Cane vs Dirty Sexy Money: A Comparison

Dirty Sexy Money is a well-reviewed new show starring Peter Krause (Wednesdays at 10 on ABC). Cane is a critically reviled new show starring Jimmy Smits (Tuesdays at 10 on CBS). What could they possibly have in common?

Well, obviously, both shows are hour-long dramas airing at 10 p.m.

Both are sprawling family sagas reminiscent of those power dramas of the 80's, Dallas and Dynasty.


Both shows have a "not quite son" in the lead. Jimmy Smits' character, Alex, is the adopted son of the Duque family on Cane. Peter Krause's character, Nick, isn't a son at all (as far as we know!) but he is the family's attorney, lead character, and the father's favorite "child" on DSM. One of the most touching moments in the season so far was when Tripp told Nick "I love you, Nicky."



Both shows' families are rich and powerful.

Everybody on both shows is beautiful. I know that's true of almost everybody on TV, but these people are amazingly gorgeous. Jimmy Smits can beat the daylights out of a Cuban mobster one minute and be well-pressed and tailored the next. In Miami!

All characters of both shows live incredibly opulent lifestyles.


Both families have a young ne'er-do-well son, who - while incredibly handsome and the owner of the most amazing dimples - isn't particularly well employed. The one on Cane owns "a club," which appears to be a hugely successful nightclub, but is somehow looked down upon by his family. The cutie pie on DSM isn't employed at all until he volunteers to get an actual job, which chokes the old man up like crazy. He is so without skills that he ends up working up in a parking garage owned by the family.


Both shows have well-respected actors playing the family patriarchs (Donald Sutherland in DSM and Hector Elizondo in Cane) and matriarchs (Jill Clayburgh in DSM and Rita Moreno in Cane).



Both shows have an incredibly pissed-off brother who hated the lead character at the beginning of the series and gradually starts coming around. Frank Duque in Cane is jealous that dear old dad name Alex CEO of the company but is just now beginning to get along with him. Over at DSM, Brian Darling, the priest with anger management issues, has hated Nick since childhood. Since Nick has helped Brian out of various jams lately, Brian is starting to come around. The two shows' hateful brothers appear to be in sync with one another.




Both shows have places on my Tivo season pass list. Dirty Sexy Money is the better of the two shows. The acting is much better throughout, and the story lines are much less predictable. However, Cane is a much better show than the critics have suggested. I recommend both shows.