By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed February 6, 2015
We already have the CW's "Jane the Virgin."
No we have TV One's "Born Again Virgin," which is set to debut in the summer but TV One is airing the pilot as a sneak preview on Friday, February 6 at 11 p.m. after the 46th NAACP Image Awards. The show is set in Atlanta and shot in Atlanta. Production for the series begins in March.
An appealing 34-year-old blogger Jenna has had a string of unsuccessful relationships and hook-ups so she decides to be a "born again virgin" while chronicling the sexcapades of her two best friends Kelly and Tara. A hot neighbor lawyer Donovan quickly challenges her vow of celibacy. So sort of like "Single Ladies," the trio of women will deal with friendship, dating and career challenges.
The show, based on the pilot, is a bit broad but amusing. The blogging trope evokes a little bit of Carrie Bradshaw on that classic HBO show "Sex and the City." Maybe this is "Trying Not To Have Sex and the City?"
Her friends are naturally skeptical of her effort.
Tara: "This whole born again virgin thing. You can't give up sex. You couldn't even give up gluten!"
Jenna: "Abstinence is all mental. I'm on a higher plane. I have reached a higher level of consciousness. I have evolved!"
Her goal: "This is not a phase. It's a commitment to myself. I want deeper, more meaningful relationships. Removing sex out of the equation will achieve that."
You have to wonder how long this "no sex" vow will actually last if the show becomes a success and they reach season four. But it's an appealing premise, nonetheless.
There are clips on TV One's website like these to give you a flavor. It's a one-camera set up with no laugh track.
The cast does not boast any big names: Danielle Nicolet (Jenna), Gabrielle Dennis (Kelly), Eva Marcille (Tara), Durrell 'Tank' Babbs (Donovan) and Jackie Long (Rick).
Looking at Nicolet's resume, she has been in a ton of TV shows and films over 24 years but has yet to land that big starring role on a hit show. (She had a recurring role on 45 episodes of "Third Rock From the Sun" and was in 10 episodes of Debra Messing's short-lived USA series "The Starter Wife.") She is front and center here based on the clips above.
TV One is in under new management with former Atlanta-based UP TV and Turner executive Brad Siegel taking the helm a few weeks ago. This show is the product of the previous regime.
Siegel has yet to decide on two other Atlanta-based productions: "R&B Divas Atlanta" and "The Rickey Smiley Show."
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