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Herc’s Seen USA’s New Romantic CIA Drama COVERT AFFAIRS!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
A romantic CIA drama from “Deck The Halls” writers Matt Corman & Chris Ord, USA’s “Covert Affairs” stars piping hot Piper Perabo (“Coyote Ugly,” “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”), Christopher Gorham (“Jake 2.0,” “Ugly Betty”), Keri Matchett (“Invasion,” “Studio 60,” “ER,” “Crash”), Peter Gallagher (“The OC”) and Anne Dudek (“House,” “Mad Men,” “Big Love”). Spoiler alert! Just like Sydney Bristow and Clarice Starling and the FBI girl from “Haven,” it looks like Perabo’s character’s big brain is not the only reason she’s getting a few choice assignments. I loved “Alias” and like Perabo and thought the “Covert” pilot started well, but by the end I grew convinced the project was just too airy to make me bother with its second episode. USA Today says:
… Beautiful young female spy, sad romantic past, conspiracy-filled future: Surely by now you're thinking Alias. And certainly when Perabo pops up on screen in her more eye-popping outfits, that's where your mind will wander. Still, in keeping with USA's sunnier outlook, this is a far lighter show than Alias: less complicated, less morally complex, less deep and, while fun, just simply "less." Even on its own simpler-pleasures terms, Covert could use a little more heft. In the pilot, Auggie's blindness plays like a gimmick; Joan's marital problems (with husband Peter Gallagher) don't play at all. Plug the holes, and this could be an Affairs to remember.
… “Covert Affairs” is fun and clever and Ms. Perabo has panache in the role. The show has a bad habit of blasting maudlin pop ballads to signal Annie’s moodier moments, but the action scenes — particularly a hotel room barrage of sniper fire in the pilot episode — are first rate. The series is not as taut or intense as “24” or the “Bourne” trilogy; at times it’s closer in spirit to “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.” But at a moment when the nation seems nostalgic for cold war simplicity, this espionage drama answers the call.
… may not have the revenge factor of "Burn Notice" or the bromantic banter of "White Collar," but it's fast-paced, fun and every bit as charming. … Neither as bumbling as Chuck nor as predictably lethal as Bourne, Annie is a convincing novice, with just enough special training (not to mention all those languages!) to keep her alive but not so many to make her Angelina Jolie scary. At its heart, "Covert Affairs" is about Every Woman Starting a New Job. Because of course it isn't just the bullets and the high-speed car chases that have Annie so frazzled, it's the internal politics, the possibly double-agent new colleagues and Annie's inability to forget That Guy. …
… things on USA shows aren't ever supposed to get too heavy. So why does "Covert Affairs," a new USA show that features tropical beaches, skydiving and spy games, feel so leaden? True, it's not exactly heavy, but it also isn't particularly engaging. There are quite a few chase scenes and action sequences as newly minted CIA spy Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) gets on-the-job training in the pilot episode, but those scenes end up being quite boring, because the show and Perabo's performance don't do much to make the viewer care about Annie or her goals. During one chase scene, I found myself more concerned about the random passersby that Annie might careen into than in the spy herself. Less action, more character development and a more charismatic lead might have helped "Covert Affairs" stand out from the crowded summer cable calendar, but as it is, I can't see a reason to tune in again. …
… Predictable espionage procedurals are not exactly the cure for predictable murder procedurals, but compared to "Rizzoli & Isles," USA's new series "Covert Affairs," debuting Tuesday night, has a lot more zip to offer. … Bullets fly, Annie runs around a lot, the BlackBerry gets lost, then found. And then there's this and then there's that, requiring Perabo to play cute and tough and sexy and smart all at once -- which, by gosh, she can do. A perpetual motion machine, Perabo is fun to watch. …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… a propulsive and entertaining if somewhat bland 90-minute pilot … Pretty much every character and character trait will be old-hat to regular TV viewers but director Tim Matheson makes the pilot episode hang together pretty well. The actors are likeable and writers/creators Matt Corman and Chris Ord do a decent if unexceptional job of introducing the characters, their relationships and situations. Like so many USA shows, "Covert Affairs" is an entertaining enough diversion without depth -- upbeat, spirited programming that's the TV equivalent of junk food.
… The pilot script by Matt Corman and Chris Ord (whose work belies their only previous screen credit, "Deck the Halls") strikes a smart balance between the relationship scenes (there's obvious chemistry between Perabo and Gorham, and Annie also takes a shine to a handsome young agent who works for Arthur) and the actual spy mission, which involves a Russian assassin named Stas who wants to come in from the cold. (And in this post-9/11 era, it's almost comforting to hear such a phrase from Cold War days that seem so much safer in hindsight.) Perabo has a lot of unfortunate titles on her resume, first making a splash (sort of) in "Coyote Ugly" and "The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle," but she's quite good here. The polygraph scene is there to dump a lot of exposition on the audience in a short period of time, but there's a nice moment where the interviewer, clearly trying to judge her self-control as well as her honesty, asks her whether the sex with an ex-boyfriend was good. Annie smiles, not phased or embarrassed at all, and says, "It rocked."… for all that “Alias” fans complain about the nonsensical story arcs in retrospect, if they weren’t there at the moment and the show was just Garner fighting in various wigs and fetish outfits, would the show have been half as addictive? The trick isn’t to ditch serialized stories, but to do good serialized stories. Maybe the bigger “Covert Affairs” arc will turn out to be a dud, but in Perabo, her co-stars and this world, the show has a solid foundation to build on.
… Compared to the network’s other mild fare (“Psych,” “White Collar”), “Covert” stands out as the most handsomely produced and gifted with a superior cast. Boston native Anne Dudek (“House”) plays Annie’s older sister, a married mother of two who is clueless about Annie’s work, and “Heroes” veteran Sendhil Ramamurthy joins the show next week. Gorham has never had a better role. Perabo’s cheekbones could probably cut your TV screen. If the show can strike a balance between chuckles and capers, “Covert Affairs” won’t be a secret. It will be USA Network’s biggest hit.
... “Covert Affairs’’ is essentially a lightweight version of “Alias,’’ with a far more sexed-up star, a simpler story line, and a more openly comic tone. … The mood is bright and whimsical — easy to take and just as easy to forget.
… perfect summer television -- just turn off the excess brain cells and let Agent Walker do the seduction, and the shooting, for you.
… based strictly on this first assignment, USA -- which will launch the show behind the similarly themed "White Collar" -- probably won't have to worry about "Affairs" remaining covert for long. …
10 p.m. Tuesday. USA.
“Mr. Show: The Complete Series,” $47.49 last week, is momentarily $20.99!! (58% Off!!)
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people are idiots
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ensures that I will never see this garbage. It makes me quite sick.
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To much network input and the creators trying to impress the suits to get picked up. I usually give a show 4-6 episodes before giving up on it. I dreaded Spartacus' pilot, but stuck with it long enough for the payoff that was one of the best shows on TV and the best season finale I saw in years that still has my jaw laying on the floor. I'll give this show 4 episodes to win me over, USA has been on a pretty big roll lately with quality TV so I'll give them a commitment of at least 4 weeks.
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And be checking out at least the first few episodes. And I agree with what CC0N99 said. Sometimes it takes a show a while to get going, aren't USA shows pretty short in the seasons anyway? I liked Alias, and don't really expect this to be a straight replacement for that.
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and I don't even like blonds all that much but damn she ain't to shabby.
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Jul 13, 2010 6:15:15 AM CDT
Low rent Bourne . . . YAWN... Who cares about shit like this?
by jonchambers
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...I've waited ten long years since Coyote Ugly to see Piper Perabo in "eye popping outfits" again.
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The star of Alias was a broad-shouldered, square-jawed, deep-voiced man of a woman.
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Jul 13, 2010 6:36:10 AM CDT
The young, hot, female spy or FBI agent genre needs to die!
by hollywoodhellraiser
Shit is so fucking unbelieveable I can't understand why some support that shit?Look at the commericals for Angeline Jolie Salt and tell me you don't laugh at the irony!I mean Salt is supposed to be a spy but in the trailers she practically calls attention to herself and even have the walking in slo-mo to boot!Aren't spies supposed to blend in? Look at The Long Kiss Goodnight and you'll understand why Geena Davis character was absolutely great!Look like a regular housewife and stay a housewife til her memories was completely back, then she was even more badass than before!
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They are only the two biggest televised events airing last night and tonight...you'd think we'd get a talkback to discuss them. Come on Herc
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Jul 13, 2010 7:26:35 AM CDT
"Never judge a series by it's pilot."
by ooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuutttttlllllaaaaa
I agree. Lost's pilot was great and that ended up being horrible.
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I Absolutely adore this girl, but I have to agree with HollywoodHellraiser...This genre is worn out.
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..10 years ago.
But I've been wrong before (Rachael Leigh Cook, Jordana Brewster, etc) -
Jennifer Garner takes shits that look better then anything you have banged.
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piper's a quite bit on the skinny, with the figure of a 7 year old boy side. What's there to look at?
at least Garner could fill out her skimpy outfits. -
when Alias is the target for a spy show
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Pipers character name is AGENT WALKER?!
**CHUCKS blonde love interest whos an agent and named Agent Walker.
Pipers sidekick in the show is a computer geek.....come on! its so obvious , im surprised NBC hasnt filed a lawsuit yet. -
Though I'm kinda thinking this might suck, USA has been kicking ass for the past few years. Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, White Collar. It's worth a shot for me.
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Fuck this stupid stupid world. Fuck it up its stupid stupid ass. Hey why not just make it a period piece with the CIA's ousting of democratically elected Chilean leader Salvadore Allende and call it "Romancing Pinochet."
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An endless series of spy and vampire shows. Ok, purgatory, maybe.
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Anyone notice that? I'm sure this article mentions her name but I couldn't be assed scrolling back up. But doesn't the lead look like Jennifer Garner? At least in the trailer.
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about the figures of young boys. No summer camp jobs for you.
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And these shows misses both demographics. Just get me that Spielberg dinosaur project.
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to qualify as New Romantic in my book.
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She has an unconventional look but she makes my pee-pee feel funny!
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They own USA...
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....because Joss Whedon didn't make it
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Comparing her to feces. For shame!
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Glad that jumped out at someone else, too! I'm not one to call shenanigans at a new show- especially one I'll probably not get to see for some time- but the 'Agent Walker' name was at the very least unwisely picked.
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comes across as very charismatic
I have yet to see a performance of hers that I didn't enjoy
Anne Dudek is always fun
I'll tune in even though it has jake 2.0 guy and his moe hair cut -
to lie?
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if she had some boobs. Oh well. PASS.
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Damn that was funny. Thank you.
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you are a douche bag herc, biggest event on network TV tonight and no mention? Are you sure you should be running the TV column?
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So you work for the CIA, didn't have a good day so you talk all about it openly at a bar over drink with other recruits? Count how many times the word CIA is mentioned and then take a vodka shot. Guaranteed to be drunk after 10 minutes. Lazy writing, boring, one of the worst shows in this year's crop of new shows.
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I have no idea why though. I think that gap in her front teeth kind of makes her attainable.
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are perfectly cromulent
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hate it when they merge spy stuff with personal relationship stuff. spies get married and thats it, unless they are one of those spy whores.
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http://tinyurl.com/d4etsa
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Every agent cheating, drugging, betraying, killing . . .
I'd like that. I bet you would too. Don't deny it. -
and btw, I'm intelligent enough to differentiate between pretty women and ugly women. The actress in this show has the face of a pony, and im not sexually attracted to ponys.
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and like someone said upthread about another actress but it applies here
She's taken shits hotter than anything you've ever hit -
Jul 14, 2010 12:22:02 AM CDT
I guess you are easily sexually attracted to people
by dioxholsterreturns
I on the other hand am not. I know prettier girls than her and I dont even consider them beautiful.
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Judging by the pilot that was USA Networks first big misfire for a summer show. The pilot didn't make me want to watch another episode. Keri Matchett is still very fuckable.
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http://tinyurl.com/32ll33d meh whatever, i guess its a step up from morning street hooker.
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then you have a place at the table until then keep jerking off to slags on all the various canceled Stargate shows.
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All the male characters.
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not as bad as an Eric Balfour, but beware.
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Man you nailed that, I didn't watch the pilot yet but seeing Gorhams name involved tells me it may have a real short shelf life. Same with Haven and Balfour. I love Emily Rose but Haven, at least based off of the pilot, is slow going and boring. It better pick up a bit this week or I will remove it from my DVR.
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Talk about some cookie cutter shit. You could literally take the CIA out of this show and replace it with a high-end law firm or some other corporate vacuum and have the same fucking tripe of a show usually mass-marketed to lonely women. It'll probably be a massive hit.
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I am half way in or so and I think its pretty entertaining. I love Piper in this role. She does remind me a lot of Garner. Both have a similar look and way about them. I wonder how the ratings were? I hope it does well, would love to catch Mrs Perabo every week for a while.
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through the roooooooof :)
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but it was really really bad. Boring. It's pretty obvious why she's there. Oh look... here's your secret past. And I didn't buy Emily Rose for a second as the FBI agent Audrey Parker. Put her in a cheerleading outfit, and yeah, I'd buy that. But come on! I haven't watched Covert Affairs yet. Alias ... ah what a fantastic show, great female lead that you could believe in. Piper Perabo? Why do they cast these women? You know, us women need strong female leads we can believe it. That's why so many of us loved Alias. Can't they cast an actress who is hot (for the guys) and believable (for the women)?
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Gorham was pretty convincing, I actually liked him in this role. And at the end when Piper is dancing in that bikini with that guy from the beginning of the show? I had one thought watching that..
DAT ASSS DAT ASSSS Man she has a great assssss. I will be watching next week. -
Trust me, Piper was good and believable. Give it a chance, its not Alias but its good summer programming.
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add this to rookie blues
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i swear he guest stars and directs in episodes on practically every show they make
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i've liked him in other stuff but I was not a fan here ... anyone notice him make eye contact with perabo a few times, and clearly grab newly placed things without reaching or fumbling at all ... plus a guy whos been made blind a few years ago wouldnt be strutting down the halls like hes been blind his whole life, nor would he be in charge of tech or anything else remotely ground-breaking at the cia... hed probably still be in bed learning braille.
And RE perabo, her character was written like a moron in the first few minutes ... volunteering to her superior shes scrwing another instructor? Asking the guy for details on her assignment? Please, anyone who got the best scores in decades wouldnt walk into that office like a ditz with her head up her ass.
So yeah, not a fan of this craptacular show, or at least its pilot. -
Rather go rewatch season 1 of Alias then sit through that boring shit. No sense of tension at all; its just so bad.
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Amazing that on a lot of other boards people think its a decent show especially for Summer time. But surprisingly the douchebag talkbackers have to keep up the front that all tv shows suck in fact everything sucks. Its amazing this site is still up and in this business with how idiotic the talkbackers are.
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It is kind of Alias light but it was fun and I like the little jokes mixed with the action. I'll be tuning in.
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will keep me watching,plus it was fun,and kari from invasion is blazin hot as well
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I really really enjoyed Covert Affairs. There was something about how Piper played her character that I totally bought into her. when she was running down that assassin, she didn't run in some stupid girly way, but REALLY went after that guy. I was a bit disappointed that she didn't do a better job of taking him down (after all, they did mention she dated her martial arts instructor). However, overall, really nice show. Perabo is pretty without being too pretty, athletically built and well... I'm sold. I'll be tuning in again and have it on my DVR record list.
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