: Developed by Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen in 1978, this is the comprehensive system used in the show to taxonomize every human facial expression by "Action Units" (AUs).
: The show’s protagonist, Dr. Cal Lightman, is a fictionalized version of Paul Ekman , who spent decades documenting how brief, involuntary facial expressions reveal suppressed emotions. Lie to Me (2009–2011)
: Much of the series' procedural logic is based on Ekman's book Telling Lies and his research into "leakage"—nonverbal cues that contradict a person's spoken words. Series Overview : Developed by Ekman and Wallace V
: The main cast featured Tim Roth as Cal Lightman, Kelli Williams as Dr. Gillian Foster, Brendan Hines as Eli Loker, and Monica Raymund as Ria Torres. Cal Lightman, is a fictionalized version of Paul
You can find more detailed critiques of the science in each episode on Paul Ekman's official website, where he blogged throughout the show's original run. Lie to Me (TV Series 2009–2011) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
While the show is a fictional crime drama, it is grounded in real-world psychological studies. Key papers and concepts that form the "paper trail" or scientific foundation of the series include: Core Scientific Foundation