Tuesday Night Book Club
Encyclopedia
Tuesday Night Book Club is a candid reality show that began airing June 13, 2006 on CBS
, which delved into the lives of a group of upper-class women in the Phoenix
suburb
of Scottsdale
. It was meant to play as a reality-based version of Desperate Housewives
,and the network's response to Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County
. The program was executive produced by Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh and produced by The Jay and Tony Show for Magic Molehill Productions, Inc.
The program was set up so that the woment of the 'club' were to meet for a discussion of one book a week. However, this was merely a plot device
in order to bring the women together in a room, and the book of the week (which was universally a mass market paperback within the chick lit
genre) was discussed only sparingly as most of the women didn't even read the suggested title http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/living/14805234.htm. The episodes instead chronicled the day-to-day drama encountered as the women attempted to raise their children, maintain their households, and satisfy their husbands and continue to maintain their social standings within the community. According to the network, the women (who all knew each other "directly or indirectly" prior to the show's production) would "discuss everything... from sex to spouses to inner-most conflicts" during these weekly 'book club' meetings.
The program ended up attracting only low ratings, and CBS cancelled program the day after the second episode aired on June 21, 2006. The series pilot received 5 million viewers while the second one barely managed to attract 4 million. The remaining episodes have never been seen on any television network or any of CBS's online video service efforts.
After the cancellation, local newspaper The Arizona Republic
, along with skeptical local residents revealed that some of the show's elements were tinkered with by the producers, such as book club members not living in Scottsdale or previously known by the group, and the house used in the meeting was rented by the production company, not a house of one of the members http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0624bookfraud0624.html http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0624goody0624.html.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, which delved into the lives of a group of upper-class women in the Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
. It was meant to play as a reality-based version of Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
,and the network's response to Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County
The Real Housewives of Orange County
The Real Housewives of Orange County is a reality television program on the Bravo network. It is the first and seminal installation in the The Real Housewives of... series...
. The program was executive produced by Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh and produced by The Jay and Tony Show for Magic Molehill Productions, Inc.
The program was set up so that the woment of the 'club' were to meet for a discussion of one book a week. However, this was merely a plot device
Plot device
A plot device is an object or character in a story whose sole purpose is to advance the plot of the story, or alternatively to overcome some difficulty in the plot....
in order to bring the women together in a room, and the book of the week (which was universally a mass market paperback within the chick lit
Chick lit
Chick lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. The genre sold well during the 1990s and 2000s, with chick lit titles topping bestseller lists and the creation of imprints devoted entirely to chick lit...
genre) was discussed only sparingly as most of the women didn't even read the suggested title http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/living/14805234.htm. The episodes instead chronicled the day-to-day drama encountered as the women attempted to raise their children, maintain their households, and satisfy their husbands and continue to maintain their social standings within the community. According to the network, the women (who all knew each other "directly or indirectly" prior to the show's production) would "discuss everything... from sex to spouses to inner-most conflicts" during these weekly 'book club' meetings.
The program ended up attracting only low ratings, and CBS cancelled program the day after the second episode aired on June 21, 2006. The series pilot received 5 million viewers while the second one barely managed to attract 4 million. The remaining episodes have never been seen on any television network or any of CBS's online video service efforts.
After the cancellation, local newspaper The Arizona Republic
The Arizona Republic
The Arizona Republic is a daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. It was ranked tenth in US daily newspapers by circulation in 2007.-Early years:The newspaper was founded...
, along with skeptical local residents revealed that some of the show's elements were tinkered with by the producers, such as book club members not living in Scottsdale or previously known by the group, and the house used in the meeting was rented by the production company, not a house of one of the members http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0624bookfraud0624.html http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0624goody0624.html.
Cast
The cast ranged in age from 25 to 46.- Cris, "The Loyal Wife" Age: 39 Profession: Animal trainer for movies and television
- Sara, "The Party Girl" Age: 26 Profession: Loan manager and aspiring clothing designer
- Jenn, "The Trophy Wife" Age: 38 Profession: Housewife
- Jamie, "The Conflicted Wife" Age: 25 Profession: Salon owner
- Kirin, "The Doctor's Wife" Age: 31 Profession: Housewife, motivational speaker to young girls and former professional model
- Lynn, "The Newlywed" Age: 28 Profession: Speech-language pathologist
- TinaTina MachadoTina Marie Machado was a beauty queen from Hawaii and was crowned Miss Hawaii USA in 1985.She competed in the Miss USA 1985 pageant as Miss Hawaii USA and was a semi-finalist in the nationally televised pageant broadcast live from Lakeland, Florida in May 1985...
, "The Divorced Mom" Age: 46 Profession: Owns and operates her own marketing business. Former Miss Hawaii USAMiss Hawaii USAThe Miss Hawaii USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA pageant.Hawaii is the most recent state to start competing at Miss USA, as it first competed in 1962. Prior to this delegates were sent to Miss Universe...
1985.