV Squad, as well. 
Good chemistry between TV couples is a rare commodity, but when Robert Buckley and Kim Raver heat up the screen as Kirby and Nico on 
(S01E05) Well, I am certainly enjoying 
(S01E04) "People like us are easy targets." - Hector to Nico
(S01E03) "I could do a lot worse." - Madeleine about Wendy being her mother.
(S01E02) "Tsunami for bad mommy." - Janice after seeing a picture of Wendy crying because of the book.
(S01E01) 
Well, we knew that replacement shows would be announced because of the strike, and here's one: NBC's Lipstick Jungle. It's 
In my latest 
Fans of ABC's canceled-too-soon series 
Giveaway Monday: That '70s Show The Complete Series Stash box set
Giveaway Monday: Back to You season one DVD
Six shows that I am watching pretty regularly this season
