Review: The Playboy Club, S1, E1 - "Pilot" (Bunnies, Murder and the Mob)

Air Date: Monday, September 19, 2011, 10/9c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“It was the early 60s, and the bunnies were some of the only women in the world who could be anyone they wanted to be.” – Hugh Hefner in voice-over

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But despite what people have been saying, the only thing I found similar to AMC’s hit series Mad Men is the era of the 1960s. And that’s only because Hugh Hefner founded The Playboy Club in early 1960—if the writers/creators of The Playboy Club wanted to mimic Mad Men, we would be watching an entirely different show.

Review: The Playboy Club, S1, E1 - "Pilot" (Bunnies, Murder and the Mob) 1

Nick (Eddie Cibrian) and Billy (David Krumholtz) admiring new Bunny Maureen (Amber Heard)

The “Pilot” has an interesting storyline involving Bruno Bianci (Matt DeCaro) aka Clyde Hill, head of the Bianci Family, being killed by new Bunny Maureen (Amber Heard) after he attacks her in the storeroom. Luckily for her, handsome high-powered attorney Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian) rescues this damsel in distress. Bunny Carol-Lynne (Laura Benati), Nick’s girl, doesn’t like his immediate attraction to Maureen, especially after she discovers Maureen in Nick’s apartment. Can’t say as I blame her – Nick certainly has an eye for the ladies. He also has his eyes set on becoming the next State’s Attorney. I find it interesting that Carol-Lynne tries to befriend Maureen after she gets fired from the Club and becomes the House Manager at the Playboy Mansion—I’m sure it’s the old “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” thing. But Maureen is a little too smart to fall for that trick. She’s also quite a flirt. I knew girls who were like that, using their sexuality to get what they wanted. Thankfully, the Women’s Movement took care of that—although there are plenty of women out there who still do it. Speaking of the Women’s Movement, I can’t wait to see how it plays out as the season progresses.

Review: The Playboy Club, S1, E1 - "Pilot" (Bunnies, Murder and the Mob) 2

Amber Heard as Bunny Maureen, Naturi Naughton as Bunny Brenda, and Leah Renee Cudmore as Bunny Alice

There are other Bunnies with interesting storylines as well—Alice (Leah Renee Cudmore) who doesn’t wear her wedding band and is so saccharine sweet I want to vomit; playful Brenda (Naturi Naughton) who wants to be the first “chocolate centerfold;” and Janie (Jenna Dewan Tatum), sassy and seductive with a secret. Playboy Club Manager Billy Rosen (David Krumholtz) comes across as somewhat creepy to me. To tell you the truth, I didn’t even recognize Krumholtz. What happened to all that curly hair he sported on Numbers?

A few observations:

Review: The Playboy Club, S1, E1 - "Pilot" (Bunnies, Murder and the Mob) 3

Clyde Hill (Matt DeCaro) as he tries to molest Bunny Maureen (Amber Heard)

I must give DeCaro kudos for his great acting. Just watching him trying to molest Maureen—skimming his hands up and down her body—gave me the creeps.

Naturi Naughton being cast as a Bunny is quite fitting, given her role as Lane’s (Jared Harris) Bunny love interest in season four of Mad Men.

The music is fabulous. Jenifer Lewis is fantastic as Tina Turner when she sings “Shake a Tail Feather.” That girl moves almost as fast as the real Tina! I understand Colbie Caillot will be singing Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party;” Raphael Saddiq will be stepping into the shoes of Sam Cooke; and Javier Colon, winner of the first season of The Voice, will transform himself into Ray Charles.

Review: The Playboy Club, S1, E1 - "Pilot" (Bunnies, Murder and the Mob) 4

Nick (Eddie Cibrian) hands Maureen (Amber Heard) a drink to calm her nerves

Some of the dialogue doesn’t fit the time period. No one used the word “penis” back then, as Brenda does when she asks Maureen if it’s true what they say about the size of Nick’s penis. Also, the furniture in Nick’s apartment doesn’t transport me to the 1960s—it’s way too modern and sleek. Janie referring to forced vomiting as a “new diet” she’s heard about doesn’t ring true since bulimia wasn’t diagnosed until the late 1970s.

It’s an interesting commentary on the times when Johnny Bianci (Troy Garity), Bruno’s son, tells Nick to throw the housing case he’s handling for the Negroes (my God, how I hate that term), threatening that he can’t become State’s Attorney without the support of the Family. It harkens back to the accusations of the Mob being involved with Marilyn Monroe’s death. Speaking of Marilyn Monroe, she’s the star Maureen envisions becoming.

I am quite a bit surprised at the appearance of the Mattacchine Society, especially when we learn exactly why Alice doesn’t wear her wedding band. This plotline comes out of the blue at the end of the Pilot and catches me totally off guard. I had no idea there was an underground secret society dedicated to homosexuality. That was one topic that was not discussed openly in the 60s.

Favorite lines:

Bunny Janie: “If it’s on the menu, it’s a buck and a half. If it’s not on the menu, it’s not for sale.”

***

Bartender Max (Wes Ramsey) to Billy: “Do you have any idea what’s it like watching your girlfriend get hit on by every guy in the club every night?”

Billy: “Yup, that’s why I married her, got her pregnant and ugly.”

***

Alice to Carol-Lynne, whispering: “I make more money than my father.”

***

Billy to Nick about Carol-Lynne: “Smart? Who needs smart? You’re the only man I know puts his hand up a girl’s skirt looking for a dictionary.”

I’ll admit, I had a good time watching The Playboy Club. It was fun, entertaining, intriguing and took me back to my early 20s, especially the underwear the Bunnies are sporting. Let me tell you, those girdles are not easy to be in for hours on end. And did you get a load of those cone bras? *shudder* There is a lot of character and storyline development that needs to take place before I can become fully invested in The Playboy Club. From the looks of the promos though, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Tune in to The Playboy Club, Sunday nights at 10/9c on NBC. For more information on the show, go to http://www.nbc.com/the-playboy-club.

LIKE The Playboy Club on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NBCThePlayboyClub. Follow the show on Twitter @NBCPlayboyClub.

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Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!