"Lipstick Jungle on NBC"

This new series is on Thursday nights at 10 p.m. on channel 13 in our area. First of all, I have to tell you I hate the title.

Herman taped the show for me and I attempted to watch the show Friday morning. I couldn't really get into it, but I think it had to do with the fact that I had two other shows to watch that were taped the nighta before.

Brooke Shields is the only "star" in it. It involves three women who each have a high profile job. The friends remind me of the premise of Big Shots, which I love and I'm sorry to see go.

This female version substitutes tears and hormonal imbalance for the testosterone and macho frenzy of Big Shots.

Trouble is, the version with three females just doesn't cut the mustard. At one point Herman commented, "This is like a terrible soap opera."

Being a die-hard soap opera watcher (All My Children) for many years, I'm not even sure that description describes the show. The problem, as it is with "Women's Murder Club," is that the characterizations don't seem strong enough for us to care about any of them.

Brooke Shields as Wendy is probably the best of the three but she almost has a too earnest look about her. For instance, when the fashion designer, strangely named "Victory," has a show panned by the critics, she moans about no longer having the world as her oyster and down to 200 pairs of shows. Is that supposed to inspire sympathy? I have read a number of conflicting reviews of the show, and although I'll probably have Herman tape the show, I'm not enthused. One article compared the show to ABCs Cashmere Mafia, which I've watched several times but I'm not sure I love it either.

The one show I do like that's new is called Eli Stone which has some of the weird kinkiness of the Ally McBeal show and some of the macho-ness of Big Shots. It's on Thursday evenings at 10 p.m. on ABC. The one story line that does interest me in Lipstick Jungle involves the character Nico who is in a loveless marriage and a younger suitor wants her to have an affair. This will probably set up an interesting conflict for the future which I look forward to.

Bottom line is this. I'm not sure I can recommend any of the shows mentioned above except Eli Stone. Take it for what it's worth and happy viewing.

Kathryn Spira, a native of Cleveland who pursued an acting career in NYC and Los Angeles, now pursues free lance writing from Caroga Lake in Fulton County. Previous columns may be accessed at her web site www.kathrynskorner.com