Network: NBC
Episodes: 20 (hour)
Seasons: Two
TV show dates: February 7, 2008 — January 9, 2009
Series status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include: Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, Lindsay Price, Paul Blackthorne, Andrew McCarthy, Robert Buckley, David Norona, Dylan Clark Marshall, Sarah Hyland, Matt Lauria, and Seth Kirschner.
TV show description:
Based on the best-selling book by Candace Bushnell (who also wrote Sex and the City), this drama follows the lives of three high-powered friends as they weather the ups and downs of their complicated personal and professional lives.
Parador Pictures president Wendy Healy (Brooke Shields) does everything she can to balance her career with her life with unhappy, stay-at-home husband Shane (Christopher Wiehl, then Paul Blackthorne) and daughter Maddie (Sarah Hyland).
Nico Reilly (Kim Raver) is the editor-in-chief of a hot fashion magazine named Bonfire. Nico has her eye on becoming the CEO and isn’t helped any by her lifeless marriage to Charles (Christopher Cousins). Nico’s boss Hector (Julian Sands) tortures her, her co-worker Mike (David Alan Basche) tries to sabotage her professional credibility, and flirtatious hottie Kirby Atwood (Will Toale, then Robert Buckley) is determined to conquer her.
Free-spirited designer Victory Ford (Lindsay Price) longs to make her dreams come true and hopes to find “Mr. Right” along the way. He could be eccentric and wealthy Joe Bennett (Andrew McCarthy) who loves the idea of sweeping her off her feet, even if it’s usually communicated through his assistant.
Episode 20 — La Vie En Pose
Nico gets into her office to start her day. She plays her messages to find one from Kirby, who has called from Aspen to wish her a Happy New Year. At Victory’s, her parents arrive in New York via private jet that Joe arranged for them. Her parents insist on staying at her house, rather than accepting Joe’s offer to stay at the Four Seasons.
Griffin greets Nico in her office to hand her a document from the legal department acknowledging a romantic relationship between them. Nico, taken aback by the document, isn’t sure how to respond, creating a bit of tension between her and Griffin.
Wendy, struggling with Maddie, looks to Shane for some advice before he leaves on tour. She is also preparing to throw Joe and Victory’s engagement party. Back at Victory’s, she is showing her parents photos from her store opening, but her parents are critical at every turn.
Sal fills Wendy in on a story that Nico is working on and suggests that Wendy look at buying the film rights. After all, he owes her one. In Nico’s office, during a staff meeting, she realizes she may have fallen off the press’ list of top invites to parties.
Joe and Victory’s parents are trying to find common ground in conversation, but instead, there are several awkward silences. Victory’s mom is sharing some of her wedding ideas, when Victory lets her know that Joe might be more into an intimate ceremony than a traditional wedding.
As Joe leaves for a meeting, he sets plans to take them to a fancy dinner and a helicopter ride, but they are resistant. Plus, Victory is concerned with Joe’s spending, considering his financial situation.
Griffin pops by Nico’s office to see if she’s finished the letter for the legal department. He also wants to know why she tipped off Wendy to a film property she knew he wanted to buy for Parador. Nico, caught off guard, is disappointed in Griffin’s approach.
Nico meets with Dahlia about her image. She is worried that due to personal reasons, she was out of the spotlight for a few months. Dahlia, a fast worker, gets her booked in the 10am hour of the Today Show for the next morning.
Victory confides in Wendy about the difficulties with her parents in town and Joe’s grand style, considering his financial restraints. Later, Joe takes Victory and her parents to a private showing of the latest exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum. After an awkward conversation about Joe and Victory having kids, they all walk in silence.
Maddie comes in past her curfew and Wendy is furious. When she tells Wendy that she was in Paul’s dorm room downtown, Wendy grounds her.
Nico makes a late-night visit to Wendy to discuss Griffin and find out who tipped her off to the possible film rights. Wendy, not shocked at Nico’s confession about getting involved with Griffin, is supportive of her friend regardless of the fact that he fired Wendy from Parador.
Kirby pays a visit to Victory’s store to show her the new ad for her linen collection. While there, Victory gets a call from Dahlia to turn on the Today Show. Kirby stands by and watches Nico’s interview.
During Nico’s Today Show interview, things veer from the Bonfire article to questions about her relationship with Kirby. During the questioning, Nico stands up for her relationship and makes an impact on Kirby, who is watching from Victory’s store. Griffin, also watching, is unsettled.
At Joe and Victory’s engagement party, Nico confronts Dahlia about her Today Show interview, but Griffin shows up and interrupts. Victory talks to her father about his toast at the party — he’s told her he won’t be doing one. Griffin approaches Wendy to thank her for the invite and she uses it as an opportunity to set the record straight on the film project.
Joe wants to help Wendy bankroll an offer to counter a studio, but Wendy lets it slip that she knows about his money troubles. In the kitchen, Victory talks to her dad about his reservations regarding Joe. She reminds him of his own parents’ reaction to his marriage to her mom, a young Korean girl at the time, and that Victory was seven before meeting her grandparents.
Wendy and Nico give speeches to the happily engaged couples. During the speech, Wendy notices Maddie walk into the party drunk and grab a glass of champagne. After the speech, she quietly walks to the back, grabs her daughter and leaves. Griffin approaches Nico and excuses himself from the party.
Wendy tries to hail a cab to get her and Maddie home. Maddie, upset, tells Wendy it’s all her fault that Shane left and isn’t coming back. That he left on tour to get away from her. Wendy tries to tell her that they aren’t splitting up, but Maddie gets sick and throws up in a trash can.
Victory and Joe decide on wedding plans. Kirby pays Nico a visit which opens up the possibility of something new. Wendy and Maddie come to a truce and find comfort in their relationship.
First aired: January 9, 2009.
It is soooo sad that NBC continues to cancel entertaining shows only to keep the disgusting, void of entertainment value, cheep to produce reality shows. I miss Lipstick Jungle, Life and now next season on NBC – Medium. The powers that be at GE/NBC should cancel the person/s who make these decisions. Obviously they have the wrong person/people for the job. How many years will NBC tolerate the lowest ratings without making personel changes???????
do not cancel this show!
I’d love to see another season of Lipstick Jungle! so sad it was canceled! something might have been wrong with the management at NBC, cause the show was really catching!
Network TV is amazing. It used to be that a series would begin in September and would end in May – the summer would be filled with reruns & movies for TV. You looked forward to a new season & to see how the cliffhanger turned out. BUT now, you never know when a show will come on or the season will end – AND by the time it does come back on you have TOTALLY forgotten what had happened OR you are interested in another show. It is like the networks really don’t want shows to succeed because they… Read more »
Look, if you are going to cancel Lipstick Jungle and October Road which happen to be two of my favorite shows at least give us some closure with a wrap up episode.
Everytime I really like a show, they cancel it! What was wrong with Lipstick Jungle? What was wrong with Life on Mars? Jeez, they leave on those crappy reality shows and take off the good stuff. I wish we could ask us before they decide! I Really liked Still Standing! At least I can watch the reruns. What the heck!
Please bring back Lipstick Jungle……if you need to find a timeslot, cancel some the “reality” crap taking up all the air time!
I along with many, do not want to see Lipstick Jungle cancelled, on monday morning after every weekend my co-workers and i can’t wait to get to work to discuss what happend to each character on LIPSTICK JUNGLES. I am also discussed with all the good shows that was cancelled this season. men in trees, what about brian, october road, who gives a damn about these stupid reality show. When live in the real world every day, why can’t we dreams that shows like the before mentioned are real for a hour each week Pleeeeeeeaaaasee, find another network to show… Read more »
Totally and Completely Bummed. Lipstick was at the top of my list of favorite tv shows. I’ve been waiting anxiously for its return and now I’m told it’s cancelled. Wow, you people at NBC are stupid. You kept jacking around with it’s time slot making it hard for people to keep up with when it was on and now you won’t even give it a chance to come back and succeed. Heaven forbid you keep a show about strong successful women on the air for too long, we might start feeling empowered getting some ideas of our own. Shame on… Read more »
Totally agree!
Please don’t cancel this awsome program! Why is it that you get into a new show and really enjoy it. Then they cancel it. I am really tired of this! I have three kids and really like to sit down after they go to bed to relax and watch my special programs. Lipstick Jungle has always been at the top of my list!
I have been to hell and back!!! I was diagnosed with breast cancer, lost a baby at 7 months along, went through chemotherapy, 2 surgeries, 12 weeks of radiation only to have find out 2 weeks after radaiton that I still have cancer. I fail in love with Lipstick Jungle and looked forward to seeing the series each week and if I was too tired from all my treatments to watch it, I ALWAYS recorded it. I thought all of the characters were fabulous!!! I feel that after all I have endured through the grace of GOD, I should at… Read more »
DON’T CANCEL THE SHOWWWWWW. PLEAAAAAASE. :((
I have to be joking, are they aiming for a t.v. watching strike. They are not leaving us any options, none of the networks. No more reality, give us the shows we want!
One great show that I so look forward to. Please keep it on…great writing, great cast, great fanfare it has it all.
Please don’t cancel Lipstick Jungle. It is one of the few television shows that I watch.