The Riches
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | March 12, 2007 |
| Founder | Dmitry Lipkin, Eddie Izzard |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Eddie Izzard, Minnie Driver, Dmitry Lipkin, John Landgraf |
| Products | Television drama series |
The Riches (presented as the R1¢hes) is a U.S. drama series that was broadcast on FX from March 12, 2007, until April 29, 2008. Featuring performances by Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, the narrative centers on an Irish Traveller family who assume the identities of a deceased wealthy couple. Despite favorable critical reception, the series was discontinued after two seasons.
History
Initially named Low Life, the series was developed and primarily written by Dmitry Lipkin for Maverick Films in collaboration with FX Networks. The one-hour pilot episode, co-authored by Lipkin and Eddie Izzard and directed by Carl Franklin, was later re-filmed over a span of ten days under the direction of Peter O'Fallon. The show debuted on March 12, 2007, followed by twelve episodes. Notably, the first two episodes were made available online prior to their television broadcast. FX commissioned a second season, which premiered on March 18, 2008, consisting of seven episodes.
FX President John Landgraf characterized the program as a "family show" featuring a "family unlike any television viewers have seen before." The second season's episode count was reduced due to the impact of the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike. Several months after the season concluded, FX cancelled the series citing a decline in viewership. In 2019, Minnie Driver voiced her disappointment regarding the cancellation, attributing it to consequences stemming from the writers' strike.
Plot
The storyline follows Wayne and Dahlia Malloy, portrayed by Izzard and Driver respectively, who are Irish Traveller con artists traveling with their children Di Di (Delilah), Cael, and Sam.
At the outset, Dahlia has recently been released on parole after serving a two-year prison sentence during which she developed substance dependencies. Meanwhile, Wayne and their children continue to execute cons across various locations in the United States. After a brief reunion with their Traveller community, the family flees to avoid an arranged marriage planned for Di Di. Wayne absconds with a significant portion of the clan's cash reserves, prompting their departure. Following a confrontation and an RV pursuit involving another Traveller family, they become involved in a fatal car crash that kills a wealthy couple known as the Riches. Aspiring to improve their circumstances, they opt to "steal the American dream" by assuming the identities of the deceased couple within an upscale gated neighborhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The family faces challenges adapting to their new roles as buffers, individuals outside of Traveller culture.
Cast and characters
- Wayne Malloy (Eddie Izzard) – The Malloy family's head and an astute con artist disenchanted with their itinerant Traveller existence. He is the mastermind behind adopting the Riches' identities as a means to establish a conventional lifestyle. Dahlia refers to him as 'halfbreed' or 'half buffer' due to his partial non-Traveller heritage.
- Dahlia Malloy (Minnie Driver) – Wayne's wife who has recently been released from prison exhibiting unpredictable behavior driven by drug addiction developed during incarceration. As a recovering methamphetamine user and regarded as 'royalty' within their Traveller clan, she maintains stronger ties to their traditional community than Wayne does. Initially doubtful about abandoning their former lives to impersonate the Riches, she finds it difficult to adjust to her new identity as Cherien Rich.
- Cael Malloy (Noel Fisher) – The eldest son who is reserved yet intelligent, possessing expertise in minor cons such as lock-picking, document forgery, and automobile theft. He tends to uphold conventional Traveller values more than embracing the affluent lifestyle favored by his father and siblings.
- Delilah "Di Di" Malloy (Shannon Marie Woodward) – The teenage daughter proficient in scams and theft with a strained rapport with her mother; when family tensions arise, she chooses loyalty to her father. She prefers adopting the Riches’ affluent lifestyle rather than continuing with Traveller traditions.
- Sam Malloy (Aidan Mitchell) – The youngest child exhibiting gender non-conforming traits embraced by his family. He demonstrates artistic talent and shows genuine enthusiasm for academics. Integral in schemes designed to secure enrollment at Rosemere Academy but displays hesitation about leaving Eden Falls.
- Dale Malloy (Todd Stashwick) – Dahlia’s cousin who was raised alongside Wayne like a brother within their clan. Anticipated to wed Dahlia and assume leadership of the family but evolves into a near sociopath driven by vengeance against Wayne for displacing him. Upon uncovering the Riches’ secret identities, he forms a cautious alliance with Wayne motivated by self-interest.
Season 1 (2007)
The debut season premiered on March 12, 2007, launching with the pilot episode followed by episode 1.2 titled "Believe the Lie," which were made available in advance on platforms such as MSN, Yahoo!, and TV.com.
Season 2 (2008)
On May 8, 2007, FX confirmed a second season consisting of 13 episodes, planned for release in early 2008. The season officially began airing on March 18, 2008; however, production was curtailed to seven episodes due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild strike.
Ratings
The Riches pilot drew an audience of 3.8 million viewers, including 2.5 million within the crucial 18–49 age range. It ranked just behind The Shield premiere and surpassed other FX drama launches such as Rescue Me, Over There, and Dirt. Marking FX's initial original series debut on Sunday nights, it more than doubled the network’s previous highest ratings for that time slot. The series averaged a total weekly viewership of 5.9 million across the United States, prompting FX to renew it for a second season. Additionally, The Riches gained popularity through digital outlets like Hulu and iTunes’ "What We Are Watching" feature in April 2008.
Critical reception
Critics generally praised The Riches. The Baltimore Sun described it as "a television drama that engages the intellect while entertaining," whereas The Boston Globe lauded its "complex narrative" and "surprisingly heartfelt moments." The New York Times commended the outstanding performances delivered by Izzard and Driver. Conversely, The Los Angeles Times expressed reservations about the show’s originality.
James Poniewozik from Time magazine placed it at number seven on his list of Top 10 New TV Series for 2006. Minnie Driver earned nominations for both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
Regarding the second season, The Hollywood Reporter emphasized that Izzard and Driver continued to provide captivating portrayals in a distinctive series "unlike anything else on television," while the San Francisco Chronicle characterized the season as "brilliantly imaginative, bold, and thought-provoking."
Home releases
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Film
In 2008, Eddie Izzard revealed plans to produce a low-budget film adaptation of Riches, utilizing guerrilla filmmaking techniques. Despite this announcement, the project did not reach completion.