(S01E01) As I sat watching the premiere episode of Smith, I kept thinking the same thing: after Heist and Hustle and Thief, are people really going to want to watch yet another show about a gang of clever thieves who pull off elaborate robberies?
If it's based on quality, it shouldn't really be a problem. This is a good show. But we all know it's not just based on quality, there are about 9 other things that come into play when people decide to watch or not watch a TV show, and I wonder how viewers will calculate those other things in their head when deciding whether or not to watch it.
Ray Liotta plays Bobby Stevens, suburban husband and dad/paper cup salesman by day, criminal mastermind by night. Actually, he's a criminal mastermind in the day a lot of the time too, as he is always going on "business trips" that are really covers for new heists. So he's juggling his double life at home and also a double life at the office.
Bobby leads a gang of crooks that are all very talented, but they're also a lot more ruthless than the likable gang of crooks you usually see on shows like this. In this first episode, a museum robbery goes wrong, and one of the guys actually kills an innocent museum guard (these guys aren't exactly Thomas Crown), and one of the guys, Jeff (Simon Baker) seems to be a bit of a psychopath, killing two dudes who tell him he can't surf on a private beach (though I'm not exactly sure if he killed them because they kicked him off the beach or if he was paid to kill them by someone else). Rounding out the gang Joe (Franky G), Tom (Jonny Lee Miller), and Annie (Amy Smart), who has a funny yet disturbing scene where she is recognized on the street during the heist by an old schoolmate and has to, um, "incapacitate" the woman so the con can go on.
So, judging from the pilot, these aren't the most likable con artists, but that actually gives the show a darker, somewhat more meaty feel than anything else on television. And the cast is great. Virginia Madsen plays Bobby's wife, who has her suspicions about what he's doing on those business trips, but she's keeping a big secret of her own, and that plot could go to interesting places too.
The first ep is told in flashback, as we see how we got to this point (the museum robbery goes wrong, that guard is killed, and one of the gang is shot). We see how things happened, from different viewpoints and different camera angles, and that's always a fun gimmick. The tech aspects of the show are great. It really does look like a movie the way it's filmed.
Something happens to one of the gang at the end that I really didn't expect, and I like it when a show keeps me guessing and surprises me, and there's someone else behind Bobby's heists and that adds another layer too.
So can this show survive? I hope so. It's up against Law and Order: SVU and Boston Legal, so it's a tough time slot (unless people are getting weary of the long-running SVU). Based on the quality, it should. But, as I said above, I wonder if audiences will like the characters enough and if they'll want to try out another robbery show after Heist/Thief/Hustle. I say give it a shot. It's well-made, clever, and entertaining.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-19-2006 @ 11:12PM
Bob Sassone said...
It's "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap.
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9-19-2006 @ 11:33PM
Dave T. said...
Excellent show. Best of the season I've seen so far, and that's a lot of shows.
I don't think Madsden is hiding the parole from bobby. instead that explains why he hasn't filled her in on his heists. Which made no sense if he's letting in everyone else.
It's to protect her from violating the parole. although in real life I doubt anyone would believe or care that she didn't know about it.
I also think Baker's character killed the museum guard too. So he's the "killer" in the group. smart is just dirty in this role. nice.
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9-20-2006 @ 1:41AM
Rick said...
Was that a nipple I saw in dancers changing scene?
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9-20-2006 @ 2:21AM
Geoffrey M. said...
Its an interesting and its alot darker than Heist, I actually liked that show. The pilot did great job introducing the characters but Im hoping in later episodes they will able to relveal their intentions and secrets. I got confused when Annie and Tom hooked up in Mile High Club and Jeff was all nervous and all, probably had an interest in her too. But then again Tom hasnt got some for awhile so I understand that. AMY SMART IS SO HOTT!! heheh
I was shocked they played Imogen Heap in end because I already heard it in the 2nd Season Finale of The OC.
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9-20-2006 @ 7:30AM
Dries said...
love shows like this,
by the way:
someone heard the news? Castchanges for season 4 of Hustle. Adrian Lester has so many projects going on in the US, he can't make the recordingschedules. They've brought in Ashley Walters. he's a famous britain rapper, 24 year old, but won already a BIFA award for his acting skills on the movie Bullet Guy. Has three childeren, convicted for waepon possession. But a decent actor who always watched the show on television.
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9-20-2006 @ 9:06AM
Smeagle said...
I thought it was great. And by the way folks they solved the time slot problem with this show going up against favorites Boston Legal and SVU. It's called a VCR! I watched Boston Legal and taped Smith and watched it later, I liked Liotta in this part and the dark side made the show interesting. Hope it can sustain a story line and make it.
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9-20-2006 @ 11:27AM
Karen said...
I knew I was going to watch this pilot because it had Ray Liotta in it--Simon Baker was just a fabulous value-added attraction--but I wasn't prepared for just how sophisticated the production itself was going to be. Sign me up for the duration. I thought it was great.
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9-20-2006 @ 12:00PM
Allen said...
Somehow I think the producers thought it was a safe bet to use the song. Seriously, the demographic for Smith is nowhere near the demo for OC. I have a friend on OC and I still haven't seen it. (well, just the pilot), and I am 40.
Still, Heist....I mean, Smith was interesting enough to bear another viewing. Unlike Standoff which was one of the more boring hours spent.
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9-20-2006 @ 1:12PM
ALLISON said...
I hated this show. I saw a screener weeks ago and it left me cold. It's soulless. I didn't feel for any character and didn't want to spend any more time watching their actions. Too bad, excellent actors and talent behind the scenes, but the writing is off-kilter.
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9-20-2006 @ 1:24PM
dannyp64 said...
Did they ever explain why Annie asked the cocktail waitress to get credit card #'s for girls who look alot like her? Or perhaps it was just to set something up for later to get out of being recognized?
Just wondering if I missed something.
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9-20-2006 @ 1:33PM
ellen said...
what time did brad touch down in pittsburgh?
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9-20-2006 @ 1:54PM
MrAkai said...
dannyp64- the credit cards were then used to rent the getaway vehicles, etc.
Rick- I thought the same when I saw the screener, but on double-check all of the FCC-bits were taped over. I'm sure some focus on other people's children because mine hate me group will complain anyways.
I have a quick question for anyone who saw the screener vs the aired episode. The screener was about 61 minutes, and according to copy CBS has (had?) up on google video it's about 57 minutes. Were there any substantive changes?
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9-20-2006 @ 2:57PM
mamadoo!! said...
was bored with it after the first 15 min, probably because i kept comparing it to theif, the unabashed best of the genre.
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9-20-2006 @ 4:43PM
Dave said...
Did anyone else think that after all the planning that went into pulling this job that perhaps it might have been a bit smarter to not have all the members buy a ticket on the same flight? I realize they all have fake IDs and what-not, but it just seems like someone should have driven, another taken a train, another a bus, etc. And then at the end, they all take the same flight back.
And did anyone else notice the Law & Order detective investigating the heist? Michelle Hurd, who played, Detective Monique Jeffries on SVU.
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9-20-2006 @ 7:41PM
ryan said...
What was the song they played at the end? does anyone know the name or artist? i really like it and was just wondering so i could get the song.
thanks
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9-20-2006 @ 10:51PM
Prime said...
..Decent Show, Like mentioned it left a lot of silly loopholes and the characters did things that can easily be traced (by TV sitcom standards)..I know off the bat, that MOST women who's husband is leaving the state...require a phone call form the location or atleast a number to the hotel...They funny like that.., And If you pulling a caper in another state and you run into a old friend...Why not just brushed them ...No need to TASER them !....That kinda behavior will get you remembered real well...We'll see how the shows plays itself out. ..
Nice touch on the Imogene Heap's Hide and Seek was an interesting touch....It does have to step up its game to become a player in the ratings game ,it will take more than a nipple shot to keep me focused. ..1 luv
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9-24-2006 @ 2:34PM
J.M. said...
What was the make/model of the car that Charlie rode off in after Bobby delivered the paintings to her?
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9-29-2006 @ 11:37AM
Ketch said...
Does anybody know what the song was in the second episode? I got Imogen Heap from the first episode, but there was a cool song in episode 2 as well and I really want to know who it is...
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10-09-2006 @ 8:27PM
gregr said...
Imogen Heap - Hide and seek, is the song in the end of the ep. (our welcome)
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10-13-2006 @ 7:06AM
smithfan said...
For those of you upset that CBS cancelled Smith, consider filing a complaint.
With enough viewer complaints, CBS may reconsider its cancelling of the marvelous fast-paced Smith with its excellent cast including Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, Simon Baker and Amy Smart and the show's superb writing.
Blame it on CBS's bad marketing, its only giving the show three episodes of airtime, and CBS's lack of promoting online viewing of earlier episodes of Smith for those who needed to catch up.
CBS could have given a better re-cap at the beginning of episodes for new viewers just tuning in. It could have re-run the episodes during off-hours, much like Bravo does, to allow viewers to catch up.
To complain, call CBS viewer relations at any time day or night to leave a message, or, to reach a live person, call during the hours of 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST - telephone CBS viewer relations at 212-975-3247.
You may also email audsvcs@cbs.com (short for audience services).
You may also go to CBS's feedback form online to submit your complaint at http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml Smith is still listed in the shows on that feedback form.
You may also sign this online petition to CBS to bring back Smith. http://www.petitiononline.com/cbssmith/petition.html
You can also vote that you thought Smith was a great show by going to the first official Smith fansite http://www.smith-on-cbs.com/ and voting on the question "What's Your Opinion Regarding Smith's Cancellation?"
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