The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- Series Thread
04-10-16, 10:45 AM
#1
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The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- Series Thread
Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht announced at today's STARZ' Television Critics Association (TCA) presentation at the Langham Huntington the new limited series, "The Girlfriend Experience", will premiere on STARZ on Sunday, April 10th at 8 pm ET/PT. All 13 half-hour episodes will also be made available simultaneously for STARZ subscribers on STARZ PLAY and STARZ ON DEMAND, in the U.S. The series, starring Riley Keough (Magic Mike, Mad Max: Fury Road), is a reimagining of Steven Soderbergh's 2009 critically-acclaimed movie of the same name. Soderbergh executive produces, along with Philip Fleishman, Lodge Kerrigan, Amy Seimetz, Gary Marcus and Jeff Cuban. "The Girlfriend Experience" follows Christine Reade, a second year student at Chicago-Burnham Law School and a new intern at the prestigious firm of Kirkland & Allen. Working hard to establish herself at the firm, her focus quickly shifts when a classmate introduces her to the world of transactional relationships. Known as GFEs, they are women who provide "The Girlfriend Experience" - emotional and sexual relationships at a very high price. Juggling two very different lives, Christine quickly finds herself drawn into the GFE world, attracted to the rush of control and intimacy. Lodge Kerrigan and Amy Seimetz are the co-creators, writing and directing all 13 episodes. It also stars Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul Sparks and Kate Lyn Sheil.
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Mary Lynn Rajskub as Erin
· Riley Keough as Christine Reade
CREW INFORMATION:
· Amy Seimetz as CRTR/EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Lodge Kerrigan as CRTR/EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Philip Fleishman as EP
· Steven Soderbergh as EP
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Mary Lynn Rajskub as Erin
· Riley Keough as Christine Reade
CREW INFORMATION:
· Amy Seimetz as CRTR/EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Lodge Kerrigan as CRTR/EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Philip Fleishman as EP
· Steven Soderbergh as EP
All episodes are available On Demand. Two episodes will air on Starz tonight starting at 8pm ET.
04-10-16, 10:51 AM
#2
DVD Talk God
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
I know Starz is a premium channel, but seems weird to me they would schedule this at 8pm.
The promos I've seen make this series seem very sexual in nature. Seems more like a 10pm show.
The promos I've seen make this series seem very sexual in nature. Seems more like a 10pm show.
04-10-16, 11:06 AM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
They repeat shows with hard R rated content all the time before 8:00, so I don't see how there would be a problem with this airing at 8:00. Yesterday it seems like they were having a marathon of Outlander episodes during the afternoon. I've found repeats of Black Sails and Spartacus episodes airing in the afternoon as well. Will The GFE have anything worse than the key moments of Outlander, Spartacus, or Black Sails?
04-10-16, 11:07 AM
#5
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
Ive been hearing all eps will be avaialble on demand.. Will check this out.. Heard some good things, and i like soderbergh
04-10-16, 11:07 AM
#6
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
The reviews I have read have been very positive.
04-10-16, 02:56 PM
#7
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
Watched the 1st episode on the Starz app. Not bad. Episodes are super short at only 30 minutes.
The lead reminds me a little of Elisabeth Moss. 1st episode really just set up who she was and how she's getting into High End Escorting. Only 1 semi-graphic sex scene where she picked up some random guy and that had sex at his place.
The lead reminds me a little of Elisabeth Moss. 1st episode really just set up who she was and how she's getting into High End Escorting. Only 1 semi-graphic sex scene where she picked up some random guy and that had sex at his place.
04-10-16, 02:57 PM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
When I went to setup the recording for this series around 10:00am they were repeating the S2 premiere out Outlander followed by a showing of the movie Striptease. Anybody still think air time actually matters on pay cable channels?
Seems like they play two episodes of this back to back each Sunday based on the recording I set up.
Seems like they play two episodes of this back to back each Sunday based on the recording I set up.
04-10-16, 05:19 PM
#9
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
was the movie a success at all? i'll DVR it, but who knows. reminds me of Secret Life of a Call Girl, i think, what on SHO?
04-11-16, 12:07 AM
#10
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
04-11-16, 03:24 AM
#11
DVD Talk God
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
Liked episode 2. Went a little more into Christine becoming a high end escort. Guess she's drowning in debt from law school and had to do this.
Riley Keough is pretty damn hot. She looked really good posing for those photos. Hard to believe she's only 19 years younger than her Mom.
That "encounter" at the end was a surprise.
Riley Keough is pretty damn hot. She looked really good posing for those photos. Hard to believe she's only 19 years younger than her Mom.
That "encounter" at the end was a surprise.
04-11-16, 09:24 AM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
Not sure if I missed something but I noticed Christine had a definite reaction when her friend told her she was paying the madame 30%. Was it mentioned elsewhere that she is paying a different amount?
04-11-16, 03:00 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
I had this on last night but didn't pay full attention to it. From what I saw it seems like it could be decent and I might watch through the season. Sort of like that it's a half hour rather than an hour as those types of shows are way easier to binge.
04-11-16, 03:06 PM
#14
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
04-11-16, 04:02 PM
#15
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
One thing I thought unrealistic was that she and her friend were taking taxis. I thought people her age would only use Uber. 
And I wish they had a bit more backstory. Was her friend a recent acquaintance? It seemed at first she thought her friend was just dating an older man but only later realized she was an escort. I wondered if they had been friends long because it seemed rather odd she wouldn't have known. I was trying to figure out what she knew already because it didn't seem to shock her much. But maybe she already knew and if so I would have liked to have seen that reaction when she found out about it.
I liked how they showed her in the first episode having random sex with a guy she picked up because really if she is doing that already, I am not sure why she wouldn't want to just get paid for it. The way she later asked her first john if he liked it seemed to echo how she treated her one-nighter. I wonder if it will come out she has Daddy issues, because she seems to really want approval from men.
And I wish they had a bit more backstory. Was her friend a recent acquaintance? It seemed at first she thought her friend was just dating an older man but only later realized she was an escort. I wondered if they had been friends long because it seemed rather odd she wouldn't have known. I was trying to figure out what she knew already because it didn't seem to shock her much. But maybe she already knew and if so I would have liked to have seen that reaction when she found out about it.
I liked how they showed her in the first episode having random sex with a guy she picked up because really if she is doing that already, I am not sure why she wouldn't want to just get paid for it. The way she later asked her first john if he liked it seemed to echo how she treated her one-nighter. I wonder if it will come out she has Daddy issues, because she seems to really want approval from men.
04-12-16, 12:09 PM
#16
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
Watched the first couple episodes last night and will be back for more. The lead is pretty good in this and not too bad looking either. Reminds me of how Starz cast their other recent Sunday night show Flesh and Bone - not your typical Hollywood lead actress, but pretty in their own right.
The tone and style thus far is very clinical and sterile - am sure this is on purpose. The compressed 30 minute episodes seem to be working okay thus far.
Will likely binge through the rest on demand at some point instead of waiting for them to air on Sunday's.
The tone and style thus far is very clinical and sterile - am sure this is on purpose. The compressed 30 minute episodes seem to be working okay thus far.
Will likely binge through the rest on demand at some point instead of waiting for them to air on Sunday's.
04-12-16, 06:45 PM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
And for me, the lead reminds me of Kristen Stewart. Including only having one facial expression. Even her O face doesn't change much given what we saw in that second episode.
Last edited by hdnmickey; 04-15-16 at 07:31 PM.
04-27-16, 06:30 PM
#18
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
Anybody still watching this? I finished it a few days ago using On Demand. Thought as the story got more complex, it also some how got less interesting IMO. Much of it I think has to do with what seemed like a totally emotionless main character.
If there was a second season I doubt I would tune in unless I read that there was big changes made.
If there was a second season I doubt I would tune in unless I read that there was big changes made.
04-27-16, 08:18 PM
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
i'm really liking the show. watching them as they come out as my on demand doesn't have all the eps for some reason. enjoy the lead and story. very seductive and interesting...
04-27-16, 08:37 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
Intersting. I really wanted to get into it more as the really surprising developments happened...
All of those should have been far more interesting as they played out. But their impact was limited by a lead that acts the same in every scene, no matter the drama going down in that scene. Even those where she is supposedly REALLY enjoying herself.
Spoiler:
All of those should have been far more interesting as they played out. But their impact was limited by a lead that acts the same in every scene, no matter the drama going down in that scene. Even those where she is supposedly REALLY enjoying herself.
04-28-16, 10:16 AM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
I'm on episode 5 I think (watching with Starz Play) and I like it quite a bit so far. I also liked the movie FWIW.
As another poster mentioned the lead chick does also remind me a lot of Kristen Stewart, which for me is not a bad thing.
As another poster mentioned the lead chick does also remind me a lot of Kristen Stewart, which for me is not a bad thing.
05-23-16, 01:04 PM
#22
DVD Talk God
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
I'm through 4 episodes. Watched episode 4 last night.
I think Riley Keough is playing the Christine character the way it should be played. Cold and emotionless. She's a high end escort and I think in order for her to survive mentally doing this kind of work, she has to be cold and detached. I wouldn't expect her to be full of joy. It's kind of a dark and gloomy show overall.
Found it kind of funny when the Asian guy mentioned he was taking out loans in order to see her & going broke. And then he wanted to know if she would give him a discount or give him a break.
Not sure why she decided to bang her boss at the end. Hoping it helps her career path?
I think Riley Keough is playing the Christine character the way it should be played. Cold and emotionless. She's a high end escort and I think in order for her to survive mentally doing this kind of work, she has to be cold and detached. I wouldn't expect her to be full of joy. It's kind of a dark and gloomy show overall.
Found it kind of funny when the Asian guy mentioned he was taking out loans in order to see her & going broke. And then he wanted to know if she would give him a discount or give him a break.
Not sure why she decided to bang her boss at the end. Hoping it helps her career path?
Last edited by DJariya; 05-23-16 at 01:26 PM.
05-23-16, 01:25 PM
#23
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Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
I finished this over a weekend a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Had a very Fincher-esque aesthetic. Riley Keough is hot as hell.
05-23-16, 06:02 PM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
I'm enjoying it so far but I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up dead by the end of the season. Between the stalker guy, the inheritance family, the boss, the co-worker, the madame, etc. she is pissing off people right and left.
05-23-16, 06:25 PM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Girlfriend Experience (Starz) -- based on the Soderbergh film -- S: Riley Keo
That is certainly true. But since the men hiring her are looking for more than that, the whole series just didn't work. Who would want to spend any time with this woman? She is the epitome of a wet blanket. Even when she is supposedly "really" enjoying herself. She can't even fake it well.