Smith

Did I read right? This series was ditched by a US network? Talk about a prophet unrecognized in his own country. "Smith" is US film-making at its best--tightly written, filmed with panache, great characterization (particularly Ray Liotta), haunting but understated score. Great stuff--and I'm hooked. The concept of a family man (Liotta) leading a double life combining a normal domestic routine, a boring job and a criminal sideline is original and dramatically daring but it works wonderfully, thanks to the delicate interplay between Liotta and his screen wife (Virginia Madsen, whose ode to the vine in "Sideways" belongs in a compendium of the best modern prose). Thank goodness a discerning distributor(Cinemax) picked up "Smith," patted him on the back and sent him off to Asia, for the entertainment of us benighted exiles.

I can't believe this show was canceled. Another case of self-censorship. How sad. This show was the coolest thing on TV. I loved hating these characters. Not every show needs to be a morality tale. This was an im-moraity tale. It's pathetic how terrified the populace is.

From the all star cast to the magnificent plot lines, this show was different. It's easy to be the same. I highly recommend it. Download it from through itunes, it's worth it.

America is losing it's place as the nation where ideas are developed. It's becoming a bottomless pit of bland conformity. Soon, we'll all be characters in some blurred out reality show.

Um...to the postperson who said the pilot episode of Smith was somewhat boring and slow at times? It's something we rarely see in most t.v. shows these days, except for maybe "Lost," known as character development. I thought the "Smith" pilot was very good, because like "Lost," I felt like I was watching a movie instead of a t.v. show. The music, production, acting, editing, "character development" and action scenes were well done. I think that a lot of ground got covered in the opening episode. The 2nd episode didn't quite "wow!" me as much as the opener, but it was still engaging nonetheless. I had a problem in the 2nd episode with a place like Venice Beach being so void of people during a beautiful, sunny day, so that a full-on motorcycle chase could take place with no innocent bystanders being harmed. Also, you would think that if the robbers are supposed to keep a low profile after their nearly botched Pittsburgh heist, that Jeff (Simon Baker) would have enough sense to wear a motorcycle helmet (required by law in CA.) in order to avoid hassle with the authorities. But I guess that's just the daredevil in his character, or perhaps just an oversight on the show's writers.

after watching many of the balance of the episodes on DirecTV's 101, i'm puzzled why this didn't get more that a showing of the pilot.

interesting characters. definite possibilities for the direction the show might have gone.

all the characters might have great back stories that would give the writers an option to move beyond the mere caper plot of other similar series.

the second to the last episode on 101 suggested the background for simon baker's character and suggested a little redemptive option.

and the same episode hints at the history of ray liotta's and virginia madsen's troubled relationship.

ah well, another example of 'if i like it, they'll cancel it.'

It is my feeling that "Smith" could evolve into an absorbing crime drama. Its sparse dialog is neither tedious nor a turn-off, and the lack of 'treacly music' during the family scenes is decidedly a plus. In addition to stars Liotta and Madsen, one might single out Simon Baker, whose past credits include the gripping neonoir film L.A. Confidential (1997), and Jonny Lee Miller, who was cast in "Prime Suspect 3" (1993), arguably the best of that series. Although granted that early in "Smith" we still know little about the characters played by these and the other members of the cast, my prediction is that future episodes will, like the layers of an onion being peeled away, reveal their past misdeeds, almost surely to haunt them as things progress. The viewer might anticipate with some relish that a couple of the characters, who love fast living and fast cars, and flaunt both, are indeed cruising for a bruising.

Which is not to say there aren't certain aspects that don't ring true. Given that the heist which unfolds in the pilot, whose nature I shall not reveal, is not normally associated with violence, it doesn't seem likely there is not more anger, censure, and repercussion from the naughty persons on-high when things do go awry and assuredly cause law enforcement to be far more attentive and relentless in its pursuit of the crime.

Viewers and producers alike need to stay the course until "Smith" gets its stride. The network ought not lose its courage in presenting something different, as happened with other dark and delicious crime dramas, such as "EZ Streets" in the mid-1990s and "Dream Street" in the late 1980s, soon pulled from the fall line-up. There has to be something different out there than silly clichés, canned laughter, and predictable and soon shopworn series.