Lie to Me(stylized asLie to me*) is an Americancrime dramatelevision series created bySamuel Baumthat aired onFoxfrom January 21, 2009, to January 31, 2011. In the show, Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and his colleagues in The Lightman Group accept assignments from third parties (commonly local and federal law enforcement), and assist in investigations, reaching the truth throughapplied psychology:interpretingmicroexpressions,through theFacial Action Coding System,andbody language.[3]In May 2009, the show was renewed for a second season consisting of 13 episodes;[4]season two premiered on September 28, 2009.[5]On November 24, 2009, Fox ordered an extra nine episodes for season two, bringing the season order to 22 episodes.[6]
| Lie to Me | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Crime drama Police procedural |
| Created by | Samuel Baum |
| Starring | Tim Roth Kelli Williams Brendan Hines Monica Raymund Hayley McFarland Mekhi Phifer[1][2] |
| Opening theme | "Brand New Day" byRyan Star |
| Composers | Robert Duncan Doug DeAngelis Peter Nashel |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No.of seasons | 3 |
| No.of episodes | 48(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Brian Grazer Vahan Moosekian Daniel Sackheim Samuel Baum David Nevins Elizabeth Craft Sarah Fain Alexander Cary David Graziano Shawn Ryan Daniel Voll Steven Maeda |
| Producers | Alexander Cary Jeffrey Downer Tim Roth |
| Cinematography | Sidney Sidell Joseph E. Gallagher Alan Caso David Geddes Florian Ballhaus |
| Editors | Devon Greene David Post Rick Tuber David C. Cook David Siegel Padraic McKinley Thomas R. Moore Gib Jaffe Monty DeGraff Marta Evry Thom Noble Suzy Elmiger |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production companies | Imagine Television Pagoda Pictures Samuel Baum Productions MiddKid Productions 20th Century Fox Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | Fox |
| Release | January 21, 2009– January 31, 2011 |
On May 12, 2010,Entertainment Weeklyreported thatLie to Mereceived a 13-episode third season pick-up.[7][8]The third season ofLie to Mewas originally set to premiere on November 10, 2010. On September 28, 2010, the date was moved up to October 4, 2010, because of the cancellation ofLone Star.[9]On May 11, 2011, Fox canceledLie to Meafter three seasons.[10]
The show is inspired by the work ofPaul Ekman,a specialist on facial expressions and a professor emeritus of psychology at theUniversity of California San FranciscoSchool of Medicine. Ekman has been an advisor to police departments and anti-terrorism groups. He was a scientific consultant in the production of the series.[11]The lead character ofLie to Me,Cal Lightman, is based on Ekman.
Cast and characters
editMain
edit
- Tim RothasDr. Cal Lightman,a brilliant expert in the science ofbody language,especiallymicroexpressions,and founder of The Lightman Group, a private company that operates as an independent contractor to assist investigations of local and federal law enforcement throughapplied psychology.[12]Though often confronted by people's skepticism, Lightman uses any technique he deems necessary to reach the truth, however elaborate or confronting. He is divorced and shares custody of his teenage daughter. He cares deeply about his colleague Gillian Foster; and there is a chemistry between them that has yet to develop into anything more although, in the Season 3 finale, he confesses to his daughter that he loves her. His mother committedsuicidewhile he was still young, an event that led him to discovering and researching microexpressions. There is evidence he was involved withBritish intelligenceinNorthern Ireland.[13]Lightman also mentioned interrogating militant suspects recalling his release of one suspect resulted in the shootings of six and the deaths of three in a murder operation the suspect subsequently carried out. He has also admitted to being anMI6intelligence agent during theYugoslav Wars(1994) in an attempt to gain the trust of an intelligence agent that he was interrogating. Lightman is aWest Ham Unitedsupporter as he mentions himself in Season 2, and was seen wearing a Claret and Blue scarf in one of the later episodes of Season 2.[14]
- Kelli WilliamsasDr. Gillian Foster,Dr. Lightman's psychologist colleague in The Lightman Group who analyses patterns of voice, language, and behavior.[15]She can be somewhat impulsive but is very professional with the clients and subjects in public. While she occasionally disagrees with some of Lightman's actions, she has an open pact with Lightman: not to let their professional skill interfere with coworkers' personal lives. Her husband's lack of candor often challenges this: When Cal believes her husband, Alec, is cheating on her, he simply ignores what he is seeing, much to character Ria Torres's dismay. It is later revealed that he was not cheating on her but was trying to overcome his drug addiction; they promptly divorce. Gillian had adopted a baby (Sophie) who was eventually returned to the birth mother. This character is based on Maureen O’Sullivan,emeritusprofessorof psychology at theUniversity of San Francisco.
- Brendan HinesasEli Loker,an employee of The Lightman Group. Unlike Torres, whom Lightman calls "a natural", Loker acquired his skills in "reading" people through academic education and practice. During Season 1, he also adheres toRadical Honestyand thus rarely lies, even if that makes him appear rude or undiplomatic.[16]Lightman demoted him to an unpaid intern after, despite Foster's warnings, he divulged sensitive information to theSECwhile working on a case. However, he is later promoted to vice president, which causes a rift in any developing relationship between him and Torres.
- Monica RaymundasRia Torres,an employee of The Lightman Group and Dr. Lightman'sprotégée,who was recognized as a "natural" while she was still working as aTSATransportation Security Officer.[17]Torres was abused as a child,[18]a common pattern among naturals. Though talented and loyal, she lacks academic training and sometimes lets her emotions cloud her judgment. She has ahalf-sisterwho was in juvenile prison and is now enrolled at a private school.
- Hayley McFarlandasEmily Lightman,Cal Lightman's teenage daughter. Her parents share custody of her, and, while she does not appreciate her father's ability to "read" her, she does not deny its merit for social screening. She has boyfriends over the series that her father scrutinizes. Though she sometimes gets into trouble and has fake IDs, and, to Lightman's chagrin, has been sexually active, she is generally well behaved and has a loving relationship with her father. (Recurring: Season 1; regular: Seasons 2–3)
- Mekhi PhiferasBen Reynolds,anFBIagent who is assigned to and assists the Lightman Group in their investigations, offering armed assistance, practical insights, and access to FBI resources and connections. Reynolds does not always agree with Lightman's ways but stands behind him most of the time. (Recurring: season 1, regular: season 2)
Recurring
edit- Jennifer BealsasZoe Landau,Cal Lightman's ex-wife and Emily's mother, an AssistantAttorney General.While engaged to another man, she also engaged in a tryst with Lightman, after he helped her in a case. (Seasons 1 & 2)
- Tim GuineeasAlec Foster,Gillian Foster's ex-husband. He works at theUnited States Department of Stateand is a recoveringcocaine addict.Throughout the series it was heavily hinted that he was having anextramarital affairuntil it was revealed that the woman was hisCA sponsor.He and Gillian divorced. (Season 1)
- Sean Patrick ThomasasSpecial Agent Karl Dupree.Dupree initially assisted the Lightman Group on a case involving a controversial South Korean ambassador who is presumed to be an assassination target at his son's state wedding. Torres and Dupree are romantically involved later in season one. He also defends Torres against Loker when he divulged sensitive information to the SEC while working on a case. (Season 1)
- Melissa GeorgeasClara Musso.She was Zoe Landau's first big client, so Lightman helped her find out who really killed her husband and prove her innocence. She later inherited her husband's company, and showed interest in Lightman's work on deception detection, in that she paid him to teach her some techniques, and then invested in his firm. (Season 2)
- Monique Gabriela CurnenasDetective Sharon Wallowski,a police officer who assists Lightman. She also engages in a romantic relationship with Lightman, but ends it once Lightman finds out the truth about her past as a dirty cop. (Guest Season 2, Season 3)
- Brandon JonesasLiam,Emily Lightman's boyfriend, a high school jock who is not intimidated by Cal Lightman. Emily breaks up with him because he does not believe in sex before marriage. (Season 3)
Plot
editSeason one opens with Cal and Gillian hiring a new associate:TSAofficer Ria Torres, who scored extraordinarily high on Cal's deception-detection diagnostic, and is in turn labeled a "natural" at deception detection. Her innate talent in the field clashes with Cal's academic approach, and he often shows off by rapidly analyzing her every facial expression. She counters by reading Lightman and, when he least expects it, peppers conversations with quotes from his books.
It was gradually revealed that Dr. Lightman was driven to study micro-expressions as a result of guilt over his mother's suicide. She claimed to have been fine in order to obtain a weekend pass from a psychiatric ward, when she was actually experiencing agony (which parallels an anecdote in Paul Ekman's book "Telling Lies" ).
For a small number of the early episodes, Lightman would team up with Torres to work on a case, while Foster and Loker would team up on a separate case. Occasionally, their work would intertwine, or Foster and/or Lightman would provide assistance on each other's cases. As the first season progressed, the cases became more involved, and all four of the main characters would work together on one case for each episode.
In addition to detecting deception in subjects they interview, Lightman and his team also use various interviewing and interrogation tactics to elicit useful information. Rather than by force, they use careful lines of questioning, provocative statements, theatrics and healthy doses of deception on their own part. In the show's pilot episode, Lightman is speaking to a man who is refusing to speak at all, and is able to discern vital information by talking to him and gauging his reaction to each statement. This approach is also taken in several other episodes (e.g., "Do No Harm").
Episodes
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 13 | January 21, 2009 | May 13, 2009 | |
| 2 | 22 | September 28, 2009 | September 13, 2010 | |
| 3 | 13 | October 4, 2010 | January 31, 2011 | |
Production
editSamuel Baumwas the originalshowrunnerandhead writeronLie to Me.Brian Grazer,David Nevins,andSteven Maedawere executive producers. Katherine Pope, former president of NBC Universal's TV studio, signed on as a consulting producer, working on the final four episodes of the first season.[19]Shawn Ryan,creator ofThe ShieldandThe Unit,took over asshow runnerfor the second season.[20][21]
Lightman Group offices use theWalter E. Washington Convention Centerat 801 Mt Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.
The show's theme song, "Brand New Day", was performed byRyan Star.
Reception
editCritical reception
editThe show received mostly positive reviews from television critics. It has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100 based on 24 reviews onMetacritic.[22]Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker awardedLie to Mea B− rating and wrote "Lie to Meis derivative yet well crafted, predictable yet ever-so-slightly novel… it's no wonder that Fox thinks it's got itself a potential hit ". However, he also commented" if this review were a face, Dr. Lightman would say it had a forced smile: hopeful, but dubious, about Lie's chances. "[23]Tom Shales, writing forThe Washington Post,said "Lie to Meseems an unusually meaty, thoughtful and thought-provoking crime drama – another police procedural, yes, but one with a dramatic and mesmerizing difference… easily one of the season's best new shows. "[24]
Ratings
editIn the United States, the viewing figures declined as the series progressed. Thepilot episodewas seen by 12.37 million; however, by the final episode of the first season, it was down to 8.46 million. The most viewed episode was episode three, "A Perfect Score",which attracted 12.99 million. The second season premiered on September 28, 2009, to 7.73 million viewers.[25]The season two finale was watched by 4.94 million viewers in the U.S. on September 13, 2010.[26]The third season, which had its premiere moved forward to October 4, 2010, was viewed by 5.87 million people in the U.S.[27]The series' official cancellation was announced by Fox on May 10, 2011.[28]
Seasonal ratings
edit| Season | Episodes | Original airing | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
Notes | Network | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | TV season | |||||||
| 1 | 13 | January 21, 2009 | May 13, 2009 | 2008–2009 | #29[29] | 11.06[29] | Fox | ||
| 2 | 22 | September 28, 2009 | September 13, 2010 | 2009–2010 | #57[30] | 7.39[30] | [Note 1] | ||
| 3 | 13 | October 4, 2010 | January 31, 2011 | 2010–2011 | #78 | 6.71[32] | |||
Awards and nominations
editPrimetime Emmy Awards
editPeople's Choice Awards
editLie to mewas nominated for two awards at the37th People's Choice Awardsand won both of them.[33]
- 2011 Favorite TV Crime Drama (WON)
- 2011 Favorite TV Crime Fighter (Tim Roth,WON)
International broadcasting
editThe series was broadcast onGlobalin Canada,Network Tenin Australia,M-Netin South Africa, and also airs in Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Hungary and Belgium.[34][35]Lie to Meaired on Sky1 in the UK and Ireland,[36]starting on May 14, 2009. On July 20, 2009,Foxaired the premiere in Latin America.[37]RTL 5in The Netherlands has been broadcasting it since November 6, 2009. The series debuted in Italy on September 7, 2009, on the Fox Satellite channel. The series has aired in India since September 2010.
| Country | Television Network |
|---|---|
| Albania | Digi + |
| Argentina | Fox |
| Egypt | OSN First |
| Armenia | Kentron TV |
| Australia | Network Ten,W |
| Austria | ATV |
| Belgium | 2BE,RTL-TVI |
| Brazil | Fox,Rede Globo,Rede Record |
| Bulgaria | bTV Cinema |
| Canada | Global,V |
| Chile | Fox,MEGA |
| Colombia | Fox,Caracol Televisión |
| Costa Rica | Fox |
| Croatia | HRT2,Doma TV |
| Cuba | Multivisión |
| Czech Republic | TV Prima |
| Denmark | TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | Fox |
| Ecuador | |
| El Salvador | |
| Estonia | TV3 |
| Finland | MTV3 |
| France | M6,Paris Première,W9 |
| Georgia | Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | VOX |
| Haiti | Canal Bleu |
| Honduras | Fox |
| Hungary | RTL Klub,Cool TV |
| Iceland | Stöð 2 |
| India | STAR World |
| Indonesia | Fox,Rajawali Televisi |
| Iran | Namava |
| Ireland | RTÉ Two |
| Israel | yes stars Action HD |
| Italy | Fox,Rete 4,Top Crime |
| Japan | Fox,TV Tokyo |
| Kazakhstan | KazTRK |
| Latvia | TV3,TV3+,TV6,Fox Life |
| Lithuania | TV3 |
| Malaysia | NTV7,Fox |
| Mauritius | MBCDigital12 (Cine12) |
| México | Fox |
| Moldova | Jurnal TV |
| The Netherlands | RTL 5 |
| New Zealand | TV3 (New Zealand) |
| Norway | TV2 |
| Panama | Fox,TV Max |
| Paraguay | Fox |
| Peru | |
| Philippines | Fox,Jack TV |
| Poland | Canal+ Poland,FOX Life,TVP Seriale,TVP2 |
| Portugal | FOX (Portugal),TVI |
| Romania | Pro TV |
| Russia | Channel One (Russia),TV3 |
| Serbia | TV Avala,FOX |
| Singapore | Fox |
| Slovakia | TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | TV3 |
| South Africa | M-Net |
| South Korea | Fox |
| Spain | Antena3,Cuatro |
| Sweden | TV4 |
| Switzerland | RSI La 1,3+,TSR 1 |
| Taiwan | PTS |
| Thailand | True Series,Fox Thailand |
| Turkey | Foxlife,Fox Crime,TV2 |
| Ukraine | 1+1 |
| United Kingdom | Sky1,Pick TV,Universal Channel,Alibi |
| Uruguay | Monte Carlo TV |
| Venezuela | Fox |
| Vietnam | VTV6 |
Home media
editAs of March 2020, all episodes are available on the streaming service Hulu. Also available on the Disney plus platform (for a fee).
Season one and two have been released on DVD inRegions 1, 2 and 4.However, while season one was also released onBlu-rayin North America[38]there has been no announcement about releasing the second season on Blu-ray.[39]The first and second season DVDs sets include deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes featurettes.[40][41]The second season also includes "Dr. Ekman's Blog "and a gag reel.[41]The third and final season was released on October 4, 2011.[42]
| Season | DVD release date | Blu-rayrelease date | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region A | Region B | |||||||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | United States | Canada | United Kingdom | Australia | ||
| 1 | August 25, 2009[38] | September 14, 2009[43] | October 28, 2009[44] | August 25, 2009[38] | — | December 5, 2012[45] | ||
| 2 | November 9, 2010[41] | January 3, 2011[46] | December 1, 2010 | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 | October 4, 2011[42] | — | November 2, 2011[47] | — | — | Cancelled | ||
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^"Lie to Me – Characters".Fox Broadcasting Company.Archived fromthe originalon May 5, 2009.RetrievedJuly 23,2009.
- ^"Cast & Characters".Paul EkmanGroup.Archived fromthe originalon February 18, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 18,2019.
- ^"Lie to Me".Fox.Archived fromthe originalon November 20, 2008.RetrievedNovember 16,2008.
- ^"Fall TV: Fox Renews Lie to Me, Sets Sights on Human Target and Sons of Tucson".TVGuide.RetrievedMay 12,2009.
- ^Shows,Fox
- ^"Lie to Me gets full season pick up",TV by the Numbers,November 24, 2009, archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2010,retrievedNovember 25,2009.
- ^"Report: 'Lie to Me', 'Human Target' renewed by Fox",TV by the Numbers,May 12, 2010, archived fromthe originalon May 16, 2010,retrievedMay 12,2010.
- ^"It is official: Fox cancels Lone Star",Deadline Hollywood,September 28, 2010.
- ^"Season three of Lie to Me to premiere Monday, October 4, on Fox"(Press release). Fox Flash. September 28, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon October 30, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 29,2010.
- ^Ausiello, Michael (May 10, 2011)."Fox Cancels Human Target, Lie To Me, Chicago Code, Two Others".TV Line.RetrievedMay 10,2011.
- ^"Lie to Me – Paul Ekman analyzes the real science".May 6, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon May 6, 2009.RetrievedApril 20,2013.
- ^"Dr. Cal Lightman – Tim Roth".Fox. Archived fromthe originalon May 5, 2009.RetrievedMay 14,2009.
- ^Lie to Me: lack of candor,Hulu.
- ^Lie to Me,USFCA, archived fromthe originalon June 16, 2009.
- ^"Lie to Me Cast Biographies".TV3 (New Zealand).RetrievedJanuary 10,2015.
- ^"Eli Loker – Brendan Hines".Fox. Archived fromthe originalon April 19, 2009.RetrievedMay 14,2009.
- ^"Ria Torres – Monica Raymund".Fox. Archived fromthe originalon April 21, 2009.RetrievedMay 14,2009.
- ^"Unchained".Lie to Me.Season 1. Episode 5.
- ^Littleton, Cynthia (February 7, 2009)."Pope joins Fox's 'Lie to Me'".Variety.RetrievedMay 14,2009.
- ^Ausiello, Michael (May 12, 2009)."Scoop: Fox renews 'Lie to Me,' installs 'Shield' creator as new showrunner".EW.Archived fromthe originalon May 15, 2009.RetrievedMay 14,2009.
- ^Sepinwall, Alan (September 28, 2009)."Lie to Me improves with help from 'Shield' creator Shawn Ryan – Sepinwall on TV".The Star-Ledger.Newark.RetrievedNovember 15,2009.
- ^"Lie to Me reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJuly 23,2009.
- ^Tucker, Ken (January 14, 2009)."TV review – Lie to Me (2009)".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJuly 23,2009.
- ^Shales, Tom (January 19, 2009)."'Lie to Me' handles famous psychologist's truth nicely ".The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 23,2009.
- ^Calabria, Rosario T. (October 5, 2009)."Broadcast TV Ratings for Monday, October 5, 2009".YourEntertainmentNow.
- ^Gorman, Bill (September 14, 2010)."TV Ratings Monday:90210,Gossip GirlPremieres Down Sharply;Lie to MeSummer Finale Falls ".TV by the Numbers.Archived fromthe originalon September 17, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 15,2010.
- ^Seidman, Robert (October 5, 2010)."Monday Finals:Castle,Lie to Me,90210Adjusted Down;How I Met Your Mother,Mike & Molly,Adjusted Up ".TV by the Numbers.Archived fromthe originalon October 7, 2010.RetrievedOctober 5,2010.
- ^Ausiello, Michael(May 10, 2011)."Fox Cancels Human Target, Lie To Me, Chicago Code, Two Others".TVLine.Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2011.RetrievedMay 11,2011.
- ^ab"Season Rankings from 09/22/08 through 08/23/09"(Press release). ABC Medianet. May 27, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon September 25, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 25,2011.
- ^abGorman, Bill (June 16, 2010)."Final 2009–10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership".TV by the Numbers.Archived fromthe originalon June 19, 2010.
- ^Levin, Gary (May 14, 2010)."Networks freshen up summer with scripted series".USA Today.RetrievedJanuary 25,2011.
- ^"2010–11 Season Broadcast Primetime Show Viewership Averages".TV By The Numbers by zap2it.Archived fromthe originalon June 25, 2011.
- ^"People's Choice Awards 2011 Nominees".peopleschoice.Procter & Gamble.Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 25,2011.
- ^Knox, David (November 10, 2008)."TEN cooks up Big Brother replacement".TV.RetrievedNovember 16,2008.
- ^"Tim Roth series honest about lying".JAM! Television.Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.RetrievedDecember 18,2008.
- ^Wilkes, Neil (January 22, 2009)."Sky1 acquires 'Lie To Me'".Digital Spy.
- ^Tim Roth, un detector de mentiras, humano,(in Spanish).La Nación.Retrieved on July 20, 2009.
- ^abcLambert, David (May 27, 2009)."Lie to Me – Did AmazonLie To Me?CORRECT Date, plus Details/Extras/Box for DVD & Blu-ray 3-disc Blu-ray and 4-disc DVD both due on August 25th (two weeks later than Amazon's current date) ".TVShowsOnDVD.Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2011.RetrievedOctober 3,2010.
- ^Lambert, David (July 14, 2010)."Lie to Me – Honestly, Fox Has Announced a DVD Release for Season 2!".TVShowsOnDVD.Archived fromthe originalon August 19, 2010.RetrievedOctober 3,2010.
- ^Lambert, David (June 24, 2009)."Lie to Me – Fox's Official Press Release for Season 1 on Blu-ray Disc & DVD".TVShowsOnDVD.Archived fromthe originalon January 5, 2010.RetrievedOctober 3,2010.
- ^abcLambert, David (August 18, 2010)."Lie to Me-Fox's OfficialSeason 2Press Release Includes the Finalized DVD Street Date As mentioned in our previous report, the date was not in October: look for this on November 9th ".TVShowsOnDVD.Archived fromthe originalon August 22, 2010.RetrievedOctober 3,2010.
- ^abLambert, David (August 10, 2011)."Lie to Me – The 3rd and Final Season of the Show is Announced for DVD".TV Shows on DVD.Archived fromthe originalon September 15, 2011.RetrievedAugust 10,2011.
- ^"Lie To Me – Season 1 (DVD) (2009)".Amazon.UK.RetrievedOctober 3,2010.
- ^"Lie To Me – Season 1 DVD".dvdorchard.au.Archived fromthe originalon July 29, 2012.RetrievedOctober 3,2010.
- ^Lie To Me - Season 1 (Blu-ray) on JB Hi-Fi OnlineJB Hi-Fi.Retrieved March 25, 2014.
- ^"Lie To Me – Season 2 (DVD) (2010)".Amazon.co.uk.RetrievedOctober 3,2010.
- ^"Lie To Me – Season 3 (DVD)".JB HI-FI.RetrievedOctober 10,2011.
External links
edit