TVSquad

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: Burn Notice, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, Kyle XY, Lost, My Boys, Nip/Tuck and Smallville. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

Tricia Helfer will be in good hands once her run with Battlestar Galactica is over which, as we all know, is coming up very soon. As part of her recently announced talent deal with Fox, Helfer will be appearing on USA's Burn Notice when it returns to the air this July (Fox produces the show). She will be playing Michael's handler for an uknown number of episodes. Hey, the more episodes the better if you ask me.

I just love it when two shows I love come together and involve the same people that make each show great. No, I don't mean a cross-over; with the exception of spin-offs, I usually hate cross-overs. When I see a director or actor I love head over to another show I love (or, in the case of a new show, one that sounds up my alley), it's magic. It's like when you switch jobs and and old co-worker friend comes with you. Except the whole part about hating the first job you left. OK that was a horrible analogy.

Set your DVRs, friends, because USA and USA HD will begin re-airing the first season of what I consider one of last years most overlooked, good new shows, Burn Notice. In fact, the pilot episode starts airing tonight at 11:00 PM ET, but if you miss that you can catch it at 2:30 AM. Or Sunday at 10 AM. Or later, at midnight. Oh, and then there's the DVD set coming out in June. In other words, no excuses!

I just finished catching up with this show a couple of weeks ago with Deb, and I'm glad I did. Joel recently had a quick interview with Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice, who mentioned how, even if you have no idea what the show is about, every episode starts with a very brief "what this show is about" montage that should set anyone straight. Still, if you haven't checked the series out yet, give at least the first couple of episodes a shot.

[Thanks Gordon!]

What did I do during the writers' strike, you ask? I got caught up on the first season of Burn Notice, which I regrettably missed the first time around.

This show has got it all -- great characters, action-packed plots and layers of intrigue. Without simply saying that I love everything about Burn Notice, here is my list:

1. Jeffrey Donovan
The lead of Michael Westen could not be better cast. He is believable, but he layers on the quality of the performance with the best facial expressions on an actor's face that I can remember. I know when he is being a smart-ass, I know when he feels overwhelming love for his mom and I know when he knows he is in it deep.

Last night, USA Network invited some of their favorite advertisers -- and a few reporters -- to their upfront presentation, held at The Modern, a sleek restaurant and lounge located at New York's Museum of Modern Art. It was an opportunity for USA and NBC Universal executives to crow about the network's continued success as well as let advertisers know what's coming up in 2008 and how they can combine their advertising message with the unique "characters" that USA offers.

All that's well and good -- be ready for more product placement and ad pods that other networks have recently adopted -- but the best part about an upfront presentation are the stars that the network drags out to schmooze and booze with those advertisers. And USA brought the big guns, including Tony Shalhoub from Monk, Debra Messing from The Starter Wife, Jeffrey Donovan and Bruce Campbell from Burn Notice, Dulé Hill, James Roday, and Corbin Bernsen from Psych, Kathryn Erbe and Chris Noth from Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the WWE's Triple H and Shawn Michaels, and Mary McCormack from the network's new show In Plain Sight. I got to speak to a few of them; audio of those interviews is after the jump.

What's happening on other blogs via the interweb.

• TruTV has picked up six episodes of Man vs. Cartoon, which is sort of like Mythbusters, only for old cartoons.
• Gary Busey follows up his Oscar red carpet antics with this.
• The first Burn Notice novel comes out in August.
• More info on NBC's plan for a 52-week TV season.
• The Late Show with David Letterman announces the end of the writers strike.
• No, Paula Abdul's new video has not been rejected by MTV.
• And finally, video of Larry King dancing with Janet Jackson.

Wow, another year has gone by. I just started getting used to writing "2007" on my checks last week and here we are in 2008. Happy New Year everyone! And don't tase me, bro!

I think this was actually a really good year for television, even if it does look like it's going to a short season. I think the best of the year and the worst of the year really stand out. Here's my list below. I'm sure you have your own opinions.

Best

1. Mad Men (AMC): Simply put, there was no better drama this past season (sorry Sopranos). This isn't just "great television," it might just change what the networks might put on in the next few years. It drops us into a world (in this case, a top ad agency in 1960 New York City) in a way very few shows are able to do. It has a flawless cast, intelligent writing, and a jawdropping, orgasmic production design. With this, AMC might just become the new HBO (they passed on this show but put on John From Cincinnati - ahem). Great to see it get a second season and a bunch of Golden Globe/SAG Award nominations. (And here's why Jon Hamm deserves a Golden Globe and an Emmy.)

Late last year, Julia told you about the TV version of the Aaron Eckhart movie Thank You For Smoking. Back then the show was being developed for NBC, but now comes word that the show will be seen on USA instead.

The TV version of the movie - which showed the ups and downs in the life of a morally flexible man who worked for the tobacco industry - will take place after the film and show the Nick Naylor character working for other people. The script will be written by James Dodson. The film was based on the novel by Christopher Buckley.

Here are the weekly cable ratings, by number of viewers.

1. Monday Night Football (ESPN)
2. Hannah Montana (Disney)
3. WWE Monday Night RAW - 10pm (USA)
4. Burn Notice (USA)
5. WWE Monday Night RAW - 9pm (USA)
6. College Football (ESPN)
7. Freaky Friday (Disney)
8. Holes (Disney)
9. Saving Grace (TNT)
10. Cory in the House (Disney)

• At 8, CBS has the season premiere of Survivor: China.
• FOX has a new Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader at 8, followed by a new Don't Forget The Lyrics!
• There's a Democratic Presidential Debate on PBS at 8.
• TLC has a new American Hot Rod at 8.
• Also at 8: American Life has Lost In Space, The Time Tunnel, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea!
• At 9 (early this week), USA has the two-hour season finale of Burn Notice.
• HGTV has a new Divine Design at 9.
• At 10, FX has two new episodes of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
• Bravo has a new Tim Gunn's Guide To Style at 10.
• At 10:30, Food Network has a new Ace of Cakes.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Here are the weekly cable ratings, by number of viewers.

1. NFL Football - Bengals vs. Ravens (ESPN)
2. The Closer (TNT)
3. NFL Football - 49s vs. Cardinals (ESPN)
4. Saving Grace (TNT)
5. WWE Monday Night RAW - 10pm (USA)
6. Monk (USA)
7. WWE Monday Night RAW - 9pm (USA)
8. Sunday Night Baseball - Red Sox vs. Yankees (ESPN)
9. Burn Notice (USA)
10. The Hills (MTV)

• At 8, CBS has a new Big Brother.
• FOX has a new Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader at 8.
• TLC has a new American Hot Rod at 8.
• At 9 on the major networks and cable news networks, President Bush speaks.
• Larry King welcomes the cast of The View on CNN (after the President).
• There's a new episode of The Boneyard on History Channel at 9.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• USA has a new Burn Notice at 10.
• Food Network has a new Ace of Cakes at 10.
• Also at 10: FX has the season premiere of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
• At 10:30, VH-1 has a new I Hate My 30s.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7:30, ESPN has coverage of the Little League World Series.
• At 8, FOX has a preseason football game, the Jaguars vs. the Packers.
• ABC has the pilot of Ugly Betty, if you're thinking of getting into the show.
• TLC has a new American Hot Rod at 8.
• There's a new Modern Marvels on History Channel at 8.
• At 9, Sci-Fi has a new Who Wants To Be A Superhero?
• At 10, USA has a new Burn Notice.
• AMC has a new Mad Men at 10.
• Food Network has a new Ace of Cakes at 10.
• Sundance has a new Live From Abbey Road at 10.
• Also at 10: Bravo has a new Welcome to the Parker.
• At 10:30, VH-1 has a new I Hate My 30s.
• At midnight, ESPN2 has a Pilot Pen Tennis quarterfinal.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, CBS has a new Big Brother.
• FOX has a new So You Think You Can Dance at 8.
• PBS has Elvis Lives: The 25th Anniversary Concert at 8.
• Speaking of Elvis, TCM has movies all night, including Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas.
• ESPN has preseason football at 8, the Dolphins vs. the Chiefs, while ESPN2 has the Western & Southern Financial tennis tournament.
• At 9, the History Channel has a new Boneyard.
• Sci-Fi has a new Who Wants To Be A Superhero at 9.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• There's a new Burn Notice on USA at 10.
• Food Network has a new Ace of Cakes at 10.
• TV Land has a special Elvis edition of Myths & Legends, also at 10.
• At 10:30, VH-1 has a new I Hate My 30s.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, CBS has a new Big Brother.
• FOX has a pre-season football game at 8, the Colts vs. the Cowboys.
• TLC has a new American Hot Rod at 8.
• Also at 8: BBC America has a new Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare's Revisited.
• At 9, History Channel has a new Boneyard.
• Sci-Fi has a new Who Wants To Be A Superhero? at 9.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• There's a new Burn Notice on USA at 10.
• Food Network has a new Ace of Cakes at 10.
• Bravo has a new Welcome to the Parker at 10.
• Sundance has a new Live From Abbey Road at 10, with guests The Goo Goo Dolls, Damien Rice, and Jamiroquai.
• At 10:30, VH-1 has a new I Hate My 30s.

Check your local TV listings for more.