No Ragging On these Riches

i finally got around to watching the pilot episode of fx's new show, The Riches (i know it is late, but there is a lot of tv to watch people). anyway, needless to say i really liked it.

the show stars eddie izzard and minnie driver as a husband and wife who, with their kids, have spent their lives as con artitsts/moden gypsies. However, izzard has started to have a change of heart/midlife and spiritual crisis and decides that things need to change. this leads to the family taking over the identity of another couple and trying to live their lives: as izzard's character says, and it is a great line, "we are going to steal the american dream."

this is a dark comedy/dramady with strong writing an original concept, wit, interlligence and a very engaging cast - especially izzard who is wonderful. the opening scene at a high school reunion is a great way to jump into the show.

it is only the pilot, but it was a good one and one that seems to bode well for another smart and interesting show on fx, which is becoming quite a strong player in the quality-cable-tv wars with shows like The Shield, Rescue Me, Nip Tuck and now this. hbo better watch out - and showtime isn't looking to shabby either these days with the likes of Dexter, The Tudors and Weeds.

this is another show that i will definitely be checking out more episodes to see if it continues to live up to the promise of the pilot.

grade: A

Getting Tutored On The Tudors

The Tudors premiered on showtime a little over two weeks ago to good ratings for the network. the show, starring johnathan rhys meyers as king henry VIII is an historical drama/soap opera ala hbo's Rome, but set in a different time period.

needless to say i quite enjoyed the first episode. this was a pretty crazy time historically and the show is taking full advantage of it. you got kings, queens, sex, murder, deceit, politics and of course anne boleyn. of course they take liberties with certain aspects, but overall there is no need to when the truth is as juicy as this.

i have only seem the pilot episode so far (i have a lot of tv to keep up with people) but i am already hooked and looking forward to getting to the next ones. the show plays like hip masterpiece theatre, but without dumbing itself down to appeal to a mass audience that might be turned off by the historical nature of the drama. i am also pretty sure that many who might at first have been turned off by that will actually end up being drawn in in the end anyway.

grade: A-