The Riches (2007–2008)

A family of crooks assume the identity of an upper-middle-class suburban clan in the Deep South.

Creator:

Dmitry Lipkin

Stars:

Eddie Izzard, Minnie Driver, Shannon Woodward

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 8 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Eddie Izzard	...	Wayne Malloy (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Minnie Driver	...	Dahlia Malloy (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Shannon Woodward	...	Di Di Malloy (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Noel Fisher	...	Cael Malloy (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Aidan Mitchell	...	Sam Malloy (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Todd Stashwick	...	Dale Malloy (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Gregg Henry	...	Hugh Panetta (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Margo Martindale	...	Nina Burns (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Bruce French	...	Jim Burns (14 episodes, 2007-2008)
Nichole Hiltz	...	Ginny Dannegan (9 episodes, 2007-2008)
Deidrie Henry	...	Aubrey McDonald (9 episodes, 2007-2008)
Teresa Huang	...	Kimmie (9 episodes, 2007-2008)

Storyline

Wayne and Dahlia Malloy spent their youth pulling cons with a traveling band of modern Irish travelers roaming about the US. Now years later, Wayne hits a spiritual and midlife crisis and begins to question their lifestyle just as his wife, newly sprung from prison, rejoins the family. They decide to finally settle down in suburbia where they battle to live a normal life while trying to escape their former friends.

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Plot Keywords:

irish | gypsy | traveler | dark comedy | tinker | 

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Taglines:

It's a wonderful lie.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

FX Networks

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Low Life

Filming Locations:

Marrero, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maverick Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (20 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The youngest boy, Sam, is a cross-dresser. In real life, series star and executive producer 'Eddie Izzard' is a transvestite. Sam's choice of clothing was decided by series creator Dmitry Lipkin before Eddie was a part of the show.

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Goofs

It is repeatedly stated that Doug Rich received his law degree from Princeton University. In reality, Princeton has not had a law school since 1852.

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Connections

Referenced in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #7.26 (2008)

User Reviews

This is fine television

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.