‘Riches’ takes on dark tone

Most comedies conclude with a feel-good crescendo and an effervescent romp. The new darkly comic series “The Riches” (10 p.m., FX) starts out with one and proceeds to get more serious and complex and then finally, rather grim and ponderous.

It’s a curious dramatic trajectory. But then, “The Riches” is a smart drama-comedy that seems to strive to be more admired than enjoyed.

When first seen, Wayne Malloy (Eddie Izzard) is leading a pack of con artists to a high-school reunion where he joyously impersonates a classmate while his confederates liberate the wallets of the class of 1981. The scene is a hoot.

Then we see that Wayne is the patriarch of a family of Travelers, a gypsy band of vaguely Celtic extraction from Louisiana. They’re on their way to pick up Walter’s wife, Dahlia (Minnie Driver), from prison.

When Dahlia enters the scene, “The Riches” shifts gears and heads toward darker territory.

When the clan leader commands that Walter and Dahlia’s daughter marry a dimwitted young man, Walter takes actions that sever his family from the community and send them on the road and into exile from the law and from the Travelers.

Then they come upon two victims of a horrific car crash. They seize their identities and take possession of their house and put “The Riches” on the road to becoming a metaphor-heavy series about con artists passing for suburban citizens “stealing the American dream.”

Written by Nick Pileggi (“Goodfellas” and “Casino”), the cable movie “Kings of South Beach” (8 p.m., A&E) visits “Scarface” by way of “Donnie Brasco” and stars Donnie Wahlberg, Jason Gedrick and Nadine Velazquez in a role that is light-years removed from her character on “My Name Is Earl.”

Other highlights

“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (CBS) returns with two new episodes: under the influence (8 p.m.), and keeping love in the family (8:30 p.m.).

A meningitis outbreak on “House” (8 p.m., Fox).

With Jack rather tied up, CTU newcomer Mike Doyle (Rick Schroder) searches for new leads on “24” (9 p.m., Fox).

The winner of a charity auction is murdered on “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m., CBS).

Tommy mulls an unexpected request on “The Black Donnellys” (10 p.m., NBC).

A surprise for Deena’s mother (Meredith Baxter) on “What About Brian” (10 p.m., ABC).