LOS ANGELES – A host of blue-chip actors signed up to be in Rian Johnson’s first series, β€œPoker Face,” because he wasn’t asking them to commit to 10 or more episodes.

A one-and-done approach was part of the allure but, says co-star Benjamin Bratt, β€œthe architecture of what he writes is flawless.”

The concept harkens back to Johnson’s childhood. β€œThe intention with this show, the thing that got me really excited about it, was doing a truly episodic case-of-the-week mystery show, like the kind of stuff I used to watch constantly,” he says.

β€œColumbo,” β€œMagnum, P.I.,” β€œThe Rockford Files” and β€œQuantum Leap” were inspirations. β€œI had no idea what order they were in,” Johnson says. β€œAnd that was part of the pleasure of it.”

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Β Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in "Poker Face."Β 

Serving as the glue: Natasha Lyonne as Charlie, a casino worker who’s able to piece together details about a series of mysterious deaths. Like Peter Falk’s Columbo, she has a keen ability to detect lies. That helps her divide and conquer and keep Bratt – as the head of the casino’s security – on edge.

Each week, Johnson brings in guest stars to kill and be killed. β€œIt’s like we’re making 10 little movies,” the director of β€œKnives Out” and β€œGlass Onion,” says. β€œI love the pace of it.”

In the first season alone, he got appearances from Judith Light, Cherry Jones, Nick Nolte, Adrien Brody and Hong Chau, all potential Emmy nominees for Guest Actor. β€œI always feel constantly amazed whenever an actor that I love or respect shows up to be in our show,” he says.

β€œActors love working with Rian because he is very specific about giving each character their own voice and, more importantly, their own moment within the story,” Bratt says.

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Adrien Brody guest stars as Sterling Frost Jr. in "Poker Face."Β 

A 'Columbo' connection

For Lyonne, it’s a β€œreal blast” to dip in and out of the stories and play a character she, too, grew up loving. β€œAs somebody that’s essentially self-taught based on my interests, I’ve always gravitated to (Falk). But I also love (β€˜NYPD Blue’s’) Sipowicz, Dennis Franz,” she says. β€œI would love to go on β€˜Finding Your Roots’ and discover Peter Falk was some sort of deep, distant relative.”

While Johnson had great success with the two β€œKnives Out” films, he was unfamiliar with writing a television series. Two veteran showrunners, Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman, joined the team and showed how a stable of writers could get the series done.

When writing his features, β€œI just sit in a room and eat horribly and feel constantly stressed that I’m way behind on my deadline. This is much more fun, being in a room with a group of people. It was just a really fun process because it also felt no less personal.”

Coming from different backgrounds, they had experience that could inform the disparate stories Johnson wanted to tell. β€œAs opposed to β€˜Glass Onion’ and β€˜Knives Out,’ these are not whodunits,” he says. β€œThese are β€˜howcatchems.’ These are modeled after β€˜Columbo’ where you show the killing and then it’s about Natasha versus the guest star and how they’re going to take them down.”

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From left, S. Epatha Merkerson as Joyce Harris, Judith Light as Irene Smothers in "Poker Face."Β 

Meet the 'howcatchem'

Unlike a whodunit, a howcatchem doesn’t have to service an entire cast of potential suspects. β€œIf we’re going to be inviting these incredible actors to be guest stars, it really means it’s going to be their episode,” Johnson says.

To keep Lyonne interested, Johnson asked her to direct an episode this season. β€œIt is so specific,” she says. β€œEach one is its own thing.”

Playing Charlie fascinates as well. β€œShe really cares about the truth, which is something I identify with a great deal – sort of looking out for the little guy.”

While β€œPoker Face” has already been renewed for a second season, both producer and star say it could run a number of years.

β€œIt’s a smorgasbord of possibilities, of different worlds we can dip into,” Johnson says. β€œThere are whole new mysteries we can dip into in each episode.”

Adds Lyonne: Part of the joy of this character is she’s really ageless. When I look at Angela Lansbury, I picture whatever that age is – 21, I guess.”

β€œPoker Face” airs on Peacock.

The Journal's Top Stories for the Week of July 2, 2023

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