E’s Living Lohan is must see TV.

A classic story of a parent/manager launching their child’s career via television- I wanted to dismiss this show as a warmed over Jessica and Ashlee Simpson reality project - ripped from the pages of the Joe Simpson MTV playbook.

Here are three reasons why I think Living Lohan is a hit and Dina is one tough mother.

Living Lohan is a classic mother/daughter showbiz story straight from the movies

Dina Lohan is my new favorite female entertainment archetype.  A Saturday Night Live caricature waiting to be parodied, she channels the famous mother Rose, a la Gypsy Rose Lee, in Living Lohan.

 Like a lioness protecting her cubs, she is on the hunt 24-7 to protect her girls…and their careers.  This season alone she’ll create enough one line zingers and snarky comments to paralyze the fingers of channel surfers and horrify the soccer mom brigade.

Ali Lohan is 14 going on 45

She is a star; but don’t expect to see Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet. I haven’t seen a child act this mature since Brooke Shields posed seductively in those controversial Calvin Klein commercials.  Upon meeting young Ali I wouldn’t know whether to ask recommendations for her favorite ride at Disneyland or tell her to pass me a Marlboro… and I don’t smoke.  

Is Ali ready for her turn in the spotlight? Is she wise beyond her years? Or is she a little girl forced to grow up fast under the weight of the legendary Lohan family drama? The answers might be hidden in the episodes of Living Lohan. Considering the numerous musical blow-up pop dolls created in Hollywood, this second Lohan’s ascent up the music industry mountain should be interesting to watch.

Mother Dina is a force of nature that’s got something to prove

And it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.  Tough as nails and cold as ice, she’s one Long Island broad that’s no shrinking violet.  Will Ali Lohan follow in first born Lindsay’s footsteps?  Not likely. With mom/manager Dina guiding her career, I sense that Ali’s determined not to make the same mistakes as her older sister.

Living Lohan is Dina’s chance to prove to her critics that she’s more than a fame-seeking glamour-puss living vicariously through her girls; and career ending lighting doesn’t strike twice.

As a first born child of divorce whose own mother fought to protect the dreams of her two girls, I‘ll be watching Living Lohan.  You’ll find me eagerly rooting for Dina and Ali and praying for my first-born soul sister Lindsay.