Five Reasons: Privileged

In Five Reasons, TV.com takes an early look at upcoming episodes of shows and scoops what's good and bad about the program we just watched. We're not telling you to watch it or telling you to avoid it--we're just offering up our two cents as a helpful guide.

"How they achieve that 'A' is of little importance to me. Or was I not clear about that?"--Laurel Limoges, Privileged

"All this money smells delicious!"

That's the kind of pressure that's squashing Megan Smith (Reba's JoAnna Garcia) in Privileged, the latest of CW's young, hot, rich, and white programs aimed at young women. Megan, an upstart writer in New York City with the nerves of a Chihuahua in winter, gets a new job in Palm Beach as tutor for two spoiled twins, the granddaughters of Laurel, a powerful and incredibly rich widow.

Based on the How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls books, it features everything one would expect in a CW show--a look at how the super-rich live, some skin, and that cute boy with the funny haircut.

Privileged premieres tonight on The CW, but is it worth your time? Check out our five reasons to watch, and our five reasons not to watch Privileged.

Five reasons you should watch Privileged

From left to right: (spoiler), cute guy,
scene stealer, one-dimensional main character.

1. OMG they're SO rich!
Not everyone will openly admit they want to be filthy rich, but let's face it--it would be so sweet. Privileged bathes itself in money, like Scrooge McDuck swan-diving into his money vaults. Laurel's house is awesome...gardens, fountains, about 1,000 rooms. There's nothing wrong with closing our eyes and pretending we live there, is there?

2. Rose Baker
As the more level-headed of the twin terrors, Rose (Bionic Woman's Lucy Kate Hale) is a breath of fresh air in this stuffy society. 19-year-old Hale, who aesthetically is in the vein of other underappreciated brunettes Mila Kunis and Rachel Bilson, also comes off as the best actress of the bunch. We'll be watching her career closely from here on out.

3. Laurel Limoges
Academy Award-nominee Anne Archer plays haughty Laurel Limoges with pizazz. Part Mrs. Robinson, part Estee Lauder, Limoges is all bitchy business but still finds time to mentor Megan. This is one character Megan needs on her good side...and we can't wait to see what happens when she inevitably ticks her off.

4. It's got some heart
Unlike 90210 and Gossip Girl, Privileged focuses on a girl who infiltrates high society instead of being born into it. It's the classic fish-out-of-water story for the tween crowd, a sun-kissed Cinderella. But is it enough to distinguish it from the CW's dynamic duo?

5. It's like a minivacation
It's always gorgeous in Florida (according to Privileged, at least) and the tropical setting lets us at least disappear from our overcast lives for an hour a week. Ummm...yeah. (Hey, finding a fifth reason to watch this show was tough, give me a break!)

Five reasons you shouldn't watch Privileged

Twins Sage and Rose are handful
and then some for Megan.

1. Megan Smith
Slightly more bland than her name, wide-eyed Megan just doesn't come off as someone to root for--and she's the one basically telling us the story. Note to the producers: Shows rely heavily on what we viewers call "the main character." Try and make her more interesting!

2. Predictable
...But you knew I was going to say that, didn't you? Write down the first few things one would expect to happen in the show, and it does. Privileged obviously isn't going to win a Peabody Award or be hailed as the next Mad Men, but something a little off the beaten and worn-down path would be nice.

3. Soundtrack
Bubble-gum pop. Lots of it. My ears still aren't talking to me for putting them through that.

4. What a coinky-dink!
A move from Manhattan to Palm Beach should be like moving to a new country, but Megan's best friend (who I think has a secret crush on her!) just happens to live there, and later she runs into an old family member "randomly." And what do you know, everyone shows up at the same party! It's like something out of a television show!

5. Whiter than snow
Garcia, a blue-eyed auburn-haired actress of Latin descent, has the most color of the main cast, and that ain't much. Background shots feature Hispanic maids and gardeners, and the only two black actors with lines in the pilot are the gay cook and a bartender hired to mix drinks for rich white people.

Privileged premieres tonight (September 9) on The CW at 9 p.m., right after 90210. Be sure to check it out and give us your thoughts in the comments section below!