New series in focus: NBC's 'The Playboy Club'

NBC posted several clips of its upcoming 2011-12 series — here's a first look at "The Playboy Club," scheduled for 10 p.m. Mondays this fall.

From the first two excerpts (one up top, one below), things couldn't look much more superficial in a series that, whether it likes it or not, is sure to draw initial comparisons to "Mad Men." In fact, "Mad Men" alum Alan Taylor directed the "Playboy" pilot. But as the breathlessness of the third clip shows, even as the drama gets meatier, any similarities to "Mad Men" end with the time period and the haircuts. "The Playboy Club" will be its own series, for better or worse.

The final clip offers the best line, from club manager Billy (David Krumholtz) to lead character Nick (Eddie Cibrian). "Smart. Who needs smart? You're the only man I know puts his hand up a girl's skirt looking for a dictionary."

Brian Grazer, Chad Hodge (who wrote the pilot), Francie Calfo, Jason Burns and Dick Rosenzweig exec produce "The Playboy Club" for 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television. Amber Heard, Laura Benanti, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Wes Ramsey, Nautri Naughton and Leah Renee round out the cast.