Richard WarnickThe Burn Returns: Michael Westen is Back July 10, USA Network
I spent five minutes surveying the FISA/Obama wreckage over at Daily Kos and knew I had to write up some good news. Get ready to be entertained, starting tomorrow night.
Spies don’t get fired. They get burned. Why was Michael Westen burned? And what’s he gonna do about it? Imagine “Rockford Files” meets “MacGyver” in “Miami Vice.” If you don’t watch “Burn Notice” on USA Network you’re missing the best summer TV series. Check out the reviews.
The 11 episodes from Season 1 are online and on DVD. Season 2 starts Thursday, July 10, 11 pm (it will be re-run on Saturday afternoon). The new season will be split into two parts, with Episodes 1–9 airing in the summer, and the Episodes 10–16 in early 2009.
Series creator Matt Nix wrote all of the episodes. Jeffrey Donovan plays Michael Westen, backed by an ensemble cast that includes Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell(!), and Sharon Gless.
The show makes clever use of narration, a great blend of old-school, earnest noir and new-school, smart-ass sarcasm. “Know what it’s like being a spy?” Westen asks. “It’s like sitting in your dentist’s reception area 24 hours a day. You read magazines, sip coffee and every so often someone tries to kill you.”
Unlike other spy shows like “24″ and “The Unit,” the laughs are intentional and the humor takes aim at big fat targets like the CIA, Homeland Security and the FBI. Westen’s life and back story add some sober notes, while his adventures as an unlicensed spy-for-hire keep the action going. “Burn Notice” doesn’t wobble around wondering how serious/silly to be. Its pitch is perfect.
“Bottom line? Until you figure out who burned you, you’re not going anywhere.”
More info: “Burn Notice” website on USA Network.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Richard,
Something we can fully agree on, this is a great show.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Hi Richard,
I had know idea you were such a TV junkie. Is there a connection here to the DailyKos discussion?
July 9th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
..and we wonder why we are constantly fooled and ripped off.
TV is a drug, it alters your mind, and makes you less of yourself. I guess that is ok, if that is what you want. It is a free country right?
July 9th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Cliff– I posted about this show last July, it’s great, it’s back. Oh, and I’m a total junkie for good shows– hard to find a fix this time of year!
I’m avoiding Daily Kos the rest of today, it’s just too depressing. Glenn Greenwald has the bad news, including Prof. Jonathan Turley’s interview with Rachel Maddow last night on MSNBC– I was on the verge of tears, and so was Turley.
Bob– Do you remember how Season 1 ended? What do you think will happen next? Looks like he stays in Miami…
July 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Richard,
I actually missed the season finale. Scouting and family kept me from watching all the time. I could usually catch the reruns but missed it.
Going to watch the finale online before the premiere.
STR- as far as TV, it’s not the medium itself but the behaviors that it encourages if not controlled. Too many people only watch escapist fare, reality trash or celebrity gossip. There are great programs that rise above the average; even some reality shows. I like the Deadliest Catch, It takes a Thief, How it’s made for example on Discovery channel. The TV here is often on Discovery, the History channel, news nightly.
Want a dose of how bad TV is, watch the nightly news after reading newspapers- either print or online. It’s amazing how little real news comes across the airwaves; and that includes all channels.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Season 2 of “Burn Notice” is off to a good start. I’m sad that they killed off Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler on “The West Wing”) at the end of last season. Now we have Tricia Helfer as Carla the spymaster. She’s got baddie cred from “Battlestar Galactica.” I look forward to watching Michael and Carla try to outsmart one another.
The name Carla may be an homage to John Le Carré, who created the Soviet master spy Karla.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Richard? You a Le Carre fan?