While heist films have been successful (like “Ocean’s 13,” et al.), heist series, thus far, have not (remember Ray Liotta in “Smith” or Andre Braugher’s  “Thief”?)

I think TNT’s new series could be a contender for a successful TV series though.

“Leverage” stars Oscar winner Timothy Hutton as a former insurance investigator gone rogue-ish.

The first episode, “The Nigerian Job” premieres Sunday, Dec. 7, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

In it, a desperate aerospace CEO hires Nate Ford (Hutton) – to lead a team of expert thieves to recover stolen airplane designs from a rival company.

But after Nate’s team recovers the designs and turns them over to the CEO, they realize the property never belonged to him in the first place.

And they’re now on his hit list.

The crew must come up with a new plan to return the designs to their rightful owner and wrangle the money the CEO had promised them as payment.

The ensemble cast is great, and fans of British shows might notice Gina Bellman — from “Coupling” as — Sophie, one of Nate’s favorite con artists.

This series also does a great job replicating the fast, stylized nature of the successful heist films –  something the other heist series lacked.

Like “The Closer,” this is a good reason to watch TNT.

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I absolutely loved the new “90210″ which premiered on the CW last night. Many had doubts about reinventing this sudser for the 21st century, but I think this version walked the line between a homage to the original and something interesting for the present.

I and yeah, I cheered when Nat and the Peach Pit appeared on screen.

I hope to see more of the “oldtimers” Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth.

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The band Push Play is coming to Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. Push Play is an up-and-coming band out of Long Island, N.Y. A yet-to-be-named Georgetown band will open for them.

The concert is a benefit For Boston Children’s Hospital, sponsored by the nonprofit organization For Kidz By Teens.

Tickets are $10.50 (includes shipping). For more information, e-mail Forkidzbyteens@yahoo.com or visit www.forkidzbyteens.org. You can also mail checks to organizer Hannah Kelly, FKBT, P.O. Box 872, Georgetown, MA 01833. Or call 508-423-7601. Tickets may also be available at the door, 24 Main St., West Newbury.

John said tickets have been selling quickly, so reserving sooner rather than later is recommended.

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One of my first rookie mistakes here at the paper was writing a “tease” for the front of the Lifestyles section: “For more on the Red Socks, See Sports, Page 12″

Yep Socks.

When one of the sports editors came out to tell me about the typo — my response was “What typo?”

Anywho, in my feverish quest to see films that got nominations for SAG awards, I rented “The Bronx is Burning.”

I didn’t bother to find out what the film was about. It turns out, it was an eight-part TV mini-series about the New York Yankees quest for the 1977 World Series.

Now, I could care less about baseball. But if I was going to care — it would be about the Boston Red SOX.

(Hey, I learned my lesson.)

But I have to say, this was a fantastic series. There wasn’t a ton of baseball in it (thank God). It was a drama about this quirky team’s rise to the championship, amid a very strange year in New York — it included a mayoral election and rise of the Son of Sam killer.

It was extremely compelling, thanks to sharp writing and editing and a great performance from Oliver Platt. In all, I would say it is one of the best baseball movies/mini-series out there (once you get past the whole Evil Empire thing).

Would love to know what you think.

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Miley Cyrus is talented. She’s cute. If I was a little girl, I might even like the “Hannah Montana” TV show.

But such love? Such obsession? Where does it come from? And why?

There are other talented performers. There are other trendsetters. Why Miley? Why Hannah?
Every generation has its idols — but when was the last time one commanded thousands of dollars for concert tickets? Or sold out thousands of movie theaters in advance of a film’s opening?

My generation’s idols were the New Kids On the Block. While I knew some pretty rabid fans, they had nothing on today’s Hannah Montana fans. Is that because NOTB wasn’t on TV four times a day? Or are kids today just different?

The closest thing I can compare this phenomenon to is Beatle-mania. I wasn’t alive for it, but Miley mania seems awfully close.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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