November 6, 2008
Sci Fi and USA networks welcome the New Year with new episodes of their signature series. According to The Futon Critic, which has exclusively confirmed the networks' plans, Monk and Psych will resume their current seasons on Friday, January 9 at 9/8c and 10/9c, respectively.
Psych, which stars James Roday a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara, California Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" him to convince people that he is psychic, has recently been renewed by the USA network for a fourth season after a record-breaking summer. Monk, on the other hand, is presently on its seventh season and has just reached the 100th episode milestone before the show went into a summer season hiatus.
October 15, 2008
Burn Notice and Psych have been picked up by the USA Network for a third and fourth season respectively after a record-breaking summer. Both programs reportedly captured the coveted 18-49 demo last season, with the spy drama delivering 2.76 million and the dramedy attracting 2.24 million for that key audience.
Psych stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara, California Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" him to convince people that he is psychic. The series also stars Dulé Hill as Shawn's best friend Burton "Gus" Guster, as well as Corbin Bernsen as Shawn's father, Henry. Season 3 premiered on July 18 and after eight episodes, the show went on hiatus. The next new installment will be a Christmas-themed episode scheduled to air on November 28, with the rest of the third season resuming in January 2009.
September 18, 2008
If you're all set for another round of intriguing spy action, tune in tonight on the USA Network as it premieres the season finale episode of Burn Notice. Titled “Good Soldier,” this installment of the series ends with a bang, definitely with more Michael and more mystery.
Before Burn Notice takes a break once more, we'll get to see Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) get himself stuck in another tight situation. He must pose as a security consultant to prevent a kidnapping scheme that his client, Henry, has gotten involved in. Being pressured by a ruthless man to provide information, Henry (Larry Clarke) enlists the help of Michael who will stop at nothing to foil the plan.
August 21, 2008
Stargate star Michael Shanks adds Burn Notice to his acting resume, landing a recurring role on the USA Network espionage drama. Shanks will play the role of Victor, a blacklisted spy sent to Miami by Carla, played by Tricia Helfer, the new handler of the blacklisted spy and lead Michael Westen, played by Jeffrey Donovan. Shanks is only too happy to play the role, as Burn Notice has been receiving acclaim from the critics.
"It's one of those roles where I get to chew every bit of scenery in town," says the 37-year-old Canadian, "which is always fun to play. When you have that kind of artistic license to go big or go home, it can be a bit of a romp."
July 31, 2008
After playing Sgt. Christine Cagney in the 1980s police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey for six years, Sharon Gless has acquired a new role on the spy series Burn Notice. Since 2007, she is known to viewers as Madeline Westen, the seemingly hard-hearted mother of lead character Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan). However, the Emmy Award-winning actress says there's more to her character than meets the eye.
In an interview with Monsters and Critics, the 65-year-old actress sheds light on her hypochondriac character Madeline and her relationship with her two sons.
July 10, 2008
After just one season, critics are raving about Burn Notice, which is already being called one of the most underrated shows today. As it debuts its second season on Thursday, July 10, the USA Network action comedy may not be as under the radar than it was when it first came out. Already, television fans are raving about it online and their raves may just catch fire soon.
When we left Michael Westen, masterly played by Jeffrey Donovan on Burn Notice's season 1, he was as good as dead, his family and associates thought he was, at least. He was issued a burn notice, basically an official statement from intelligence agencies disenfranchising a spy, declaring him unemployable and unreliable for one reason or another, freezing his assets, and being under threat of being killed if you leave one predetermined location. It's a fate almost as bad as death, Westen finds out.