Where is My Remote: First Look at The Firm and House of Lies

Wednesday, January 04 2012 - Where is My Remote - by: trentstorm

Previews:

The Firm

Around 2 decades ago, John Grisham struggled to find his niche in writing. He managed to publish A Time To Kill in 1989, which didn't land him the attention he desired. It wouldn't be until 1991 when he published The Firm would he establish himself as a thrilling legal author. Flash forward to the 1993 feature film with Tom Cruise as the lead character, with Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman and Holly Hunter as the supporting cast. The novel and film's plots were essentially the same, as the main character, Mitch McDeere, is a hotshot Harvard graduate who begins his new career with “The Firm”. In the beginning, it's a dream come true for him, as money and girls are thrown his way. But, the reality is, The Firm has mob ties and the FBI is circling in. McDeere and his wife are barely able to escape in the end.

Why do I bring all this up? Consider it a refresher/introduction as NBC's The Firm will take place 10 years after the story. When the mob boss dies in prison, Mitch and Abby come out of Witness Protection to begin a new life and Mitch hopes to start a new law firm. Unfortunately, new enemies are on the horizon, and he faces a big murder case.

Taking up the roles that Tom Cruise and Jean Tripplehorn had as Mitch and Abby McDeere will be Josh Lucas and Molly Parker. The only other characters from the original story I see in this series is Mitch's brother Ray and Tammy, the Firm's secretary who helped Mitch copy files. Juliette Lewis will play Tammy.

NBC signed up for 22 episodes, which is the most NBC has ever signed up for off of a new series. John Grisham personally looked at the early scripts and he is an executive producer.

The Firm will kick off in a 2 hour premiere on NBC, Sunday at 9 PM and move into its regularly scheduled night on Thursday, January 12 at 10 PM EST.

House of Lies

For those who have Showtime or are fans of the Martin Kihn book, House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and then Tell You the Time, be sure to check out House of Lies. It stars Academy Award winning actor Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan, the man who puts “con” into consultant. He and his crack team at Galweather & Stern pass themselves off as management consultants, but they are pretty much spinsters who cross any boundaries to meet their clients demands. “Going too far” doesn't exist in their vocabulary. House of Lies debuts on Showtime on Sunday at 10 PM EST.