Mary McCormack and Fred Weller Talk the New Season of ‘In Plain Sight’

image from FanPop.com

We at Raked recently had the chance to listen in on a conference call with In Plain Sight stars Mary McCormack and Fred Weller. Mary and Fred talked about the new showrunners for season 4, gave some insight into their characters, and generally had a great time bantering back and forth. What’s more, Mary spills about her pregnancy!

We’ve reproduced some of their best responses below.

Episode one of Season 4 airs on Sunday, May 1 at 10:00 pm. In the meantime, don’t forget to enter our giveaway!

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On what Mary enjoys most about playing her character:

Mary McCormack: What do I enjoy most? I think – I don’t know, I just love the character. I mean, David Maples, who created the show, just wrote a really great part. I mean Fred’s part is great too, and so is Paul Ben-Victor’s. I mean he just really wrote some three-dimensional characters. I mean I love them.

I love that Mary Shannon’s really good at her job and not so good at her personal life. I like that she’s cynical and sarcastic. It’s fun – it’s just fun to play someone so grouchy. It’s sort of refreshing. I can be a little bit grouchy myself so it’s a comfortable fit.

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On how Mary’s real-life pregnancy will be worked into the story

Mary McCormack: Well, we’re writing it in. I mean we’re writing it in and I’m playing pregnant. I mean I had a – I did what I had to do to get pregnant first. And then – and now we’re dealing with it.

I mean Mary Shannon’s not a, you know, you don’t think of her as necessarily maternal so it’s making for some interesting story stuff and character stuff, which I think is really fun to play. And also I think it’s – I mean to me I think it’s really interesting to see someone play pregnant who is pregnant. And because it’s, you know, it’s not altogether as pretty as when someone, you know, all chiseled up does it.

So it’s, I think refreshing, at least as a woman I find it refreshing to sort of see someone who’s dealing with – you know, someone who’s passionate about their career and then having to try to make – come to terms with, you know this new area in her life, which women I think deal with – you know, all women deal with, so.

[Read more after the jump!]

In Plain Sight Giveaway!

It’s that time again. USA is gearing up for it’s summer season, which means brand-new episodes of your favorite shows, including In Plain Sight! In honor of such a special occasion, I feel like giving you readers the opportunity to win a bag full of goodies!

In Plain Sight will air its fourth season beginning Sunday, May 1 at 10/9c on USA Network.  In Plain Sight stars Mary McCormack as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal working in the highly secretive branch of the witness protection program (WITSEC), who relocates Federal Witnesses, most of whom fall into three categories: career criminals, whistle-blowers or innocents who had the misfortune of witnessing a crime.  They all have one thing in common — someone wants them dead.  Mary’s job is to see that doesn’t happen, while at the same time attempting to manage her own dysfunctional family. In the upcoming season, Marshall will have a new love interest; Brandi gets engaged to Peter, and Mary reluctantly helps plan the wedding!  Visit the official In Plain Sight website at http://www.usanetwork.com/series/inplainsight/ for exclusive content and become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/inplainsight.

ENTER TO WIN an In Plain Sight Prize Pack! The prize pack includes:

Yellow Zippered Pouch
Tank Top
Travel Tumbler
Rumba Watch
Season 2 DVD
Season 3 DVD

* Open to residents of the U.S. & Canada
* Prize courtesy of USA Network. Prize pack value:  $130

How to Enter: Entering is easy, and you have the opportunity to get up to three separate entries for this giveaway.

• Mandatory entry – Leave a comment to this post telling me who your favorite character is and why.

For up to two additional entries (one entry each):

• Tweet this contest and include a link, plus my twitter handle (@rakedreviews). Then come back here and let me know in a separate comment.
•  Share this on on Facebook and include a link. Then come back here and let me know in a separate comment.

Please note: You must come back here and let me know in separate comments if you did any additional entries. If you enter three times, I need three separate comments. Two entries, two comments. Sure, it’s an extra step, but it just may pay off in the end if you’re the winner!

Deadline: All entries must be in by Sunday, May 1 — the night of the premiere! I’ll will randomly choose ONE winner the morning of May 2 and contact them via email. If I don’t hear back within 24 hours from the winner, I’ll move on to someone else, so don’t forget to check your email on May 2. This bag of goodies could be yours!

Now, go on! Enter! And while you wait, check out this preview for the new season of In Plain Sight!

This giveaway has ended, and comments are now closed.
Thanks for entering!

In Plain Sight: Past and Present

IN PLAIN SIGHT: 3.02 “When Mary Met Marshall”

Am I seeing this correctly? Is Raked writing about In Plain Sight?

Indeedy. And yes, I even said indeedy. The problem with my seeing this show in the past is that a) I didn’t realize what it was about and b) I always forgot when it was on. Well, I’ve got a team of Tweeps who keep insisting how great it is (they’re right), and it finally is on at a time when I’m not watching anything else. Wonderful.

Add in Allison Janney, and you’ve got a great combination. Ok, so I’ll watch anything with Allison Janney, and when you add in the fact that it’s a mini-West Wing reunion, who can argue?

But last night’s episode was more than just Janney (though I really like the element she’s going to be bringing into the show). It was about when Mary met Marshall–both her partner and the job. It was great.

You’ve got to give the team props for giving Mary bangs–and for allowing Mary to still be Mary when it was so many years before. She was different, yet the same. It was great. And comical. I adored seeing her reactions to Marshall (he was so cute), and the fact that in her blunt and harsh way, she was more effective as a Marshall than Marshall was (wow, that can get a little repetitive).

But mostly, I just enjoyed seeing the before and after for a couple of witnesses. I mean, we’ve seen them once they’re in the program–or as they’re entering it. But in my limited view of the show, I’ve never seen them once they’ve been in for years and years and years. It was a different perspective.

Especially when you consider the commitment these two were making so many years ago. Dating only four months and deciding to be together forever? Can you imagine? I mean, they really didn’t know what they were getting to (and honestly, I was horrified to know they were going to get married and enter witness protection when you could tell that they grew up so differently–Hello Kitty versus educational fun). And Mary was right about everything…well, except one thing.

They never did break up. I mean, almost, but in the end, there they were, together. That was fun to see, too. I guess while such a cynic, she may just have some stuff to learn. Do you think she did? Well, the cynicism is still there, and while she may still be blunt, she’s a different Mary.

Perhaps I’m overanalyzing because I haven’t seen the show as much as others. For those of you who are consistent watchers, let me know what you thought! Whether I’m right or wrong, one thing’s for certain: I enjoyed it.

Don’t forget! ‘In Plain Sight’ returns tonight!

Did last year’s cliffhanger leave you, well, hanging?

It certainly left me saddened, if not angry. Well, get those emotions back on the rise because In Plain Sight is back tonight, and the search for Mary’s shooter continues.

I have to say, I don’t regularly watch the show but what I’ve seen is certainly entertaining. And tonight’s episode is definitely one to see, and it’s got the standard In Plain Sight humor to boot.

And do you think a gunshot wound can keep Mary down? Certainly not. Mary’s back in the game, moving as quick as ever–well, as fast as she can go with stitches. Everyone’s still reeling over the aftermath, but don’t think this episode focuses solely on that.

The key word for this episode is FAMILY. Whether you’re a good guy or bad guy, you’ve got your own drama and so does this episode. All alongside guest star Donnie Wahlberg! Who can say no to that?

So don’t forget to check out the season premiere of In Plain Sight tonight at 10/9c on USA! And check out everything related to In Plain Sight on their website here, including a promo for tonight’s episode.

By the way, there’s a fantastic chase scene that you’ll just have to see. Hey, I enjoyed it. 😉

*image and review copy provided by USA

In Plain Sight: Mobs and movies

IN PLAIN SIGHT: 2.12 “Training Video”

As you know from last week, I’m new to In Plain Sight. This is actually only my second time watching the show, but so far so good. I’m quite enjoying it.

This week especially, though, made me realize how much I need to go back and watch season one. Not only because there wasn’t as much gunfire and tension (therefore making me wonder which side of the coin is the typical episode–lots of action or caring for those already in the progarm), but because there were serious personal developments for Mary–having Raph move in without her permission (so to speak) and dealing with the secret she’s been carrying for quite a while.

Actually, it was great juxtaposing her with the training video. The fact that she seemed to be so hesitant to weigh in and angry at the portrayal when she was dealing with the exact emotions they were discussion. Not that I was too thrilled with the final version. Must it always be the woman who’s upset?

Anyway, I’m very interested to find out where the story goes now, now that she’s told Raph what she does for a living. I watched the video–that’s a big no-no. But now more than ever, I want to go back and see what her relationship with Raph was like before, why it’s strained now that they’re in a solid commitment. Was it her secret? Are there other reasons that she’s holding back? And what does it mean to them now that she’s told him the truth?

On the other side of things was Marshall, who was helping his witness attend a funeral for his son. Of course, you know that I latched on to this story. I’m a sucker for sad old men on TV. Bitter men, no, but sad ones, yes.

I’m not sure what I thought about the actual funeral, though. I think that it was great that his family remembered him and that they still loved him. But to actually attack the guy who claimed to kill you all those years ago?

I guess the point is this: You can take the dog out of the fight, but you can’t take the fight out of the dog.

And that’s something really interesting to the series as a whole. I hope it’s something that doesn’t just get lost in the shuffle of a mid-season episode, especially with Mary’s cliffhanger ending. It’s something that needs to be considered for everyone that’s being brought in (or removing themselves) from the Witness Protection Program–and a danger to be dealt with.

I guess that’s something I would have known if I saw season one, right? I’m workin’ on it.

Oh, and must I say how much I enjoyed seeing Joshua Malina and Mary McCormack together again? Yeah, West Wing alums!

The initiation into ‘In Plain Sight’

IN PLAIN SIGHT: 2.11 “Jailbait”

Dear god. Can Francia Raisa possibly be in any show without taking her clothes off? I mean, sure, she was in lingerie in this one, and I can’t promise how much she’s actually taken off in Secret Life (I avoid that show at all costs), but either way, apparently this girl’s quite comfortable with promiscuity on television. Anyway…

I’m not sure if it’s an evil twist or just a coincidence that my first exposure to In Plain Sight happened to feature someone from one of the most detestable dramas on TV. But then again, we also had Carlos Gomez, who played one of the evil demons in Charmed. But I’ll ignore past associations so I can get to the real thing: the show itself. (Though I will say, Mary McCormack already impresses me since her appearances in The West Wing, so I’ve got a positive position already.)

You know, I really didn’t know what to expect with this show. I never really had a reason to check it out (thanks to my smart commenter who suggested I watch it, by the way), but I never had a reason not to either. I never really knew what it was about in the first season. I thought it was just another cop show. It wasn’t until the second season started that I found out it was about the witness protection program. And then, of course, I feared that I missed too much to catch up.

But it’s very accessible. And clever! The conversations outside the case really make you identify the character, and I really like the relationships. It’s something that gets lost pretty easily in many traditional cop shows. And while this might not fall in that category anyway, it’s an added bonus.

Anyway, this particular case didn’t grab my attention beyond the first few gunshots. I’m not entirely sure why. It might be because I found the daughter annoying (true, Raisa could act better than she does in Secret Life), but it seemed like the relationship between her and Cesar just didn’t seem to be all that important after her mother was gunned down in the street and the two were taken into witness protection. And the overprotective father bit? I mean, the scene where he was ready to kill Olivia’s friend for seeing her try on lingerie was funny, but by the time he was threatening Cesar, it just seemed forced.

However, the choice to say good-bye to her father forever or to stay with Cesar, that was a rough one. And it definitely made for an emotional scene in the end. It was something that you really didn’t think about as you watched things unfold. Now she’s lost both parents.

And in the end, they reconnect. It was brave of her to stand up against them, but I’m not 100% content. It seemed a little predictable, and a little too easy for Jesus once he sees her change seats. A true 180 in 60 seconds.

My question is this: What’s to prove that they still wouldn’t track down Olivia and kill her after his testimony anyway? Whether she’s with Cesar or not, she’s still in danger of being killed. With the menacing look between father and son, I could definitely see the father pulling Cesar’s puppet strings.

But hey, that’s what witness protection is for, right? I assume they have to go back in, even though they got their happy end. You can correct me if I’m wrong (I’m a newbie, remember?). Plus, even  Mary got a happy ending–and you know that suckered me in.

So my initiation? Successful. At least for another week (and maybe even checking out a few from the past season or so).

Oh, and the goat jokes? Loved them.