"The Playboy Club" Review: Much Ado About Nothing?
Ever notice how all of these protests over the content of shows and movies usually end up being much ado about nothing?
Well that is definitely how I would describe the protests over NBC’s new drama, “The Playboy Club.” There’s nothing controversial about “Club” whatsoever. In fact, I’m still a little on the fence about whether it’s even worth watching at all…
The show quickly establishes the jazzy setting of Chicago’s Playboy Club in the 60s. The music is jumping, the bunnies are playing and the guys are paying—for cigarettes and drinks, that is. Maureen (Amber Heard), the new bunny, is attracting the attention of all the men—including ambitious attorney Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian). But when she accidentally murders a mob boss she attracted the attention of, she and Nick end up working together to cover up the murder.
And that’s all before the opening titles…
There’s also Carol-Lynne (Laura Benanti), the oldest bunny and Nick’s girlfriend, who constantly butts heads with Billy (David Krumholtz), the club’s manager, about how the bunnies should behave. Brenda (Naturi Naughton) is fighting against prejudice as she strives to become the first “chocolate centerfold” and sweet air-headed Alice (Leah Renee) is hiding a secret that could’ve been a real bombshell if it had been presented in a way that actually made sense…
In all honesty, “Club” was not nearly as tedious as I thought it would be. Cibrian is perfectly in his element as Nick, the gentleman with a shady edge. And Heard is perfectly cast as the girl-next-door with a little shadiness going on as well. Both of them do a good job of selling a story that is pretty unrealistic.
But the biggest problem of the show is that it can’t really decide what it is. Is it a show about the behind-the-scenes struggles of Playboy bunnies? Is it a showcase for the music and culture of the 60s featuring actors playing iconic performers? Or is it a mystery set against the world of the mob?
At this point, I’m not sure. And I don’t think the show is sure either. But I think it will need to make up its mind if it’s going to survive—especially in its tough Monday night timeslot.
“The Playboy Club” premieres Monday, September 19th at 10 p.m. on NBC…
Photo Credit: John Russo/NBC
