Update on HOUSE OF LIES
Photo Credit: Showtime.
Back in February, news was released that Kristen Bell (beloved around these parts for her role as Veronica Mars) had joined Showtime’s upcoming series House of Lies. Then last week Showtime announced that House of Lies has received a 12 episode order. Production will start this summer. It is categorized as a half-hour comedy, though given Showtime’s record when it comes to comedies, I’m expecting a fair amount of drama too. Created, written, and executive produced by Matthew Carnahan, House of Lies is based on the book House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Tell You the Time 
The new comedy is a scathing look at a self-loathing management consultant from a top-tier firm. Cheadle stars as Marty, a highly-successful and cutthroat consultant who is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his way with and for his clients. Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) will play Jeannie Van Der Hooven, a razor-sharp, Ivy-League graduate who works at Marty’s firm. Co-stars include noted comedian Ben Schwartz (Undercovers) and Josh Lawson (Romantically Challenged) as Marty’s corporate team members; Dawn Oliveri (Heroes) as Marty’s acerbic ex-wife; the legendary Glynn Turman (In Treatment) as his psychoanalyst father; and Donis Leonard Jr. (The Fresh Beat Band) as Marty’s young son.
At first glance, it looks like House of Lies may fit in well with the programming already on-air on the network, and I hope that it will likewise be filled with layered and complicated characters. I love Cheadle and Bell, so the casting is certainly promising. It will be fun to see Bell back on television. While she can be routinely heard as the voice of Gossip Girl, on series of the same name, she was last seen on the small screen in a guest-starring role as Uda Bengt on Party Down. (R.I.P., Party Down.) It seems that her upcoming character, Jeannie Van Der Hooven, will give Bell something entirely new to play, and I look forward to it. At the same time, I love that Jeannie is written as “razor-sharp,” as I think Bell did her best work when playing the smartest person in the room. (Remember, Veronica Mars is smarter than you.)
When I first heard about House of Lies I was bummed because A.) I don’t have Showtime & B.) I wasn’t sure the initial idea was really my style but the more I hear about it the more I want to give it a try. Maybe Netflix will stream it when it hits the airwaves. (ah Netflix, what would I do without you?) Here’s hoping KBell stays on the airwaves for a very long time.