TV Jots

Regular Christian Kane Front and Center

Country music fans are in for a big treat during tonight’s (July 18) new “The Studio Job” episode of crafty TNT con dramedy Leverage.

Premiereing at 9pm ET, the latest Leverage episode involves Team Nate’s attempts to straighten out a slick record company executive’s crooked ways. Mitchell Kirkwood, played by Smallville and Dukes of Hazard vet John Schneider, is a top dog in the Memphis, Tennessee, country music biz. After an opening scene that makes it quite clear just how ruthless, wicked, and underhanded the executive is, his most recent victim, talented yet unknown singer and songwriter Kaye Lynn (Alona Tal of Supernatural and Veronica Mars in a fine performance), seeks much-needed assistance from Team Nate.

The episode features cast member Christian Kane doing his thing while Eliot is undercover as a country singer during the con. For those who don’t know — and who might therefore be confused about what his “thing” is — Kane is actually a singer and songwriter in real life when he’s not busy acting.

Consequently, a huge bonus during “The Studio Job” is a segment that focuses on the series regular as he performs “Thinking of You.” Kane wrote the song with songwriter Blair Daly, and the tune will also be on his next release, as well as iTunes after the episode airs. Learn more about Kane, his music, and his key role during “The Studio Job” in a recent IF Magazine interview with the actor.

Kane isn’t the only featured performer during the episode, however. Schneider also takes a successful crack at “Thinking of You,” and Tal — a singer in real life, as well — belts out some lyrics, too. Then there’s Beth Riesgraf‘s Parker, who just might get the biggest reaction from viewers when she provides what can only be described as a unique “contribution” during an important event. Whatever it takes to get the job done, right?

Check out a preview for “The Studio Job” below and don’t forget to catch the full episode. Leverage‘s latest is definitely one of the show’s most fun and talent-packed installments to date.