Welcome to Thunderdome

Posted: **Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:32 pm**

Burn Notice is a new original series on USA Network with a solid cast and excellent writers. An international freelance spy gets black listed and he doesn't know why. He's being tailed by the feds, his acounts are frozen, and no one in the business will talk to him. Add to that a crazy ex-girlfriend and a psychotic mother, and it's an interesting story while he tries to figure out what the hell's going on and what to do about it.

Plus Bruce Campbell as the semi-retired spy helping him out while reminiscing about how things were so much simpler during the cold war is a nice addition.

I'm not sure how long the basic story can be sustained, but it's a pretty good new series. Worth the watch.

Posted: **Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:50 pm**

Thanks for the review. It looked interesting from the previews I saw, but didn't know when to watch. How many weeks have I missed?

Being on USA, it will be easy to watch as each season is only 8 weeks long or so and there are two seasons a year.

Posted: **Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:26 pm**

Last night was the pilot premier, and it's USA so I'm sure it'll be repeated all weekend.

Posted: **Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:57 pm**

I heard Bruce Campbell giving a short description of the show on NPR. He said he wasn't the main character, just and Ex-CIA guy, so I wondered why they'd have him describe the series instead of the main character.

It still throws me for a loop that Bruce Campbell grows lavender on his farm, and takes it to Steven Seagal's personal lavendar processing/distilling/whatever facility.

Posted: **Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:38 pm**

It IS funny that he gets away with that. If Tom Cruise grew lavender, every guy on the planet would give a knowing nod and say "I told you so". however, nobody questions Bruce.

Thus, Bruce grows lavender because he can.

Oh, and because he's hungry like the wolf.

Posted: **Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:59 pm**

It's simple. If Tom Cruise grows lavender, it's because he's gay. If Bruce Campbell grows lavender, it's because growing lavender is what real men do.

Posted: **Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:11 pm**

Good recommendation TPR.

I just watched the pilot episode and this show has a lot of potential.

Whoever is responsible for the last batch of new series at USA should be given a raise. They've been doing really well for themselves lately.

I like that Burn Notice took a page from Monk and has a behind the scenes storyline that proceeds from season to season. It's the same sort of thing that made The X-Files so cool before everyone quit on it.

It's also cool to have a main character who can defend himself rather than being a pussy.

The smoking hot ex and Bruce Campbell are bonuses.

I'll echo TPR's recommendation.

Posted: **Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:21 pm**

Just added it to the Tivo, how far into the series is it?

Posted: **Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:00 pm**

This week was episode two. Not as good as the first one, but still pretty good. I was afraid they'd let the episodic plots push the overall plot out of the show as many do, but they'd done a good job so far of each episode having satisfactory developments in the overall plot issue. Of course, two episodes is not a huge sampling.

Posted: **Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:09 am**

This week was episode two. Not as good as the first one, but still pretty good. I was afraid they'd let the episodic plots push the overall plot out of the show as many do, but they'd done a good job so far of each episode having satisfactory developments in the overall plot issue. Of course, two episodes is not a huge sampling.

Agreed. Although at some point they'll need to slow down on the overall plot line. On Monk, they focused heavily on him finding his wife's killer early on, but barely mention it now that the series is a hit. I figure once they wind down the series, they'll pick that storyline back up. Of course, they could be doing something completely different here. Maybe they'll do an "X-Files" by answering the main question of that plot line only to ask a new question.

USA Has been on a major roll lately. Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, The 4400, and The Dead Zone are all really successful series. Obviously, you've got to give USA a ton of credit, but I wonder if the big 4's drop off in quality programming hasn't helped USA find an audience.

Posted: **Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:42 am**

It's probably that people who make these sorts of shows can't find a home on the big 4 anymore because those networks make very bad decisions, so they're ending up at places like USA.

Posted: **Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:02 pm**

I know The Shield was shopped around to the networks, but they didn't think such an adult show would do well...

One of the oddest things I've seen came from Monk. A few years back when Monk first started and ABC was in the cellar, they actually were airing reruns of Monk during Primetime on ABC. Since USA is owned by NBC, I have no idea how that all occurred.

Still, it's better that these shows aren't on network TV because they probably couldn't do the things they do (The Shield) or they'd have their formulas changed (like what happened to Scrubs).

These shows can have a better run on USA because the ratings don't have to be as high as they would need to be on network TV.

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:33 am**

We've got a nice strong third episode. I think Burn Notice is going to be here for the long haul.

*minor spoiler next paragraph*

Interesting that Homeland Security is involved. That hadn't occured to me as a possibility. I'm still used to Cold War era spy shows, so if they really are up to date and accurate in how this all works it should be rather educational (they may be totally faking it all, but if so their doing a hell of a job; I'm convinced).

Edited By TPRJones on 1184301613

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:48 am**

Didn't read the spoiler, but as soon as I saw that you posted in this chain I realized I missed tonight's episode. Thankfully, USA will air it again 5 times before next week's.

Hehe, a repeat airing started 3 minutes after I posted this, so I taped it.

Edited By Leisher on 1184332637

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:00 am**

Taped it? How barbaric. :p

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:33 am**

I tape things I'll watch in my office and DVR things I'll watch with the wife.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:01 am**

Forgot to post this back prior to leaving for Disney, which is when it aired, but that was easily one of the best season finales ever.

Burn Notice is returning next summer, so if you see the DVDs prior to that I highly, highly recommend picking them up and getting into this show.

Posted: **Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:52 pm**

RE 8/7 Burn Notice: very smooth

Posted: **Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:40 pm**

Got it on DVR and will watch Sunday.

I pity the fools that ain't watching Burn Notice.