‘Fly Girls’ and the demeaning of life

Entrepreneur and Virgin corporate chief Richard Branson is a very rich man. But all the money in the world can’t remove the dank aroma of desperation that clings to any tycoon dumb enough to appear in a reality series as thoughtlessly demeaning as “Fly Girls” (8 p.m., CW).

While not as deliberately hateful as “High Society” (8:30 p.m., CW), this stewardess soap opera shares that series’ narrative device, presenting a vaguely scripted story as documentary “reality.” In this case, we follow five shapely flight attendants who share an apartment oh-so-cleverly nicknamed “the crash pad.” Wit is not a strong suit here.

In fact, most of this padded-out half-hour series seems boring and sad. One stewardess is feeling her age after nine years in the sky and confesses to a ticking clock with a vacant stare and chilling Stepford-wife locution. Another woman rues the hours she cannot spend with her 10-year-old son. A bright-eyed Marcia Brady-type named Mandalay once saw the airlines as a way out of the “white picket fence” fantasy of her Arizona family, but now she appears to be burning out on the transient lifestyle. She chases after the wrong men and bickers with her hideous housemate Nikole, a delusional scene-stealer who used to be Mandalay’s best friend.

Over the course of the first two episodes, Nikole sabotages two of her housemates with cutthroat efficiency. Both incidents involve chances for mere flight attendants to rub shoulders with billionaire Branson, who “stars” here in much the same way that a dead body serves as the guest of honor at every funeral.

If Sir Richard is very lucky, then nobody will watch “Fly Girls,” a feat nearly achieved by “High Society,” which debuted to microscopic ratings. At the very least, Branson should pray that none of his employees sees this dreadful show. Some might not like being depicted as empty-headed flirts in tight blouses, or corporate drones who pick up men mid-flight and then wonder why they are treated with gruesome contempt. “Mile-high club” jokes arise with depressing frequency. But perhaps the worst offender asks one of our heroines to take away his still-wet piece of chewing gum. I’m not saying Branson’s employees should go out on strike or anything, but it would be fun to see one throw a high-heeled shoe in his general direction.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Due to ongoing basketball coverage, “Survivor” (7 p.m., CBS) conducts a Tribal Council one night early.

• Mary Stuart Masterson guest stars as a therapist on “Mercy” (7 p.m. NBC).

• Chance finds trouble in the boxing ring on “Human Target” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Amy Sedaris guest stars as a motivational speaker on “The Middle” (7:30 p.m., ABC).

• On two episodes of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC), murder in the posh set (8 p.m.), a mute, disabled woman becomes a victim (9 p.m.).

• Tonight’s elimination will leave only 10 behind on “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox).

• Togetherness has its down side on “Modern Family” (8 p.m., ABC).

• “Great Performances at the Met” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) presents a production of Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffmann.”

• Betty has an “It’s a Wonderful Life” experience on “Ugly Betty” (9 p.m., ABC).

• Tom has some business to attend to on “Being Erica” (9 p.m., SoapNet).