'The Beautiful Life' review: Doesn't deserve an ugly death

Even though The CW's new drama "The Beautiful Life: TBL" has been in production for over a month and reports from the set keep stressing that everything is absolutely, totally, completely, 100% fine and dandy, the network has not sent out screeners of the complete first episode. Instead, they cleared for review the 25-minute collection of scenes that were shot last spring and sent out over the summer.

Since what actually airs Wednesday (Sept. 16) may largely be reshot and will have at least 20 minutes of new footage that could make it the greatest TV series this side of "Models, Inc." or "Paper Dolls," it seems a bit unfair to completely write it off. Even if The CW appears to have tagged it for the show they most want to replace with "Life UneXpected" come midseason.

And unless "The Beautiful Life" has completely fallen apart from when it was picked up -- Mischa Barton psychiatric hold hiccup aside -- it's also unfair that it's coming across as a lame duck. It's much better than, say, "Melrose Place."

Granted, what has been seen of "TBL," is a standard, by-the-numbers drama about pretty young people caught up in the often-ugly world of modeling. But it's pulled off rather well. While the cast all looks more like actors than models, at least they can actually act. Much better than, say, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz.

Our entry into this world is Chris Andrews (Benjamin Hollingsworth), a fresh-off-the-Iowa-farm boy who is discovered during a family trip to the big city, and Raina (Sara Paxton), a new-ish model who is poised to become the next big thing. Thrown in for good measure is plenty of other eye candy in an array of flavors: Corbin Bleu, Ashley Madekwe, Nico Tortorella.

And then there is Sonja Stone (Mischa Barton), the quickly fading It Girl.

Coming from someone who thought they killed off Marissa Cooper about two-and-a-half seasons too late on "The O.C.," I was surprised how much Barton really works in the role and can see why they wanted to accommodate her return rather than immediately recasting during her abrupt hospitalization this summer.

Admittedly, much of this is cosmetic and way-too-flimsy to really judge the show's actual potential. Still, without network support it's unlikely that we will be seeing the new collection this spring.

There is one quibble though: It's completely understandable that The CW decided to pair "The Beautiful Life" with modeling "reality" show "America's Next Top Model," but it would actually be a much better companion for "Gossip Girl" in look and tone. Both are set in New York, and there's a polished feel that makes it come across like escapist fantasy at times. Just like another New York production: "Sex and the City" and the Big Apple itself.

Early on in "Beautiful Life" a radio report gushes about how everyone is breathlessly waiting to see if Sonja Stone makes good on her rumored runway return.

"Sure thing, this would be be a hot topic of drive-time conversation," I thought, before remembering that a dozen years ago I was in New York during Fashion Week only to turn on the 5 o'clock news and have the lead story declare "Gray is the new black."

"The Beautiful Life: TBL" premieres Wednesday, Sept. 16 on The CW.

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