NBC's new `Lipstick Jungle' similar to ABC's `Cashmere Mafia,' but neither series measures up

NEW YORK -- "Cashmere Mafia"? "Lipstick Jungle"?

As titles go, these are lively, inviting and interchangeable. From a creative standpoint, "Cashmere" (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC) comes across as strictly a synthetic blend. On the other hand, its sister serial "Lipstick" (premieres at 9 p.m. Feb. 7 on NBC) is glossy and bright.

The two series are disconcertingly similar. Once you've got the titles straight, watch a couple of episodes of both shows, then try to remember which things happened on which series.

While "Cashmere" focuses on four hard-driving Manhattan career women (played by Lucy Liu, Frances O'Connor, Miranda Otto and Bonnie Somerville), "Lipstick" focuses on three hard-driving Manhattan career women (played by Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price). On both, glam gals support one another in matters personal and professional.

What are their tony professions?

In this photo released by ABC shows the cast of "Cashmere Mafia", from left, Lucy Liu as Mia, Frances O'Connor as Zoe, Bonnie Somerville as Caitlin and Miranda Otto as Juliet. (AP Photo/Andrew Eccles,ABC)

On "Cashmere," it's finance, the hotel industry, cosmetics marketing and running magazines.

On "Lipstick," it's fashion design, movies -- and running a magazine.

If "Lipstick Jungle" has the edge on reflecting a female point of view, no wonder. It's based on the novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell, who serves as an executive producer. Bushnell is the best-selling author of an earlier book that inspired the HBO hit "Sex and the City."

But the DNA of that series can also be detected in "Cashmere." The creator of "Sex and the City," Darren Star, is a "Cashmere" executive producer.