'Lie to Me': Military assault, accusations and college basketball bribes....(Read the Faces)

Zap2it.com ^ | Lisa Todorovich

[fight_truth_decay]

Lie to Me is a brand-new show, but there are so many things it's already doing right. Its characters are smart but by no means perfect -- and their quirks aren't (yet) annoying. The pace is quick and feels tight, but even though it's a procedural the vibe is loose and never anxiety-inducing. It's based in Washington, D.C., but it's finding stories to tell that have nothing to do with politics (aside from the congressman storyline of the debut). And if this week is any indication, those in charge were smart enough to ratchet back a little on the quirks that were great in a pilot but would get old if overused -- the continual exposition and the slo-mo zooming in on the microexpressions that Cal Lightman sees. Bravo.

In case you haven't figured it out, Cal's a little eccentric -- and he can't resist an opportunity to show someone how wrong they are. Which he does with an ostrich egg while prove a point to the Homeland Security officials who are super-psyched about their flashy new hand-held polygraph machines. You guessed it: if you're anxious, the egg breaks. Let's just say I'm glad I don't have to clean ostrich yolk off my shoes.

One of this week's big cases involves a female Army specialist who's served in Afghanistan accusing her platoon leader of rape. Cal and Ria head to Ft. Meade to interview the soldier in question, Sheila Lake. The alleged perp is not being court martialed yet -- his leadership on the Pakistani border is needed, the CO says, and if they start proceedings he'll be off the line for six months. Then I'm afraid we can't help you, Cal tells him. Why waste taxpayers' money if the truth isn't what you're after? Right on, Cal. More:

[fight_truth_decay]

Having created the Dept. of Homeland Security's "deception detection" program, Dr. Cal Lightman heads his own private group, capitalizing upon his ability to read expressions and body language -- identifying attitudes like scorn, shame and contempt.

To reflect this ability, the camera zooms in on individual's faces and dissects via "the camera cannot tell a lie" in findings.

"The truth is written on all of our faces," he explains in what's obviously the show's tag line, even using real-life high profile figures (Bill Clinton , Dick Cheney! Kato Kaelin! O.J., Palin to illustrate the point in comparison to a person(S) under "silent" study.(Kinda like Good Cop, Bad Cop & Silent Cop scenario.)

Parallel montage for lying in comparison study (so far each week) to a snapshot of Bill Clinton with pursed lips etc. Some liberal media reviewers and bloggers have somewhat put a "thumbs down" on the show. After all it is on FOX. The show runs on the premise that it is about what you don't say as in re: to the microscopic study of the unspoken facial language in reveiling the truth. O.J. Simpson, Dick Cheney, Simon Cowell and others — are sporadically used to illustrate Dr. Lightman's to case in the use of PowerPoint images. Sure, it's Fox, and just theater; but history has proven........"there is some legitimacy to the claim: as the series is based on the research of Paul Ekman, a professor of psychology at the University of California, San Francisco, who is a specialist in nonverbal communication and what his publishers call deception strategies".

Some faces for study as FReepers often call for captions:

[Hoffer Rand]

Did you watch it? They took a nice little shot at Palin, by saying it was clear in her face she was terrified of the media.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Our minds are merging Doctor..."

[Fawn]

I’ve watched this show twice now...and I’m always glad to see the snapshots of Clinton when they talk about lying.

[thefactor]

they also showed pics of bush and clinton. it was 60-40 in favor of dems. i watched it. it’s a bit cheesy but all in all it’s pretty good. crisp writing.

[70th Division]

What is the day and time of the show. The lead actor is a bit like House

[fight_truth_decay]

Yes, I watched it. Terror might be a strong word. Thrust into the national limelight overnight would realistically be feel "unfamiliar" where "anxiety would creep out" in just about anyone Especially, if you do not have a history of "playing up to the media". Coach: "Make the media and the world love you in 60 seconds..countdown..."your on!"

[Sioux-san]

I like the show - Tim Roth has always been one of my favorites. He’s not pretty and he’s “real” in his character portrayals. Love how these Brits (Hugh Laurie comes to mind also) can shed their accents and sound quite American. When they showed Palin’s picture last night, it was in the context of people who show fear in their face. For Palin, it was “fear of the Press”. Probably quite accurate. They show Clinton’s picture a lot (in the context of liars). What’s not to love????

[informavoracious]

Is it harder to tell if Botoxed faces are lying?

[Slicksadick]

Cal, the lead, is recognizable as the robber with a British accent who held up the diner in "Pulp Fiction" in 1994.

This guy is a great actor who has paid his dues for quite some time, I hope this series does well for him.

[fight_truth_decay]

What is the day and time of the show. The lead actor is a bit like House....

http://www.fox.com/lietome/

[fight_truth_decay]

[fight_truth_decay]

Ping

[Fawn]

OMG...I would never had connected them.

[Lazlo in PA]

I like the show too, but I find half way through the season the shows takes a left leaning political bend that just turns me off. Boston Legal comes to mind. Hopefully they will keep it just an entertainment program.

[misterrob]

And they also showed Clinton’s facial expressions of those of a liar.

Palin sucked in front of the media. Hope she learns from the experience and improves.

[RockerMom2MyHero]

I watched it for the first time last night and found it very interesting. I was wondering how much truth lies in facial expressions, etc. Had to rewind to show hubby the shot of Clinton with pursed lips in the category of liars.

[RockerMom2MyHero]

The lead actor is a bit like House

I thought the same thing.

[PsyOp]

"I'm so slick, these fools will never know what hit them... that's right baby... come on over and talk to me..."

[PsyOp]

"Why that little... B@#ch! And I paid for that Dress!"