On Seventh Avenue
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Cast: Wendy Makkena, Stephen Collins, Alan Rosenberg, Damian Chapa, Liz Coke, Lara Harris, Gene Saks, Faye Grant, Luis Guzman, Jean Claude MaMarre, Ronald Guttman, Frank Vincent, Anthony Zerbe, Eileen Galindo, Wilson Cruz, Hil Cato, Bill Finkelstein, Julie Brown, Frank Pellegrino, Vinny Argiro, Jordan Lage , Tom Riis Farrell, Marita Schaub, Wei Mei Thomas, Peter Bucossi, Phil Nee, Eric Mabius, Michael Mastro, George Bartenieff, Mike Sheehan, Nathan George, Brenda Thomas Denmark, Vincent Castellano, David Batiste, Arthur Nascarella, Edward Dougherty, Ray Ianniccelli, Aalicia Wilson, Susan Carman, Damian Young, Julie Taylor, Josh Pais, Carmen Bonefront, Allen Swift, Bert Robinson, Marshall Mitchell, David Liebman, Rene Ricard, Mike Cicchetti, Glen Trotiner. With its Manhattan rag biz as a backdrop for a multitude of types, the derivative "On Seventh Avenue" wrestles with ambition, temperament, jealousy, theft, even murder, as Nadine Jordan, impressively played by Wendy Makkena, goes about taking over her dad's company. Defined characters under producer Jeff Bleckner's artful direction move down the runway at a fast clip, but how much of an audience is interested in back-stabbing among threads remains to be seen.
Nadine, head designer for the Norman Ross line, also is romancing Ross (Ronald Guttman). But her retired dad Sol's garment outfit, Briermere, has been scuttled by her brother, who's run off with half a million bucks.
Sol (Gene Saks, playing with immense authority) comes back to the business, but he's too late in too many ways. With lawyer Phil Reiman's (Alan Rosenberg) help, Nadine ankles Ross to take over Briermere, update Briermere's style, and handle the creditors. Main debtees are shark Tom Aiken (Stephen Collins), who wants half of the store, and tough boy Anthony (Damian Chapa), mobster who wants to go legit.
At Ross', two models in particular are spotlighted: blonde Claire (Liz Coke), sharing digs with loose-living, druggie Mary Ann (Lara Harris), and they're both knockouts. Sol's staff, loyal to the code, stick around to help Nadine put on the climactic clothes horse canter; Claire, Mary Ann and their fellow Ross models loyally but unaccountably cross over to strut their stuff in competitor Nadine's new threads.
Vidpic's a mixture of big business, showtime, underworld shenanigans and double-crossing. Faye Grant puts in a smart bid as Tom's overcharged wife Stephanie, Anthony Zerbe turns up as Tom's stern, doubting father Roger.
The teleplay, old hat but still worth eyeballing, keeps hopping. Makkena displays versatility and her ability to carry a lead. Whole cast is pro, and production designer Vaughn Edwards' work looks like the real McCoy. Constantine Makris' inventive lensing, Tod Feverman's smart editing lend Bleckner's fast-paced production even more energy, while Donald Markowitz' jazzy score adds to the bounce. It's a series bid from last year's fashions.
Camera, Constantine Makris; editor, Tod Feverman; art director, Rick Butler; sound, James J. Sabat; music, Donald Markowitz; production designer, Vaughan Edwards; L.A. casting, Beth Hymson-Ayer, Simon Ayer.
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