Pilot Review: Mistresses

Mistresses (ABC)
Premiered June 3 at 10pm

It’s officially summer according to the TV world, which means that the broadcast networks are churning out shows that they didn’t deem worthy of being showcased in their regular lineups between September and May. This show fits that bill perfectly, an adaptation of a moderately successful British series which has no true potential and feels even more like a soap opera than most other ABC fare these days, which is saying something. The cast is made up of two familiar TV faces – Alyssa Milano of “Charmed” and Yunjin Kim of “Lost” (admittedly an odd combination) – and two lesser-known supporting players, Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan. This show doesn’t exactly do much for the image of women on television. While “Desperate Housewives” empowered its main characters with rich plotlines and lives, this show essentially demotes them all to the role implied in the show’s title, sleeping with men in their lives who are married or in committed relationships. The show’s stance on sexuality and promiscuity is so blatant that it becomes obvious, as Kim’s therapist meets the son of the late man she was having an affair with, only to eventually and quite obviously become the object of his inappropriate affection. Milano’s Savi and Macallan’s Josslyn have mind-numbingly uncreative storylines, and at least Aytes’ April has a sweet-natured if infuriatingly childish romance going. I’m far removed from this show’s target audience, but even with a poor premise, I would have thought that this could have been done at least a bit better.

How will it work as a series? I suspect that most of the extramarital relationships currently going on won’t last long, but the show’s title seems to doom its characters to a life of infidelity, one that will likely be cyclical and predictable. The show is racy, I’ll give it that, but it doesn’t match that with quality characters or storylines.
How long will it last? It would be shocking to me if this show actually managed to exist outside of its thirteen-episode order, but the pilot’s ratings were more impressive than most summer series. They weren’t excellent, however, and I suspect they’ll drop substantially in the coming weeks. Thirteen episodes feels about right for this forgettable series, though one is more than enough for me.

Pilot grade: F