In Lifetime's new drama, the Party of Five alum plays a masseuse known for happy endings — and critics are pegging it as a surefire escapist hit for the evolving network "It's clearly not your mother's Lifetime anymore" tease ads for the new series The Client List. The show, in which Jennifer Love Hewitt essentially plays an empowered hooker, is something of a departure for a network best known for "poorly shot films about weepy women in jeopardy," says Troy Patterson at Slate. Based on the 2010 TV movie of the same name (which earned Hewitt a Golden Globe nod), The Client List focuses on Texas mom Riley Parks who's forced into work as a masseuse after her husband leaves her. Quickly learning that clients leave bigger tips when she offers extra services, Parks becomes skilled at doling out happy endings. Viewers got their first taste of her talents on Sunday night. "Delicious trash" or just trash? It's escapist fun: The Client List is "deliciously trashy, campy," and "generally quite fun, whether one chooses to laugh with it or at it," says Brian Lowry at Variety. The dialogue is unapologetically punny — "This job is all about flexibility," quips the massage parlor's manager. The male "customers" are delectable eye-candy. And Hewitt creates a charming, relatable character who's easy to root for. Furthermore, it's a refreshing change for the network. The Client List offers something that's typically absent from Lifetime's menu: "A happy ending."
Did anyone catch this show Sunday night? I know must of us are not watching lifetime unless you have a SO, but I set the DVR tonight to record the replay of premiere episode tomorrow to see if it is any good. If anything JLH has a decent rack so there will be some eye candy.
