MISTRESSES Goes Between the Sheets

Article first published as MISTRESSES Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 88%

ABC is delivering a fresh, new series this summer beginning tonight at 10 p.m. ET called MISTRESSES. Based on the British series of the same name, MISTRESSES follows four female friends (two of them sisters) and their love lives, both with steady partners and while having affairs.

The title can be a bit misleading, since not all four ladies are mistresses at this time. Presumably, should the show go past the thirteen episodes scheduled for this summer, other affairs could happen that would earn them the moniker. But as the “Pilot” starts, only one of the central quartet is a mistress.

The woman I refer to is Dr. Karen Rhodes (Yunjin Kim, Lost), a successful mental health professional who sleeps with her dying patient, Thomas Grey (John Schneider, Smallville). After Thomas’s death, however, she learns that Thomas chooses to spend his final moments with his wife (Penelope Ann Miller, Men of a Certain Age), which hurts her deeply, since she assumes she is his soul mate, causing her to go to her friends for support.

Not all of Karen’s friends, whom she has abandoned during the affair, are all that supportive. They care about her, but don’t necessarily approve of her actions. This is the central issue with MISTRESSES, and why it may have difficulty being accessible to an audience. Is it ever really OK to cheat? Can you judge the act without judging the person? How many people out there will take Karen’s tryst personally, having been betrayed, and consider a turn off they can’t stomach?

Karen’s situation is further complicated when Thomas’s son, Sam (Erik Stocklin, First Day), seeks her counsel. He knows his father was having an affair, but when Karen denies the culprit was her, Sam begins to pursue her romantically. Is he really in love with this much older woman, who he seemingly thinks took good care of his father, or is this a ruse to trap Karen and cost her her license? Karen doesn’t seem ready to fall for him in either instance, but she’s in a very dangerous position.

I’m not sure whether to root for Karen or Sam to win. Both characters are sympathetic, somehow, but also not completely so, as Sam has a dark edge to him.

This type of drama seems along the vein of Desperate Housewives, a previously popular ABC drama which also centered on four women and their various romantic entanglements. It’s interesting that ABC chooses to air it in the summer, considering MISTRESSES follows along the lines of a series that ran so many years with quite a large following on the same network. However, there are some differences, and perhaps ABC worried this new show either wouldn’t land as well, or would be viewed as a copy.

It’s not a copy, and it does make for a very entertaining experience. The other drama in the “Pilot,” Savi (Alyssa Milano, Charmed) facing marital problems at home when her husband, Harry (Brett Tucker, Neighbours), can’t give her kids, a flirtatious co-worker (Jason George, Grey’s Anatomy) hitting on Savi, and April (Rochelle Aytes, Work It) trying to escape the ghost of her dead husband, is as enticing as Karen’s tale. While not completely original, these are human stories that viewers should be able to connect with on some level.

There are a couple of twists at the end of the “Pilot,” some obviously foreshadowed, some not, that set up an interesting rest of the season, and prove that the series has driving power past the first installment. I won’t spoil those surprises for you, but suffice it to say, if you like soapy drama, MISTRESSES has what you are looking for.

Given the excellent cast and the time-proven premise, I’m a little sad that MISTRESSES has been pushed to summer. But should it gain some popularity, perhaps ABC will keep it on in the fall or, better yet, make a serious attempt at good summer programming.

Besides the performers listed above, MISTRESSES also stars Jes Macallan (The Football Fairy) as the fourth member of the titular group.

Men of a Certain Age attempts "The Great Escape"

     TNT's Men of a Certain Age is back. Although the first season is uneven, the second is solid, including the mid-season premiere tonight, "The Great Escape." In the episode, Owen (Andre Braugher) considers an offer to sell the dealership. His wife, Melissa (Lisa Gay Hamilton), is totally on board when she realizes Owen will be home with the kids, so she can pursue her writing career. Joe (Ray Romano) comforts his sick friend, Manfro (Jon Manfrellotti), on the eve of his chemo. He also offers solace to his ex-wife, Sonia (Penelope Ann Miller), who has just broken up with the guy she left Joe for. Terry (Scott Bakula) is ready to get serious with Erin (Melinda McGraw), just as she decides to go back to her ex.


     While much of the series is not about the three central men's love life, this episode very much is. And why not? Two of them are single, one by divorce, one because he's a habitual bachelor. At this point in their lives, it's time to settle down, not sow the wild oats. As such, it is perfectly reasonable that both Terry and Joe are interested in long-term relationships.

     Joe should not go back to Sonia, no matter how much he wants to. His wife cheated on him, and he is far too willing to forgive her mistakes. She trades a stable married life to Joe for a mid-life crisis that is now falling apart. Joe is a nice guy, and he deserves better. While both feel it would be awkward to act on their rekindled feelings now, Joe is certainly planning on letting things build, and trying again. If he does so, Owen and Terry should stage an intervention and stop it.

     Very touching is Manfro's story. It is nice that the bookie is back in Joe's life, despite Joe's gambling problems, because Manfro is a good, non-judgmental friend. Unlike Terry and Owen, he has not known Joe his entire life, so his judgment is not clouded by history. He, more than the other two, could possibly talk Joe out of a reconciliation with Sonia. Or at least keep an open mind about it, if that's what Joe needs.

     Even better, Manfro gets his own love interest this week. On the eve of receiving chemo treatment, he meets a kind stripper with a heart of gold. While she does keep relating Manfro's situation to her father's, at least she knows what she is getting into, so there will be no surprises. She won't leave him halfway through treatment. It's just what Manfro needs, and hopefully more of the happy couple is on docket for later this season.

     Sadly for Terry, Erin is not going to happen. While she appears perfect for him, she's already taken. Perhaps he can go back and see Annie (Carla Gallo), who he runs into this week, at the coffee shop to help him get over Erin? As delightful as Gallo is, she is likely not poised to join the cast full time, and so a long-term relationship between the two probably won't happen. But in the meantime, any episodes Gallo wants to do will be welcome.

     Terry needs to find a girl like Erin, but one who is not in love with someone else. His potential mate will likely be divorced, as it is unrealistic to expect a nice, pretty girl good enough for Terry will still be single at fifty. Unless this woman is in the same boat as Terry, ready to settle down after a long time of playing the field. Her past may make Terry uncomfortable, and provide some growth. Honestly, the second option might be better in the long-term.

     Poor Owen cannot escape from his father's shadow. As much as he'd like to sell the dealership for his family, when the times comes for Owen to tell Owen Sr. (Richard Gant), he only says he is determined to bring a body shop into the mix. Is this the truth? Or he is avoiding a difficult situation? It appears Owen and Melissa have made up their minds, but then Owen chickens out when announcing the decision. It's hard to tell if he is serious with his father or not.

     If Owen does go through with selling, it will likely wound his father very deeply, and justly so. Owen Sr. only recently gives Own the dealership, and if Owen parts with it so quickly, it's kind of being rude with a gift. On the other hand, Owen Sr. springs a bad financial surprise on Owen post-deal, so it's understandable that Owen is tempted to get out from under the debt. It's a complex situation with no right answer. Unhappiness will follow either decision. Let's hope Owen and Owen Sr., who are finally getting along, can weather the storm and keep their relationship on firm ground.

     Melissa, of course, is also a part of the equation. She has given up her life to take care of the kids for many years, and she is right to expect Owen to take a turn when a good opportunity arises. As his wife, Owen should likely put more weight on hurting Melissa than his father. She deserves the chance to do something she is passionate about, and not selling will deeply disappoint her.


     Men of a Certain Age is off to a great start! Tune in Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To order Men of a Certain Age on DVD, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Men of a Certain Age - "The Great Escape" on Blogcritics.