Burn Notice

Am really wanting to talk about The Closer, which has really hit its stride this season (not that it's been off before), but TLoML is a few episodes behind. So I'll let those thoughts percolate a bit and talk about another solid Summer TV show.

USA Network is really developing a niche for the quirky detective (or detective-ish) show. Last year, Psych served as a good complement to Monk, and this year Burn Notice joins their ranks (if only Andy Barker, P.I. had aired on USA, it'd have had a shot--and been better made).

In the pilot, covert op Michael Weston, finds himself cut off by the Agency (you know which one)--and everyone associated with it. This gets him unhappily stranded in his home town of Miami while he tries to get the Burn Notice lifted. While he's in town, he uses his skills to help people in jams (being framed for grand theft, threatened by mobsters, ripped off by con artists, etc.).

In addition to Jeffrey Donovan's charming yet deadly Weston, there's a very good supporting cast. Sharon Gless serves as Weston's mother--always ready with a guilt-trip or three to keep her boy in line. Bruce Campbell's along as comic relief, as Sam, who retired from the spy game a few years back, but still has plenty of connections. And Gabrielle Anwar serves as, well...Gabrielle Anwar. But Gabrielle Anwar with an Irish accent, a proclivity for violence, and a soft-spot for her former flame.

Burn Notice is pure fluff--like it's comrades on USA. You won't find it tackling serious social issues, there will never be a "very special episode" and it won't be competing for a Best Drama Emmy anytime soon. But for good, escapist fun, it's well worth checking out. The "mysteries" are easy to crack--as are the villains, really. Well paced and light--even the violence is light for cable (tho' not as light as Monk/Psych).

Shout out to Gerald for blogging about the show--I'd have missed it entirely if not for him, getting 99.5% of my non-Nick Jr./Disney Channel TV from my DVR and the Net.