Previously on Lipstick Jungle… Victory said she was going to marry Joe. And she meant business. Enough head games, waiting, talking. When a couple has tried this hard to be apart, but can't, it means something. If she's going to start a new chapter with Joe, it's going to be on her terms. Victory is determined to be the mistress of her own happy ending and propose to Joe. But how? Hard enough to flip gender roles and propose to a man, but worse if he's a billionaire with a knack for the huge romantic gesture. How do you impress a guy who can private-jet you to Paris for breakfast? In the Writers Room, some thought it should be totally understated -- she just asks him off the cuff, while walking down the street. Others (me) thought that would feel like a cheat. We waited so long for them to tie the knot; we should make a major deal of it. Like Victory would arrange for contortionists from the Big Apple Circus to spell out, "Marry Me, Joe" with their bodies. Or (I'll share my pitch here): Victory disguises herself as a chauffeur and, driving his limo from the airport, takes him on a "shortcut" to a surprise destination in… New Jersey. It's a deserted drive-in where she's arranged to have one of their favorite romantic black-and-white movies playing. But it all goes awry when Joe thinks he's actually being kidnapped and presses his panic button. A SWAT team arrives just as they pull into the drive-in. Crazy? Maybe, but I thought the limo was a good metaphor -- her taking the drivers seat, etc. Oliver didn't go for that one. But we landed on a proposal that is a little less "broad." Then we debated the next big question: Will Joe say yes or no?

Happy Holidays, everyone. Did you know last week's ratings were our best yet? We're not on the air this week. But get ready to break in the New Year with Episode 212, airing Friday, January 2 at 9 p.m. Please put that appointment down in your iPhones and Blackberries and refrigerator Post-Its. I'm reading a lot of tweaked-out comments about the description of the final episode, Chapter 20, on Wikipedia. I couldn't find it but did see a description on the Lipstick Jungle Fanatic site… Is this the one?

Um, wrong!? Nothing true in it. Not one bit. No Vegas, no pregnancies. No proposal from Griffin. That much I can guarantee. See you in two weeks.

Fans are having a hard time accepting the Bermuda Love Triangle of Nico, Kirby... and Griffin. So many comments saying: "I don't get Griffin!" and, "Keep Nico and Kirby together!" So here's some perspective from the writers' room on why we complicated Nico's love life. She's at a phase in her life where she has to make some hard choices. Being confronted with Baby Charlie awakened maternal feelings in Nico that she had long put aside. In this week's episode, she sets out to freeze her eggs and has to face the fact that she doesn't have a man in her life to fertilize them. Kirby's made it clear he's not ready for fatherhood -- she can't go to him. That's the kind of big-ticket relationship item that's gotta make her think, "Maybe I should be with someone who's more grown-up, more of an equal -- who's at the same stage of life. Someone like… Griffin Bell?" Don't forget, Charles was much older than Nico. He was her college professor. She's never dated a peer. So on the plus side for Griffin: they can be partners, talk shop. He understands her pressures. As her boss, he can have her back at the office. On the plus side for Kirby: he's fun. He loves to go to clubs and art openings, and keeps Nico young. Then again, Griffin is stable in his career. Kirby lives so hand-to-mouth. Which wouldn't be a problem, except for his pride. Remember he started taking embarrassing paparazzi photos to earn more money because he couldn't afford take-out sushi? Griffin is in more of a position to take care of Nico's needs, but when she came home from the hospital, all he brought her was a box of raisins? Hello, 1-800-Godiva? Oh, I don't know. I have to admit, I'm a Kirby fan, too. He reminds me of my college boyfriend, who used to tell me to "fire down" when I was getting too tense. Since we're all missing him these days, I caught up with Robert Buckley for a quick visit to talk about the good times he had swinging in the Jungle.


Why do you think the Jungle is a show worth saving?
I don't think we're done telling these characters' stories. We were just starting to know these characters. At 13 episodes, we're just starting to make their lives complicated. The relationships have so much room to explore, it's a shame to end it now. Kirby is amazing. Kidding. But I do want to know where he and Nico are going. So much is unresolved in our relationship. You know these two people are in love. The question is: Is that enough? They have legitimate obstacles. I don't know if love's enough to make it work.


If the show doesn't come back, what will you miss?
The people. Such an amazing group. I know it sounds cliché. But this experience has been so amazing. Tim Busfield. And Oliver Goldstick. Candace. They're so fantastic. Kim has been such an amazing friend and acting partner. The show brought me to New York for the first time. I've learned so much from these actors. And behind the camera. The idea that I won't be coming to work every day and seeing these people is sad.


What was the funniest thing you remember from the show?
All of the love scenes. There was always something funny going on that had us cracking up. The first love scene we had, Kim had had her baby a week prior. But she had to be sexy, and rolling around. We laughed so much. I was wearing the most embarrassing outfits. There's nothing that the show could throw us now that would embarrass us. Kim and Brooke, between being moms and leads on the show, they never had a free minute. I don't know how they did it, but they did. I'll miss them.

Jungle fans-So, update. This week, our new timeslot: Friday at 9:00. We'll air two more episodes in December, then two more in January. After that they'll look at the ratings and all the other elements in the equation that only network execs and the assistants who love them fully understand, and determine whether to order more episodes or not. We're not cancelled we're not uncancelled. Yet. At least we're hanging in longer than a lot of our competitors did: Dirty Sexy Money, My Own Worst Enemy, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, etc. And that's entirely thanks to you guys! In case you missed it, we also got a good bit of P.R. in the New York Times this week. Check it out: Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/arts/television/01lips.html?_r=1

Now, back to the show. I know a lot of you were expressing worry – distress -- anger! -- about Nico and Kirby breaking up. So brace yourselves for tomorrow night's ep! But keep in mind that we looove Kirby, too, and so does Nico. But she's been through a lot this season – single for the first time in her adult life (she married Charles out of college); she might need time to sort out what she's really looking for in this second chapter: A baby? A peer? A love-puppy like Kirby? Don't give up on Kirby yet. Beware the beta male – he has sly ways!

Another bit of Jungle News. This week was Candace Bushnell's 50th birthday! As Wendy said about Kirby's mom: "If she's pushing fifty, fifty's afraid to push back." For a little treat, we caught up with Candace and talked about Lipstick Jungle and her birthday wish – I bet you can guess it.


What did you enjoy most about seeing the Jungle come to life?
Bringing the TV show to life from the book was a long process. In the fall of 2005, I started working with Katie O'Connell at NBC on the first pilot script. There were so many ups and downs in the two and a half years until the show first aired in February of 2008. I think what kept us going was a deep determination to get these female characters onto the small screen. Most strong women portrayed on TV are either in procedurals – doctor, cop and lawyer shows -- or are cartoonish depictions. We felt there was a place on TV for a realistic portrayal of contemporary working women, and we simply never gave up. After all the hurdles, for me, the show finally felt real when I went to the stages and saw the sets -- Nico, Victory and Wendy's apartments, the offices of Matrick Verner. That was one of the most exciting moments.

What surprised you most? As the writing and acting evolved, did the characters change in ways you didn't expect?
A television show is always evolving and changing. There's a day-to-day fluidity that's a necessary part of the process. Sometimes the changes are due to technical reasons – for instance, the script might call for a scene on a boat, but if we can't get a boat, we might change the location to a bar. There's also a degree of audience response that influences the direction of the show and the characters. For example, in the book Lipstick Jungle, Kirby Atwood is a minor character. As played by Robert Buckley on the show, there was such an overwhelming response to Kirby that we decided to feature him (often shirtless) in every episode. So the audience's response to Kirby had an effect on Nico's storylines.

What's your favorite episode?

I have several. I love episode six when Wendy tells Nico it's a good thing she's not a mother. It's such a devastating moment in Nico and Wendy's friendships, illustrating how fragile and deep our female friendships are. I also love the episode when the three women go to the inn in the country. It's hilarious and so poignant.

What outfit did you wish you could steal from the set?
Most of them!

What will you miss if it goes away?
Hopefully, the show won't go away. There's been such wonderful support from the fans, and we're all so appreciative.

What did you do for your birthday?
I had a small cocktail party at my apartment and invited about fifty of my dearest friends.

What is your birthday wish?
For Lipstick Jungle to live!

I hear that.

Jungle fans are so outspoken and supportive! And it’s working! Blogs are ablaze. Articles have appeared in The New York Times, and Rachel Syme wrote a tremendous piece about LJ on Tina Brown’s website The Daily Beast.
thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-11-19/save-the-jungle/2/

Did you see Craig Ferguson’s hilarious sketch on The Late Late Show? Where he writes an angry letter to NBC execs for canceling Lipstick Jungle? He even says he’s sending in a lipstick!

And... lastly but mostly, Friday’s episode got a bump in ratings! With that and the outpouring of protest from all of you, it looks like NBC will air all 13 LJ episodes. (Last week, they were going to stop at 9.)

But! To keep LJ from being cancelled we still need more. More love from all of you. And more viewers this Friday. Now that everyone’s paying attention, we have to prove people care about this show and that it’s growing!

And don’t forget to sign this petition http://www.petitiononline.com/lsj777/. If we go down, at least we’ll go down swinging!

Yeesh. The Jungle’s been getting kind of stressful. Understatement. I know a lot of you have been surmising that the show was in trouble and worrying it would be taken off the air. Well, you were right. The network and the studio have been very complimentary about the episodes this season, but LJ’s numbers aren’t high enough to keep the show on the air. Next week may be our last episode. Then they’ll contemplate whether we come back for a third season. Either way, now is the time to show your support. Let Ben Silverman, the head of NBC, know how much the show means to you.

In the meantime, tune in tonight! The Ladies pack up for a getaway-from-your-troubles getaway. Road trip! Thelma and Louise Plus One. Woohoo! (If only it were that easy.) The Three GalPals head out of town and into the country for a spa weekend that might not be totally decompressing, but lots of fun to watch. Just seeing the Fab Three in… nature… in casual heels is a treat. Amanda Ross did gorgeous looks – lots of layering was key. And Chanel kickass country boots to kill for. Nico is wearing a divine Dolce and Gabbana wool vest… but that’s not what’s keeping her warm when Kirby comes to town and the two get very down-and-dirty. Mmmhmm. Stay tuned to the end (it counts for ratings), and you don’t want to miss Victory’s big scene with Joe – grab your hankies! With this episode the show has been getting into the green theme behind the scenes, too, LJ was making an effort to lessen its carbon footprint with a bunch of unglamorous changes to the set: More dumpsters! For more recycling, no more plastic spoons and forks -- they’re switching to veggies and baked goods ordered from a local organic farm. They will also be issuing 150 reusable water bottles to the cast and crew to use instead of disposable plastic bottles. And of course if they’re taking down sets after this week, they’ll be sure to recycle the wood. So send those Lipsticks!!!!

Tonight is a super exciting episode of Lipstick Jungle – for me. It’s the first one I wrote – with my husband and writing partner, Rick Marin. The writer of the episode gets to fly to NY (since LJ is written in LA but shot in NY) to “cover” the show, meaning be on hand to do any rewriting if changes need to be made on the set. I landed on a redeye and cabbed straight to the set – a penthouse party space in TriBeCa where we spent three days shooting a party hosted by Nico to launch HangTime magazine. I was in total out-of-body experience, when a P.A. pointed me to the “village” -- the area where the monitors and headsets are set up and the directors and writers watch the scene being played out. I took a seat in one of the directors chairs, careful not to accidentally sit in one marked “Victory Ford,” and watched Brooke Shields and Paul Blackthorne do their dance/fight scene:

Wendy: “I’m your wife.”
Shane: “No you’re my producer, or we’d still be dancing.”

Maybe not the most incredible dialogue, but heart-stopping for me! Not often in your life -- working, raising a family, juggling -- do you get one of those moments when time stops and you’re no longer looking ahead at all the things you have to do and places you still have to get to, but just stop and think: This is it.

Being at the party set for three days was one long starry night. Seeing the actors in their between-scenes personalities. Lindsay walking with her head in her iPhone -- in a robe, slippers and Velcro rollers (still beautiful). Brooke having a playdate with her daughter Roan, leading a kiddie yoga class.

“Who’s that?” I asked, on seeing Kim Raver talking to a suave guy, acting more like a flirty Lucille Ball than her usual dramatic self. Turns out it was her handsome French husband.

Rosanna Arquette was surprising when she came in to play Kirby’s mom.

The role was conceived as a proto-Nico sexy ballbuster type -- Ellen Barkin or Sharon Stone. But when the scenes came to life, Rosanna brought a daffiness to the part that made it both more comic and more poignant than what was on the page. Like, we’d written in that Nico and Kirby serve her a very New York-y cocktail – champagne on the rocks, the rocks being made of champagne. It was just supposed to be something cool that she wouldn’t have back in her native Grand Rapids. But Rosanna made a meal of it, chewing and sucking these champagne ice cubes like they were almost pornographic. And hilarious in front of Nico, who looks totally grossed out. Rosanna’s eccentric vulnerability made it seem like Kirby probably had to deal with a lot growing up. After they shot their first scene, Robert Buckley came up to me and asked what I thought of his reading. (Huge thrill). He always pictured Kirby coming from a very stable Midwestern, happily-married couple, like his mom and dad. This loopy, heavy-drinking single mom was a curve ball, but opened up his eyes about his character. I just nodded, feigning respiration. Hello, I’m talking to Robert Buckley! About something I wrote. Die!

Then the pressure started. Arlene Sanford, the director, is a veteran with an incredibly warm, welcoming demeanor, until she flips the switch and makes the trains run on time. She asked Rick and me to write some new lines. On the spot. For Nico’s sports-themed launch party, featuring cameos by actual pro athletes. Tiki Barber and Amani Toomer do tire throws with Shane. David Lee shoots hoops with Kirby. What?

The only person who knows less about pro-sports than I do is my husband and writing partner. We had to think fast: Okay, David Lee is about a foot taller than Kirby. A height joke: “Need some help, little guy? Maybe a stepladder?” Instant trash talk.

We ended up staying all through the night shoots. Wendy and Shane, leaving a video store and crossing the street. A simple scene when you watch it on TV, that took three hours – 2 a.m. to 5a.m. – to set up and shoot. But it was amazing to be out there, in the middle of a downtown street under the moon, writing on the fly again. In the scene, as Shane and Wendy step off the curb, they almost get sideswiped by a speeding cab. As written in the script, Shane tosses off an annoyed line with his usual dry English-y delivery. But it didn’t work, because he was supposed to be expressing buried frustration at Wendy. So we rewrote it: “Turn off your bloody cell phone, mate!” No joke, but better for the strong emotion.

Tim Busfield, the co-executive producer and director of many of LJ’s episodes, was there throughout and shared some words of wisdom. In a scene at the elevator between Victory and Joe, Andrew was complaining that there was too much dialogue. Busfield leaned in to us and agreed: “You know what Clint would do -- just cross all those lines out. Do it all with a look.” I never knew that his inspiration for Andrew McCarthy was Clint Eastwood. In the Jungle, you learn something new every night.