Watch enough television or go to enough movies and you get an affection for various actors, actresses, directors, etc. One of the actors I've come to really enjoy watching through the years is Timothy Hutton. Hutton originally came to prominence almost 30 years ago for his portrayal of Conrad Jarrett in Robert Redford's Ordinary People. The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards and took home four, including one for Hutton as Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Since then, Hutton has worked steadily in both film and television. His latest role is as Nathan Ford, the lead character, in TNT's newest original drama series Leverage.
Premiering Sunday December 7 at 10pm, Leverage is the story of a good guy, Ford, who has spent much his career working for an insurance company, solving thefts and thereby saving the company millions of dollars. However, prior to the start of this series, that job has 
ended, the insurance company refused to pay for Ford's son's medical treatment, causing Ford to lose his family. He is, understandably, angry, upset, and in a bad place.
Enter Victor Dubenich (Saul Rubinek). Dubenich is a high-powered executive at an airplane manufacturer and is desperate to recover plans for a plane from a competitor. He convinces Ford to lead a team of thieves in the recovery of the plans (which will have the added effect of hurting the insurance company Ford worked for). Initially apprehensive, Ford is convinced that by doing something illegal he'll actually be doing something good and takes the job.
Working with Ford is a motley crew of thieves, all known for working solo missions. Ford's got a tech expert and resident comedian, Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge); a thief who not only doesn't play by societal conventions but seems to wholly not understand them, Parker (Beth Riesgraf); muscle with a softer side, Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane); and an actress who can only act while committing a crime, Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman). Each of them have their own personality quirks and their brief introductions in the premiere are one of the best bits of the show. In the series it falls to Ford, as the planner, to control the disparate elements of the team, a job he handles with ease (but one could see that going downhill in the future).
Essentially, Leverage is a heist show, with the twist being that they're pulling heists to try and help people. They still manage to squirrel away 
more than a little bit of cash for themselves, or, as they explain it when finding clients, they work on an "alternative revenue stream." The group is a modern day Robin Hood-style gang, if Robin Hood's gang had put away millions for themselves.
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