Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver score in 'The Riches'

By Stone Martindale Mar 15, 2007, 2:06 GMT

03/10/2007 - Eddie Izzard - The Riches PREMIERE SCREENING - very handsome as he gets older- © Dean Kirkland / Photorazzi

FX Network is home to many unique shows, and newcomer "The Riches" continues the network's quest for excellence in television programming.

"The Riches" stars popular actor and comedian Eddie Izzard and the wonderful actress Minnie Driver, along with a cracking support cast.

The FX show is truly American mosh up written and created by a Russian Jewish immigrant to Louisiana, and the two lead actors, Izzard and Driver, are British.  It all works perfectly.

The Hollywood Reporter described "The Riches" as a family of con artists who work and travel with a larger clan, (think the Pikeys a la Brad Pitt from "Snatch"), of Irish descent and with a rural Southern background.

They are the Travellers, and they refer to their crime victims and everyone else as Buffers. Wayne Malloy is played by Eddie Izzard, his wife Dahlia is played by Minnie Driver and their three kids are well-schooled grifters, but Wayne, in particular, has begun to be disenchanted with the clan's new leader, Dale Malloy played by Todd Stashwick.

In a unforseen circumstance, Wayne decides he and Dahlia will assume the identity of crime victims Doug and Cherien Rich. A better life for his family is immediately presented, and Wayne, despite Dahlia's protests, grabs it. 

It is that opportunistic "identity theft" that Wayne and Dahlia become high falutin' society in Baton Rouge, La.

Izzard is a brilliant linguist and thinks quickly on his feet, if you have ever seen his one man shows or comedy you know this; he was cast perfectly for Wayne, "a gifted charlatan."   

Dahlia was cast perfectly as well; any fans of Grosse Pointe Blank out there?  Minnie is one of those brilliant English actresses you never see enough of, her talent is huge, and this role shows her off nicely.

"The Riches" should only bolster FX's reputation for shows that examine family drama in different ways, like "Rescue Me" and "Nip/Tuck," they have good taste.

Creator and writer Dmitry Lipkin is a gifted painter of this American life, and all the absurdity and nuances of class and social structure that the Riches exploit to grab their American dream.

Cast:

Wayne Malloy: Eddie Izzard

Dahlia Malloy: Minnie Driver

Dehliah Malloy: Shannon Woodward

Cael Malloy: Noel Fisher

Sam Malloy: Aidan Mitchell

Dale Malloy: Todd Stashwick

Nina Burns: Margo Martindale

Hugh Panetta: Gregg Henry

Jim Burns: Bruce French

UPDATE: According to Cynopsis: "The Riches" kicked off on FX Monday night with 3.8 million viewers in tow and averaging a 2.5 A18-49 rating at 10p, according to Nielsen Media Research.  That total viewership number was more than twice the delivery of FX's best Monday night 10-11p ever.  The repeat premiere at 11:10p delivered 1.4 million viewers, with 800,000 in the demo range.   If you missed it, FX plans to rerun the premiere this weekend - check your local listings.