The Riches

The Riches - FX
a kate west favorite






This is a perplexingly overlooked show. "The Riches" deserves much more accolades, not only because it stars comedic genius Eddie Izzard (Executive Producer of the show and pictured above), but also because the rest of the cast, as well as the writing, is surprisingly good. The surprise comes in the form of a deceptively seemingly goofy premise actually turning into a show of drama and depth, not that it's surprising that any of these fine actors are fantastic.

Wayne (Izzard) and Dahlia (Minnie Driver) Malloy are bonafide Gypsies. After picking up Dahlia from her completed stint in jail, the family decides to skip town and get away from the poverty and prejudice of their extended Gypsy family. Absconding with family inheritance, they accidentally stumble across a dead couple in a car wreck (for details, watch the pilot) and take over their identities, becoming Doug and Charien Rich. Cael, Di Di and Sam (Shannon Woodward, Noel Fisher and Aidan Mitchell) are their wily children along for the ride, who also turn into Buffers (Gypsy term for normal suburbanites like us) in their ultimate grifter escapade. Will they pull it off? And for how long?

Wayne, or rather Doug Rich now, must convince new boss Hugh Panetta (Gregg Henry) that he is a lawyer capable of working for his big firm. They all need to learn how to fit into their new rich neighborhood and figure out how to "live on the grid". That proves challenging, not the least of which is because of idiosyncrasies like little Sam dressing as a girl. They may just be up the task, what with Dahlia making friends and fending off real Doug Rich contacts. However, their own past catches up with them when Dale (Todd Stashwick) tracks them down and threatens to expose them.

The cast is superb, especially Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver in many emotionally poignant moments, and the writing intriguing. It is much more than meets the eye and only the second season will tell if they get to keep their new life. It is well worth finding out. And if you're not yet familiar with Izzard's stand up routines, please do check him out. His esoteric brilliance and yes, confessions of being a trend-setting transvestite, are hysterical. He's what we call smart-funny.


Created by:
Dmitry Lipkin

Directors:
Peter O'Fallon (4 episodes, 2007)
Brian Kirk (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Writers:
Dmitry Lipkin (13 episodes, 2007)
Aaron Blitzstein (12 episodes, 2007)
Dawn Prestwich (4 episodes, 2007)
Nicole Yorkin (4 episodes, 2007)
Ellen Herman (3 episodes, 2007)
Lydia Woodward (2 episodes, 2007)

Starring:
Eddie Izzard
Minnie Driver
Shannon Woodward
Noel Fisher
Aidan Mitchell
Todd Stashwick
Gregg Henry
Margo Martindale


Eddie's "Dress to Kill"
Dress to Kill