It took
”
Friends
”
alum Courteney Cox a while, but she’s finally returning to the
medium that launched her celebrity. And with
”
Dirt,
”
which premieres at 10pm Tuesday on FX, Cox washes away any
remnants of Monica sunshine that might have tripped her in the
”
Friends
”
afterlife.
It took “Friends” alum Courteney Cox a while, but she’s finally returning to the medium that launched her celebrity. And with “Dirt,” which premieres at 10pm Tuesday on FX, Cox washes away any remnants of Monica sunshine that might have tripped her in the “Friends” afterlife.
Like the countless tabloids we’re surrounded by at the checker stand – the ones we can’t seem to take our eyes off of – “Dirt,” too, holds a curious, almost morbid fascination – alluring, sometimes sexy, downright gritty and, like its protagonist, manipulative.
Cox plays ruthless magazine editor Lucy Spiller. Lucy oversees two tabs, “Dirt” and “Now.” The woman insists on getting the untold story on what’s happening in the personal lives of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities, regardless of the emotional price. While she’s a stromtrooper in the newsroom, off site she’s capable of cracking a genuine smile, mostly with an avuncular undercover photographer, Don Konkey (a pitch-perfect Ian Hart).
The pilot sets up a strong dramatic story arc that’s, well, all the things tabloids live for – sex, torment, shocking deaths. Instrumental in all of this, is faded icon Holt McLaren (Josh Stewart channeling something north of James Dean). Holt’s a “real” actor who can’t seem to get the right role in today’s fickle marketplace. Desperate to make a comeback and land a gig, he agrees to offer Lucy dirt on burgeoning celeb Kira Klay, whose mysterious pregnancy and subsequent birth have the world talking, no thanks to Lucy, of course. Holt’s revelations eventually work in his favor, but the trickle effect leaves a devastating impact.
Admittedly, “Dirt” is fun to watch. It has guilty pleasure written all over it. Cox is on the mark, perfectly polished here in the role, and while watching all these nasty people do all these nasty things to each other, the show manages to illuminate the fact that it’s not a nasty show. What it hopes to do, and seems to do (for now), is expose the wild truth behind the façade of show biz and image-making. (Although, at this point in the modern world, one imagines that the public is very aware of how the today’s very loud publicity machine actually runs.)
Also on board: Laura Allen (“The 4400”), who plays Holt’s famous girlfriend Julia, and Jeffrey Nordling as “Dirt’s” publisher. Curiously, Grant Show (“Melrose Place”) and Mariette Hartley (as Lucy’s mom) pop up in later episodes.
The most fascinating thing about “Dirt,” and perhaps its best ingredient, is Hart’s character. His paparazzo Don is a schizophrenic. Didn’t see that one coming. But it’s brilliant and series’ creator/relative newcomer, Matthew Carnahan (NBC’s “Trinity”) seems to handle Don’s episode with a quirky flair, to say the least – Don’s schizophrenia is “manageable.”
As a team, Cox and Hart make up one of the most unique work-buddy duos to hit the screen in ages. Not quite father-daughter, but somewhere near rattled uncle-wretched niece, Lucy and Don manage to bring out each others’ humanity – the ones they seemed to have sold for top tabloid dollars years ago.
The bottom line: “Dirt” isn’t necessarily the best new show to hit the air, but it could become one of the most addictive things to watch at the 10 o’clock hour.
And who likes to keep it clean at that time?
What to Watch This Week
Three things on the Alphabet Network. ABC airs a New Year’s Day tradition, the Rose Bowl, at 4:30pm; the season premiere – yes, this late – of “According to Jim (8pm Wednesday) and the series premiere of a promising new show, “In Case of Emergency” (9:30pm Wednesday).
Two Things on NBC: Sunday Night Football’s last airing before all things head to the Super Bowl (8:15pm); “Friday Night Lights (8pm Wednesday, it’s new timeslot – and don’t give up on this show).
One thing on The CW: “Beauty and the Geek” (8pm Wednesday). I never got hooked, but you can’t fool me. Check it out. It’s the season premiere and its two hours long. Indulge.
Signing Off …
I want to thank readers of “Good Reception” for tuning in for weekly updates on what to watch in the television universe. It’s been a real pleasure writing for you, and a real thrill to write about what’s happening behind the scenes. A big thanks, too, to those of you who wrote in with your opinions, thoughts and suggestions on where to point my own remote. (Mostly good places.)
Keep watching the tube and feel free to send comments to ga*****@gt******.com.
Thanks again and, signing off for now …
Greg Archer is an entertainment writer based on the Central Coast. He writes about television, film and being human. E-mail him at ga*****@sv**********.com or visit www.greg-archer.com.
