The Client List is an American drama television series based on the 2010 television film of the same name, which aired on the Lifetime network. The series stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, who starred in the film, though she plays a different character, in a premise that is slightly different from the film. The series premiered on Sunday, April 8, 2012.
Lifetime ordered an initial 10 episodes for the first season, and on May 7, 2012, the network renewed the series for a second season of 15 episodes to air March 10, 2013. On November 1, 2013, Lifetime cancelled the series, after two seasons.
The series follows Riley Parks (née Campbell) (Jennifer Love Hewitt), whose husband, Kyle Parks (Brian Hallisay), abandons her and their children, leaving her in financial debt. She comes close to losing their house to foreclosure. Riley accepts work at a day spa in the city of Sugar Land, Texas, which is an hour away from her home in Beaumont, Texas, but refuses when she learns that for some clients, masseuses provide more than massages, known as "extras." When the bank threatens to take her home and the bills start piling up, Riley agrees to start seeing clients on the list.
One day, Riley's best friend, Lacey Locklin (Rebecca Field), is at Riley's house watching Riley's children, Travis (Tyler Champagne) and Katie (Cassidy Guetersloh). When looking for a snack in the freezer, Lacey finds a canister with cash in it. When Lacey confronts Riley about it, Riley lies and says it was an inheritance from Kyle's uncle who had died. When Lacey mentions it to Evan, Kyle's brother, Evan says they didn't have an uncle.
The next afternoon, Lacey goes to The Rub. Thinking they are under surveillance, Georgia Cummings (Loretta Devine), the owner of The Rub, brings Riley and a couple of the girls into the office where they see a blue car in the parking lot. When Riley realizes whose car it is, she goes outside and gets in the passenger seat. Lacey confronts Riley about the money. When Riley admits what really happens at The Rub, Lacey is sick to her stomach and has difficulty believing Riley, but she agrees to keep her secret.
As Riley deals with her children, her mother, her feelings for her brother-in-law, her friends, the girls at the spa, and various men who want to romance her, Riley tries to keep her work in erotic limbo a secret.
The show is based around Lifetime's 2010 television film of the same name, with Jennifer Love Hewitt reprising the lead role. The series, however, is a re-imagining of the film and is not a direct continuation of the film's storyline. The most notable change is that the husband of Hewitt's character abandons his family in the television series before she becomes involved in prostitution, whereas in the film he leaves with their children after the scandal is exposed.
The pilot was written by Jordan Budde, and the film's producers all executive-produced the series alongside Hewitt. Budde got the job because Suzanne Martin, who wrote the film, was busy working on Hot in Cleveland at the time. Upon being given the assignment Budde watched the original movie and felt that the story had ended and also that it was "super depressing" instead he decided to reimagine the show and pitched it that way to Lifetime who accepted. At one point the network toyed with the idea of calling the show "The Rub" and have no connection to the original movie although they eventually decided against this.
Early on Hewitt was involved in the casting of her masseuse clients, although as the show went on she dialed back her involvement in this. This, in part, led to complaints that "the guys were all so good looking". Later the team tried to cast "more real guys" although by this point the network refused, insisting on "hot guys".
Three promotional materials were filmed in October 2011 and released before the series premiered. The first of these materials, released on January 26, 2012, featured Hewitt performing Shirley Bassey's "Big Spender" in a music video-style advert, in reference to the true nature of the work at the massage parlor. The video received much interest from the media due to Hewitt's risqué role, who noted that "based on this new promo, the show is going to be seriously hot."
Season 1 consists of 10 episodes. The series began filming on January 17, 2012. Filming of Season 1 ended on May 2, 2012. Season 1 premiered on April 8, 2012 and ended on June 17, 2012.
Filming for the second season began on November 1, 2012. Filming of Season 2 ended on April 18, 2013. Season 2 premiered on March 10, 2013 and ended on June 16, 2013.
On May 7, 2012, Lifetime renewed the series for a second season of 15 episodes. Filming for the season began on November 1, 2012, and it premiered on March 10, 2013.
The Client List was the subject of a nationwide campaign by licensed massage therapists to stop the show before it aired. The group, "Massage Therapists Against The Client List", asserts that:
<blockquote>The Client List is a series that perpetuates the misconception that Massage Therapy includes inappropriate sexual contact. Massage Therapists are trained healthcare professionals and in most states are licensed and regulated by state medical boards. They adhere to a code of ethics and in some cases are under higher ethical standards than other healthcare professionals â because of these very same misconceptions. Many therapists are now working in doctor's offices and hospitals and providing valuable therapeutic services. The Client List is a huge step backwards." </blockquote>
A&E responded to the controversy with the following press release:
<blockquote>We appreciate your feedback concerning the new Lifetime Television series entitled, The Client List. For many years, Lifetime television has explored the complexity of women's lives and their stories through fiction and non-fiction movies, series and programs. The Client List is a fictionalized story about the experiences of a single mother as she unexpectedly faces dire economic circumstances. The series also features a broad range of characters with alternative points of view who make different choices. The Client List is not intended to depict any specific spa or massage entity, nor in any way demean or disparage the therapeutic massage profession and its benefits and contributions to the health and wellness industry. </blockquote>
An expected third season renewal for the series was put on hold after the announcement of Jennifer Love Hewitt's pregnancy in June 2013. Hewitt reportedly wanted/insisted the real father of her child, co-star and fiancé Brian HallisayâÂÂs character, to be the father of a fictional baby to be born by her character in the third season, while the show's executives and writers wanted Colin Egglesfield's character to be the father. Lifetime was undecided, which led to a renewal delay that lasted into October 2013. Due to creative differences between Hewitt, Lifetime, Sony Pictures Television, and ITV Studios America, the show was officially canceled on November 1, 2013 after two seasons.
The first season of The Client List, consisting of 10 episodes, was watched by an average of 2.51 million viewers per week. The second season, consisting of 15 episodes, was watched by an average of 2.05 million viewers.