Happy Birthday Fi

With Mad Men off the air, a desperate Holly approached me wanting another cable show to get immersed in. While nowhere near as rich and complex as the guys and dolls of Madison Avenue, I pointed her toward Burn Notice now in its third season on USA.

Burn Notice follows the adventures of former spy Michael Weston (played by Jeffrey Donovan) who was “burned” or black listed by parties unknown. The underlying current of the show is Weston’s attempt to find out who burned him and why. Then perhaps he could return to doing what he loves most…spying legitimately.

In the meantime, he uses his prodigious espionage skills to help regular folks. The show is formulaic, but in the best sense of the word. It is entertaining to watch Michael and his friends help the underdog with stylish action each week. Part McGyver (he can make bugs out of cell phone parts) - part Equalizer (Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer)… it is all fresh fun.

Those friends are the heart of the show. His on again/off again girlfriend Fiona “Fi” is played by Gabrielle Anwar. She is one smoking hot 40 year old (Her birthday is today). She is inclined to shoot first, ask questions later and is also an explosives expert. If the chemistry between Fi and Michael were any more volatile, the U.N. would have to impose sanctions. I cannot speak to the attractiveness of Donovan, but I believe the ladies like him, too.

Were I inclined to a mancrush, however, it would be on Michael’s best friend, Sam. I can envision hanging out with Sam at a seaside bar, drinking MGD-64s together and admiring one another’s collection of Hawaiian shirts. As played by Bruce Campbell, former FBI agent Sam is a great source of much of the show’s humor. Sharon Gless as Michael’s chain-smoking mother Madeline provides her share of the comic relief as well. Glad to have her son around after years of absence, she cannot help but give him a hard time for not having stayed in touch.

All in all, it is enough to make you wish you lived in Miami and were having trouble with a local gang just so you could give these guys a call and maybe share a yogurt. Handle that pirated DVD of Season One with care, Holly…it sizzles.