Having seen the first episode, I tell you the shows seem pretty similar. I kept getting the SATC vibe the whole time I was watching. Cashmere is SATC set in the high power, fast paced world that is business at the executive level, plus a kid or two and a lesbian story line. It's high fashion, glamor, the women get are each others support system. The mise en scene or setting is the same: Manhattan, so we see a lot of flagging down cabs etc (very Manhattenesque behavior, tres posh). The women of the Cashmere mafia definitely have some similarities with SATC in terms of their personal lives. It seems like it's gonna be a bumpy road for most of the women like in SATC, but the lesbian story line looks promising. In fact, it was probably the most genuine portion of the 1 hour premiere; it was most relatable I guess. I like that this is a show about women at the very top of the business industry which is really the key difference between CM and SATC (and I feel like the writers will do the concept justice) so I'll keep watching to see how things develop; And this is high praise coming from someone who wasn't a die-hard, gung-ho fan of SATC, though I did enjoy it whenever I got the chance to see it.

Will blog for food!

I wasn't really a fan of Sex and the City.  I'd watched pieces of episodes, but not one in its entirety so I may just be biased, but I was never able to identify with the characters on that show.  With Cashmere Mafia I felt like the characters were a little more human and slightly less camped-up--though the comedic element to the show is most definitely still there (which is another great thing about the show)--which makes the characters more accessible.

I'll have to disagree with Caitlin and say that I thought the writing was pretty good.  I wouldn't say it was perfect--parts of it were kind of hokey, and not in an intentional way--but how many TV shows have perfect writing anyway?   All in all, I'm giving it my thumbs up, and I'll continue to watch.  Hopefully more episodes get produced once the darned WGA strike is through.

SATC is sharper in terms of direction and dialogue but since it's only 20 mins each episode and each episode focuses on a topic so that explains. However, as Hope has said, I feel the characters on CM are more relateable and less extreme than those on SATC. I definitely prefer the CM gang to the SATC one (though no one on CM is quite on the level of Samantha's awesomeness!). Just take a look at these Fantastic Four:

1) Mia: She's not a whiny or self-absorbed b1tch like Carrie. Strong, career-driven and uncompromising, Lucy Liu totally kicks SJP's ass.

2) Caitlin: waaayyy cuter and not as annoying as Charlotte. I always find that Kristin Davis tries too hard to be cute. Bonnie Somerville is just effortlessly adorable.

3) Zoe: a more endearing working mother than Miranda. Cynthia Nixon is great but Frances O'Connor is such a sweetie.

4) Juliet: OK, the only one in the group that I'm not feeling yet. I don't see much similarity between her and Sam apart from her being a bit sexually adventurous. Plus, Kim Catrall is a TV legend in my book so there's no match here.

Oh, I also find that CM treats the work and the minorities more maturely than SATC. Sure what we see on CM is more glamourous than reality but at least we see the women work and they do have problems at work. There's a non-stereotypical Asian in the leading role, a Latina/Asian lesbian (bi?) and a black assistant. While there are a bunch of gays on SATC, they are just there to play the "fabulous, well-dressed" gay stereotype, yet are not given any well-developed storyline. CM has an interesting lesbian (bi?) main character, her attraction to women is genuine and not a ratings stunt.

I say Cashmere Mafia FTW!

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""My love life is terrible. The last time I was inside a woman was when I visited the Statue of Liberty."

...is an overall more watchable show for me than Sex and the City. I really couldn't stand the looks/personalities of anyone in SATC, and the storyline was bo-ring!

Cashmere is sorta boring, but not nearly as much. There are some cast members I don't really like to look at, but at least it's not painful to do so. I like a couple of the characters, and it might be possible for me to eventually like the others. The lesbian storyline is being done exceptionally well for a TV program.

In summary, I hated SATC, but almost sorta like Cashmere Mafia.

_____________________
Obsessive? Me? Never!

"This is what forum moderators do - we are here to be "protectors" of sorts and make sure that everyone is able to voice their own opinions."

Actually from an academic perspective the word: "Opinion" means that a person doesn't know the subject they are talking about. So do I travel back in time and tell my professor that he probably hurt someone's feelings? Come On Now! Seems less like a "protector and more like a babysitter if you ask me.

"without fear of being chastised. We all know by now (from this thread and others) that you love Cashmere Mafia. But you're extremely defensive towards anyone who has a different opinion and, perhaps, maybe doesn't like the show as much as you do."

No I am proactive. See I am a writer if there is something wrong with the shows writing "SPELL It Out" State what it is, then write the networks and TELL them. A person CAN make an impact, I have and I'm just one person yet I sent a message to a late nite talk show and an episode that had aired serveral times that I found offensive was edited and reaired a 3rd time two days after the host received my email.

I don't care if if another person dislikes the show. Many excellent shows have been cancelled because moronic Americans badmouth them. I guess I am a member of what the President conned people into believing existed: The Intellectual Elite and proud of it!

What I am saying is that I want to see substance. I once received a message from a member who did not like a comment I made. So I articulately stated my rationale for why I posted that specific comment, and do you know what she wrote next because she didn't know how to respond? She wrote: "You're funny." I gave a sociological basis for making the statemnent she found offensive and all she could respond was: "You're funny" Nothing else. WTF?!"

In conclusion so what if everyone knows I love the show? Thank the goddess for a break from TLW I am so over that show but it doesn't mean that just because everyone knows how much I like the show that I am not going to post about it anymore.

In my opinion the only real similarities these two shows share is the setting (but a lot of shows are set in New York) and the fact that it's about 4 women. The tones of the two shows are completely different and I actually think I will like Cashmere Mafia more. 

I found SATC very formulaic, especially at the beginning. Every episode was about the same thing (each character searches for Mr Right).  I know Samantha was an exeption but any feminist ground she might have gained was counteracted by Charlotte's character.  I always heard that Charlotte wasn't in the articles/books but that the suits asked the producers to put her in as the moral centre.

I also think there was too much emphasis on fashion in SATC.  The women in Cashmere do wear nice clothes but they don't ra-rah about clothes all the time in the same superficial and frivolous way as Carrie Bradshaw.

P.S. I can't stand Sarah Jessica Parker. Can you tell?

I don't think they are that similar as well... Aside from the fact that is about 4 women living in NY, wearing expensive clothes.

For me, Cashmere Mafia isn't really working. I can't feel the chemistry between the main characters, oppose to S&TC, which is one of my favorite shows ever.

I'm gonna give it another try to CM but if things stay the way they are I think I'll be just reading the reviews and recaps, just like South opf Nowhere (it's funnier, and faster). :p

Rarely do the networks rerun the first episodes of Sex, but if you recall, they weren't as entertaining as the later seasons. It took a few episodes for the writers to develop the characters and for the girls to really find that timing that cracked us up so much. Point being, I say give it some time to gel before comparing this new baby series to the veteran show. Personally, I find CM loses my attention often...until I hear Lucy Liu's voice then I'm back. :)