Lipstick Jungle: There’s Still Hope for the TV Show, But Not Likely on NBC

Though it’s seemed like NBC’s Lipstick Jungle was dead in the water, the show is proving to be much more resilient than expected. Though the series’ last filmed episode aired on January 9th, and few watched, there’s still hope that Brooke Shields and company may return.

As you may recall, Lipstick Jungle revolves around three successful professionals from the Big Apple, played by Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsey Price. Others in the cast include Paul Blackthorne, Andrew McCarthy, Robert Buckley, Sarah Hyland, David Norona, Dylan Clark Marshall, Seth Kirschner, Matt Lauria, David Alan Basche, and Marcia DeBonis.

After ordering a second season of 13 episodes, NBC opted not to order “the back nine” installments to complete the season. That didn’t come as much of a surprise considering the size of the Jungle viewership.

Fans of the series have held out hope that the network might change its mind and NBC execs have refused to say that the series was cancelled. As is often the case, it was assumed that the network was just trying to avoid the wrath of devoted fans. It turns out that the show still does have support at the peacock network.

During the recent Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, NBC Primetime Entertainment President Angela Bromstad made a point to say that Jungle had not been officially cancelled. The exec had a hand in developing the program while working at NBC Universal Television Studios and said, “We have to wait and see what our pilots are and what the mix of shows are.”

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She told the NY Post that the show wouldn’t likely have a future at NBC but could live on via another outlet — possibly on a sister channel like Bravo or even the female-focused Lifetime. She also noted that Jungle could continue as part of a cost-sharing partnership, ala Friday Night Lights. “That would be a way in which you could preserve that show,” Bromstad said.

That sentiment was echoed today by Ben Silverman who indicated that the show isn’t over yet. Though Jungle’s viewership has been small, he stressed that they are a desirable group. As B&C reports, the co-chair of NBC Entertainment and NBC Universal Television Studio said, “Lipstick Jungle is so strong and has such a passionate base among a coveted demographic.”

Silverman continued, “That kind of show will have the same approach, and we’ve already begun that approach, as we’ve used with Friday Night Lights. We have some incredible channels in our portfolio and we have sister networks that love the show as well. We are analyzing what we need to do to keep that show on the air.”

Will the efforts to continue the show be successful? If they are, will all of the cast return? Will viewers follow Jungle to a new outlet?

Image courtesy NBC.

More about: Friday Night Lights, Lipstick Jungle

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