The Client List - Anyone watching it?

[spikyhaired]

So, has anyone else watched the pilot for "The Client List"?

It stars Jennifer Love Hewitt as a newly single mom who ends up working in a spa that offers massages with a happy ending for a few of its clients. After reading the summary blurb on the xbox video list, I couldn't not think of the blog Let Me Give You a Hand With That, so I gave it a whirl.

It is produced by Lifetime. I'm curious if there will be a "Lifetime spin" that means it will ultimately end in horrible tragedy for our protagonist (raped, disgraced, murdered, etc.) or if any positive ending will be horribly trite.

I will say it clearly has an eye for the (perhaps too) stereotypical female viewer. Lots of scenes with fit men with plenty of soft focus on firm abs and strong shoulders. We also see JLH looking quite fetching, but there was one montage where I could have been watching the intro to mid-budget gay porn.



*** Possible (mild) spoilers follow ***
















*** Spoilers ***

So, about the pilot. I realize it is hard to fit all the exposition needed in a pilot into one episode. Given that, it still seemed a bit rushed. Perhaps because of that, this episode seemed somewhat saccharin--several smallish plot arcs with cutesy feeling resolutions and some definite timeworn tropes, one plot point about a married couple particularly so. Still, it seems like there is some potential. I am mildly interested to see if it takes a supportive tone, such that sex work is just work, while building drama from a mix of both everyday and topic-specific conflicts.

Happy viewing!

 

[NickkiHard]

I started watching this show. It is ok not as good as the movie that lifetime made of this now weekly t.v. show, but it is still not bad.

 

[Bocefish]

Being a huge J.L. Hewitt fan, I watched it On Demand last night and thought it was pretty hokey. She started off doing legit massages for overweight, out of shape men entirely covered with body hair... but when she decided to go with the happy ending route for better pay, all her clients suddenly morphed into Chippendale type studs, lol.

 

[Chamaeleon]

JLH neked makes it worth watching. Wait... There is no nudity. :sleepy2:

Actually, I saw the first episode and thought it was probably worth watching. Half way through the second episode I changed my mind. Is this show for Lifetime women or is the network trying to get men to watch?

 

[Bocefish]

It's definitely geared towards the female persuasion. As much as I like JLH, it's ran the course for me. It's totally predictable too. Next the public will find out her dirty secret and she'll be devastated but eventually they will all live happily ever after, lol

 

[spikyhaired]

I'm still on the edge of deciding if it could turn into a good show or if it will be just a milquetoast melodrama.

On one hand, (and perhaps I'm giving the writers too much credit) if the goal is to present JLH's character as a normal woman who, like everyone, has to support her family and takes a job to do it, I understand if they don't want to go over the top with the sex work angle. It could be thoughtful, interesting drama.

On the other hand, I watch media to be entertained. I don't want to watch someone else leading a normal life, getting the kids to school, dealing with work schedules, etc. Either make it a compelling drama (that can still deal with realistic topics), or jazz it up with something outlandish.

On yet another hand (Hey! Don't judge. Maybe I grew up near a Superfund site! ), I'm not seeing enough good writing/acting to interest me in a straight drama, and, if they do something crazy ("Next week JLH's client is a spy!!!! And he needs her help!!!!"), it destroys the whole "I'm just a normal woman with normal problems who found a job that fit my needs" motif.

Meh. I bought (oops, I mean "licensed") the season pass. The real test for me will be if I keep watching it or if I forget I have it.

Ttfn!