On the surface, the CW’s
new show “Privileged” seems
like just another carbon-copy
of the rich and fabulous life
blueprint that a countless
number of shows have tried
to follow.
However, after following
the show for a few episodes,
it is found to be much more
than that. It’s charming, yet
quirky, a fantastically mindless
guilty pleasure that can
be a great escape from the
serious, fast-paced legal dramas
that are all over TV right
now.
Based on the book “How to
Teach Filthy Rich Girls,” by
Zoey Dean, the show stars
JoAnna Garcia, whom you
might remember from shows
like “Reba” and “Welcome to
the Captain.” Garcia plays
Meghan Smith, the nerdy but
lovable writer who moves
from New York City to Palm
Beach, in pursuit of a new job
after her apartment burns
down and she loses her job at
a gossip magazine.
Upon her arrival in the
posh new town, what she
assumes to be an internship
position for a magazine or
newspaper turns out to be a
tutoring position for two
spoiled socialite twin girls.
The girls’ grandmother,
Laurel Limoges (Anne
Archer), offers Meghan
$1,500 a week, her own room
and luxury car, and to pay off
her student loans from Yale if
she succeeds in landing the
twins two spots at Duke.
The twins, Rose Baker
(Lucy Kate Hale) and Sage
Baker (Ashley Newbrough),
are a great relief from the
stereotypical TV sisters of the
past. Instead of having either
entirely contrasting personalities
(i.e. any movie or show
that included the Olson
Twins) or being so similar
that they could be the same
person, they seem like normal
teenage siblings who are
close and share interests but
have some differences as
well. Sage is the more sassy,
spitfire type with a hidden
soft spot for her sister, while
Rose is sweet and lovable, but
sometimes has a hard time
standing up for herself.
Although the show has a bit
of a slower pace than would
be expected, there are some
juicy storylines played in for
Meghan’s love life already.
First, there’s the old high
school friend, with a secret
crush, Charlie Hogan
(Michael Cassidy) whom you
might recall from Fox’s
smash hit “The OC.”
Next there’s the rich, handsome,
and womanizing
neighbor, Will Phillips (Brian
Hallisay.) Lastly, there is the
twin’s headmaster, Jacob
Cassidy (David Giuntoli,)
whom Meghan is currently
dating.
We keep hearing people
who are tired of these richgirl
shows that seem to be
popping up everywhere, but
what these people don’t realize,
or don’t want to admit, is
that it works. Even though
it’s tough to own up to, who
wouldn’t want to live the
lives of the filthy rich, or at
least fantasize about it?
So, even though the premise
of this show seems like
just another gateway to the
world of the rich and famous
like other CW shows such as
“Gossip Girl” and “90210,”
challenge yourself to watch
and see beyond that outer
appearance. Look past all of
the superficial wealth and
glory presented and you and
uncover a charming, fun
escape from everyday life.