Pan Am vs Playboy Club

I can't help but compare these two. Both take place in the 1960s, both involve crime (Pan Am's CIA subplot, Playboy's mob ties); both involve girls in costumes...

So if I have to declare a winner after just one episode, it is going to be Playboy Club.

Pan Am was just fine. I know it was only a pilot episode, but it just fell flat for me. The characters were all a bore. And the plots lacked intrigue. Even the biggest storyline of the night - the stewardess' CIA involvement - failed because the actress is just so bright-eyed that it's annoying. It seemed more like, 'Oh look at our amazing sets! Look at this 60s fashion! And great music!' It was just a lot of people walking around.

Christina Ricci's character may be the saving grace of the show. She's (seems to be) this modern, forward-thinking girl immersed in the big culture changes going on.... yet every day she puts on the prim and proper uniform to play the role of perfect, perky stewardess. She even got in trouble for not wearing her girdle! What a rebel! Is it her acting chops? Or just better character development? I don't know.

I'll give it a few more episodes before I decide if I should cut it completely...

Playboy.

Finally watched Playboy Club last night and I don't know why everyone's been hatin' - It isn't that bad. It's like the swagger of Mad Men, the music of American Dreams and the mysterious side of Pretty Little Liars got together and had a baby. How can that be bad?

And to everyone complaining about Eddie's (Nick Dalton on the show) acting.... He's just playing Don Draper. Seriously. His voice sound exactly like Jon Hamm's. It is kinda creepy actually....

Here's hoping he makes the role his own instead of just mimicking someone else. But even the other story lines are intriguing.... mob family? politics? a too old bunny who can't let go? a secret gay/lesbian club? I'm sold. 

Are you watching Playboy Club?

Mad Men or Playboy?

Have you seen the previews for The Playboy Club? It looks exactly like Mad Men. Geez, Eddie Cibrian's voice even sounds like Jon Hamm's!

Want to see more? Shep's got a ton more posted over at Let's Talk About TV!