TV Jots

Things Are Definitely Heating Up

I feel good! Here we are, exactly one week away from the return of USA Network’s Matt Nix spy drama Burn Notice, which resumes its thus-far excellent second season on January 22 at 10pm EST.

There are a total of thirteen episodes left to go, and the first new one of 2009 is called “Do No Harm.” Despite the title, somebody has been trying really hard lately to harm spy-guy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan). The midseason premiere will let fans know what happens to him after his latest too-close brush with death, all while throwing in another cool caper involving a scam artist who specializes in the medical arena.

But Burn Notice is about so much more than just Michael, of course — we’ve got his feisty mom Madeline (Sharon Gless), not to mention his handy, trusted fellow former spooks Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) and Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar). The show just wouldn’t be the same at this stage without all four principal cast members in the mix.

That’s why it was such a thrill recently to have the opportunity to pose some questions to Evil Dead cult icon Campbell during a conference call. Read on to learn the interesting tidbits he had to reveal about the action coming up on Burn Notice. The wait for the show’s return is definitely going to be worth it.

Burn Notice started out with being just that, Michael was burned. And then we go into how someone’s trying to kill him. What else could possibly happen?

BRUCE CAMPBELL: It’s going to get bad because it’s not only you that they’re after, meaning Michael Westen, but they’re after friends and family. They want them all. And so we’re going to get into kind of a no-mercy situation that I think is going to be very interesting and fun for people to watch.

And it’s really been great; Jeffrey Donovan has some absolutely wonderful tour-de-force stuff. He’s just so good for the show because he’s an animal. He’s a really intense actor, and he can hold up for a whole season, which is a lot of work for him. And it’s good these next episodes kind of let him strut his stuff.

And, incidentally, the first episode back was written and directed by Matt Nix, who created the show. I think this is his first television foray, and I think he did a great job. It’s a really cool opening show.

Are there any upcoming guest stars that we can look forward to seeing?

BRUCE CAMPBELL: Oh, yes. In these upcoming episodes it’s pretty full on. You’ve got Tricia Helfer back as Carla. So, she’s going to be causing lots and lots of trouble. Michael Shanks is back as another one of these fellow cohort guys who you’re not sure if you can trust or not.

The great John Mahoney, who I worked with in The Hudsucker Proxy, from Cheers. He’s back as someone I can’t tell you about because I’d have to kill you. Former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin is joining us. He’s Mr. Football, so it was kind of fun to do a football-themed episode.

Dina Meyer shows up as, well, let’s just say someone who perhaps was close to Michael Westen. And, of course, with Fiona that’s going to cause some sparks. And there will be some sparks flying in these next seven episodes, I can guarantee you.

Carla has been the main archenemy on Burn Notice this season. Is there going to be anyone else beyond her — her boss, perhaps, or another arch villain coming into the picture?

BRUCE CAMPBELL: I think I’m allowed to say very likely. Very likely. Everyone has a boss, so I think the season will prove no different. Because Michael’s being manipulated by someone who might be manipulated by someone. You never know. I think the layers are going to get deeper this season, and it will start to get to the point where something’s gotta give.

Are we going to get any more information about this woman that Sam was married to or any more backstory into Sam’s life?

BRUCE CAMPBELL: I’m sure some backstory’s going to come squeaking out in some way. I kind of was amused myself finding out that Sam had a wife in the past. I think it’s fun.

That’s the beauty of these characters who have a history, that things are going to come up that are complicated in their life. The first season, Sam had some kind of questionable relationships from the past that have come back to haunt him, so I think that’s always going to happen.

When you have three spies, former spies, that are kind of damaged goods, there’s going to be enemies that come back, old friends, and people that you may or may not want to see again.

And for good measure…

One other thing that’s almost a character in the show is Miami itself. It’s so beautiful. How do you feel that filming in this city really helps the vibe of the show?

BRUCE CAMPBELL: It matters, it really does. People can tell. We’re on beaches and we’re in swamps and at the edge of the everglades and running around in funky alleys and buildings. You don’t have to fake your angles.

And the main difference is that by shooting there— You know, Florida is a flat state; you don’t see mountains anywhere. With CSI Miami, they’ve got to be careful because if they tilt up about ten degrees, they’re going to be looking at the Santa Monica Mountains there.

So, you don’t have to fake anything. You’ve got boats left and right. Anything you need saying it’s Miami, it’s there. And we’re really the main show that has stayed. Dexter left, CSI Miami left, and we’re it.

So, we actually get great cooperation. So, we get into as many cool places as you’d ever want to get into just because people are excited to have us there. So, we’re really capitalizing on it. USA has kind of given us the edict of 60% of the show has to be outdoors. Because if they’re shooting in Miami, they want to see it.