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.

***

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!

White Collar Giveaway, Comin’ Atcha

No open thread this week. Instead, we’ve got something more fun: A giveaway!

That’s right! I’m giving away a great White Collar gift bag to one lucky reader. Want the details? Here they are:

USA Network kicks off your Tuesday evening with the best looking night on television! Watch the return of White Collar at 9pm. One of the fall season’s most critically acclaimed dramas, stars Matt Bomer , Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen, Willie Garson, Sharif Atkins and Marsha Thomason.  Visit the official White Collar website for games, photos and weekly prizes. Visit USA Network’s Character Arcade to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

ENTER TO WIN a WHITE COLLAR Gift Bag!

Gift Bag includes:
–Modern Gentleman’s Guide
–White Collar Hat
–White Collar T-Shirt
–White Collar Season 1 DVD

HOW TO ENTER:

Entering’s easy. Just leave a comment below and let me know who your favorite character is on White Collar–and why! Make sure to leave an email address so that I can get in touch with you.

There’s only one entry per person, and this contest is only open to residents of US and Canada, so please don’t enter if that isn’t you.

Entries are open until the evening of Tuesday, August 10. I’ll be choose one winner at random right after the show airs on the east coast, so you better have your comment in! I’ll then contact a winner via email and you’ll have 24 hours to reply or I’ll need to move on to another winner. That means check your email–you don’t want to miss out. You might get an incredible bag of White Collar goodies!

And of course, don’t forget to watch the show on Tuesday nights! They aren’t kidding about it being the best looking thing on TV.

The giveaway has ended and a winner has been contacted.
Thanks to all those who entered!

*Prize courtesy of USA Network. Prize pack value: $112

Tiffani Thiessen on ‘White Collar’

Have you been watching White Collar? You should be. It’s definitely one of my summer favorites.

I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a conference call last week with White Collar costar Tiffani Thiessen. As you know, I got to talk to Tiffani last fall, and while she might still be playing the same Elizabeth Burke as last season, she’s got a brand-new role in real life–a mother!

Tiffani gave birth just a few weeks ago to her new daughter, Harper, so  it was fun listening to how her life has changed while balancing the show–and her experience and thoughts as someone who’s grown up in the television industry since her teenage years.

Take a look at some highlights of the call below, and don’t forget to check out Tiffani on White Collar tonight (and every Tuesday night) on USA.

*****

On Elizabeth:

I think probably the biggest thing that I was drawn to her character, even from the beginning when I read the script and even more so now that we’ve gotten to know her a lot more on the show is that she plays a woman that I strive to be every day.  She really is a woman who takes her marriage, it’s very important to her and her relationship with her husband and her home life, but as well really balances her career.  And I strive to do that every single day of my life, and now that I add the title “Mother” to it it’s even more so.

She’s very diplomatic, which I really like.  She’s very reasonable.  She seems to be a person that has a sense of knowing where to go down the middle when she’s helping the relationship between Peter and Neal, and I like that about her a lot.  She’s almost like a little therapist or something.  She always takes the middle road of really trying to get the boys to see both sides and I like that about her a lot.  She’s very diplomatic.  I like that she’s passionate.  She’s extremely passionate about everything that she does, and her marriage, her career and her relationships and all that.  I don’t know, I really admire her a lot.

On filming season two:

It’s a very different season for me than it was last year.  I just gave birth five weeks ago, almost five weeks ago, so I actually have been away.  What we did was because I couldn’t travel or fly because I was really, really pregnant when the season started, we actually ended up shooting, which I’m sure you might have seen on the premiere episode this season, my one scene, a lot of those episodes in the first six episodes I shot here in Los Angeles on a studio with a green screen behind me.  The two scenes I did with Tim and then the rest of them I did where I was pretending to be in San Francisco, that’s where you’ll start to see my character on an event, because I couldn’t be right in New York City to shoot with the rest of the cast.

I’m a bit away, I’m not in the first six episodes that much, but it was really interesting to see how they can maneuver me in the sense of making me look like I’m not as pregnant and shooting me from the waist up and not really showing.  I actually haven’t seen the cast and I actually leave next week to go back to New York and finish off the season with them, so I’m excited.

[Read more after the break!]

Thursday Open Thread: How’s your summer?

Mad props for Adam from TVDoneWright for coming up with this great open thread topic, and I have to say, it’s something that JC and I have been discussing over the last few weeks. And I’m sure you’ve felt it, too, what with how slow this site has been updating.

How’s your summer treating you? Too slow or just right?

I’m not saying there’s nothing on. I mean, give me Leverage and White Collar, and I’m all set. TNT and USA are packed with new TV episodes–and some new shows–so I shouldn’t be complaining. But somehow, most of them have fallen on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and I tend to forget when shows air. (Good thing I have a TiVo!) It’s almost as though the competition between the networks–putting their best shows against each other on the same night–is making me not watch instead of balancing between the two. That’s bad.

I happened to stumble across a new episode of Psych yesterday, and it was hilarious. Just the fact that I wasn’t keeping my eye out is sad! Madness, really.

For me, the summer’s just been dragging. I love my cable shows, but I need something more. What about you? Are you happy with your summer viewing experience, or do you want more more more? Can you wait until fall?

Let me know in the comments!

image courtesy of USA

I’m seriously forgetting to catch this man live on Tuesday night? How is that possible?

Q&A with Peter Gallagher of ‘Covert Affairs’

Tuesday nights just got a little more exciting.

Not only do we get to see great new episodes of White Collar starting tonight, but right after, you get a brand-new series! Covert Affairs stars Piper Perabo and Chris Gorham as two people working with the CIA–one, new to her job, doesn’t know why she’s been summoned as a new agent a month before her training is over, and the other, a tech ops expert who was blinded while on assignment and her unofficial guide. If the premise doesn’t grab you, then, how about this?

Peter Gallagher is also on the show, playing the team’s boss. Peter plays Arthur, the director of the Clandestine Service Department, and works along side his wife, Joan (played by Kari Matchett). You can read more about Arthur and all the other characters on the Covert Affairs official site.

But before you do, why not check out this Q&A with Gallagher himself? I was able to be on a conference call with him, and he was such a pleasure. As you can see, he has a lot to say about his new series–and his past work–and the only downside of the call was that he was bombarded with questions (if only I was able to squeeze in a couple)!

Anyway, he’s a lot of fun, and it’s a great read. And don’t forget to catch the series premiere of Covert Affairs tonight on USA!

*****

What made you want to be a part of the show? – Starry Constellation

Very simply, I wanted to work with Doug Liman and Dave Bartis again.  Doug Liman directed the pilot episode of The O.C. and he and Dave were producers on the first season of The O.C. and I just love these guys.  I love the way they tell stories.  I like the people they are.  In my experience, when the people at the top of an organization are people you respect and you like then chances are they’re going to surround themselves with other people that you feel the same way about.  And you know what?  That’s exactly what happened.  So I was drawn to working with Dave and Doug again.  As I say, I like the way they tell stories, because they’re powerful storytellers and they like to have the story they tell find a place in the world we live in.

Then they sent me the script because we’ve been talking about doing stuff.  I said, “Man, this is great.”  At that point I don’t know what kind of future Arthur Campbell had or has in the show, but he seems to be perking along and I’m having a great time.  Everybody on the show is great, so that’s why I’m there.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about the role?

Commuting to Toronto, but I love Toronto, so that’s not so bad.

Yes, you are a warm-weather man from The O.C.

Oh, but I’m New York born and raised, but you don’t have to spend much time in the warm weather before your blood gets a little thin.  That’s the truth.

*****

How would you describe Arthur’s relationship with Piper Perabo’s character on the show? – Examiner.com

Well, I think the cool thing about a series is we basically don’t know anything except what we know, which is just the extent of the episodes we’ve done and the ones we’ve read.  So what I would surmise is that Arthur is a busy guy and he is becoming very much aware of this very young and very valuable asset, Piper.  So she obviously has his attention and, judging from the last episode I shot, his respect.  So I think it’s an open relationship.

In watching the pilot, you had a therapy session scene with Joan.  Is that something we can plan on seeing a little bit more of?  How is filming those scenes?

I love it.  You know what the cool thing, the amazing thing is?  It’s true.  Think about it.  Apparently, in the CIA they encourage their agents to marry each other because you can’t talk to anybody who’s not in the agency about what you do.  You can’t even talk about everything that you do with somebody else in the agency.  So what they have is when people do get married, they actually have in-house marriage counselors that have been vetted and received security clearance, as well as the Starbucks baristas.  They go through a security clearance for a year.  So it’s a pretty interesting dynamic in that here are these two CIA agents, who are accustomed to dissembling or trying to find out the truth or whatever and they’re married and their therapist is at work too.  It’s a pretty unique situation I think.  Yes, I think there will be more of that.  I mean I think; I don’t know.  I’m still alive.  That’s all I can tell you.

*****

[Read more after the break!]

Q&A with Jeffrey Donovan & Gabrielle Anwar of ‘Burn Notice’

Last week, USA held a conference call with Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar of the cable juggernaut Burn Notice. It was a fun call, with a lot of interesting questions. Both Jeffrey and Gabrielle were genuinely nice and charming. If you’re interested in thoughts about possible USA series crossovers (Burn Notice and White Collar; wouldn’t that be fun?), Gabrielle’s thoughts on Fiona’s future, and what Jeffery thinks about action figures, check out the call below (and don’t forget, there’s more after the jump!).

Remember, tonight at 10 PM is the season finale of Burn Notice. Michael is mixing it up with a bomb-happy terrorist. According to the conference call, we might be seeing some locations other than Miami at the end of the episode, so keep your eyes open.

*****

First question I had, I just wondered if you could talk about, are you surprised at the success of this show?  And I know at times, for USA, the show is either competitive with NBC or sometimes even through passing and are you surprised with the following that it’s gotten over the years? – Media Blvd

J. Donovan: Well, I think that all you can hope for is that you make something that people want to watch and then somehow keep integrity while doing that.

And so I think we’re very happy with the ratings definitely.  I know we work really hard, so surprised, yes, we’re always surprised when anything succeeds in this day and age.

Okay, great.  And one for both of you, can you talk about your characters and just kind of the evolution that we’ve seen in your characters, and are you happy with where you guys have ended up with your characters?  And if you’re in charge of everything, where would you like to see them go I guess in the season or in the future?

G. Anwar: Do you think we’ve evolved?

I’m sure you could always do it better, I mean everybody’s got to have that feel for their character.

G. Anwar: I don’t know where we’re going, where are we going, Jeffrey?

J. Donovan: Well, I think that, I’ll speak for Gabrielle, I mean I know from talking with all the other cast mates, we’re very happy with where it’s going.  But sometimes Matt Nix and all the other writers keep us slightly in the character dark, not because they don’t trust us with the knowledge, but they’re just trying to figure it out as well along the way.

When you’re dealing with espionage and covert affairs, sometimes the secret is more exciting than the knowledge.  If we were both in charge, I would love a deeper insight into Michael’s past, that’s for me.  I don’t know about Gabrielle, what would you like?

G. Anwar: I’m quite happy with Fiona’s enigmatic state of being.  I don’t think I need to know more about, I’d love to know more about where you’re from, absolutely, but I quite like not knowing.  I don’t like to know who I am.

*****

[Read more after the jump!]

Burn Notice Giveaway!

What will Michael do now? See it starting tonight.

Get ready to get BURNED! The #1 show on cable returns with all new episodes. Don’t miss Tyne Daly & Clayne Crawford guest-starring in the Burn Notice winter premiere – “A Dark Road” – airing Thursday, January 21 at 10/9C. Become a Fan on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, and visit the Official Site to play Covert Ops: Vegas Heist (beginning 1/21) for a chance to win an all-new Hyundai Genesis Coupe!

You’ve got to go to those sites for details about the chance at the car, but I’m holding my own giveaway here on Raked.

Enter to win a Burn Notice tote filled with:

–        Season 1 & Season 2 DVDs

–        Burn Notice Branded Flashlight

–        Burn Notice Book: The End Game

–        Burn Notice T-Shirt

This prize pack is valued at $100 and is provided by USA Network. The contest is open to U.S. residents only, and entrants must be 18  years or older.

This is an awesome bag of stuff here. I’ll be jealous of the winner.

How to Enter:

This one’s easy. All you have to do is watch the premiere and come back here to tell me your favorite part of the episode in a comment. That’s it!

With all the action that goes on in this show–let alone the great guest star–I can’t imagine anyone will have trouble answering that question. Please note: There is only one entry per person for this giveaway.

Now, I know a lot of us our computer-fiends, so what if you don’t watch it live? Well, this contest is open until next Thursday, January 28, so you have a whole week to watch–but I highly recommend watching tonight!

I’ll be picking one commenter at random next Thursday as the totebag winner, so please make sure that when you write your answer, you include a way for me to contact you. Be sure to check your email, because if I don’t hear from you in a couple days, I’ll have to move on to a new winner.

And have fun watching Burn Notice tonight! And don’t forget: The White Collar giveaway is still open until the 26th, so hurry up and enter!

This contest is now closed and a winner has been notified.
Thanks for entering and for reading Raked Reviews!

White Collar Giveaway!

What is Peter up to? We might just find out tonight.

USA Network’s new hit series is back with all new episodes on an all new night. Don’t miss the return on Tuesday, January 19, at 10pm/9c! The season premiere picks up after December’s cliffhanger as Neal must infiltrate a company of corrupt Wall Street brokers to preserve his deal with the FBI. When Peter is forced to go undercover alongside him, a discovery is made that could change their partnership forever. Become a fan on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Visit The Official Website for your chance to WIN a new Taurus (beginning 1/19).

You’ve got to go to those sites for details about the chance at the car, but I’m holding my own giveaway here on Raked.

Enter to win a White Collar Gift Bag containing:

–        Cashmere Scarf
–        Links of London Leather Credit Card Case
–        Thomas Pink Custom Collar Stays
–        Stainless Steel Flask
–        White Collar T-Shirt

This prize pack is valued at $250 and is provided by USA Network. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, and entrants must be at least 18 years of age.

How to Enter:

This one’s easy. All you have to do is watch the premiere and come back here to tell me your favorite part of the episode in a comment. That’s it!

We’re talking real things here, not just “Matt Bomer is hot.” (Which, of course, he is.) Please note: There is only one entry per person for this giveaway.

Now, I know a lot of us our computer-fiends, so what if you don’t watch it live? Well, this contest is open until next Tuesday, January 26, so you have a whole week to watch–but I highly recommend watching tonight!

I’ll be picking one commenter at random next Tuesday as the prizepack winner, so please make sure that when you write your answer, you include a way for me to contact you. Be sure to check your email, because if I don’t hear from you in a couple days, I’ll have to move on to a new winner.

In the meantime, enjoy the return of White Collar! And if you haven’t already, check out the conference call with Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay!

The giveaway has now ended and a winner has been contacted.
Thanks for entering and reading Raked Reviews!

White Collar Conference Call

Last week, USA held a conference call with Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer, the two stars of USA’s hit series, White Collar. The show is coming back for its second season tomorrow, January 19th, at 10:00 pm. Since I love both this show, and Southland, my DVR will be working overtime tomorrow.

During the call, Bomer and DeKay spoke about character development, the new timeslot, and some of their side projects. Both actors were thoughtful and gracious, particularly Tim DeKay, who honestly came across as the nicest, most sincere human being on the face of the earth. I’m happy to see that White Collar has been successful so far. I was a huge fan of Carnivale, particularly of Jonesy, the character played by DeKay, so it’s good to see that he’s found some success on USA.

Check out the transcript below for answers to all your White Collar questions.

***

SmallScreenScoop.com: This question is for both of you.  It seems that both Neal and Peter seem to toe the line between right and wrong on the show, especially after seeing the cliffhanger in your fall finale.  My question is what types of real life shenanigans have you gotten yourselves into that you can draw inspiration from?

Matt Bomer: Tim, do you want to go?

Tim DeKay: I know we only have a little under an hour so I won’t be able to go through all of my real-life shenanigans.  That’s a good question.

Matt Bomer: I snuck my brother’s car out of the driveway in the middle of the night and was trying to run over trash cans with it.  I was 16 and I got a flat tire and literally tried to go to the gas station to put air back into it.  It was nothing but shredded rubber and the rim.  I came home and by the time I got home the rubber from the tire was literally slapping on the concrete so loud the entire neighborhood – my dad was waiting for me at the door and my license was revoked for quite some time.  I wouldn’t say that I have the same kind of criminal savvy that Neal does.

Tim DeKay: Is that a shenanigan?

Matt Bomer: If that’s not a shenanigan I don’t know what is.

SmallScreenScoop.com: That definitely qualifies for me, thank you.

Tim DeKay: That’s an excellent shenanigan; I can’t top that one.

[Read more after the jump!]