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SINGAPORE : If you believe everything you see on the television, you’d think that Miami was full of guys in loud Hawaiian shirts with big guns.
That’s why I was somewhat disappointed when, on my trip to the "Burn Notice" set in Miami, Florida, I didn’t see a single Hawaiian shirt. I did, however, enjoy the balmy weather and coconut trees synonymous with this tropical clime.
It must be the warm temperatures and laid-back, vacation atmosphere permeating the city that inspires so many action-adventure, sex-and-intrigue shows like "Miami Vice", "CSI: Miami", and now, "Burn Notice".
But don’t expect "Burn Notice" to be like the rest. It’s a smart and funny show that follows the story of Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), a blacklisted spy who’s been “burned” (fired). He has been dumped in Miami, had his assets frozen and is under close scrutiny.
With the help of loyal friend Sam (Bruce Campbell, "Evil Dead") and ex-girlfriend and ex-IRA operative Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar, "The Tudors"), Michael is forced to live by whatever means he can, while trying to get to the bottom of why he got burned in the first place.
It’s a spy show that doesn’t take itself seriously, and therein lies the humour. For one thing, his attention-seeking mother, played by the venerable Sharon Gless ("Cagney and Lacey", "Queer as Folk"), is always tying up his phone line. TODAY had a nice little chat with two of the stars.
Not Bond's Mother: Sharon Gless
What makes this show funny?
I love the voiceover stuff. Michael teaches you how to be a spy, but in a tongue-in-cheek way. Narration usually is used to cover up a weak script, but in this case, it’s hysterical. I love that he was so highly trained as a special-ops CIA, but he can use his skills for really mundane jobs ... And I play a chain-smoking hypochondriac!
How does your character spice up the show?
How many spies have a mother? You don’t see James Bond’s mother. Michael’s forced on her. He’s forced here into Miami for a purpose - because she lives here! So there’s a lot at stake. She’s the last person he wanted to see, ever, and she still is the threat, they can always hurt her if he doesn’t cooperate. And she’s the only one that can get to him.
Get Smart: Jeffery Donovan
When you saw the script, did you think it that was what you wanted to do for the next few years?
From the first page. It starts with the voice-over: “You know what it’s like to be a spy?” I thought: “Hang on. He’s not saying, ‘I’m a spy’. He’s not saying, ‘Let me tell you about myself.’ He’s saying, ‘Do you know what it’s like’.” He’s actually connecting with the audience and informing them. There’s this top-secret espionage world that he breaks down for you with hands-on explanations. I thought that was such a genius idea. The opportunities are limitless.
Why doesn’t the hot-shot spy have oodles of women after him?
(Laughs) There’s a rule in the spy world: “You come up to me, we will never be together. I come up to you, then there’s a chance. Because I will never know what your motive is”. Also, he can’t really talk about work. “What do you do?” “Well, I’m trying to find out who burned me, there’s a black ops commando after me, and I’m trying to arrange an assassination later on. So, how was your day?”
Do you channel James Bond when you play Michael Westen?
Until Daniel Craig, James Bond was not fallible. He was cheeky, but he didn’t make mistakes. I said: “Let’s make Michael Westen, if he is the American Bond, fallible. Make him funny.” You don’t laugh at James Bond. You chuckle; you are bemused by him, but you don’t laugh. I was like, “Have some levity; bring humour.” Also, I have a black belt in karate and I’ve done eight years of aikido and a year of jujitsu.
Besides humour, what else sets Burn Notice apart from other crime-related shows?
I think we’re smarter. We never talk down to the audience. We actually believe you’re as smart as we are. So we don’t have to dumb it down for you. We have a specific demographic: Smart. No matter what age or sex. - TODAY/sh
If you’re smart, you’ll catch "Burn Notice" on Monday at 11pm on FoxCrime (StarHub channel 86).
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