‘Killer Hair’ Brings Crime and Crimes of Fashion to Lifetime

The first of, we hope, several adaptations of Ellen Byerrum’s popular Crime of Fashion mystery series debuts on the Lifetime Movie Network Sunday evening as Maggie Lawson (PSYCH) takes on the role of fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian in Killer Hair. Lacey is an investigative reporter by training, stuck with the fashion column in a third-rate Washington, D.C. newspaper. When a hair stylist turns up dead, with a terrible haircut, the police rule it a suicide, but Lacey’s friend Stella is convinced that her fellow stylist was murdered and coaxes Lacey into digging deeper to find the real cause of death.

Maggie Lawson, Sarah Edmondson and Sadie LeBlanc in Killer Hair

I am a fan of Maggie Lawson’s work on PSYCH and was excited to see her take on a leading role in Killer Hair. Lawson has the potential to be the next Sandra Bullock, an endearing girl-next-door who can balance dramatic chops with comedic timing. Although Lawson is an engaging actor, Lacey feels just a bit flat in this first outing, particularly when she has to act the wronged lover to Victor Webster’s Vic Donovan. I found it difficult to believe that ambitious, witty, confident Lacey would be attracted to someone so bland. To be fair, Vic’s character gets short shrift in the books as well, so Webster didn’t have a lot to work with. He is also overshadowed by Mark Consuelos as crime reporter Tony Trujillo. Now there’s some sizzle! Watching Lawson and Consuelos together brought to mind the Hepburn-Tracey pairings of yore. Perhaps not everything has to follow the novels? I’m definitely on board the Lacey/Tony ‘ship!

In addition to the men in her life, Lacey also has the requisite girlfriends with whom to talk funeral fashion etiquette (“This isn’t a nightclub”), men, murder and everything in between. Sadie LeBlanc’s Stella, the stylist, is supposed to be the “quirky” friend, as evidenced by her wacky hair styles and slightly oddball quotes. Lacey and Stella together often seemed forced, like they used to be best friends in high school but don’t have much in common any more and don’t want to admit it. Fortunately, the third member of their girl group, Sarah Edmondson’s Brooke, is pretty adorable and has good chemistry with Lawson. Brooke is a conspiracy theorist in addition to being a rockin’ lawyer on Capitol Hill. She helps Lacey connect a couple of dots in the murder investigation, and, in one of the best scenes of the night, comes to her aid when Lacey needs a lawyer. Seriously, Brooke’s re-entrance as Lacey’s lawyer in the interrogation scene was brilliant and, I hope, an indication of what’s to come in future installments.

Maggie Lawson stars in Killer Hair on the Lifetime Movie Network

Also of note are performances by Rider Strong as the salon owner’s son who has a crush on Lacey; the always delightful Mario Cantone as the salon’s smarmy but sought after top stylist; Jocelyne Loewen as Felicity Pickles, the food editor who has it in for Lacey’s hips; James McDaniel as the perpetually dour editor-in-chief; and Finola Hughes as a Heidi Fleiss-type whose upcoming trial may be linked to the murder. We also get just a glimpse of Mary McDonnell as Lacey’s mother, who will appear in a larger capacity in Hostile Makeover.

No review of Killer Hair would be complete without mentioning the fashion, especially Lacey’s vintage couture. Poor Lacey, so unappreciated by the neutral-clad Washingtonians. She has some lovely pieces, and her shoes are to die for. I wonder if Lawson gets to keep her wardrobe, because then I might have to hate her for being so cute, working with James Roday and Dule Hill, and having such great pieces in her closet. But I digress. Killer Hair is a good piece of summer fun with the potential to turn into a very popular franchise as well as a showcase for Lawson. A couple of the relationships aren’t firing on all cylinders yet, but I’m willing to overlook them as part of the growing pains of a new series. Especially if Lacey and Tony get more scenes together.

Killer Hair premieres on the Lifetime Movie Network at 8/7c on Sunday, June 21.