‘Big Shots’ is men’s answer to ‘Desperate Housewives’
By Melanie Barnes, Entertainment Writer
October 11, 2007 | 8:29 p.m.
As if we needed another reason to watch television, the Thursday premiere of “Big Shots” predicts that ABC has yet another hit on its hands. From the boardroom to the bedroom, “Big Shots” is an inside look at the secret lives of four incredibly good-looking businessmen and the women who love, or make love to, them.
The pilot episode opens with the sexy Duncan Collinsworth (Dylan McDermott) in the throes of a wine-cellar quickie with ex-wife Lisbeth (Paige Turco). Meanwhile, Karl Mixworthy (Joshua Malina) is cheating on his wife with a naughty mistress as former golden boy, and only non-CEO of the bunch, James Walker (Michael Vartan), has just been fired from his company.
Feeling the drama yet?
Fast-forward to the green of the gossiping hot spot, the country club, where the men spill their secrets between rounds of golf and shrimp. Suddenly, a golf cart whizzes past, followed by a crash and a scream. The men rush to the scene to find none other than Walker’s boss facedown in the landscaping, dead. Brody Johns (Christopher Titus) quietly jokes to Walker that maybe his future with his company is not over yet.
So what do these alpha males have in common with the femme fatales of Wisteria Lane? This dark, comedy-infused drama is reminiscent of “Desperate Housewives” from the mysterious death in the pilot episode to the “behind closed doors” mentality of individual problems.
Walker plays the morally grounded “good guy,” who lovingly reminds the audience of charming housewife Susan Mayer. At his boss’ funeral, Walker learns that his wife has been cheating on him with the recently deceased man. Drifting through thoughts of divorce and newfound promise of promotion in the workplace, Walker is the only member of the foursome who has yet to bring trouble upon himself.
The drama continues as Collinsworth, whose rebelliously sexy romps run most parallel to Edie Britt’s, has more on his plate than relapses with his ex-wife. His reputation is currently at stake because of a night in Yonkers when he was arrested for mistaking a transvestite prostitute for that of the 100 percent female kind. Now he and his buddies are on a mission to “track down the tranny” before any snoopy reporters gain hold of this information.
Mixworthy is in deep with not one, but two females of the psychotic sort. His wife is a Plain Jane who lacks spice but is so sweet she plans her husband’s breakfast a day in advance. Mixworthy’s mistress is a voluptuous minx, but she wishes for a more intense relationship, emotionally speaking. His lack of commitment can be loosely tied to Gabrielle Solis, who hopes that the occasional off-the-path romance will lead to eventual happiness. Somehow Mixworthy gets trapped into couples therapy with both females to keep the woman he loves, and to keep the woman he loves from finding out he’s cheating on her.
Johns, the quick-witted victim of constant wifely henpecking, is the least burdened so far, with nothing but married life dragging him down, similar to Lynette Scavo. He provides the entertainment and the I-can’t-have-fun-I’m-married persona. Johns is also CEO of his company, yet his wife cares only that he can successfully throw a birthday party for her.
With “Grey’s Anatomy” as a lead-in, “Big Shots” has the potential to capture a large audience of devoted, yet predominantly female, television watchers. However, the show is receiving negative criticism for its lack of a specific audience. As a show advertised for the testosterone-driven, men may not be quick to tune in to dramatic, handsome characters living and gossiping about their dream lives everywhere from the country club to the health spa. Females may only stick around for the extra eye candy after McDreamy and McSteamy have exited the screen. Only further plot development will tell, but if “Big Shots” is half as saucy as “Desperate Housewives,” there will be a following of the usual ABC drama dimensions.
As if we needed another reason to watch television, the Thursday premiere of “Big Shots” predicts that ABC has yet another hit on its hands. From the boardroom to the bedroom, “Big Shots” is an inside look at the secret lives of four incredibly good-looking businessmen and the women who love, or make love to, them.
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“Big Shots” airs 10 p.m. Thursdays on ABC. Watch trailers and exclusive clips at ABC.com.