"Burn Notice" (2007) TV series

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Creator:

Matt Nix

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Spies don't get fired, they get burned.

Plot:

A spy recently disavowed by the US Government uses his Special Ops training to help others in trouble.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Hero | Mother Son Relationship | Friendship Between Men | Improvisation

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 13	11:00 PM	USA	Fearless Leader	#3.4
Fri. Nov. 20	1:00 AM	USA	Signals and Codes	#3.5

Cast

Jeffrey Donovan	...	Michael Westen / ... (38 episodes, 2007-2009)
Gabrielle Anwar	...	Fiona Glenanne (38 episodes, 2007-2009)
Bruce Campbell	...	Sam Axe / ... (38 episodes, 2007-2009)
Sharon Gless	...	Madeline Westen (38 episodes, 2007-2009)

Runtime:

USA:60 min | Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:13 | UK:15 | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 (season 1) (season 2)

Filming Locations:

Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Fox Television Studios

Trivia:

The building in Miami that is supposed to be Michael's loft/apartment, seen in the "zoom" sequence through Miami that opens each episode, can be viewed in Google Earth at 25 deg 46' 44.36" North, 80 deg 12' 25.20" West.

Quotes:

Michael Westen: [voice-over] My name is Michael Westen. I used to be a spy. Until...
voice on phone: [phone rings] We got a burn notice on you. You're blacklisted.
Michael Westen: [voice-over] When you're burned, you've got nothing: no cash, no credit, no job history. You're stuck in whatever city they decide to dump you in.
Michael Westen: Where am I?
Fiona Glenanne: Miami.
Michael Westen: [voice-over] You do whatever work comes your way. You rely on anyone who's still talking to you. A trigger-happy ex-girlfriend...
Fiona Glenanne: Shall we shoot them?
Michael Westen: [voice-over] An old friend who used to inform on you to the FBI...
Sam Axe: You know spies... bunch of bitchy little girls.
Michael Westen: [voice-over] Family too...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#26.35)" (2009)

Excellent offering

Jeffrey Donovan is an engaging lead in an interesting program - which combines an interesting dramatic story line with a good balance of lightness and humor -- much like the outstanding "Monk," also a USA Network production.

The premise has been well-publicized; he's a crack covert operator, who's now been ostracized by his agency, and is seeking to learn why, as well as exist amidst the barriers they've erected in terms of his credit and finances, availability of former colleagues, and while he is under surveillance from multiple agency operatives.

During the course of this program, he also assists a man whose former boss - a powerful citizen - has placed both his livelihood and son in jeopardy.

Again, done with both serious drama and whimsy, this is a show which is a breath of proverbial "fresh air," especially among the lame quiz programs and reality shows impossible to avoid today.

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I entered this comment a year ago, upon seeing initial episode of the series. In continuing to watch, I've found Jeffrey Donovan's performances and character to remain interesting and engaging, the remaining cast excellent, and the episodes, overall, also interesting and well-written. Along with "Monk" and the recently-added "In Plain Sight," the USA Network is producing, in my opinion, better fare than the four networks.