TV Jots

Last June, a little show called Burn Notice premiered on USA Network with minimal fanfare. After just one episode, however, word quickly spread that there was something special and rare there that TV watchers would do well not to miss.

The series immediately revealed itself to be a high-octane combination of suspenseful drama (who burned central spy guy Michael Westen?), plentiful thrills (watch Michael do that MacGyver thing again and undermine the bad guys), super-talented cast members (Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless), and non-stop laugh-out-loud moments (the interactions between Michael and the two main women in his life — determined fellow spy Fiona (Anwar) and ever-nagging mom Madeline (Gless) — are proof alone).

In other words, USA delivered a nearly perfect hot-weather show capable of keeping fans of action, adventure, comedy, drama, caper yarns, crime procedurals, and Miami, Florida, continually satisfied without wearing out their brains. It gives me great pleasure to confirm that Season Two promises no less.

When the premiere “Breaking and Entering” begins, viewers are transported to the same scene that left us puzzled and begging for more at the end of last season. Michael’s in the dark on the back of that truck from the deserted bridge, which takes him to an undisclosed location to meet his next client. The man’s family has been kidnapped by Carla, the mysterious woman, still just a voice on the phone at this point, who claims she’s the one responsible for extinguishing Michael’s career.

As the episode’s determination to get right to business from the very start shows, Burn Notice isn’t wasting any time this season on filler or fluff, a welcome attitude that carries over from the first season. The approach to plot execution pretty much sums up what viewers have to look forward to in coming weeks, as Michael protects his clients while methodically resolving their problem and making steady progress on his quest to get to the bottom of his unexpected dismissal from the spy business, all with the invaluable assistance of his ace support team comprised of Fiona and fan-favorite Sam Axe (Campbell).

Another major asset of the series this season is new cast member Tricia Helfer, a TV icon in her own right, thanks to her huge popularity as Battlestar Galactica‘s multifaceted Cylon Number Six. A more ideal actress could not have been selected to play Michael’s nemesis, which demonstrates once again why Burn Notice is positioned to rule the tube this summer. If you haven’t been watching the series, now is the time to jump on the Burn Notice bandwagon; it’s not too late, and you’ll love yourself (and USA) for taking the initiative.

Get a sneak peek at the second-season premiere in the following two previews. The show will air Thursdays on USA at 10pm EST, starting tonight.

Tags: Bruce Campbell, Burn Notice, Gabrielle Anwar, Jeffrey Donovan, Sharon Gless, television, Tricia Helfer, tv, USA Network