'The Women' get empowered

It could be the next "Sex and the City," unless it's the next "First Wives Club."

"The Women," which has been bumping around in development for more than a decade through myriad director and A-list actress shifts, premiered last night in L.A. en route to its launch a week from now. The remake (you can call it a re-imagining if you really want) in our minds takes on a formidable foe -- the original pitch-perfect comedy from director George Cukor with Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and Joan Fontaine.

But let's just concede that most people in the prime multiplex-going demo don't know or care about the classic version, and let's figure that at least some of those chicks looking for "Sex and the City"-style age-appropriate content will turn out. (You know, the ones Hollywood just discovered).

No cosmo and Manolo parties around the flick, but hey, it could still make some decent cash on the popularity of an awards-heavy cast, including Oscar winner Annette Bening, Emmy winner Debra Messing, Emmy and Oscar winner Cloris Leachman, who's way hip again. "Dancing with the Stars?" Bob Saget's roast? Come on -- she's on fire right now! And there's triple Emmy winning creator Diane English (pictured).

If it does make bank, that'll be another poke in the eye for Big Warner, which shut down New Line Cinema just before "Sex and the City" broke records and also put the kibosh on Picturehouse, home of "The Women."

And we hope it does, if only to prove that "Sex" wasn't a fluke and that "chick flick" doesn't have be a death knell. Now, just don't make us see "Nights in Rodanthe." Please!