RICH TV

Each Monday night at 11:00pm I ask myself, "Why is this series on cable TV?" The Riches, starring Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard is - hands down - the best television series NOT on broadcast TV or HBO.

The series premise for The Riches is downright dreadful – a vagrant family surreptitiously living the life of another that was killed in a car accident caused by the vagrants. Yet it is wonderfully compelling and provides constant tension and opportunity for some oddly comedic situations. It does, at moments, appear that Doug (Izzard) gets out of jams way too easily, but it’s a fantasy so I’m not complaining.

The acting is unmatched on the small screen. And that includes the children! I’ve always like Driver and heard some negative feedback on Izzard, but I think he’s done a fine job with this role. So where did FX find the Rich kids? Emmy Award™ for Best Casting goes here.

Which brings me back to my question of why this is not on FOX proper? Is it because the premise is too dark, or perhaps, the sprinkling of questionable language? I’d hate to think so, considering some of the fare that is already on broadcast network prime time.

With the recent ouster of David Gold as head of Fox’s drama development department, one wonders whether it was due to the recent string of drama flops at the Fourth Network. Whatever the reason, I would hope the Fox folks would tap into the FX Network’s development team (The Riches, Rescue Me, etc.) to bring something fresh to FOX. 24 has gotten old quickly, Prison Break can only go so far, and Idol is so done on the reality/contest front.

Who’da thunk FOX would be the one to bring credible, enticing drama back to TV?

Photos Copyright 2007 FX.