There’s a new episode of Burn Notice on tonight, and since its 2007 premiere, I’ve been a big fan of Jeffrey Donovan’s burned-spy Michael Westin. But starting last season, with the increased use of Tricia Helfer as a meanie trying to control Michael’s life, Burn Notice hasn’t been as fast-paced and clever. I like Helfer in Battlestar Galactica, of course, but in Burn, she’s now the element that drags the action to a halt every time. (It’s not her fault, it’s the way the role is written.) The show’s gotten bogged down to the point where, last week, our usually-confident Michael was reduced to whining, “I want my life back!”

I agree with my colleague Alynda Wheat, who wrote that the show has become “laden with a frustrating mythology [and] soggy emotional ties.” There’s also, to my eye, even less chemistry this season between Michael and Gabrielle Anwar’s Fiona. (Still love Bruce Campbell, though–all he has to do is walk around being Bruce Campbell and it doesn’t matter what his lines or subplot is.)

But I want my original, spunky, stream-lined, full-of-secret-spy-tricks Burn Notice back. Do you agree? Are you still watching?

For more Burn Notice:

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20203836,00.html

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20043337,00.html

Chloe on 24:

“Are you with the FBI?”

Chloe (looking–what else?–annoyed): “No, I’m a stay-at-home mom.”

Keith Olbermann on Countdown, after playing clip of Rod Blagojevich’s feeble Nixon impersonation on yesterday’s The View (imagine Keith’s tone very–what else?–skeptical):

“Wow, it’s so uncanny. Frank Langella can go s—- himself, huh?”

It’s been reported that Kim Manners, a prolific, highly imaginative director and producer of TV shows including Supernatural and The X Files, died on Sunday. The cause was cancer. More details here and here.

Manners was among the people who helped Supernatural creator Eric Kripke define the invitingly dark visual palette of Supernatural; he directed numerous episodes of the series, including every season finale–crucial entries in the series that set up cliffhangers which moved the mythology of the series forward.

For The X Files, Manners was credited as a producer for some of that series’ greatest episodes, including the Emmy-winning “Jose Chung’s ‘From Outer Space’” and “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” and directed such memorable entries as the creepy-funny “Leonard Betts.”

Manners was a subtle artist working in a commercial medium that doesn’t always prize such qualities. (Manners also directed a number of episodes of the terrific 1993-94 cult series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.) He was lucky to have found sympathetic creators to collaborate with, such as Kripke and X Files‘ Chris Carter. And they were lucky to work with him.

Rod Blagojevich, the man with a meatloaf for a hairdo, the accused/disgraced Illinois governor, is unavoidable–he’s all over TV today. He made a buff-up-your-image appearance on The View this morning. He’ll be on Larry King Live tonight. He was also on Good Morning America and The Today Show early this morning, showing an impressive, if egomaniacal, display of film history, comparing himself to Jimmy Stewart and Gary Cooper and citing such classics as Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, It’s A Wonderful Life, Meet John Doe, and Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. (Maybe the first time he watched it, he thought the title was Mr. Deeds Owns The Town, and tried to model himself accordingly.)

On The View, Elizabeth Hasselbeck wasn’t present (there was a death in her family–our condolences to her), and Barbara Walters was on via satellite from LA. She conducted a one-on-one interview, sedate and typically blah, before Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, and Sherri Shepherd were allowed onstage to dig into the meatloaf in person.

Unfortunately, the gals couldn’t stick a fork in him. Blogojevich yammered on and on about not being able to defend himself sufficiently in his upcoming impeachment trial. Whoopi and Joy, usually champion interrupters of each other, failed to interrupt blabby Blago. I really expected better from Joy in particular–she squandered her time asking about the governor’s “potty mouth” (who cares?) and asking him to do his Nixon impersonation (really who-cares?).

Does this actually mean we’ll have to pin our hopes on Larry King doing a decent meatloaf-grilling tonight on Larry King Live? Sheesh. When you have to look to ol’ Mumbly Suspenders for your TV scoops, you know a pop-culture/political scandal is losing steam.

What do you think of letting a guy like this do a media tour to polish his public image? Are you a Blago-phile or a Blago-phobe?

Remember when I wrote in this space that I wanted to get into Supernatural, and asked for your help? Well, thanks much! I am now thoroughly immersed in the ‘Natural now, and last night’s new episode, the evocatively titled “Criss Angel Is A Douchebag,” was pretty terrific, wasn’t it? I liked the way the episode mixed a stand-alone mystery (something is enabling an old magaician to regain his skills while also killing other people when he performs tricks) with a nice dollop of Supernatural mythology (Sam’s temptation by Ruby to go off with her).

The episode, written by Julie Siege (great name for a writer), included both a nice swipe at pseudo-punk-magician Criss Angel (not just in the title but in the character of the obnoxious “Jeb Dexter”) and dexterous performances by veteran actors Barry Bostwick, John Rubenstein, and Richard Libertini.

Am I right, Supernatural fans? Was this a good one, a solid B+, or am I just operating with the enthusiasm of a newbie? And thanks again for all your episode-recommendations–I’m plowing through much of the past seasons based on your suggestions.