Television Review: The Bungle in the Jungle

Lipstick Jungle
NBC Television
Thursdays 10 PM EST/PST
2 teaspoons of Bosco (Out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

Despite all the hype as being the second coming of Sex and the City, the new dramatic series, Lipstick Jungle (NBC Thursday’s at 10 PM) at least initially, falls far short of it’s extremely successful cable cousin. In fact the only thing that the two series have in common is authorship. Candace Bushnell is the writer responsible for the books that spawned both series.

In the initial offering, the pilot, the show is in search of an identity. It starts out as a re-tread of another successful show, thirtysomething even down to the Snuffy Waldren musical score. We see our three heroines in their late 30’s (played by Brooke Shields, Lindsey Price, and Kim Raver ) going through the paces of their homelife, professional careers and friendship between the three. In the Shield's character who plays movie executive Wendy Healy, we even see a thirtysomethingish scene where as she starts to get intimate with her partner the kids wander aimlessly through the bedroom and then she’s off to change diapers or some other domestic chore.

Then to perpetuate the identity crisis, the show seems like it wants to be Ugly Betty as it traverses it’s way through the world of Fashion and Fashion publications. Fifteen minutes in, the show then morphs into a cross between a dramatic version of Sex and the City (with the three women discussing their problems and fashion tips while enjoying cocktails) and Dynasty on it’s worst night.

The problem with Lipstick Jungle is that it’s none of the shows mentioned. The foursome of SATC becomes a threesome of all Miranda Hobbs on this show and you know how boring that is going to get. Where’s the Carrie?. Where’s the Samantha here? I would even settle for a Sabrina.

The great thing about SATC is that it never took itself too seriously. It was also well written, only 30 minutes long and had great understated acting. Lipstick Jungle has none of this going for it. The lines are so painful to listen to. I can't believe anybody talks like this in the real world. And on top of that, there is not one single likeable male character in this show. Where’s Big? Where’s Adrian? I missed the great guys in the women’s life. Maybe they will show up in later episodes.

Ok...Don't panic yet. It was the pilot afterall, and many pilots fall short of the potential as the actors, directors and writers get used to each other. But this show is going to need to make some dramatic changes in order to stay on the air. After all it is a Jungle out there in the television wasteland.