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Another Season Of 'The Riches' Brings Us More Improbable Yet Entertaining Scams
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Published: March 18, 2008
Updated: 03/17/2008 11:33 pm
The plot twists on "The Riches" may be loopy, over-the-top and highly improbable, but this FX drama is always fun to watch.
The series returns at 10 tonight for a second season of on-the-fly scams, bodacious cons and a dark satirical examination of whether the good life is really all that good.
A couple of sterling British actors, Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, shine as Wayne and Dahlia Malloy, a husband and wife who have spent most of their lives on the take as members of an Irish-American clan known as the Travellers.
Now they are involved in the con of their lives. They have taken over the identities of a rich deceased suburbanite couple, Doug and Cherien Rich, and they are always just one slip-up away from being exposed as frauds.
Without any legal training whatsoever, Wayne has managed to pose as a corporate lawyer for a sleazy real estate hustler (Gregg Henry). It's an audacious presumption, but you can forgive it because Izzard manages to pull it off.
Eager to leave the life of the road behind, Wayne is thriving in this environment even though life behind the gated walls is as treacherous as life on the run.
But Dahlia has doubts about whether her marriage and children can survive. Her older son, Cael (Noel Fisher), longs for the road. Her smart and attractive daughter, teen Di Di (Shannon Woodward), enjoys high school. The youngest, Sam (Aidan Mitchel), who likes to dress like a girl, just wants the family to be happy again.
As Wayne and Dahlia tackle and solve each challenge that threatens their ruse, questions are raised about the American dream of suburban bliss.
NEEDS GUIDANCE: "Miss Guided," ABC's new midseason sitcom, gets a sneak preview at 10:30 tonight before moving to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays for a short run. It doesn't come out of the box as a potential hit at first glance, but the first episodes do show promise.
Judy Greer stars as a former geeky student who returns to her high school as a guidance counselor.
She still has memories of being the misfit with braces on her teeth who couldn't compete for guys against the homecoming-queen types. She plans to empathize with those who need encouragement.
But is her high school life repeating itself? She's back in her mother's house. Her former nemesis beauty queen, Lisa Germain (Brooke Burns), has been hired as an English teacher. And she has an unrequited crush on the hunky Spanish teacher (Kristoffer Polaha).
On Thursday's episode, co-producer Ashton Kutcher ("That '70s Show") and Jamie Lynn Spears have guest roles.
PETERSON UPDATE: JP Peterson, who signed off last week as sports anchor at News Channel 8, begins a new radio gig Monday. He is leaving WHBO, 1470 AM, where his sports talk show aired at noon weekdays, and joining WQYK, 1010 AM, for the 3-to-6 p.m. slot.
"With 1010's signal extending all the way to Orlando, this is a great opportunity for me to expand my show," he says.
ICE-CREAM IDOL: Former "American Idol" finalist Chris Richardson is scheduled to visit the Winn-Dixie supermarket at 6188 U.S. 41 N., Apollo Beach, on March 26 as part of a promotion for Edy's Slow Churned American Idol ice cream. He will sign autographs from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Consumers in the Tampa area who vote for their favorite flavor at slowchurned.com by 1 p.m. March 25 will be eligible to win a private concert with Richardson the night of March 26.
TUNE IN TONIGHT
It's the Easter Beagle,
Charlie Brown, 8 p.m., ABC
This lesser-known "Peanuts" special has Peppermint Patty and Marcie coloring eggs, Woodstock in need of a home and Snoopy giving Lucy a little peck.
Johnny Cash: A Man and His Vision, 11 p.m., WEDU, Channel 3
This PBS special recalls Cash's 1969-71 television variety show that featured a lot of his greatest hits.
For more TV listings, go to TBO.com, keyword: TV.
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