CBS | 21 episodes | Prime time soap opera
WHO'S IN IT? Mädchen Amick, John Barrowman, Mariel Hemingway
SYNOPSIS: Central Park West was a glossy prime time soap opera created by Darren Star, chronicling the lives of young (and rich) New Yorkers, including a magazine editor, a
nightlife columnist, a DA, a gallery owner and an author-teacher.
The series started on September 13th 1995, three weeks later
Entertainment Weekly was asking: "Can Central Park West be saved?" the answer was no: the show was put on hiatus several episodes later,
returning on June 5th 1996. The retooling did nothing and
the final episode was broadcast on June 28th 1996.
VERDICT: "$3,000 a month in Central Park West!" claims Stephanie, Mariel
Hemingway's character, adding: "it's a steal!" as she gazes from the
balcony of her new apartment overlooking the park. Is it a steal? I
don't know. Mariel Hemingway was 34 here, but comes across as much
older - a kind of corporate librarian - which is somewhat jarring
against what you expect from a show
produced to appeal to younger viewers.
Stephanie soon gets into a war of words with Mädchen Amick's forever smoking character, Carrie, who claps back: "I do what I like, where I like, when I like" after Stephanie, her
editor, criticises Carrie's column, attitude, and high salary ($200,000 a
year!). Carrie gets in the last word: "Enjoy the delusion of power, because when reality hits, it can be a real bitch!" before
storming off in a huff. Newsflash for Carrie, as later on, her step-dad and
owner of the magazine tells Stephanie: "see that she quits, otherwise you
may be the one standing on the employment line!"
I guess this cattiness sets the tone of the show and I anticipate more
scenes like this throughout the series. Mariel Hemingway was indeed soon in
the employment line by episode eight (I'm not sure if she left of her own
accord or was fired), to be replaced by Raquel Welch (for some
reason).
CANCELLED BEFORE ITS TIME? It's nothing overly special, more of a guilty pleasure.
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