Like all TV fans, I’ve been known to complain when a show I like gets canceled. I’ve been doing less complaining in recent years, partly because I realized something that is never mentioned by mourning fans: Every time a show ends, another begins, and sometimes the replacement becomes our new favorite show. If you think about it, absolutely every show that’s on TV now (including your favorites) exists because its forerunners were canceled.
For example, since it’s the CW’s unofficial policy to keep only one quality character drama on its schedule at a given time, when “Privileged” (2008-09) was canceled, it opened up a slot for the even better “Life Unexpected” (2010-11). And “Life Unexpected’s” cancellation has made room for “Hart of Dixie” (Fall 2011), which — who knows — might be better yet (although — grumble, grumble — I doubt it).
“Privileged” itself filled a slot vacated by “Gilmore Girls” (2000-07), from which it borrows a similarly caffeinated pace; “GG’s” dialogue-laden scripts were famously 50 percent longer than standard, yet it all fit into 44 minutes because everyone talked fast. “Privileged” seems even faster-paced: Both shows use a lot of “la-la-la” music, but whereas “GG’s” was often breezy and relaxed, “Privileged’s” is fast and bouncy. The busy, flustered Megan Smith (Joanna Garcia) may have lived a la-la-la life, but she didn’t have time to wallow in it like Rory and Lorelai.
I’m not too bummed anymore about “Privileged” only lasting one season (although I do think it’s a crime that it’s not available on DVD; the best I can do is point you to a handful of eps on YouTube). I recently rewatched the 18 episodes, which luckily I have in my home library, and I now wonder if Megan’s perkiness would’ve been sustainable for many seasons.
Still, I do love this show. Based on the book “How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls,” “Privileged” is a window into that world. It starts with the typical pilot episode where the fish-out-of-water — recent Yale grad Megan — adjusts to the world of her rich Floridian clients — Anne Archer’s sophisticated business magnate Laurel and her twin granddaughters whom Megan is charged with tutoring, Rose and Sage Baker.
Ultimately, Rose (Lucy Hale) and Sage (Ashley Newbrough) are like any teenagers — only more fashion-conscious — and I guess that’s the point of the series: At our core, we’re all the same. But I’d argue that “Privileged” was one of the most gorgeous-looking shows ever to be filmed primarily on soundstages: From Laurel’s mansion to every characters’ wardrobe (not just the fashion-forward twins), this show was a delightful burst of color.
The dialogue also shouldn’t be overlooked. All the characters had quippy, casual fun with language (Rose to Megan: “I can’t believe you’re being so Judgey Judgerson about this”). In this way, the series is a direct descendant of “Buffy” and “Gilmore Girls,” and honestly, witty lines spouted by cute girls might be the quickest path to my TV-geek heart.
Now as for the plotlines, I may have overrated them when they first aired, because for a time I was watching the awful “90210” right before this. But while “Privileged” isn’t overly melodramatic, it does have familiar flaws. Megan is an aspiring magazine writer/book author, and “Privileged” — as is the case with most TV shows that delve into journalism — has a romanticized, outdated view of the publishing industry. It’s also inexplicable how Megan, who clearly came from a poor family, could afford an Ivy League education.
The more fast-forwardable elements involve Megan’s family drama: Her mom skipped out on the family, her dad is a drunk and her sister is a whiny kleptomaniac. On the other hand, Rose and Sage’s bond is sweet, and they aren’t nearly as snobby as the series’ working title (“Surviving the Filthy Rich”) suggests, although Sage puts on airs toward Megan. Rose dates a nerd, and Sage dates the house sous chef (and I think he’s referred to as “The Help” only once).
The best — and most frustrating — episode is No. 16, “All About Confessions,” in which the central almost-relationship comes to a head: Charlie (Michael Cassidy) tells longtime best friend Megan that he loves her; Megan tells Charlie she doesn’t feel the same way, and there’s not much ambiguity to her stance. “Privileged” unfortunately fell in with a mini-trend in storytelling circa 2009 where realism was considered higher art than escapism.
Another mistake, I think, was shunting aside the Charlie-and-Mandy relationship. And specifically, the cute surfer-girl Mandy (Alice Greczyn). As Megan says when Charlie tells her Mandy is threatened by Megan: “Has she SEEN herself?” Charlie-and-Mandy should’ve stolen some screentime from Megan-and-Will (the standard nice rich boy next door).
“All About Confessions” undercuts itself further by using Sheryl Crow’s “I Shall Believe” in the closing montage. C’mon people, “I Shall Believe” is Max and Liz’s song from “Roswell”; show some respect and a little more imagination in your song choices. I dropped “Everwood” from my viewing schedule when that show stole “I Shall Believe” as well.
I sure found the “Privileged” characters lovable, and I’m not surprised that none of the actors has gone on to a better role. Garcia (now Garcia-Swisher after marrying the New York Yankee; I wonder if he liked “Privileged”) had a forgettable role on “Gossip Girl” and then starred on the sitcom “Better with You” — ugh. Hale stars on “Pretty Little Liars” in a much soapier role than Rose. Newbrough literally hasn’t been in anything since “Privileged,” and Cassidy (who really should be a star after playing ultimate nice guy Charlie on the heels of “Hidden Palms’ “ ultimate creep Cliff) is back to random guest spots.
“Privileged” wraps up its relationship drama — mostly — in the last two episodes, but ends with a “To be continued …” that never was. It gives us a final image of good-girl Megan behaving out of character — cheating on Will with a random guy — in much the same way we last saw “American Dreams” good-girl Meg Prior running away from home.
Perhaps the show wasn’t meant to last. Maybe rich-person escapism would’ve become less palatable as the economy got worse (although I doubt it; I was laid off during “Privileged’s” run, but that only made me more appreciative of Megan’s struggles — and her lucky break in landing the tutor job). On the other hand, maybe it missed its calling to seriously explore class differences rather than merely touching on the theme.
Still, I enjoyed rewatching “Privileged” due to the immersive experience of the characters, the smile-worthy lines and the colorful Florida setting. Basically, if you like this kind of show, you’ll like “Privileged,” and if you don’t, you won’t.
Anyone else miss “Privileged?” If it had kept going, would it still be good? Share your thoughts below.
(2018 update: “Privileged” is now available for streaming on The CW Seed, so I have moved it from “TV Shows Lost to History” to “One-Season Wonders.”)
Main image: CW publicity photo