Candace Bushnell, writer of books-turned-TV shows Sex and the City and Lipstick Jungle has written a four-part series of webisodes for Maybelline and More Magazine, now airing on the browser right in front of you.

“The Broadroom,”  produced by Co.Op TV in conjunction with magazine mogul Meredith Corporation, who owns More, is a comedy about a group of women in a marketing company.  In and out of meetings they discuss themselves and their lives, including how to woo cranky men with vanilla and a bit about the challenges of taking a breast-pump machine to work.  It’s entertaining “time-kill” with each episode only lasting about 6 minutes.  The four-part series features a pretty accomplished cast of actresses from television and theatre, too, including Jennie Garth (Beverly Hills, 90210); Jennifer Esposito (Samantha Who?); Talia Balsam (Mad Men); Broadway actress Mary McCann; and a young woman they are introducing, Lauren Devereux.

The show is dropped right in the center of a Maybelline site, tastefully laid out with company’s branding.  It’s a tad kitschy – your cursor turns into a lipstick tube while searching the site – but not overbearing.  There is a photo shoot of the actresses, vignettes on the winners of some contest that doesn’t seem relevant and each actress has a makeup profile, with instructions for mimicking the different character’s style.  “To get Julie’s sophisticated office look, go for smoky eyes with an understated, polished lip” or “Getting Roan’s all-over glow is simple.  Apply Maybelline New York Mineral Powder™ to the perimeter of the face…” And of course, “Buy now” buttons grace each page.

What the stake is for More Magazine isn’t readily obvious, but the comedy is definitely directed to the over-40 crowd, which is the magazine’s demographic.

It’s fun.  Whether it sells or not is a different question.  See what you think.  Click on the picture and watch an episode or two, then let me know what you think.