House of Lies

About House of Lies

House of Lies is a fiercely smart, intense comedy drama series that was launched in 2012. The Showtime production chiefly revolves around the intriguing character of Marty Kaan, a top-tier management consultant. Marty and his team of ambitious 'pod' consultants are known to stop at nothing to get their business deals closed. The captivating series provides an insightful, albeit satirical, look at the often convoluted domain of corporate America.

Making / Production

The series is based on the book "House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Then Tell You the Time" written by Martin Kihn. The show was created by Matthew Carnahan and produced by Jessika Borsiczky, Stephen Hopkins and Don Cheadle. Over five seasons, they managed to construct a fresh and engaging narrative infused with dark humor.

Actors

• Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan - Cheadle’s complex portrayal shows Marty as the suave, ruthless, and brilliant consultant, with a deeply flawed personal life.
• Kristen Bell as Jeannie Van Der Hooven - Being a part of Marty’s 'pod', Bell gives Jeannie a strong, headstrong yet vulnerable persona.
• Ben Schwartz as Clyde Oberholt - Schwartz plays the carefree, ambitious member of the 'pod'. Clyde's relationship with Marty adds an engaging dynamic to the show.
• Josh Lawson as Doug Guggenheim - Lawson’s performance makes Doug the often comedic, somewhat naive, and entirely endearing member of Marty's team.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series is based on a real book which satirically unveils the consulting industry.
• Ben Schwartz, who plays Clyde, is also well-known as Jean-Ralphio from the series Parks and Recreation.
• Don Cheadle won a Golden Globe for his performance in the first season of the show.

Awards

Don Cheadle notably won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy for his exemplary portrayal of Marty Kaan in 2013.

Quotes

• “My process has worked well for me for twenty years, thank you.” - Marty Kaan
• "You have a problem with my tone? You're not my girlfriend." - Marty Kaan
• “Sometimes the shit trickles down, sometimes up.” - Clyde Oberholt

Music, Soundtrack

• The show’s theme song "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" is by Cake and adds to the quirky appeal of the series.
• Music in the series includes tracks from artists like The Black Keys, Frank Ocean, and The Beastie Boys, enhancing the series with varied musical textures.