Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Thank You, It's Cashmere

"Cashmere Mafia" has been said to do for women and their careers what "Sex & the City" did for women and their relationships. Or so I heard.

Sex & the City made me want a man, among other things, but we're not that kind of blog.

"Cashmere Mafia" makes me want to take on the business world in a couture dress and 4-inch heels. Friends since business school, Mia, Zoe, Juliet, and Caitlin are at the top of their careers and, like our "Sex & the City" heroines, are living the fabulous life in Manhattan.

For me, professionally, the most exciting character is magazine publisher Mia, played by Lucy Liu. In the first episode she must fight for the position of publisher against her fiancee. I have to admit that during their power plays, I smiled inside when Mia said to her fiancee in a hushed and husky voice something about nailing a 6-page spread and fashion advertorial for one the companies many books. I'm new at this publishing thing, but I'm sure a 6-page spread would turn any publisher on.

As a Working Girl, I find the colleagues around investment banker Zoe the most interesting. In the pilot, Zoe walks into her office to find junior analyst, Katherine, sitting at her desk, on the phone with an important client. Essentially, Katherine is an assistant. An assistant who doesn't get research to Zoe in time for an client meeting, calls Zoe in the morning to ask for a 'mental health' day, leaves with work unfinished and without telling Zoe. Zoe describes Katherine as being a part of Generation I.D., I Deserve. Watching the pilot, I was offended by this comment. Maybe I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by hard-working and dedicated Working Girls, but certainly don't think most of us are of the "I Deserve" school.

As a recent college grad, Caitlin reminds me the good 'ole days. Okay, so she's in her 30's in the show but she's the most relatable for a 22-year-old trying to find her place in the world. She even wakes up hung-over on her office couch after a night out. Many of my Friday mornings would be much easier to deal with if I had my own office with a couch. One day.

And Juliet, well, she has the complexion of Miranda, talks like Samantha, and has the demeanor of Charlotte. I'm not quite sure what she does for a living, something with hotels.

While reviews have been mixed, "Cashmere Mafia" is the perfect Working Girl show, and what else are you going to watch now that "Grey's" and "Gossip Girl" are over? There are only four episodes left in the short season so watch them on Wednesdays at 10:00, be sure to watch the first three on abc.com, and on Thursday come back to Working Girl for my thoughts on the episode. Yes, I'm pretending to be a TV critic, just let me have my fun!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

How very 'Pink Is The New Blog' of you, Working Girl 1!

meghan said...

woot!

Anna Routh said...

I have to admit, I was severely offended when I first heard about this show's existence. How dare they rip off SATC so blatantly! But, after i decided to watch the first episode, I was hooked! It is from the same director as SATC, so you know it will be clever and all about empowering the working girl....