Burn Notice Hits the Spot

Posted on July 12, 2007

USA Network has another summer hit on its hands with its new spy thriller/comedy Burn Notice. Starring Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Weston, a U.S. spy who has inexplicably been "burned" -- that means the U.S. government has suddenly deemed him unreliable.

The government has cut off his funds, frozen his accounts and has him under surveillance in his hated hometown of Miami which he left years ago to join the military.

Determined to find out why he was burned and clear his name, Weston survives by taking small cases, sort of like The Equalizer once did. His gorgeous ex-girlfriend (Gabrielle Anwar) and his old comrade (Bruce Campbell) are along for the ride. His mother (Sharon Gless) alternately nags him and smokes like a chimney.

Burn Notice works best when Michael is doing his spy thing -- the action scenes have a Jason Bourne quality that is fabulously entertaining to watch. Weston dispatches mafia thugs and con artists with cool panache. When he and Campbell are in Alias/Mission Impossible con mode, the series really sings. A little more intrigue, a little less mom, a little more high tech wizardry and this could be a big hit. We know we'll be watching. Burn Notice airs Thursday nights on USA Network.

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