The Riches

Wow! Even better than expected. Eddie Izzard is an amazing talent. The writing is very much like his one man shows of a few years ago, very stream of consciousness, witty and satirical and funny and, laced with equal doses of understanding and pathos. I finished high school in a town like that in south Louisiana, frighteningly accurate portrayal of suburban insecurities and social climbing. But then again, it could be anywhere, and Izzard is everyman for the new millennium. And the willingness to make the character of the youngest child a cross dresser, not always in the pursuit of the Con, so very Eddie.I sure hope this show captures enough audience to survive. BY the way what is that Poem Eddie recites at the end of the Pilot episode? Good Job and Good Luck!!

I missed the first airing of the pilot but caught an encore Saturday night, and I am glad I did. The plot was challenging, characters engaging, dialog tight and raw, atmosphere gritty.

I have an inexplicable soft spot in my heart for Gypsies, and I am usually disappointed in how cold and inaccessible modern nomads are in film and T.V. The Riches family are portrayed with enough warmth and pathos (and unexpected poetry!) to let the viewer in, while in no way slipping into the criminals-with-a-heart-of-gold cliché. This ain't no Hallmark channel program!

I was particularly impressed with Eddie Izzard's rich use of language which really did touch on the poetic at times. Minnie Driver was especially compelling and complex. And their marriage was one of the few believable mature relationships I've seen on television in a long time.

With the absurd premise and the comedy-background casting, I expected a few laughs, but didn't find them. Instead, I had the strange yet familiar feeling reminiscent of picking up a Frank Miller comic book the first time, expecting superheroes and finding horror in its place.

As a general fan of Eddie Izzard, I was surprised to see that both he and Minnie Driver were taking on a television show. While most TV pilots seem hackneyed and forced, this had the quality of a feature film. Pilots are out there to bait the audience and this one did so with a pace that, if they can keep it up, will have the viewer exhausted by the end of every hour. My surprise turned to sheer joy by the end of this first episode. Both Izzard and Driver are amazing in their respective roles, flowing effortlessly through their very complex characters. The writing is intense and raw and the dialogue is both natural and on point. I had no idea what I was getting into when the show opened and the thread of the drama pulled me right through to the end. I'm not one to watch many TV shows on a weekly basis but for this show, I'll make the time. Definitely the best TV I've seen in years.

The Riches is simply one of the best shows on television. If you are a fan of drama, comedy, and action – this is the show for you. The Riches stars Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver as a family of con-artists who steal the American Dream. The dialogue is witty and the acting is superb. If you haven't seen the pilot yet, don't wait another minute! Once you watch the first 5 minutes, you'll be hooked. There's a magic to the show, one that steals your heart and leaves you wanting more. It's compelling television in a sea of banal programs. I can't wait until the next episode!!! Eddie and Minnie make a dynamic tandem; the soundtrack is eloquent and inspired. Kudos to FX for bringing America a show with complexity, character, and spirit.

This show is not nearly as funny as I thought it would be (damn those trailer editors!), but it is better than I imagined. It's amazing what a couple of excellent actors and good writing can bring to a series. Seeing Minnie walk out the gates with those braids and that pallid, dead face! I disagree with a previous poster: Minnie is excellent with accents, and EDDIE IZZARD!! We have been fans of his stand up for years, and he is unrecognizable. He prides himself on having an almost incomprehensible English accent, but his American accent is--so good. Americans are so often casted in Brit flicks, so it's refreshing to see a couple Brits doing the same routine. I'm so excited there is something on to watch--we have no shows left. Hope this doesn't go the way of Wonderland, Wonderfalls, Freaks and Geeks . . . I do hope that it doesn't push itself into some of those Rescue Me directions (cheap thrills, cheap thrills). But would Eddie sign onto something that wasn't special?