Life on Top (2009–2011)
7/10
Pretty good, drops off in S2
18 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This is based on the book by the same name and the first season is pretty loyal to the book though changing the woman boxer character a bit (to the better really -- the book has her work with Bella) and expand the restaurateur character (again this works), so it is a type of "Sex in the City" dynamic.

The first episode in fact matches the book quite neatly, down to (get this!) the prudish Sophie (the wise one, ha!) taking a shower after sex. This is like the last time (almost) the no no of actually reminding us sex involves bodily fluids occurs. The scene even has a condom! {A later good scene at a shoe store is also straight from the book as are others -- the writers do make good use of source material.} Anyway, Sophie escapes a boring suitor and comes to the big city to live with her sis ... Sophie is a brain and has a big job set up to use her business skills. Turns out == the horror == her big sister (in more ways than one) is a soft porn magazine model! The title is thus a sort of pun. Sophie's bestie is pretty continuously in heat too, so you'd think Sophie would not be so shocked ... she does get over it eventually. Like the book, she also has to deal with a boss who deflowers "technical virgins" and has a special skill at poker ...

The fourth (Cassie) is a budding chef (you might recognize her guest starring on Lingerie as did Heather Vandeven), who is bi, though I think we mostly see her with guys. Sex-wise, the show is pretty good. The first season also is pretty serious about plot. The actresses here are good enough in that department to keep things going. I like that sort of thing myself. The actresses (Sophie's boss and hot boy poker love interest are the only guys of interest in S1, the latter somewhat interesting) also look good -- they aren't the sort of sloppy cheap girls seen in some soft porn fare.

Only Belle remains of the quartet in S2 when things then move on to the office (Brandin Rackley gets more face time) and a club (Jayden Cole, another pretty good porn actress, in both departments). The plots aren't as good though there are a few good episodes (e.g., trip to the farm, a bet and blackout) and things are still decent. A bit more focus on a few guys. A gem here is the somewhat dim but smarter than she looks Tippi (Riley Steele) with a distinctive babyish voice.

Repeats continue to be on late at night and continue to catch bits and pieces of it. It's above average soft core fare w/o totally escaping conventions. For instance, minus the first episode, the usual totally tanned, no bodily fluids (sweat, cum etc.) sex that can pop up anywhere and then the people go back to what they are doing sort of thing. Still, the actual plot and acting is notable. Good cast overall.
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