The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman

Jackie (Laura Kightlinger) is a journalist for a very minor Hollywood blab magazine. Naturally, the job does not pay very well, so she has a roommate, Tara (Nicholle Tom) to help make ends meet. In addition, Jackie has no car and Tara carts her around, to work and play. Tara, herself, has a very unimportant job with a film studio so its these two young ladies "against the world". They don't always get along, for sometimes Tara does resent her role as a chauffeur and they pick fights over minor things. Basically, Jackie is on the lookout for a nice romance, too, but usually ends up being pursued by losers. On the job, things can also get sticky, for Jackie's ideas are rejected. For example, a chance encounter with Sally Kellerman provided material for a retrospective look at the original "Hot Lips". However, her editor rejected the idea. Their readers, she said, only want the latest information on the current stars. In a couple of episodes, Tara joined an almost cult-type group and Jackie had to rescue her. Another time, the two went to a Hollywood party but there was such a prevalence of drugs, Jackie decided to walk home while Tara partied. Will these ladies ever get a break, big or little, in LaLa land? I never heard of this series and have no idea what network presented it but I found a disc of the first season in the markdown bin. Parents of minors, don't let your teenage girls have a look, for there is horrid language and a lot of narcotics. But, overall, Jackie has a strong wit and a sharp commentary for the world around her. As Jacks, Kightlinger is quite good, and very lovely. I knew I had seen her before and finally figured out that she had a strong cameo at the beginning of the film Must Love Dogs. Tom, who starred as Maggie in "The Nanny" series and had other roles as a child actor, is now a gorgeous, blonde adult. Folks expecting sweet Maggie may be shocked at Tom's Tara, who wears skimpy outfits and spout bad words easily. And, while Jackie is intelligent, Tara has less gray matter upstairs, that's certain. The rest of the cast, unknown actors, do a very good job, too. The scenery in California is nice and the costumes very nifty. But, by far, it is the script that is compelling here, for the series really does have an authentic feel and plenty of humor in its behind-the-scenes look at cutthroat Hollywood life. If you enjoy biting wit, you would do well to look this series up, especially if you have cinematic aspirations. It tells it like it is in the banana-peel-world of Tinseltown.

I believe that this is one of the best shows on television. IFC has created a real winner. Original and funnier than Entourage, I think that this show is great. I understand why she was not nominated for an Emmy award because it is only the first season, and because that old fart Julia Louis-Dreyfus. When the Golden Globes premiere, I hope this show she and this show are nominated. This show also has a really great ensemble cast, so they might not do so bad at the Screen Actors Guild awards. So . . . this is a good show, I hope it never gets canceled, and I hope that Laura Kightlinger wins something. Minor Accomplishments, Huge series!

From the great mind of Laura K. and D. Punch, comes a show about losers who win at living life. Jackie tries so hard in a town of idiots to push her screenplays of intelligencia. While Tara, her best friend, is succeeding without really trying and sleeping on the next opportunity.

Dark-sarcastic, and very smart, but at the same time it's sprinkled with stupidity, and happiness. Like life it has it's ups and downs. But has you laughing all the way through. It has you thinking on the obscure references and bitch slaps you with present pop culture.

While IFC (which runs the series exclusively) has only shown Season One, and only three episodes of Season 2; what has come out, is well worth watching again and again.

She has a problem with her plumbing and then has a conversation with her mother about nothing. That's 2 minutes of content. It's like gritty realism about stuff that isn't gritty or in any way remotely interesting. It's like the possibility that some things that aren't generally depicted in fiction are left alone because there is nothing interesting about them just wasn't considered. Cues are taken from all the cable dramadies, and when you combine that with a distinct lack of a creative imagination or any unique personal experiences in life to draw inspiration from, this is what you get. I guess the idea is that you're supposed to still be so fascinated with the mechanics behind the media entertainment industry, in spite of how saturated TV has been with that topic in the last few years, that it can be taken to an even more tediously personal-detail-filled level and remain interesting. Laura's voice sets her demeanor at a permanent state of exasperation which becomes grating fast. This lack of emotional range is the nail in the coffin.

Very creative script!!! I was hesitant to watch this show for the longest time, but am so glad I did. Jackie Woodman was the women I knew from the 70's back in Chicago when Chicago was in its inception of theatre brilliance but these creative albeit caustic women never emerged from its nadir. It is so very heartening that their spirit has survived in Jackie Woodman. Why the entire world has not embraced Laura Kightlinger, I haven't a clue. What a brilliant woman. And how very delightful is Nicholle Tom in this show!!! She has accomplished what few child television stars have been able to accomplish and that of becoming an accomplished mature actor. This show is very very refreshing. Watch a few episodes and you'll be enchanted as well.