The Riches

FX, to me, has had a great track record for original programming. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rescue Me, Nip/Tuck, and The Shield are all appointment viewing for me. But after Over There and Dirt, which were both more than a little disappointing, I was a little worried about the direction the network was heading. But The Riches looks somewhat promising.

Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver star as part of a family of gypsy con artists who live in an RV. Minnie Driver's character was just released from prison and has a drug problem, Izzard seems to be tiring of the traveling life and wants something better, and we don't get much of a look at their kids, but they are... around. Without giving too much away, they are unexpectedly given an opportunity to assume the identities of a rich family who are moving into a neighborhood where nobody knows them.

It's hard to make too much out of the pilot, which seems to be nothing but exposition for the series, but it leaves me interested in what will happen next, which is a good sign at the end of a first episode. The obvious class conflict provided by a bunch of WASP-y millionaires living next to a family who lived in a filthy RV only a few days earlier, the constant struggle not to be discovered as frauds, it seems like there's a lot to work with. And, although Minnie Driver has a couple scenes were her southern accent sounds ridiculous, the performances are top notch. I've never cared all that much for Eddie Izzard's stand up (he's funny, I guess, but doesn't blow me away like he does a lot of people), but I've always enjoyed him as an actor. And Gregg Henry, who's been all over the place on TV the past few years, makes an appearance as well.

The Riches premieres Monday, March 12, at 10pm on FX. The pilot is available online here.