Don Cheadle Heads Biting "House of Lies"

Don Cheadle in "House of Lies"  (eurweb)

Don Cheadle is currently heading the cast of one of television's funniest shows, "House of Lies" on Showtime.

Cheadle, so memorable in such films as "Boogie Nights" and "Hotel Rwanda" (the latter earning him an Oscar nomination), has joined the likes of such talents as Laura Linney and signed on to a brilliant showcase of a show, and television viewers are all the more fortunate for these film stars turning their attentions to the small screen.

In Cheadle's case, he has enjoyed an association with filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, who has cast him in more acclaimed films like "Out of Sight", as well as popcorn fare like the "Ocean's" series. Wisely, Cheadle has seized the opportunity to create and embody a rich character like Marty Kaan on "House of Lies", the story of a team of management consultants with comically underdeveloped moral codes. That the show arrived in the midst of a massive recession only underscores the timeliness of "Lies".

The show's satirical tone is somewhat reminiscent of "Ally McBeal", yet "Lies" has the advantage of being on cable and thus has both the tendency and opportunity to indulge in occasionally raunchy humor and antics, often including sexually compromising situations. What grounds this frenetic show is the solid cast, led by Cheadle, but also featuring a raft of less familiar faces. One of the most promising actors on the show is Donis Leonard, Jr., as Roscoe, Cheadle's transgendered son. His astute underplaying helps underscore the importance of Cheadle's home life, a home that includes his father but not his ex-wife (and Roscoe's mom), the game Dawn Olivieri.

While the darkly humorous, satirical tone may diminish the sympathy quotient viewers may feel towards characters they choose to visit weekly, the writing and acting are strong enough to make "Lies" compelling viewing. Showtime scores yet another hit with "Lies", which has been renewed for another season.  Until then, we have Linney's "The Big C" and Edie Falco's "Nurse Jackie" to look forward to.