Matt Bomer in "White Collar"
courtesy of the USA Network
Piper Perabo in "Covert Affairs'
courtesy of the USA Network
“White Collar/Covert Affairs” (The USA Network)

“White Collar” emerged last year as one of the biggest hits of the summer. This USA Network show stars Matt Bomer and he instantly drew a lot of attention. Now that show enters its second season ands a new show has been piggybacked behind it. It is “Covert Affairs” and it stars Piper Perabo as a new CIA Agent. USA hopes the popularity of “White Collar” will spill over to this new entry.

“Covert Affairs” will need all the help it can get as it comes off initially as a pale version of Jennifer Garner’s “Alias.” Perhaps Perabo, who is not without charm and beauty, will grow on audiences as she acts out her adventures each week. Still having a recruit who hasn’t even finished her basic training get thrown into a series of dangerous events just doesn’t ring true.

The makers of this series have surrounded Perabo with a strong supporting cast. Christopher Gorham plays Auggie Anderson, Annie Walker’s (Perabo) best friend at the Agency. Peter Gallagher plays her senior boss Arthur Campbell while Kari Matchett plays his wife Joan Campbell, who is Annie’s immediate boss. Anne Dudek is seen as Annie’s sister Danielle. That’s a solid cast and it is hoped they will be given a lot of screen time in order to pump up the appeal of the show.

Perhaps when audiences get into the series they will forget just how new Annie Walker is supposed to be in her job and will just accept the fact she possesses a lot of skill and talent in all areas. That might take the disbelief factor away and let the audience just relax and go with the flow.

Luckily “Covert Affairs” should get a good sampling of viewers based on its spoton the USA scheduole behind the very popular “White Collar.” In this show Neil Caffrey (Bomer) is a convicted forger who is allowed out of prison to work with the FBI. His sponsor and mentor is Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). The relationship between these two characters is one of the biggest assets of the show.

However, the secret weapon for the show has turned out to be Mozzie (Willie Garson), Neal’s friend and associate. Mozzie brings a lot to the show including humor and ingenuity. He and Neal can pull off any caper and do it with ease. Last year Mozzie was more of a background character but this year he is front and center and loads of fun.

It is hoped that this year we will see more of Diahann Carroll, who plays Neal’s landlady. Carroll looks terrific and adds something special to every scene in which she appears. It isn’t likely we will get much screen time from Tiffani Theissen who plays Peter’s wife Elizabeth. Theissen was pregnant during the period that these new shows were shot so she will only be seen sporadically and from the neck up.

Marsha Thompson returns this year as a regular. She plays Diana Barrigan, another agent who works for Peter. Thompson is a real beauty and a good actress. She is another asset to the show, which already has a wealth of characters. Sharif Atkins also plays an agent in Peter’s office. I know its repetitive but he also is a good addition to the cast.

Tune in for White Collar” on the USA Network on Tuesday, July 13 at 9PM, followed by “Covert Affairs” at 10.
 

 

 

 

 

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

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