Tricia Helfer Time on ‘Chuck’
March 29, 2009 by Chandra
Tomorrow night’s fresh episode of Chuck is called “Chuck Versus the Broken Heart,” and it’s the one featuring Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer, of course.
Everybody’s favorite Cylon is back in the spy game, à la her recent guest stint on Burn Notice, as Agent Alex Forrest. The official episode synopsis describes the character as “heartless,” and she arrives on the scene to give Sarah a job review after Chuck chooses the wrong time to discuss his (in)tense relationship with his handler. And while that’s unfolding, annoyingly persistent Jeff and Lester do their best to infiltrate Devon’s bachelor’s party (and they succeed!).
Three clips follow the jump: the first is a sneak peek at sort of undercover Agent Forrest “entertaining” the guys at Devon’s get together, the second another sneak peek at Chuck and Alex playing doctor and nurse (explosions erupt), and the third a behind-the-scenes interview with Helfer for Entertainment Tonight in her home country Canada. Clearly, this is one of the most anticipated episodes of Chuck this season or last, and I predict it’s going to be very much worth the wait.
A Little Dish on ‘Chuck’ from Tricia Helfer
One of the best parts of the current television season for me has been getting the opportunity to participate in interviews with every regular cast member of USA Network’s deserving hit Burn Notice.
As next week’s season finale rapidly approaches, it was Season Two newcomer Tricia Helfer (Carla) and series star Jeffrey Donovan’s (Michael Westen) turn in the hot seat this week. [Read last month's post featuring icon Bruce Campbell here.]
The chat with Helfer, who also stars as Cylon Number Six on Sci Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica, was especially informative since she gladly discussed all three of the popular TV shows she’s currently aligned with. They would be Burn Notice and Battlestar Galactica, of course, as well as the dramedy Chuck.
Next on ‘Burn Notice’: Hot Spot
January 29, 2009 by Chandra
On the next episode of Burn Notice, tonight’s “Hot Spot,” Michael, Fiona, and Sam pretend to be a gang of ruthless car thieves.
The undercover work is for their latest case targeting a thug who has been threatening a local high school football star. When they’re not busy with that, Michael and Fiona also manage to locate the person responsible for trying to murder Michael by setting up the bomb that torched his loft.
Michael Irving guest stars as Coach Sean Martin on this one. And, unless my eyes are deceiving me, that’s former Blade: The Series star Kirk Jones, also known as Onyx hip-hopper Sticky Fingaz, playing the lead bad guy in the promo video after the jump. Very nice.
Follow the cut for a few “Hot Spot” photos and the promo clip just mentioned.
Burn Notice: ‘Good Soldier’ Midseason Finale Preview
September 18, 2008 by Chandra
You know the summer season is officially coming to an end when one of its better series — USA Network’s Burn Notice, of course — bows out for a midseason break. Well, that time has arrived, and tonight we’ll have the show’s summer finale “Good Soldier.”
Michael’s latest case requires him to pose as an alcoholic security consultant to help a client being forced to participate in a planned kidnapping linked to an oil company abroad. The good part? Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer finally returns as Michael’s ultra mysterious new handler Carla.
Will he break her cover at last? One of the great things about this show is that you never really can tell about such things beforehand.
Get a first look at a scene from the episode in the video that follows the jump.
Burn Notice: 2.6 ‘Bad Blood’ Recap
August 17, 2008 by Chandra
Original Air Date: August 14, 2008
THE CLIENT — RICKY WATKINS
Following the botched attempt on the previous episode “Scatter Point” to identify Carla through her assumed workplace in a Florida building, Michael has Sam stay with his mother Madeline for a few days to protect her from any unexpected retaliatory attacks. Sam’s cover is that he needs a place to stay after Veronica kicked him out on the last episode.
Michael’s next client turns up at Madeline’s when his childhood friend Ricky Watkins drops by. After telling Michael his brother Andre, another childhood friend, is doing hard prison time, Ricky reveals his problem.
He now works as an accountant for a former gangster turned hip-hop mogul named Valentine (Method Man). Somebody stole $2 million dollars from a charity Valentine supports and is trying to make Ricky look like the guilty party. Ricky suspects it’s Valentine’s #2, Eddie Ash, attempting to set him up so he can keep the money after laundering it to remove any evidence of its origins.
Burn Notice: 2.5 ‘Scatter Point’ Recap
Original Air Date: August 7, 2008
THE CLIENT — TREVOR
Trevor approaches Michael at home one day. A recent parolee, he heard about Michael’s special skills from a fellow prison inmate taken down by the spy. Trevor’s son was born while he was inside, and he promised the boy he would quit the criminal life for good.
The only problem is that as soon as Trevor is released, control freak Timo (Oded Fehr) contacts him to put his talents as an Expediter of Getaways, also called a Wheelman, back to use on a jewelry heist two years in the panning stages. Timo is a former colleague who won’t take no for an answer, and Trevor can’t just move away since he’d violate his five months of parole.
Michael is hesitant to take the case as usual, until Trevor starts to cry when revealing the promise he made to his son. So, the first order of business is getting the heist called off.
Burn Notice: 2.4 ‘Comrades’ Recap
August 3, 2008 by Chandra
Original Air Date: July 31, 2008
THE CLIENT — KATYA
The latest Client of the Week on Burn Notice is Ukrainian Katya, a receptionist who works at the limousine company where Michael’s younger brother Nate works, as well. Nate arrives in town to ask for Michael’s help locating Katya’s sister, Elena, and he remains angry about how Michael told him to stay in hiding at the end of last season and then apparently forgot about him.
As usual, Michael’s response is basically, “Get over it.” Thankfully, Mama Westen intervenes eventually to make Michael understand that Nate idolizes him so much, his problems and hard luck really only began after Michael first left to pursue his spy job.
Elena has been kidnapped by a Russian goon named Ivan Petrov, thanks to the hardcore criminal’s human-trafficking scheme where clients can never pay him enough to get their relatives freed once they arrive in the States. Michael decides the best way to locate Elena is to kidnap Ivan and then make him think he has no option but to reveal his hostages’ location.
Casting Coup: BSG’s Tricia Helfer Heading to ‘Burn Notice’
April 24, 2008 by Chandra
Yesss!!! Am I a very happy blogger right now!
Not only is one of my favorite TV series from last year, USA Network’s fantabulous action spy dramedy Burn Notice, returning to the tube in July, but TV Guide reports today that it will gain a new cast member for a multi-episode arc, namely Battlestar Galactica’s delicious Tricia Helfer.
Talk about a match made in TV heaven — sizzling Cylon Number Six and cool-as-a-cucumber ace spook Michael Westen, played by Jeffrey Donovan.
According to TV Guide, Helfer will portray Michael’s handler Carla, a woman who doesn’t hesitate to kill and who frequently seems “slightly amused” by Michael.
Burn Notice creator Matt Nix adds that Michael will find himself with no choice but to work for Carla. Moreover, she has close ties to those responsible for burning him in the first place, as well.
Helfer will not be the first Cylon to infiltrate Burn Notice, however That distinction goes to Lucy Lawless — otherwise known as Battlestar Galactica’s currently boxed Cylon Number Three, D’Anna Biers — who appeared on the episode “False Flag” during the show’s rookie season. And, yes, she rocked, too — big time.
If you didn’t know already, kind USA Network is now in the midst of airing encores of Burn Notice’s first season every Thursday night at 11pm EST. Episode 1.2, “Identity,” is up tonight, and you can also bet that there will be a marathon or several of the entire first season shortly before the second one premieres on July 10.
Summer TV is really looking hot, don’t you agree?
Comedy Talk: Top Three Reasons to Watch ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Season Four
March 20, 2008 by Chandra
As savvy fans of science-fiction TV already know, ten members from the cast of Sci Fi Channel’s stellar series Battlestar Galactica read the popular Top Ten list on the most recent Late Show with David Letterman.
The fourth and regrettably final season of the Peabody-winning space drama takes off on April 4, preceded on March 28 by two back-to-back half-hour specials. Fittingly, the theme of last night’s very entertaining segment was the Top Ten Reasons to Watch the New Season of Battlestar Galactica.
All of the cast members did a fine job delivering their lines, of course. The absolute best reasons to tune in to BSG’s fourth season were presented by the ladies, however. And, if you watch the show, that the women rock is not surprising in the least.
My personal favorite three picks from the Top Ten are:
- 3. Lucy Lawless (Cylon D’Anna Biers): You’ll find out what’s in the hatch and who gets off the island — Crap, wrong show
[Lost, anyone? — Top Ten #9] - 2. Mary McDonnell (President Laura Roslin): I take on the most challenging task of my political career — doing a lame top ten list on a third-rate talk show
[That isn't really a reason to watch BSG specifically, but it's still funny — Top Ten #2] - 1. Katee Sackhoff (Captain Kara “Starbuck” Thrace): We engage in a life-and-death battle against evil robots … you know, same shit as last year
[Tell me about it; but, at least this shit is captivating — Top Ten #3]
I’ve included a clip of the entire Late Show segment after the jump. And, as a bonus for comedy fans who love Battlestar, too, there’s also the eight-minute What the Frak Is Going On?! recap video that summarizes everything you need to know from the first three seasons of the series in video format. Enjoy!