Why Burn Notice gets me hot

WARNING: There is no spoiler alert associated with this article. I’m only now watching Season Two of Burn Notice.

Burn Notice is entering its fifth season this summer on the USA Network, and there’s even a “prequel” TV movie in the works. However, in Canada, we’ve only begun seeing early seasons of Burn Notice on the Showcase channel… and it’s a hot Miami treat.

Burn Notice is about professional spy Michael Westen, played with cool intensity by Jeffrey Donovan (Crossing Jordan, Hitch). Weston is served a “burn notice” or pink slip by his covert employers, but he doesn’t know why. This man of international mystery is stuck in Miami with no money, no answers and worst of all – he’s within cell phone reach of his mother (played by Cagney and Lacey star Sharon Gless.)

Westen does not suffer fools gladly, but he does put up with his buddy Sam, a washed-up military intelligence contact (played by cult favorite Bruce Campbell [Bubba Ho Tep, Evil Dead, Army Of Darkness]). Westen also refuses to address his feelings for gal pal Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar from The Tudors, Scent of a Woman). Fee is a beautiful ex-IRA operative who really comes in handy when it’s time to blow things up.

Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen

Due to a need for money and thanks to Westen’s mother or Sam, Westen is a spy in limbo who spends a lot of time helping relatives, damsels and others in distress. This often involves a lot of creative role-play, and it’s something to savor each episode.

As Westen, Donovan is brimming with charisma, and reminds me a lot of early James Coburn. Donovan is entirely convincing as being caring, uncaring, savvy, steadfast and so tightly wound that you believe both his profession and plight.

The entire cast is excellent. The show is well written and offers an abundance of action and character interplay to keep the hour moving fast.

Bruce Campbell as Sam

And what can I say…. Burn Notice has Bruce Campbell! Gimme some sugar, baby!

Interestingly enough, it’s Campbell’s character that is getting the TV movie treatment in The Fall of Sam Axe. Fans can visit the show’s Facebook page and submit questions for Campbell at http://www.facebook.com/burnnotice.

I told a co-worker about Burn Notice, and he couldn’t wait to burn through the first three seasons.

As for me, I’m tasting each episode as they are being served up on Showcase. I’m happy to report the dishes on this show are piping hot and full of flavor.