‘Chuck’ Alum Scores New USA Network Dramedy
Am I a happy TV comedy fan right now or what?!
USA Network officially announced some great news today with a press release detailing its 14-episode pickup of White Collar, an original dramedy filmed on location in New York and starring Chuck’s Bryce Larkin, better known in real life as actor Matthew Bomer (pictured at right above, with Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski).
Says USA’s Executive Vice President of Original Scripted Programming Jackie de Crinis: “‘White Collar’ is the perfect complement in our hot summer line up of character-driven originals that continue to draw loyal audiences to USA Network. The strength of the show’s lead characters, smart writing and crisp direction are key elements that we believe are the tentpoles of another compelling series.”
In Plain Sight: ‘Gilted Lily’ Season-Premiere Sneak Peek
April 18, 2009 by Chandra
Season Two of USA Network’s hit witness-protection dramedy In Plain Sight kicks off tomorrow night, April 19, at 10pm ET with the premiere episode “Gilted Lily.”
Although U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack) is on administrative leave due to the man she killed at the end of Season One, her sympathetic boss Stan McQueen (Paul Ben-Victor) allows her to trail along while her partner Marshall Mann (Frederick Weller) investigates his latest case involving a dead witness.
I’ve already watched the episode, which is fittingly downbeat and more talkative than action-packed to match the state Mary finds herself in after the disastrous events that closed the first season. Things do heat up as more episodes air, however.
Follow the jump for a sneak peek at tomorrow’s opener, which offers a brief glimpse at a new face, recently hired office assistant Eleanor, played by Holly Maples (Brothers & Sisters).
Sharona Shall Return for ‘Monk’ Final Season
March 29, 2009 by Chandra
That’s the good news — actress Bitty Schram has agreed to reprise her very much missed role as nurse Sharona Fleming, Adrian Monk’s former and first assistant in crime, during the upcoming eighth and final season of USA Network’s Monk.
Then there’s the bad news — she’s only appearing on one darn episode. I guess that’s better than none, though.
The network announced the news earlier this week with an accurate comment from series star Tony Shalhoub included: “We couldn’t think of a better way to help wrap up the series than with the return of Bitty’s character. Bringing some closure to Sharona is long overdue.”
I’ll say. As longtime fans will recall, Sharona left the series midway through the third season in 2004 when her character reconciled with her ex-husband Trevor Howe and schlepped across the country to New Jersey to move back in with him, her son Benjy in tow. Viewers were informed of the development after the fact, in a subsequent episode, and never received a fitting opportunity to say goodbye properly.
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.
Cybil Sheppard Returns for ‘Psych’ Finale
February 20, 2009 by Chandra
Veteran actress Cybil Sheppard is so much fun as Shawn Spencer’s mom Madeline Spencer on Psych. So tonight’s Season Two finale “An Evening with Mr. Yang” should be extra yummy because she’s back to reprise her role.
Psych: ‘An Evening with Mr. Yang’ Season Finale Preview
February 18, 2009 by Chandra
USA Network’s Psych closes its third successful season this Friday, February 20, with an episode dedicated to giving Shawn a too-personal taste of murder.
During “An Evening with Mr. Yang,” the fake psychic finds himself the target of the notorious Yin Yang serial killer, who disappeared years ago after eluding capture. Now the murderer is back, and s/he becomes determined to unnerve Shawn, taunting him just for the sheer pleasure of it.
Notably, TV icon Cybill Shepherd (The L Word) returns to reprise her role as Shawn’s mom Madeleine Spencer, and Rachael Leigh Cook (Robot Chicken, Las Vegas) and Jimmi Simpson (Late Show with David Letterman, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) also guest star.
Follow the jump to check out a sneak peek and promo for the episode. How do you say “false alarm”? Poor Shawn (and Gus).
Mr. Monk Fights City Hall: Season Finale Preview
February 18, 2009 by Chandra
As sad as it is to say, we’ve finally reached the end of the road for the next-to-last season of Monk. “Mr. Monk Fights City Hall,” the Season Seven finale, premieres this Friday, February 20, at 9pm EST, and the next season will be the show’s eighth and last. So, let’s enjoy what we have now while we can.
The finale features the return of Adrian Monk’s rival in psychosis, Harold Krenshaw (Tim Bagley), when the parking garage where Monk’s beloved wife Trudy was killed is scheduled for demolition. Intent on preventing that from happening, Monk intervenes and takes his case all the way to city hall.
In the process, he not only bumps into Harold yet again, but he also quickly finds himself emboriled in another mystery, this one revolving around the disappearance of a city official crucial to preserving the parking garage. Jon Polito (Raising the Bar, Homicide: Life on the Street) guest stars, as well.
Follow the jump for a sneak peek featuring Monk, Natalie, and Harold, and a video of the episode promo.
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.
Q&A Fun with ‘Burn Notice’s Bruce Campbell
Thanks to his unforgettable work in enduring cult movies like Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead and Army of Darkness, Burn Notice star Bruce Campbell was mega popular long before the USA Network series took off and became the huge hit it is now.
Ever gracious and entertaining, the star of film and television recently answered questions to help spread the word about the return of Burn Notice next Thursday, January 22, at 10pm EST. The first of seven remaining episodes out of the midseason stable is the medical-scam caper “Do No Harm.”
If you weren’t already salivating to pick up where the current sophomore season left off last September and to see what happens to Sam Axe (Campbell) and his fellow spies Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) and Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) next, maybe the following fun interview will help get you in the proper mood.
Do you have a most memorable moment from filming the series?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: For me, I’m just convinced one day that some bystander’s going to shoot me with a gun. And the reason why I say that is because my character Sam has a rifle with a scope and often he’s up on high rises and overpasses taking potshots at people.
‘Psych’ Premiere: Shawn and Gus Get Fishy
Another midseason, another fun premiere from USA Network and its laid-back crime dramedy Psych. This time around, on “Six Feet Under the Sea,” the episode’s unique slant is Shawn and Gus’ investigation of the murder of a seal. Yep, you read that right — a seal, like the kind you find in the sea.
This is no ordinary seal, however. It’s famous Shabby the Sea Lion, and when Gus takes Shawn along to the mammal’s funeral, the fake psychic senses something is very, well, fishy.