Premise: Set in the early 1960s, Hugh Hefner founded the legendary Playboy Club in Chicago. It is a place where fantasies clash with hard realities. But to those that own a precious key, the club can be a temporary hideaway. Step inside the seductive world of the Bunny, the epitome of beauty and more service, and rub shoulders with the decade's biggest mobsters, politicos and entertainers. With all these larger than life ambitions, there are even greater secrets. Like when innocent new Bunny Maureen - who wants to take the world by storm - accidentally kills one of the Windy City's most powerful mafia bosses and the only person capable of covering it up and protecting her is Nick Dalton, a man who once worked for the mob but is about to run for district attorney. Bunny Alice is married but hiding an explosive personal life while Bunny Janie is running from a past that threatens to catch up with her. It seems everyone has a secret - none more so than Maureen, who may not even be the innocent orphan she appears to be. Thank goodness Hef's Playboy Mansion is open after hours for a little R&R and burying your past.
This is the first of two shows set in the 60's and both are being called Mad Men inspired. While I wasn't able to get into Mad Men, I found it a bit too slow for me. Yes, I know, I wish I pushed through as Mad Men is turning into one of the greatest shows in the last 20 years. That's the big problem I have with this show, it isn't Mad Men. There is a reason why Mad Men wins so many awards every season, specifically the writing awards. It's written, very, very well. This past seasons episode, The Suitcase has been called, the greatest piece of television the past season. This isn't as smart, quick or witty and can't fairly be compared to Mad Men.
All this talk about Mad Men leads me to the casting of The Playboy Club. Eddie Cibrian is very Jon Hamm like, to the point I closed my eyes a few times and thought I was listening to Jon Hamm. Amber Heard reminds me greatly of January Jones, David Krumholtz reminds me of Vincent Kartheiser and finally in Leah Renee Cudmore I see a curvey-less Christina Hendricks. I don't think I'll be alone in those observations and I don't think it's a coincidence either. Don't try and sell us Mad Men light when you aren't even close.
I felt that the gay and lesbian storyline was forced in there and seemed to me that it was put in to give the show some meat and a heavier story. Then they could say that the show isn't just about pretty women in a bar selling drinks. We've seen the story where the man saves the helpless girl and they've got to coverup a story because people start looking into it. There is nothing new there.
I'm going to give this a pass, but I think people that haven't watched Mad Men, might, just might like this. I just wouldn't get too attached as I really don't see this one lasting too long.
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