User reviews

after watching many of the balance of the episodes on DirecTV's 101, i'm puzzled why this didn't get more that a showing of the pilot.

interesting characters. definite possibilities for the direction the show might have gone.

all the characters might have great back stories that would give the writers an option to move beyond the mere caper plot of other similar series.

the second to the last episode on 101 suggested the background for simon baker's character and suggested a little redemptive option.

and the same episode hints at the history of ray liotta's and virginia madsen's troubled relationship.

ah well, another example of 'if i like it, they'll cancel it.'

This is one of the best crime dramas on TV, maybe almost as good as early 'Sopranos' or 'Shield.' It has a wicked soundtrack, it's beautifully shot and choreographed, and sports some of the best acting I've seen on a network show. The characters are, basically, incorrigible scum; but, they pull off their heists with such style, I find myself very much hoping they stick around for a couple dozen episodes. No doubt most or all of them will meet nasty ends, but in the meantime, 'Smith' is a good place to indulge in some cathartic mayhem and villainy. The soundtrack is phenomenal--Rancid, Dirty Pretty Things, Imogen Heap, Thom Yorke, and the Ramones have all popped up early on in the series. I expect the music to stay high-end as the first season progresses. 'Smith' is not for an audience who needs to cheer for the forces of law and order. It's all about the bad guys, and not saying sorry.

This is a interesting show that shows both crime life and private life of the characters as well. The cast is terrific and i heard that some critics say it doesn't measure up but they are wrong!!! This is a very solid crime drama that has not even begun to show the potential it has.It is well balanced with the characters and it is very entertaining.You like the crew for some unique reason.I think the cast is has a lot to do with it but the way the show is written is interesting and you care for the main character who is played by the talented ray liotta! Give it a chance!By the way there is some dark humor in there as well if you pay attention and it makes the show even better!

John Wells' new show is by far the most original show I've seen on network TV in years. Ray Liotta, Amy Smart and Simon Baker are extremely effective in their roles as members of a gang of sophisticated thieves who lead otherwise normal lives. Virginia Madsen is also effective in her role as Ray Liotta's spouse.

The premiere episode was outstanding and I could not wait to see the second episode, which was even better than the pilot. The writing is terrific, the action is well-paced and suspenseful and while the characters are perhaps amoral, they are well drawn and I found myself wanting to know more about each one of them...

Edgy, fascinating and flawless!

I can't believe this show was canceled. Another case of self-censorship. How sad. This show was the coolest thing on TV. I loved hating these characters. Not every show needs to be a morality tale. This was an im-moraity tale. It's pathetic how terrified the populace is.

From the all star cast to the magnificent plot lines, this show was different. It's easy to be the same. I highly recommend it. Download it from through itunes, it's worth it.

America is losing it's place as the nation where ideas are developed. It's becoming a bottomless pit of bland conformity. Soon, we'll all be characters in some blurred out reality show.

I'm afraid I disagree with the reviewer who didn't like the show. First off, Ray's character is a professional thief and husband/father and if the show moves rather slow at times it may be because of the fact that his family life isn't the most exciting thing in the world, and his profession requires precision and thought - not blow-em-up action. The first episode illustrates what happens when things get moving too fast: disaster! I like the suspense, of which the pace helps build, and the characters are all intriguing. The thing Jeff does on the beach in Hawaii is already coming back to haunt him in the second episode and Amy Smart's character is in for trouble on multiple counts. Then there's Virgina Madsen (Ray's wife) who is suspicious of what her husband is really up to which makes for an excellent side story. Personally, I like the show and can't wait for new episodes. I'd say the show is a kind of cross between Miami Vice and Prison Break but this is just my opinion. If you watch, enjoy!

It is my feeling that "Smith" could evolve into an absorbing crime drama. Its sparse dialog is neither tedious nor a turn-off, and the lack of 'treacly music' during the family scenes is decidedly a plus. In addition to stars Liotta and Madsen, one might single out Simon Baker, whose past credits include the gripping neonoir film L.A. Confidential (1997), and Jonny Lee Miller, who was cast in "Prime Suspect 3" (1993), arguably the best of that series. Although granted that early in "Smith" we still know little about the characters played by these and the other members of the cast, my prediction is that future episodes will, like the layers of an onion being peeled away, reveal their past misdeeds, almost surely to haunt them as things progress. The viewer might anticipate with some relish that a couple of the characters, who love fast living and fast cars, and flaunt both, are indeed cruising for a bruising.

Which is not to say there aren't certain aspects that don't ring true. Given that the heist which unfolds in the pilot, whose nature I shall not reveal, is not normally associated with violence, it doesn't seem likely there is not more anger, censure, and repercussion from the naughty persons on-high when things do go awry and assuredly cause law enforcement to be far more attentive and relentless in its pursuit of the crime.

Viewers and producers alike need to stay the course until "Smith" gets its stride. The network ought not lose its courage in presenting something different, as happened with other dark and delicious crime dramas, such as "EZ Streets" in the mid-1990s and "Dream Street" in the late 1980s, soon pulled from the fall line-up. There has to be something different out there than silly clichés, canned laughter, and predictable and soon shopworn series.

Um...to the postperson who said the pilot episode of Smith was somewhat boring and slow at times? It's something we rarely see in most t.v. shows these days, except for maybe "Lost," known as character development. I thought the "Smith" pilot was very good, because like "Lost," I felt like I was watching a movie instead of a t.v. show. The music, production, acting, editing, "character development" and action scenes were well done. I think that a lot of ground got covered in the opening episode. The 2nd episode didn't quite "wow!" me as much as the opener, but it was still engaging nonetheless. I had a problem in the 2nd episode with a place like Venice Beach being so void of people during a beautiful, sunny day, so that a full-on motorcycle chase could take place with no innocent bystanders being harmed. Also, you would think that if the robbers are supposed to keep a low profile after their nearly botched Pittsburgh heist, that Jeff (Simon Baker) would have enough sense to wear a motorcycle helmet (required by law in CA.) in order to avoid hassle with the authorities. But I guess that's just the daredevil in his character, or perhaps just an oversight on the show's writers.

An episode of Smith looks great in High Definition widescreen, better than many movies. The combination of visually appealing locations and slick cinematography will make you (finally!) believe that a plasma television was well worth the price. This show effectively fills the whole screen with clever shot compositions. The directors deserve credit for making television look so good.

Sadly, the character's in Smith have little appeal. They are stereotypical thieves who do nasty things with no remorse. Given you don't care about them, there is no tension. The overarching story about an aging thief who wants a "few more big scores" is by the book; there are few wrinkles.

To exacerbate the situation, the dialogue is sparse, dull, and often bookended by extended shots of people arriving and departing in the featured Chrysler cool cars of the week.

A great cast and crew is wasted by the source material. Its a shame the writing is so weak in what could have been a show as influential as Miami Vice in changing the look and feel of network television.

I haven't watched much TV in recent years, programs have degraded my TV so much I felt it was best to face it towards a corner till it thought about what it had done. Soaps, Reality TV, Bad comedies, Reality TV, Annoying Game shows and Reality TV have saturated the schedules but then this comes along. This is the best Drama/Thriller serial I've seen in ages.

Whats not to like? Ray Liotta being uber cool, Amy Smart being so sexy I have to wipe the steam from the screen,(Thank god I said Steam), Simon Baker and his underlying violent tendencies.

The plots where interesting and exciting, We got a little glimpse into each characters life in each episode while getting down with some grade-A action that even makes most feature films look boring, I'm talking Motor Bike chases, Hummer ram raids, Chainsaw killings, Sniper assassins, High Profile robberies and good old fashioned fist fights.

"Smith," created by John Wells, is an American crime drama that premiered on CBS in 2006. The series follows a group of professional thieves led by Bobby Stevens, played by Ray Liotta, who struggle to keep their criminal activities separate from their personal lives.

The plot revolves around the group's attempts to pull off a series of heists while also dealing with the challenges of maintaining their double lives. Bobby, a former thief, tries to leave his criminal past behind after a few more major jobs, but his wife, Hope, played by Virginia Madsen, suspects something is amiss.

Bobby's job as a paper cup salesman allows him to travel frequently, adding to the series' intrigue. The show explores the complex relationships between the characters, highlighting their efforts to stay one step ahead of the authorities and protect their families. Each episode focuses on either an actual heist or the planning for future ones.

The cast is strong, with notable performances by Ray Liotta as Bobby Stevens, Virginia Madsen as Hope Stevens, and Simon Baker as Jeff Breen. The show received mixed reviews from critics, with USA Today calling it "the worst new show of the season" and canceling it after only three episodes.

Despite its short run, "Smith" offers a unique take on the crime drama genre, with intricate plotlines and well-developed characters. The performances are commendable, particularly by the lead actors.

Overall, "Smith" is a flawed but intriguing series that offers a fresh perspective on the heist genre. It is recommended for fans of crime dramas who appreciate complex character development and well-crafted plotlines.

Rating: 6 out of 10.

The first episode just didn't deliver. I had high expectations because of the cast and the fact that John Wells was producing, but the show just never grabbed me. It had some action but also seemed very slow at times, pretty boring for the most part. It just didn't work. I didn't buy into it. Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen etc. are all very good actors, but for some reason they are not engaging in this show. Well, I'll somewhat take that back, Ray Liotta is always engaging. However he was less engaging than usual on this show, and I love Liotta as an actor. I don't know if it was the writing, the directing, or what, but something was definitely off. However, Amy Smart was quite entertaining. She seemed to be the only interesting character. The cast as a whole is very talented and skilled, it is surprising that it just didn't work. That leads me to think it's more the fault of the writing. Oh Well, I'll give it another chance and watch the next episode, but the pilot was not impressive.

Did I read right? This series was ditched by a US network? Talk about a prophet unrecognized in his own country. "Smith" is US film-making at its best--tightly written, filmed with panache, great characterization (particularly Ray Liotta), haunting but understated score. Great stuff--and I'm hooked. The concept of a family man (Liotta) leading a double life combining a normal domestic routine, a boring job and a criminal sideline is original and dramatically daring but it works wonderfully, thanks to the delicate interplay between Liotta and his screen wife (Virginia Madsen, whose ode to the vine in "Sideways" belongs in a compendium of the best modern prose). Thank goodness a discerning distributor(Cinemax) picked up "Smith," patted him on the back and sent him off to Asia, for the entertainment of us benighted exiles.

Best damn TV Show I've watched in a very long time. I just cannot believe it didn't get better ratings. As always a masterclass in acting from Ray Liotta. With an all star dream team of other actors.

Sorry but I just can't buy a show that tries to evoke sympathy for criminals. I'm tired of having television present the underbelly of life as being attractive and exciting. It does have a great cast but I will not be watching this show again. I would love to see this wonderful group of actors in a better vehicle. The story line is weak, the action is fair and the entire time I kept wondering about the purpose of this series. Ray Liotta seems to be walking through his lines without really believing in them. I wouldn't be surprised if this gets yanked before the end of the season. There are better shows out there in which to invest viewing time. Heroes is excellent and does not have any big stars. Jericho looks like it has promise. I think I'll be sticking with some of the usual mainstays such as all the Law & Orders and CSIs. All in all--not worth watching this dud.

I was very excited when I heard about this show, Ray Liotta is one of my favorite actors. I watched the first episode and i loved it, but there was this feeling i instantly got after viewing it.

It was the feeling of worry. I felt that a lot of people would somehow be confused or be lost easily in this show. Not because the viewer is in someway mentally inept, that is not even close to what i'm saying. The thing with Smith is that it plays out like a movie, which hardly works for T.V.

C.S.I and Law and Order are a few examples of crime based themes that carry out like movies, that seem to work, but that is because they FEEL like t.v shows. Smith to me works out fine and well, but again it doesn't come across as a t.v show.

So this being said, the show it self was great, but perhaps could have turned out better in a movie or lets say a HBO typed exclusive show like the Sopranos.

8 out of 10

This new prime time show stars Ray Liotta of Goodfellas fame playing Bobby Stevens, a master thief who is trying to balance out his illegal career with his domestic family life. Virginia Madsen and Amy Smart also star in supporting roles.

Sounds pretty interesting and promising, right? Well unfortunately it's one big disappointment. The producers seemed to have thought the show could rest on Ray Liotta's skills alone, neglecting other important aspects such as the dialogue which was boring and unnatural.

There are some good scenes placed between clichéd sequences and boring banter. The supporting cast also needs to kick it up a notch. None of the actors besides Liotta have anything interesting to offer up.

Smith also has the negative distinction of being the latest "heist genre" show to come along in the past two years, following FX's Thief, AMC's Hu$tle & NBC's Heist, all of which have been cancelled.

Obviously the network put a lot of $ behind this show. What it needs is more creativity to differentiate itself from all the aforementioned shows and movies (Oceans 11, The Italian Job, The Score etc) with the same concept.

The idea, even if it is old and been done before has potential, and they have the right actor, they just need to get the rest.