Despite his career-long hesitation to work in series television, Ray Liotta has signed on to a new crime drama on CBS. Virginia Madsen, who had a stint on Frasier and co-starred in the wine-soaked flick Sideways, has also signed on to the project. The series, called Smith, is a crime drama told from the point of view of a crew of career criminals. Amy Smart and Franky G are also on-board this project.

Liotta may have decided to come to television because of the producer and director on Smith. The producer is John Wells and the director is Christopher Chulack, both of whom Liotta worked with when he had a guest appearance on ER. Wells is an ER producer and Chulack directed Liotta's episode, called Time of Death.

I like the idea of a crime show from the other perspective. Sure, there's The Sopranos on HBO but we haven't seen a new episode forever and they're about to end the series. I'm tired of all the cop and court shows on television. It's time to root for the bad guy!

[Via The Hollywood Reporter]