FOX has given a thirteen-episode order for midseason drama Lie to Me and secured the talents of a sought-after A-list British actor as the series' lead.
Tim Roth, currently on screen in theatres in The Incredible Hulk (and Michael Hanke's Funny Games) has been cast as the lead in Lie to Me, in which he'll play Dr. Cal Lightman, a scientific researcher who specializes in the field of lie detection and is able to discern mendacity by noticing facial, vocal, and bodily expressions and movements and assists various government agencies in Washington D.C. with ongoing investigations.
Unfortunately, Lightman can't turn off his particular brand of observation and unfortunately applies his own lie detection skills to the personal relationships in his own private life.
Project was created by Sam Baum (The Evidence) and the pilot episode will be directed by Robert Schwentke (The Time Traveler's Wife; Flightplan); shooting begins in August.
I was really impressed with the script for Lie to Me when I read it earlier this year and I think that Roth will be absolutely perfect as Lightman. The series is completely procedural but the use of natural human lie detection--based on actual, real-life scientific fact--gives the crime-solving drama an interesting twist, one we haven't seen before in primetime US television.
Lie to Me could be a natural fit for FOX, which has had success with crime drama Bones and, if it can get this procedural-hesitant viewer to breeze through the pilot script with interest, that's saying a lot about the strength of this project.
What's On Tonight
8 pm: NCIS (CBS); Celebrity Family Feud (NBC); Beauty & the Geek (CW); Wipeout (ABC); Moment of Truth (FOX)
9 pm: 48 Hours Mystery (CBS); America's Got Talent (NBC; 9-11 pm); Reaper (CW); I Survived a Japanese Game Show (ABC); Hell's Kitchen (FOX)
10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Primetime: The Outsiders (ABC)
What I'll Be TiVo'ing
8-10 pm: Britcoms on BBC America.
I don't know about you but by Tuesday night, I'm usually in need of some comedy in my life. Why not stick around on Tuesday nights for BBC America's new comedy lineup, consisting of classic episodes of Coupling, new comedy Not Going Out, and Absolutely Fabulous? You'll thank me in the morning.
10 pm: Flipping Out on Bravo.
Season Two continues tonight with a brand-new episode ("Good Cop, Bad Jeff"), Jeff becomes suspicious of his assistants when he notices that not much is getting done around the house and wants to install surveillance cameras to keep an eye on his employees.
I'm a big fan of Tim Roth but I'm not totally sold on this concept. I can see it being interesting for a couple of episodes but a whole season? Or more? Hmm...I guess I'll have to check it out and see.
So it this gonna be a male version of "Angela's Eyes?"
Lying and reading faces are inherently fascinating topics & the expert to whom they turn for this show, Paul Ekman wrote several books: Emotions Revealed, Telling Lies and, most recently, one with the Dalai Lama. Read more here
http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Awareness-Overcoming-Psychological-Compassion/dp/0805087125/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227025434&sr=1-1
http://sayitbetter.typepad.com/say_it_better/2007/04/happy_face.html
I came across the premiere episode on DVD at Best Buy for $1. I took a flyer on it and watched it last night, it also includes a trailer for Dollhouse. My teenage daughter and I watched it and we both liked it. Having read Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink, I was aware of Dr. Ekman and his work. The show is fasinating and I can actually say that I learned something.