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Privileged Rundown: Episode 18, "All About a Brand New You"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:30:51 PST

It wasn't among the CW's early renewals yesterday, but creator Rina Mimoun is presenting the season two storyline to CW execs this week. So, bottom line: Cross your fingers.

This finale - which even ended with the hopeful words "to be continued" - doesn't leave me with the kind of cliffhanger that I desperately need to have resolved, but it does set up lots of great material for a second season, if not beyond. I really hope this show gets picked up for another season!

Did you catch the finale? To chat about it,

This episode turned on the waterworks for me - I couldn't help it! It's so sweet when Sage and Marco have their heart-to-heart about Luis, ending with Marco telling Sage, "I love you, too." And then there's the actual wedding itself which, come on, it's a wedding! Even Sage cried! And finally, when Sage calls Rose "Rosie" at the end and tells her how brave it is to do her big wilderness trip - tear!
Speaking of which: Rose's decision to grow up and become independent clearly wasn't all talk and no action, to the point that she gets a big box with a knife delivered to her (you can ship that?) for her upcoming Outward Bound survival trip. Not only is she skipping out on Spring Break with Sage in Aspen for it, but she's also alienating her friends with her questionable outdoorsy fashion choices and bug spray scent.
I'm glad we got to see at least a little tutoring in this episode, because it definitely hasn't been the focus for a while. Megan is sweet with Sage, suggesting that maybe she actually try hard on something rather than just squeaking by with minimal effort. Also love this exchange:

Megan: "I'm surprised at how quickly you came to that conclusion."
Sage: "I'm a big fan of Blink."
For that matter, this episode is one of the quippiest we've had in a while. Sage's "I don't need bullet points to get people to agree with me; I have a black AmEx card for that," "I think it might be too moist for love," and "Fleece, Rose? Seriously? Why not get a perm and call it a day?" are a few of my favorites.

Kathy Griffin as the guys' wedding planner - what did you think? I think she was perfectly cast, though at the same time I'm glad she didn't have any more lines than she did.
With all the growing Rose is doing, it's nice to see some from Sage as well. Dumping Luis must be hard - it's her first real breakup - but she wants someone who's open to new ideas, and Luis's opposition to Marco and Keith's wedding means he's not that guy for her.
All this "personal growth stuff," as Rose puts it, is actually really inspiring! I now have an urge to go on a big outdoor adventure . . . or something else spontaneous and challenging.
The dancing scene at the wedding is adorable! I want to believe they just basically turned on some good music, told the cast to dance, and let the cameras roll.
I liked that the episode seems like a very final finale - wrapping up some storylines, including having Laurel love the book Megan's writing about her - but with a fun twist at the end. As Megan talks to Will on the phone and invites him over to talk I was so relieved that she didn't go out with that new guy . . . except she did! Having him sit up in her bed and grin, followed by her cute little "Holy crap!"? Super awesome ending.

Photos courtesy of the CW

Privileged Rundown: Episode 17, "All About Betrayal"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:31:07 PST

Wow, this week's Privileged has a lot of fallout from last week's big confessions. We finally learn Sage's big secret, and Rose starts to realize that all her life people have kept secrets from her in an effort to protect her. She no longer wants to be protected, though, and it's interesting how much more grown-up Rose seems by the end of this episode. Meanwhile, Megan and Will are fighting about career issues and Marco longs to get back together with Keith.

Did you watch this second-to-last episode of Privileged? To talk about it,

So Sage's big confession is out, and no, it doesn't turn out that she somehow murdered her parents or anything like that. But she does believe she caused their deaths by whining and crying so much (about not being able to go to a birthday party with a petting zoo!) that they missed their plane, instead boarding the one that crashed and killed them. Obviously, a lot of other people had a hand in that accident, but I can understand why Sage feels responsible.
Rose's reaction to the confession's super-interesting to me: She's mad, but she's not mad about what Sage did when they were 6 years old. Instead, she's mad that Sage protected her from that - and who knows what else? - over the years. It's a little sad to see her packing up her suitcase at the end of the episode, but she's not going far, just down the hall. There are lots of reasons why I want this show to get a second season, but one is definitely that I want to see how Rose acts when she's less under Sage's wing.
Robert Buckley is hot, but as the magazine editor, he's also kind of a jerk. He gives Megan a hard time with all of her pitches while making Will photo editor (at his dad's request), then tells Megan he can't deal with having a conflict of interest down the line with his employees dating.

I find it a little disorienting to see Megan so flustered by David. Not that she should be sassy with him, but it's startling to see someone (other than Laurel) shoot her down and talk down to her - and to watch her just take it. I like it more when Megan's all bubbly and overtalk-y. The addition of David is throwing me for a loop.
But the part that got a real reaction from me in this episode was Will's behavior! My gosh, he's so unfair to Megan, jumping down her throat when she says she doesn't want his dad to get her a job. Projection much, Will? Sheesh.
Is this curtains for Will and Megan? I can't remember the last episode that went by without them fighting, and the magazine issue pokes at one of their central conflicts: Megan wants to earn everything, and Will's more or less OK with using his wealth and contacts to his advantage. Not to be a Negative Nancy or anything, but I kind of hope they do break up - or at least take a little breather.
In other love story news: Marco proposes! "Platinum doesn't lie"!
Overall, I'm glad that they're using Marco more and more - and not just for a punny quip here and there. His storyline is actually moving forward and I like it.
Since Keith turned Marco down the first time, does that mean Megan got to eat the turtles?

Photos courtesy of the CW

Privileged Rundown: Episode 16, "All About Confessions"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:30:41 PST

This week's episode of Privileged really is all about confessions! Big reveal-y ones, too, from Charlie to Megan, from Rose to Zach (and Zach to Rose!), from a strange blond woman to Rose, and from Sage to a Catholic priest. Lots going on this week in lush Palm Beach - and none of it has to do with Megan's family. Are you glad to get a reprieve from her family drama? Or did they just replace one kind of drama with another?

If you want to talk about this week's episode (spoilers ahead!),

Last things first: Just as actress Ashley Newbrough promised, Sage reveals a big secret at the end of the episode - that she feels like she caused her parents' deaths. Yikes! I'm anxious to find out what she means by this.
One of my favorite lines of the episode also comes from Sage as she nervously walks to church with Luis: "It's been a long time since God's seen me. I mean, should I change my outfit?"
Rose's storyline went from sweetly adorable to mega-drama right quick. I love that Zach is touched by Rose stalking his ex-girlfriend (who, to Rose, seems "really lovely"), and that Rose then wants to hurry home so she can watch Battlestar Galactica while talking to him on the phone. But then that blond lady approaches Rose and reveals that Miles is her grandfather. The big drama seems like it's coming next week: Rose getting on a plane, all serious-like, with Sage pleading with her not to leave "like this."
But before the drama kicks in, how cute is it that Zach met his ex at space camp? I also loved Rose saying that she expected her sexual experience would "bend the whole gender-power dynamic" and then confessing that Megan had made her read Backlash.
I couldn't be more grateful for the lack of Lily problems in this episode. I just have such a hard time with that character sometimes. But this week she was practically likable. And I got a kick out of Charlie's line: "So I meant to ask you: How was jail?"
Could've used a lot more Marco, though the image of him wearing um, just a bow, and singing "Would You Light My Candle?" from Rent definitely cracked me up. A dash of Marco in the episode is always better than no Marco at all.
It felt to me like the Charlie-Megan kiss was way rushed, but I guess it was going to have to happen sometime, and it's still up in the air whether or not Privileged will get a second season so might as well speed up the action. I guess?
Will's behavior in this episode infuriated me. What did you make of all of that? The macho posturing that both men exhibit at the bar is just ridiculous. I get that Will feels like he plays second fiddle to Charlie, but the whole beer pong thing is so unnecessary. Then again, I can't believe I'm making an impassioned point about beer pong.
Also, where do you fall on Mandy's statement about Megan? "You play all sweet and adorable, but the truth is, you're completely selfish." I'm generally inclined to take Megan's side over Mandy's, and I don't think Megan intentionally caused anyone harm, but I do think she can be naive.
It's refreshing - though bittersweet - to see Megan and Charlie finally have a frank discussion about their feelings and the nature of their friendship. It seems so real and honest when Megan tells Charlie that he's the most important person in her life because that really has always seemed to be the case. She's not just saying it to make him feel better.
Man, I'm going to miss Charlie.

Ashley Newbrough on Living the Privileged Life

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:41:18 PST

As Sage Baker on the CW's Privileged, Ashley Newbrough plays a snarky ice queen with a good heart buried somewhere deep inside. On tonight's episode, titled "All About Confessions," many of the characters reveal something major they've been hiding - and Sage's secret is one of the biggest of all. Earlier this week, Newbrough hopped on the phone with some reporters to chat about playing Sage, working on Privileged, and getting comfortable with her TV twin. Here are highlights:

On Sage's big confession: "Sage reveals this secret, the secret that will explain why she's so guarded, and it's a pretty heavy deal, it's something she's been carrying her entire life - well, since she was 6, since her parents died. She's been carrying this secret for so long, and it's the first time she lets it off her shoulders and says it out loud, really. And I think it's good because it lets the audience in on her darkest secret, so it kind of shows you what really damaged her. You get to see the softer side of Sage. She's very, very vulnerable, which is something that never happens."
On how having a love interest has changed Sage: "It's forced her to sort of be a little bit more sensitive and sort of watch what she says a little bit more . . . especially when it's Luis, because he doesn't put up with her crap, and he doesn't back down from any of her mean remarks or anything like that. It's definitely made her reevaluate what she says and how she treats people. . . Just kind of dealing with the feelings of having a crush on someone has just made her grow up a little bit and accept the fact that she's going to let him in and be a little bit vulnerable with him, which are all things that she's never experienced before, because as she says, she's never liked someone this much."
On what attracted her to playing Sage: "I felt like you could tell she was damaged, and underneath all that ice and meanness she was a good person somewhere. Being only 16 and having lost her parents when she was 6, I think that all forced her to grow up really fast and sort of made her different than all the other regular mean girls on television shows or in life, because I think she has all these reasons for why she is so mean and guarded and why she hates letting people in so much. . . I also liked how she was so protective of her sister. She can be mean to everyone in the world but as long as Rose is happy, she didn't care."

To find out what she thinks makes Sage likable beneath all the nastiness, what it's like being the taller twin, and what surprised her about working in LA vs. working in Canada,

On making her mean girl character likable: "Whenever I have these lines where I'm calling people, you know, 'pear-shaped' or 'effeminate' or 'fat and deaf,' I feel so bad, and I always feel the need to go up to the actors and hug them or something, because I feel so mean about it. I think the likability comes from the comedy of it, because I've actually had a lot of people tell me that Sage is the character that says what everyone's thinking but they're too afraid to say it."
On bonding with her TV twin, Lucy Hale: "The first thing we did was we went out to Pinkberry, because in the pilot they have Pinkberry moments, and I had just moved to LA so I had never had it before. So we had a Pinkberry moment, and then we got pedicures and went shopping and we honestly clicked so well right off the top. I couldn't have asked for a better twin sister costar, because Lucy is awesome. We actually are roommates now. We get along very well, we go shopping all the time, we do a lot together, so it's very easy to play twins on camera."
On playing the taller twin: "Sometimes they have me not wearing shoes, if I'm off-camera, and then they'll have Lucy wearing her heels, or sometimes they'll build her up a little ramp - it's really cute, it's red, and they've got stars on it, so she gets a little bit of a height boost, and they take off my heels."

On one big difference between Canadian and US shows: "One thing that's very different is the wardrobe - the wardrobe fittings, not the clothes really . . . In Canada you go in your own separate changing room, and you come out and they assess whether or not they're going to use the outfit and whatnot, but in LA, it's just like, 'OK, and change! And strip!' And you're just like 'What?' I was so thrown off at first because I was like, 'Is there somewhere I'm supposed to go?' and the lady looked at me like I was crazy, and I was like, 'Oh! Or not, I can change here, that's cool too.'"
On the show's messages for young women: "There's a lot that Megan teaches Rose and Sage throughout the season that can apply to young girls everywhere - it's not just the rich and glamorous that can learn from each episode, it's the average girl, and I think that's awesome. I think they deal with some topics that maybe some girls don't want to discuss with their parents, and it's great, because then you get to watch Megan and the twins kind of go through it all. I think that's really good for young teens who are looking for any kind of guidance and maybe don't know where to go for it."

Photos Source and courtesy of The CW

Privileged Rundown: Episode 13, "All About What Lies Beneath"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:35:51 PST

Save the Cuban children with synchronized swimming! This week's episode of Privileged has Rose planning a luncheon to benefit Cuban children - all as a ploy for Sage to spend more time with Luis who is planning the menu. Meanwhile, Megan's wondering why Will doesn't seem to want to get it on with her and her mother shares some unsolicited opinions on the subject. And we meet Marco's man, Keith, who is excited to kick start Marco's future - away from the Baker household.

Did you watch? Want to chat about it? Just

Wow, new credits! I particularly like the shot of Megan guzzling wine/champagne straight from the bottle.
It's official: I'm easily amused. That line from Luis about Megan wanting to "free Willie" made me laugh.
The development of Megan and Marco's relationship is one of my favorite parts of the show at this point. Love her oversharing her romantic issues ("This bra? See-through.") and his response: "Compared to his usual dates, you're a Disney classic."
Speaking of romantic foibles, I usually find Megan's kind of cute, but sliding off the bed and ending up in the hospital was a little . . . much. I did crack up at their "shtupping" session in the supply closet, though - the Grey's Anatomy docs would be proud.
We meet Marco's boyfriend in the same episode that they break up? No fair! It's interesting to see some of Marco's life outside the house - that he aspires to open a cafe, etc. - and it does make me wonder what really keeps him with Laurel and the girls.

Ha, "Love smoothies come later."
I love Charlie, and I am in denial about the fact that he's leaving the show. But the silver lining is that no Charlie means no Mandy, and it just feels like they've done all they're going to do with that plotline. Also, this episode did drive home the fact that Mandy's nuts. I understand her jealousy, but she just seems so crazy when she talks about it.
It's fun to see Rose get a chance to shine, especially with something that took research and a certain amount of craftiness. She clearly is smart, just not school-smart, and sometimes her naivete can actually work in her favor ("Did you know that everyone in this town hates each other?" "Yeah, it's Palm Beach, not the midwest"). In general it's fun to see the twins bail each other out, like when Sage took over for Rose on the red carpet when chatting with Perez Hilton in a previous episode.
On a Palm Beach-related note: The Palm Beach Synchronized Swimmers telling the water-based journey of Cuban refugees to the USA? Ohhhhhhh my, no. So wrong and yet, so hilarious.
And as always, I loved the fashion in this episode, especially that dress that Megan's mother gets her and the totally adorable little red number Rose wears when Mrs. Bennington comes over. Want it!
I was relieved to see Megan yell at her mom and get out some of her deep-seated anger. I'm glad they admitted that this relationship couldn't be just sunshine and fun as soon as Shelby returns to town and decides to be a girlfriend-y kind of mom. That scene felt more realistic than some of their mother-daughter scenes in other episodes and I was glad to see it.
Aw, Sage's accidental love confession: "No, idiot, it's because I liked you. Shut up, I don't like you."

After seeing the previews for next week's episode, I can't wait for that Megan-Marco exchange about the Luis-Sage romance. You?

Photos courtesy of The CW

Privileged Rundown: Episode 12, "All About the Ripple Effect"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:16:18 PST

On this week's Privileged, Megan's family situation gets a little more complicated when her mom swings into town for the first time in, oh, 17 years. That dredges up a whole host of other issues, including some conflict between Will and Charlie. Meanwhile, the twins are cute and flirty and provide some levity in an otherwise pretty heavy episode. To see some of my thoughts and add your own, just

First of all, it must be said: not my favorite episode of Privileged. There was just so much going on, and a lot of it was unexplained, especially about Megan's mom's behavior. Why didn't she insist on apologizing for being absent for 3/4 of Megan's life? Why does Megan's dad feel so strongly about her forgiving Shelby when it's not like the two of them had a wonderful marriage? It kind of made my head spin.
That said, it does really shake up Megan's little independent bubble when she has to deal with her family. She knows what she wants most of the time in her career, and at least some of the time in her love life, but around her family, she's a total mess.
The owner of the salon where Lily works makes me laugh so much, first saying "aw, look at you, three steps behind" when telling Megan that Lily got married, then describing Lily's wedding hairstyle as: "I gave her a bouffant. Lawd, it wasn't teased - it was terrified."
Also? So wanted to see those photos of the bouffant.
While Megan's waist-deep in family drama, Sage is still torture-flirting with Luis (and occasionally causing him to shout loudly in Spanish), so Rose decides to take matters into her own hands and seduce him to make Sage jealous and get her to admit her crush. She's adorable when she gets all rhapsodic over a pot of boiling water.

Sage retaliates by inviting over Rose's little crush, a chemistry nerd who plays the French horn and is apparently really into The Notebook (Sage: "OK, maybe don't share that with everyone"). I have to say I'm a little muddled on why Sage did this whole thing with Zachary. To distract Rose from her little plan to make Sage jealous? Too much scheming! Can't keep track!
I love that the reference Will gives for his dad's new magazine is George, the political insider magazine started by JFK Jr. "Hey, remember this moderately successful and totally niche-y magazine from the late '90s?" I wonder how many people reacted a la Rose and "I Will Survive": "I don't know what that means!"
Also, what did Megan do in that interview with the tobacco heiress that was so offensive?
So Megan flips out at her mom - "you gave up the right to call either one of us 'daughter' when you walked out" - and I dunno, but I guess I wanted to see more of that. More explosions, less shopping?
Meanwhile, Will's annoyed because he doesn't understand Megan's family and Megan isn't doing anything to make him get it. So Charlie steps in, and that leads to this whole bitter battle between the two of them, which includes Charlie dressing down Will this way: "You probably didn't even think it, cause you're kind of cocky, but you do have a problem. It's you." Yikes. Did you side with one guy more than the other in this scene?
And what about Mandy? Do you think you'd be jealous (or have you been) if your boyfriend were friends with a girl the way that Charlie is friends with Megan?
The conversation between Sage and Rose at the end made me smile. "Being adorable comes easy for you. It's a gift, Rose. Cherish it."

So, Shelby's sticking around, Ripple magazine may be a go, and Sage totally likes Luis. What did you all think of this one?

Photos courtesy of The CW

Privileged Rundown: Episode 11, "All About Love, Actually"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:41:49 PST

Well, the title doesn't lie: This episode of Privileged is indeed all about love (actually) - and specifically, the trials and tribulations of dating long-distance. Laurel goes off to meet Miles, Megan and Will talk about the whole Brazil issue, and Charlie and Mandy have to decide whether they're really going to live together. But that's not all - there's a little something-something between Sage and Marco's new kitchen helper, Luis, too. There's really no limit to what a good cassoulet can do. If you missed this episode, it repeats tonight at its regular time, but if you're ready to talk about it now,

So Megan makes off with the cheat purse, no problem, and then informs Rose that she's grounded. Because it's Megan, it's "The X-Games of grounding," with Rose indefinitely confined to "these four - make that six to eight - walls." Heh.
Also, just so we're clear, here's what grounding means to a girl like Rose: "No phone, no internet, no Pilates." I love that she tries to make nice with Megan by handing over some of her favorite things, including her laptop and her new crystal headband.
Rose is also furious at Sage for telling Megan about the cheating, so they're not speaking for most of the episode.This frees up Sage to spend plenty of time in the kitchen torturing/flirting with Luis, who's also Charlie's cousin. You know, this show has enough complicated family trees, it could put the Walkers to shame.
Meanwhile, Will initially tells Megan he wants to "pause" their relationship while he's in Brazil, then kind of backs down, and then it doesn't matter anyway because he's not going to Brazil.
Wallow Hollow! OMG, what a great idea. Will's has sushi, Japanese beer, and Monty Python movies. What's in your Wallow Hollow?

But all is less well once Megan finds out that Will knew about the job before he even asked Megan out! I loved her bonding with Rose over this later (after Rose is no longer "grounded from banter"), because Rose confirms that Will's actions constitute a "bogus ask."
Speaking of bogus asks - oh, the saga of Charlie and Mandy moving in together. Do you agree with Megan that Mandy was trying to get Charlie to say they were doing the right thing? Or do you agree with Mandy's opinion that Megan's basically nuts? Also, while we're at it, how do you feel about Mandy generally? I was actually a little relieved that she was going to be moving an hour away . . . until they resolve all their issues and move in anyway.
Also moving awfully fast, until it suddenly goes nowhere: Miles and Laurel. Miles takes the news of being a father surprisingly well (by which I mean, there's no reaction, really), but then Laurel's too busy to make time for him and they're never going to date long-distance, and blah blah blah, that's pretty much over. If Miles had been more conniving, I'd expect he'd show up in the girls' lives in some evil way down the line.
You know what deserves its own bullet point? Bedazzled jeans.
On that note: Want the clothes. Again.
Rose's grades come in, and they're pretty decent - a couple of C's, some B's, an A-minus. Megan agrees to ease up on the pressure if Rose won't lie and cheat.
There's no arguing that Will doesn't know how to do a dramatic gesture. First, porch sneaking; now, chestnuts and Christmas tree! Still . . . Megan's pretty quick to forgive, no?

So: Are you feeling sparks between Sage and Luis? What secrets do you think Sage keeps from Rose? Have you had a "I would love to not be in these jeans right now" moment?

Photos courtesy of The CW

Privileged Rundown: Episode 10, "All About Overcompensating"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:30:28 PST

Alright, Buzz readers, you win. By popular demand (and, well, because I freaking love this show, too), I'm kicking off my rundowns of Privileged today! Prove your dedication to this sweet CW show by really chatting it up in the comments, OK?

So, on this week's show, things are heating up between Megan and Will, but the two of them don't seem to have an easy path ahead. Also, there's a scheming, bad-girl Baker twin in the house, and for once, it's not Sage. To chat about this episode, just

First of all, I love Megan practicing her saucy "Heyyyyyy, Will!" faces in the mirror, only to greet him with a less-attractive expression that's about halfway to a scowl. She's a smooth operator, that one.
Speaking of smooth - Megan attempting to get herself some hot dates is hysterical, especially when it involves a pre-8 a.m. phone call to Charlie. Not awkward at all.
You just know that someone in the Privileged writers' room once dated a guy whose outgoing voicemail message ended with "Rock om." Cause that? Is something you just can't make up.
On the topic of voicemail, have you ever noticed how many BlackBerries there are in this show? Once I noticed a few of them, they seemed to be everywhere.
OK, a man sneaks onto your patio, all catburglar-like: Adorable or creepy?
Is it me, or does Charlie look not altogether happy when he hugs Mandy after asking her to move in with him?
So, Rose gets a D on that English test and doesn't seem on her way to acing the history exam, either. You know, one of the things I really love about this show is that they've created a character who struggles with school even though she wants to do better. Usually, shows just have the smart slacker, Sage-style.
Well, hi there, bad girl Rose! Buying a test is not too shabby for a brief foray into scheming (except for, you know, that whole ethical line-crossing and potential expulsion). Of course, Sage has been badder for longer, so she goes the extra mile and gets the answers sewn into a purse for Rose. I guess that would work, if the questions are in the exact same order and nobody wonders why somebody fashionable now has an alphabet soup handbag?
I love that Rose takes a moment the night before to match her shoes and her necklace to the "cheat bag." It's so endearing because of course Rose would do that!
Speaking of fashion - Megan's clothes! So adorable! I'd show you pictures of all the things I want (that red dress from the date and the yellow silk top, for starters) if the CW had bothered to take pictures of this episode, but since they didn't, I'll settle for ogling this purple dress from the opening scene.

Did you watch this week's episode? Do you think Megan and Will are right for each other? How sucky is it that we have to wait two weeks for the next episode?

Pilot Watch: Privileged

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:30:01 PDT

The networks have announced their Fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? This Summer, as the networks release their pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air - especially this year, when the writers' strike severely gummed up the production of pilots - so consider these just some quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: Privileged, a CW dramedy that will air after 90210 on Tuesdays.

What's it about? Based on the book How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls (which was also the show's original title), Privileged is the story of Megan Smith, a Yale grad who ends up personal tutor to spoiled Palm Beach heiresses Rose and Sage.

Who's in it? Joanna Garcia, Lucy Hale (who is not Nora Zehetner), Ashley Newbrough, Anne Archer, Michael Cassidy

The good: Garcia is wonderful in the lead role, a little reminiscent of Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada as she bumbles her way through various situations; she gets all of the most clever lines. Likewise, Newbrough is strong as the controlling, backstabbing Sage, and Hale turns on the sweetness to play the more delicate Rose. In fact, "sweet" is a good word for the show overall: It's very feel-good. Even the drama seems low-stakes, without the scandal of a Gossip Girl episode.

The bad: I didn't come to Privileged looking for an outstanding plot, but even at that, there were some baffling elements. The show hints that Megan has a past in Palm Beach - so why is she so surprised at the mansions and the money? And why would someone as smart as Megan supposedly is take a job as a tutor without even meeting the kids she's supposed to teach? I also can't believe this is a 9 p.m. show; it's not as family friendly as 7th Heaven or anything, but it still seems like it would appeal to a younger audience than 90210 will.

Will I watch? I'll probably check out a couple of episodes to see how the story progresses and then decide whether it's on my schedule for good.

To check out a preview and a gallery of photos, just

View 14 Photos ›

Photo courtesy of The CW