Desperate times in the city

John Stamos

Women pursuing sex in the city have a lot more fun than men on the same mission. The evidence lies in last night's sitcom Jake in Progress (TV3, Wednesdays, 8pm).

Billed as the guys' answer to Carrie and co's romps through the men of Manhattan, the show centres on a good-looking, celebrity PR man (John Stamos) who's spoiled for choice when it comes to hot chicks.

It's certainly set in the same glam Big Apple milieu of chic bars and restaurants, the impossibly glitzy, rubbish-and-homeless-people-free streets as much a star as any of the characters.

On the surface, Jake the rake is the counterpart of Sex In The City's voraciously sexy Samantha. But, unlike his female predecessor, he suffers the clear disadvantage of not having his lines dreamed up by a camp of witty gay script-writers.

In fact the whole show is not only sadly lacking in the sassy one-liners department but is strangely subdued for a comedy about a paragon of eligible bachelorhood drowning in babes. Jake's requisite ordinary-guy mate Adrian, a married dentist from the 'burbs, envies his friend's freedom to enjoy the high life. But, as yet, Jake seems strangely inactive when it comes to any action between the sheets.

That's probably because the show is too busy trying hard to be worthy of its groundbreaking muse. Jake is burdened with lines that would leave little energy or lipwork left for the ladies. "How many vapid, thong-wearing, tantric sex-loving models with fake tans and butterfly tattoos in the small of their backs can you date?" is one of his shorter musings. You have to feel for the man, with all those adjectives clamouring for attention.

Perhaps the writers should take a line out of their lead character's book and remember that desperation is never attractive.

The rake's progress also gets rather lost in the antics of supporting characters so colourful they fair make your eyes water. Jake's boss Naomi (Wendie Malick) is a middle-aged, pregnant and single PR goddess, the sort who hates actually dealing with real people. She is what passes for sardonic by the gentle, fluffy standards of this show. She could apply a good deal more acid to the tongue and still only qualify as sharpish.

More promising is insecure performance artist Patrick, a character whose enforced wackiness is rescued by actor Rick Hoffman's genuinely disconcerting delivery.

Also on the bright side, last night's second episode was a step up from last week's bland debut.

The subplot involving Jake's clients the "Three Gaymigos" (modelled directly on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's fab five) discovering one of their company was straight was a little laboured, but did offer some intriguing insights into the interior decoration possibilities of the SUV du jour, the stretch Hummer.

Despite its womanising macho premise, Jake in Progress is 100 per cent proof metrosexual. The fragrant Jake's hormones are constantly being dispersed in a cloud of whimsy and touching mateship. The result is a show of the most modest charm.