Spy Games: ‘Burn Notice’ Debuts Commercial-Free Tonight
USA’s Latest Quirky Character Promises More Fun and Funniness
I haven’t been able to watch The 4400 or The Dead Zone since they both returned to USA two Sundays ago without being assaulted by those ubiquitous ads for the rookie spy dramedy Burn Notice. Clearly, the basic-cable network still has strong character development in mind (and that’s a good thing) as it adds to its roster of unique personality-driven series like Monk and Psych. The new kid on the block is none other than a hapless agent of espionage named Michael Westen, played by the cool and crumpled Jeffrey Donovan of the regrettably short-lived USA crime drama Touching Evil.
Unceremoniously fired—or rather a recipient of the titular burn notice, which is spy slang for getting blacklisted, getting the frosty cold shoulder, and getting deemed untrustworthy by U.S. intelligence agencies—mid-assignment, Westen finds himself shunned by his former colleagues and essentially banished to his Miami hometown for reasons he knows not. With nothing else but time, frustration, and consuming curiosity on his side, the rejected spook with a decade of experience sets out to get to the bottom of his predicament while using his undercover skills of subterfuge to help assorted people in trouble and fund his investigation.
This tres cool premise comes complete with super tres cool supporting actors, including venerable Sharon Gless of Cagney & Lacey fame as Westen’s somewhat “out there” mother Madeline, beautiful butt-kicking Brit Gabrielle Anwar as an Irish ex-IRA soldier and Westen’s former girlfriend Fiona Glenanne, and the ever fantabulous Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead excellence as Westen’s down-and-way-out friend with the groovy name Sam Axe. I’m feeling chills already, I tell ya.
Be sure to bring out the snacks beforehand, however, because Burn Notice‘s 10pm EST premiere tonight will be made even more spectacular by the total, complete, 100 percent, thorough absence of pesky commercial breaks, the first time in its history that USA has done the viewing public such a great and commendable favor. Ain’t basic cable grand?
Burn Notice is currently scheduled to air Thursdays on USA at 10pm EST
Burn Notice photo courtesy of USA
