Smallscreen Reviews

Review: The Playboy Club: More Mob than Sex

By Tracey Brown Sep 19, 2011, 23:06 GMT

At least in the pilot, there is more about the Chicago Mob than a racy behind the scenes look at the Bunnies in the original Playboy Club in 1960’s Chicago.

The most surprising thing about NBC’s new series, The Playboy Club isn’t the much feared retro sexism, but how tame it is. 

At least in the pilot, there is more about the Chicago Mob than a racy behind the scenes look at the Bunnies in the original Playboy Club in 1960’s Chicago. 

The only sexy thing in the show is the girl’s famous Bunny outfits. But even those, from a modern perspective, look prim and quaint.  Perhaps NBC tamed things down because of the backlash in the press, especially after iconic feminist Gloria Steinem's dressing down of the series, as she appeared at the same summer TCA press tour as Amber Heard and the Bunny cast.

Whatever the cause, the show doesn’t embrace the titillation factor the way a cable show on HBO would, for example, which could be a problem.

If handled correctly, the show might find its feet after a few episodes, as it is an intriguing concept. 

Amber Heard (as the lead Bunny) definitely has the makings of a star, but it seems unlikely that will happen with this show unless future episodes give audiences more of what they expect from a show called The Playboy Club!

Verdict: Needs work.

THE PLAYBOY CLUB

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