Many of the scenes in Dirt are shown from Konkey's perspective - when he visits a pharmacy in the pilot episode, for example, the models on boxes of hair coloring begin speaking to him simultaneously - and the result is one of the more visually striking shows on television. (It's startling to hear Hart, whose character is a mush-mouthed American, speak with a pronounced Scouse accent in the DVD special features.)
Konkey is by far the most interesting and likable character on Dirt, though making him the focus of the show might have been overwhelming. Courtney Cox Arquette, unfortunately, seems miscast as Lucy Spiller - after years of playing Alex Keaton's sweet girlfriend on Family Ties and the lovable but neurotic Monica on Friends, it's hard to buy her playing a driven, tough, ruthless magazine editor. You can't shake the feeling that she's trying too hard. The show's main problem, however, is that it's overstuffed with characters - mostly celebrities with something to hide - and plotlines that can be difficult to keep straight.
Still, I'll take a show that tries to do too much over a show that tries to get away with as little as possible, and Dirt is definitely worth a look. Its portrayal of celebrity journalism is extremely dark and cynical - and that's probably the portrayal celebrity journalism deserves.
Article comments