‘Lipstick Jungle’ ready for closeup But a quick kiss-off might be all it gets

The next big “Sex and the City” wannabe arrives tonight.

Last month was the debut of Darren Star’s “Cashmere Mafia” on ABC. Now comes “Lipstick Jungle,” based on the Candace Bushnell novel, at 10 p.m. on NBC.

“Lipstick Jungle” features a trio of powerful women. There’s movie exec Wendy (played by Brooke Shields), who has a stay-at-home dad (Paul Blackthorne) who takes care of their two children. Next is publisher Nico (Kim Raver), who is bored with her academic husband (Christopher Cousins) and strays. Last is Victory (Lindsay Price), an out-of-fashion fashion designer who is being romanced by a billionaire (Andrew McCarthy). In “Lipstick Jungle,” the three women socialize and discuss problems in their lives, both professional and personal. They’re all fiercely loyal to one another. Hmmm, that’s about it.

You’d think that a series with Oliver Goldsmith (“Ugly Betty”), Timothy Busfield (“The West Wing”) and Bushnell as executive producers would be more fun, more of a guilty pleasure.

For its many flaws, the caffeinated “Cashmere Mafia” at least has a kick, as its quartet of women go through life (and their men) on hyperdrive. “Lipstick Jungle” is too slow-paced, and viewers will quickly stop being bedazzled with their lives of luxury and realize that they really don’t want to visit this version of the Upper East Side.

So, even with a dearth of original programming, kiss off “Lipstick Jungle.”