The Client List

Riley Parks is a single mother trying to keep her family afloat in a town where appearances matter. To pay the bills she lives a double life, juggling the responsibilities of parenthood and a daytime routine that masks a bolder, more risky role among a fleet of outspoken, sexy coworkers. The show follows how she manages secrecy, client interactions, and community judgment while trying to protect her kids and hold on to some sense of normalcy. Episodes focus on the tension between private needs and public reputation, and on the messy compromises people make when options are limited.

The series premiered in 2012, created by Suzanne Martin and Jordan Budde, with episodes directed in part by Eric Laneuville. It was built around Jennifer Love Hewitt as the lead and positioned as a serialized drama for television audiences.

The show prompted mainstream conversation about sex work, economic pressure, and single parenthood in conservative communities. It also marked a shift for Jennifer Love Hewitt from lighter roles into steadier dramatic material, and it attracted a vocal fanbase that kept interest alive during its run and in online discussions afterward.

Critical reception was mixed, reflected in an average user vote of 6.59 out of 10 from 150 votes. Reviewers tended to praise the cast and the personal stakes at the center of the story while critiquing uneven plotting and tonal shifts. Recurring themes include secrecy, moral ambiguity, female solidarity, and the compromises people make to survive financially, with the series often focusing on character choices over neat resolutions.

While performances, especially the lead, received notice in entertainment coverage, the series did not become a major awards contender. It drew more attention as a cultural talking point and a showcase for its actors than as a decorated, trophy-winning drama.