USA’s “Burn Notice” season two picks up right where season one left off, and after watching the screener with the first two episodes, no sophomore slump will curse the droll, fast-paced series.
Bruce Campbell - 36th Annual Comic Con International - San Diego Convention Center - San Diego, California. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
It’s a testosterone filled romp full of clever repartee between lead Jeffrey Donovan and Bruce Campbell. Gabrielle Anwar (Fiona) and Sharon Gless (mom) headline the female cast and are given their share of great writing too.
The Miami Herald’s reporter Doug Hanks notes in a July 7th piece that the production for “Burn Notice” expects to spend about $12.5 million in Florida this year filming the second season, and details the effects on their local economy. Not since "Miami Vice" has such a large TV production filmed there.
Suffice to say local businesses that supply film production are thrilled to have Donovan’s character Michael Westen come to grips with his shattered career, mother issues and his sexy crazy ex-IRA operative girlfriend in the southern Florida setting.
The show launches its second season at 10 p.m. on Thursday July 10 on the USA cable network.
If you are unfamiliar with the premise, the series is an irreverent take on classic spy thrillers that works in a bit of “MacGyver” derring-do for Donovan’s Westen, and adds the comedic spice of the great Bruce Campbell, who classes up any project he is involved in. Westen is a “burned” spy without a country, and fights to get his identity restored.
The series was last year's top new cable series and has performed beautifully for USA, which features programming that welcomes the “character” in their unique programming.
Monsters and Critics joined a round-table of journalists and spoke to “Burn Notice” stars Bruce Campbell and Massachusetts' native Jeffrey Donovan, who was still glowing from the Celtics trouncing of the Lakers.
Is MacGyver Michael’s weaponry handyman inspiration?
Jeffrey Donovan: Well you’d have to ask Matt Nix actually. He’s the one who came up with the idea of a guy who was MacGyver-esque, but you actually believed he could do those things.
So everything that we do in the show, you actually can make at home. Matt keeps a couple of ingredients out of the bombs just so no one, you know, blows up little Timmy.
Bruce, are you getting more fans who are older women?
Bruce Campbell: No, I’m not getting anything here in Miami. My wife is a very good ally in that respect. I don’t need to go method here. So everything is all under control here in Miami. I’m just standing back in awe of Mr. Donovan.
Jeffrey Donovan: He’s not getting older women fans. He’s getting me. That’s the new fan, yeah exactly.
Can you talk about Westen’s relationship with his mom, (played by Sharon Gless)?
Jeffrey Donovan: Yeah. Actually she’s in a lot this second season. The writers have brought her more into a personal connection with Michael Westen. So I think you’re going to see more of a true mother-son relationship, less antagonistic as you saw in the first season and more of she’s becoming a bit of an ally.
But I think more as the season goes on, you’ll see him actually care more about her and the life that they used to have. I think it’s going to get deeper, actually.
What about Fiona?
Jeffrey Donovan: Put in parentheses he chuckles loudly. That’s a crazy relationship that’s going to have its ups and downs. And it’s going to go left, right and all around, and it’ll be exciting.
Some of the episodes I actually don’t read until I get on the day just so I can see what crazy thing she’s going to do to me that day.
What’s it like doing like action scenes in Miami?
Jeffrey Donovan: I’m wearing a lot more Speedos.
Bruce Campbell: And I’m sweating more. That’s my change. That’s what I’ve changed. I stopped shivering in Oregon and starting sweating in Miami.
Honestly - in Oregon I shave every four days anyway, so this was pretty good of a connection. I had to shed a lot of clothing, a lot of clothing. I came here pasty and white, and blinking from the sun, and had to roast myself like a turkey on a stick.
That’s because he’s got to be that guy - that golden beach boy, so I’ve been kind of just going native here, wearing Cuban shirts and flip-flops and as - people in Oregon would walk right past me. They wouldn’t even recognize me.
But, the character of Sam, let’s face it he’s not the tidiest guy, so it’s not that hard to roll out of bed and show up in front of the camera, I’m sorry to say.Jeffrey Donovan: The strike just delayed us a couple of months. We would’ve still been here shooting, but we are getting a bit of the storms now and through the summer. And in fact, right now it’s thundering and lightening outside my trailer.
Jeffrey Donovan: It’s difficult. We try to roll with it. It - if we’re going to have this beautiful backstop then, you know, we got to just roll with the storm punches. And doing action in the humidity is a little tough, but I just try to stay in shape, eat a lot of yogurt and, you know, try not to hurt myself.
Bruce Campbell: Yes, it’s far too hot and I’m dying. Thank you for the question. You know what it is? It’s - my skin loves it. I throw my - my face cracks into a million pieces in Oregon because it’s so dry and I come here, so my skin loves it.
But the costume department, they give me dirty looks every day because I sweat through three or four outfits a day. And I won’t go into more detail because it’s too offensive.
How do you relate to Michael’s dilemma, being stuck in Miami?
Jeffrey Donovan: I love his dilemma. I love it. I love Miami. I love South Beach. I love the weather, you know, when it’s storming and looking like we’re all going to be electrocuted on our camera, you know, camera truck. I think it’s awesome.
I think that not only is it important for the show, it’s important for Miami. We are the only show since Miami Vice 30 years ago to have a second season and that’s a big deal for the economy down here, especially in this depressed real estate market.
I believe, we are in a recession. Just to jump out of the entertainment world for a second, it - the economy that we provide down here for 300 people is really crucial.
So the backdrop important with the humidity and the heat, and the beach and the sun, I think it’s really important for Miami itself.
Bruce Campbell: But I have to say by being in Miami, I think Jeffrey and I have both taken advantage of being in Miami. South Beach is a really fun place.
We’ve both had a lot of fun in South Beach, in clubs and restaurants, and bars. And I’ve gone out on boats. Jeffrey, you know, is a boat lover and a scuba diver. So I think we’ve actually just embraced it as tourists, as well so on weekends I’m like hey where can we go?
You know, I’ve been the Everglades and I wouldn’t have done that if I was still up in (gorgeous) Oregon, you know.
Jeffrey Donovan: Well I’m experiencing something I’ve never experienced before. I walk down a very famous street in Miami called Lincoln Road and it’s filled with basically the United Nations of characters.
I would say in a good 15 minutes, ten people will come up to me and say they love the show. And I’d say five of them are from or live in the United States and five of them will be from another country.
And the five coming from another country, I know this because they go -- in their respective accents -- I love Burn Notice. I am from Argentina. I am from Brazil. And they always tell me where they’re from.
And I guess that’s their introduction, but what I’ve found is it’s because it’s - I’m finding out it’s one of the best shows in that country and they’re very proud to be from that country. It’s just very unique.
Where do we go from here and what’s next for Michael?
Jeffrey Donovan: Well obviously I don’t want to give anything away so that you’ll tune in for the premiere July 10 - Thursday night, 10:00 pm. That was good, wasn’t it? But you are actually going to meet Miss Helfer in the flesh.
She’s behind a lot of things that held Michael back and you realize she’s actually controlling his life. And so...
Bruce Campbell: She’s very, very evil.
Jeffrey Donovan: Yeah, she’s very evil and sexy at the same time..
Bruce Campbell: That’s evexy.
Jeffrey Donovan: Yes, yes.
Any sophomore slump fears?
Jeffrey Donovan: Love the second season scripts. I think they’re even better than the first season and I think the first season was pretty darn good in and of itself. You know, the ratings are not up to me.
They’re up to the general public and if they go up and down, we’re still going to do the same thing we did last year which was make the show (wid) watch. And that’s what we’re doing this year again.
And if people follow, great. If they don’t, well we’re going to be - we’ll still be proud of what we did.
Bruce, what are your thoughts on the scripts you’ve seen so far?
Bruce Campbell: Ain’t going to be no slumpin’. Ain’t going to be no sophomore slump my friend. People are still finding the show and I’ve had the weirdest batch of emails from people from very odd demographics who are following the show.
The DVD is coming out. USA knows that it’s a hit now so that they’re going to promote it more. We’re all behind it. So I don’t know. I think there’s - we’re doing 16 episodes instead of 10 or 11.
So, there’s every reason to believe in my opinion - in my ignorant opinion that we’re going to do even better this year.
Have you ever gotten any kind of burn notice in your life and how did you take it?
Bruce Campbell: Yes. The second movie that I was going to make as an actor, I was supposed to star in it. It was a movie written by the Coen Brothers of all people, called Crimewave and the assumption was that I was going to play the lead.
But the word eventually came down through the studio that 'you can produce this movie, Bruce, but you ain’t going to be in it.' Well so, you know, that was an early taste of studios and Hollywood.
It left a little bit of a bitter taste, I must admit. You have to keep going. You have to battle on and know that sometimes personalities are involved and it’s not just you being a loser actor. So you have to get a little bit of a thicker skin and have confidence in yourself.
Jeffrey, learned any cool new tricks for yourself?
Jeffrey Donovan: Well, I live out in the woods of California and there are a lot less rodents there from what I’ve learned from Burn Notice. No one can break into my house anymore. And if they do, I’ve put up a sign. It says I don’t call 911.
What’s up with the yogurt?
Jeffrey Donovan: It was just something that was put in my fridge and - by Matt (Nix). It’s Matt’s crazy, insane mind. And for some reason, every time I open the fridge in the script it said all there is, is yogurt. And then when Sam joins me it’s beer.
So all I’m living on is yogurt and beer. And that’s how I stay so thin. I prescribe the yogurt and beer diet. It’s like the South Beach Diet, but for Michael Westen.
Bruce Campbell: There are some things that have been added to the fridge. I’m going to say that because Sam hangs out there a lot. So pickles have been added and there may be hard boiled eggs coming up sometime later this year.
Bruce, how do you feel about transcending supporting role status?
Bruce Campbell: If you stick around long enough, you get some really good roles and you get some really lousy opportunities come up, too. But right now I think both of us can say very unequivocally that we both have excellent roles. I guess it’s because I’m like a bad rash. I never go away. I just never stopped. I never left. I never gave up. And so that - and that’s what happens. Jeffrey will attest to this.
Jeffrey Donovan: That’s not a word.
Bruce Campbell: And we’re appreciating it.
Jeffrey Donovan: That’s not a word.
Describe the balance between Michael’s action and the relationship he has with Fiona and his mom, and Sam?
Jeffrey Donovan: Oh it’s extremely important. I think we fight for that every day. We fight for a balance that you are drawn to maybe the action sequences and the kind of spy stuff, but you get hooked on really becoming involved with Fi and Sam, and Michael and mom.
I mean, if you care about them I think that brings you back. But I think the initial interest might be that you’re watching a spy and he gets to beat up bad guys and stuff like that, and create bombs out of toasters.
Can you comment on Tricia Helfer and how have you enjoyed working with her so far?
Jeffrey Donovan: Well, you know, I’ve only actually unfortunately gotten to work with her for like a day. She has shot all of her stuff in one day. I wish I had her agent. And, you know, she’s wonderful. She’s beautiful. She’s really smart. If she wasn’t already married, she’s marriage material.
Any possibility that Tricia’s new character is going to be kind of a romantic entanglement as well?
Jeffrey Donovan: I hope so. She’s hot.
Bruce Campbell: I think Sam just needs some action. I think it’s been really fun working with Audrey Landers and we’re going to see where that gets taken a little bit in Season Two. We’re going to get a little more of that.
But then Sam, he may be in a position to bust out again. You never know. That’s all I can say without killing you all.
What is your favorite thing about playing these characters?
Bruce Campbell: Well I have to say I’ve always been a fan of (squad) characters and I think Burn Notice is a big bag of damaged goods, but we’re doing - we’re helping the little person now that you have all these people who have had these strange and intense backgrounds and now we’re back into civilization and trying to assimilate.
And hopefully that’s kind of the fun of the show, but we get a little bit of latitude. The writers have been really good with us and I think they’ve studied what our strengths and weaknesses are.
And so for the grind of television, it’s been a very enjoyable experience.
Jeffrey Donovan: And I just love that I get to play a spy. I’m like James Bond in America and I could never be this cool in real life so that’s got to be my favorite part.
Why should viewers watch Burn Notice?
Jeffrey Donovan: We actually haven’t seen the show, so that’s kind of hard. Watch the show, I don’t know, give it a try. It’s a summer show. There’s nothing else on and there’s, you know, action and some pretty hot women on the show.
Bruce Campbell: My feeling is the show is gaining popularity because of what it is not. I think it is a very unique show that can basically not be compared to anything on television.
And I think that’s so refreshing and not to disparage any of the cop, doctor, lawyer shows, but enough is enough. So hopefully we can be a bit of fresh air out there.
Back when the series was just being created and being cast, who was cast first? And did whoever was cast first - did you have any input on who the secondary characters were?
Bruce Campbell: I have no say in anything. I’m just an actor. Well Jeffrey can tell that story but my understanding is that Jeffrey Donovan, this show was pretty much - they were looking for something to do for Mr. Donovan, being the stud that he is and that my name came along when they figured, let’s see if Bruce is unemployed and see if he’ll say yes.
Jeffrey Donovan: Yeah, I was...
Bruce Campbell: I was his sloppy seconds.
The role was offered and I just did some research of who was involved and what their (dealio) was because, you know, in television you’re kind of trapped in an airless box. Jeffrey referred to the little bubble that we’re in.
And, I just did enough research, find out a little bit about this Donovan guy.
Jeffrey Donovan: Yeah, I was first hired but - and then Bruce, Sharon and Gabrielle came immediately after. And I had no say in the matter, but I did get to meet Gabrielle in a room and work with her, and thought she was amazing.
And then they, without my permission, hired Bruce. So I don’t take responsibility for that.
If either one of you had to work on your crew, what position would you have and why?
Jeffrey Donovan: Catering.
Catering? Or Craft service?
Jeffrey Donovan: Catering. I would stop poisoning us. No, I’m kidding. I would be catering because I love to cook and I’m - if I can’t act I’d be a chef and I would love to cook for this crew because I would - I’d have everyone drop 20 pounds because of the healthy diet I’d give them.
Bruce Campbell: I would work in the sound department...because he gets to sit in a cool little chair and watch two little monitors, and play with knobs all day. And he sits under a nice tent and does not have to move.
Jeffrey Donovan: That sounds like you at home.
Bruce Campbell: Oh don’t do that. Don’t - (ixnay omehay).
Has it been more pressure this season?
Jeffrey Donovan: Well we’re in a little bubble down here. I mean, it’s a beautiful cosmopolitan city but as far as, you know, comparing it to New York and LA, I mean, it’s hard to find a trade magazine.
So we kind of live in this little insulated bubble. So even though the show might be considered a success, we don’t feel it, so - which is a great thing.
We just keep trying to do what we did before it went on air which was just try to make a show that we’d want to watch and, you know, hopefully people do.
Bruce Campbell: And just to answer that a little bit, that I feel the second season has been easier because everybody knows everybody. You know the crew and the guests, who is doing what. You know the writers. They know you.
We’re not trying to guess if we should do something specific to make this show a success or, you know, there’s no more second guessing. Now, as Jeffrey says, we’re just working.
Bruce, with most of the female characters on the show in one way or another making Michael’s life a living hell, do you think that makes your character, Sam, his buddy all the more crucial?
Bruce Campbell: Oh well Sam is, of course, integral to Burn Notice. He was, I don’t know - because of how he holds the social fabric together. And I got some swampland in Tennessee, too.
No, I think it’s always good to have buddies. If you don’t have a second person, it’s hard to have dialogue. So Sam is handy for explaining missions and, you know, chewing the fat with Michael and kicking ideas around.
And hopefully the loyalty issue is solved now. Sam’s in to win.
Jeffrey, are we still going to be able to look forward to what your character was doing - sort of solving smaller crimes and helping the little guys?
Jeffrey Donovan: I think that I will always be saving, you know, the small, you know, small guppy in the big pond. He’s got to do that because I think that’s kind of the heart of the show.
Do you look forward to reading these scripts, for the how-to’s and interesting tidbits that the voiceovers provide?
Jeffrey Donovan: Yeah, it’s a nice little bonus to be able to learn a new skill every week. Some of them you can use in everyday life and some of them can’t, you know.
The ones that I’ve been able to use is how to bug my co-star’s dressing room...
Bruce Campbell: Awkward.
Jeffrey Donovan: And the other is -- that I don’t really use that much -- is how to make a bomb out of a toaster, you know. But, you know, it’s a lot of fun to be able to learn those little skills.
Bruce, you’ve really been able to pick and choose very creative roles on television. TV roles that you liked rather than just take jobs to be doing work?
Bruce Campbell: I’ve tried not to take jobs just to do work because I figure - I feel that puts me in a terrible situation and I hadn’t done television since 2000. So it took a lot to kind of drag me back into what is a challenging format of entertainment.
A one hour (episodic) is the hardest gig in show business and Jeffrey Donovan is, you know, carrying a big weight here. So it takes a lot for me to move entirely across the country diagonally and work.
And I’m really glad I made the decision to get involved in this show because it hasn’t let me down as an actor or as a person. And the people that they got are all very serious, committed actors so there’s yahoos in the bunch. And it really makes it -makes the day go a lot easier.
How have your interpretations of the characters have changed - since now they’re entering the second season, you’ve been able to play them for a full season?
Jeffrey Donovan: I think how I viewed Michael in the beginning has not changed at all. He’s still an incredibly introverted character who lives this parallel life vicariously through his alter egos, these undercover characters that he has to create to kind of get his job back.
But that’s kind of what I thought in the beginning and he’s still going to continue to do that. But the slight new dimension that I think I’m trying to bring to him this season is that - like what Bruce said, is bring more of a humanity to him, see that there’s a real guy underneath all those layers that have been trained to kind of not feel anything.
Bruce, for you, is there anything that you’re doing or is probably different?
Bruce Campbell: A new brand of beer this season. Yeah, we’re going for that.
Jeffrey Donovan: Yeah, you should get some Sam Adams.
Bruce Campbell: Nice. But you know what? I think same thing. The characters are getting rounded out a little more. You’re going to - Sam is - we’ll see him dating and things like that.
So, we’ll see him put in awkward and clumsy situations, but he won’t be as, you know, quite so glib all the time, you know. So I think the same thing - just trying to flush these characters out, making them more complete characters.
Jeffrey Donovan: That’s been a challenge because I think the great character - a part of this show is that you actually see me doing those things. It’s not a stuntman doing the fight and some other guy doing - fixing all the bombs together, it’s - and knowing how to slip under a certain door or a laser beam.
I get to do that and that I want to do that is a big challenge because I actually have to look like I can actually do it. So that’s a challenge which I kind of relish actually.
Any special guest stars that we can look forward to?
Jeffrey Donovan: Method Man. he’s on this episode - well I think it’s Episode 6. He’s awesome, dude. He’s such a good actor and I’m a big Wu-Tang Clan fan. And, you know, back in my hip-hop hooray days, you know. It’s - I’m really excited about him on the show.
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