Spend the week with Andrew McCarthy

Brat-packer Andrew McCarthy has a new, high-profile acting gig. He's a cast member of the new NBC series "Lipstick Jungle," starring Brooke Shields.

Love him or loathe him for his roles in "Pretty in Pink" and "St. Elmo's Fire," McCarthy has kept a relatively lower profile over the last 20 years than chums like Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Rob Lowe. Hollywood talk had it that McCarthy was always the outsider of the gang. (Why? Jealousy over "Mannequin?")

But if you're a long-time fan of McCarthy, you're in luck. He's keeping an online diary of the first week of shooting of "Lipstick Jungle" at Slate.com. Click here to read the first day's entry. The series, based on a novel by Candace Bushnell, airs Thursday nights on NBC.

Take a quick glance through and it's obvious McCarthy is a talented writer who isn't shy about sharing the self-deprecating moments. "Next came a wardrobe fitting and camera test -- during which Candace announced, 'I wouldn't f--- you in those shoes,' and then walked out for a cigarette..."

TOP 5 ANDREW MCCARTHY MOVIES OF THE 80s:

5. PRETTY IN PINK (1986): "I believed in you. I just didn't believe in me."

4. LESS THAN ZERO (1987): "Do you know that you girls have televisions between your legs?"

3. ST. ELMO'S FIRE (1985): "Marriage is a concept invented by people who were lucky to make it to 20 without being eaten by dinosaurs."

2. CLASS (1983): "Why am I such a turd?"

1. WEEKEND AT BERNIES (1989): "How do you like that? The guy gets laid more times dead than I do alive."

[NBC photo]

Comments

[jane]

Oh, how I loved Andrew McCarthy back in the day -- he was singlehandedly responsible for me crashing every journalism major party I could at UF in hopes of finding someone as witty and self-effacing as his character.

The Slate diary was really interesting (it must be my day to have former "Thirty-something" actors-now-directors cross my path -- first Ken Olin, now Tim Busfield) and he seems to have retained a lot of the charm that I found so endearing lo these many years ago.

However, I'm a bit over all the Candice Bushnell/Darren Star stuff, having ODd on SATC a while ago. I'll just be content to read Mr. McCarthy at this point.

[Andy Fan]

I missed the first episode. Reviews anyone?

[Marissa]

My 13 year old son loves "Weekend at Bernies." As far as McCarthy flicks go, I'd say that's my favorite, too. His character is goofy and likable.

I suppose I might find his portrayal of Kevin Dolenz more endearing if I could get past the horror that is, "St. Elmo's Fire." shudder.

[VineyardWoman]

While I can't give it a review, NBC has the full episode online at http://www.nbc.com/Lipstick_Jungle/video/episodes.shtml

With the writers strike and people turning AWAY from their TVs you would think they would have done SOME promotion for a new show.

[Eric S]

Never liked Weekend at Bernie's. A one joke concept that they stretched for an hour and a half. I would probably have Less than Zero at #1. Great haunting flick. Heaven Help Up doesn't even get in the top 5? Come on now. Very good funny film. The others in the top 5 aren't bad. I didn't have huge problems with St. Elmo's. About Last Night (with 2 Brat Pack members) was a much better film dealing with similiar issues. For some reason, I did like Mannequin. Another awesome Andrew McCarthy-James Spader pairing!!

[Dr Dre]

Less than zero, this movie was way over the top. Thinking about Robert Downey Jr I wonder if this movie was the start of the fall of this mans life. The movie was as close to real life anyone would want.