Friday, June 19, 2009

The Other Summer Drama

We all know and love Burn Notice, but what of it's successor Royal Pains? It seems like USA is trying to reproduce a formula - handsome young man, being punished for his precocity by the people who were supposed to be the good guys, decides to become a vigilante and use his powers for good. Michael Westen is a spy who gets burned by his government agency. Hank Lawson is an ER doctor who gets fired by his hospital. They both have some serious MacGyver skills - Westen can build a bomb with what you find in a hardware store, and Lawson can perform surgery with what you've got in the kitchen. Throw in a couple of sidekicks and/or family members, set everything at the beach, and boom - instant smash hit!

Time for a nap.

I will give USA some credit - the premiere of Royal Pains had some artistry to it, like the montage of Lawson's decline into destitution or crazy Ms. Newberg's wrap billowing in the wind as she looks over the Hamptons. And I dig Divya, Lawson's PA, an Indian American princess who dreams of doing something with her life. Sure, if this show was coming out on network TV in the fall, I probably wouldn't give it a second glance. But it's the summer - what else am I going to do, go outside?

Work it, Reshma Shetty.

6 comments:

Aunty Pol said...

I have to admit I am a die hard " Burn Notice " fangirl due to my love of all things Bruce Campbell...so of course the hubbs and I had to watch " Royal Pains"

Love it.

Take one ernest type and one slick party boy con man ..Moosh together and you have a summer hit.

It doesn't pretend to be better than it is, or preach to you...it's that little bit of chocolate in the bottom of the Drumstick sugar cone..just a pure treat.

Best regards

Monkey Sri said...

it's that little bit of chocolate in the bottom of the Drumstick sugar cone

Yes, yes, yes! Love this description - so vivid, so perfect. I'm totally going to steal it :P

Maggie Cats said...

This is the guy from The West Wing who dated Donna and then became the Deputy Chief of Staff, right? He is adorably short and verbose.

Monkey Sri said...

Yes! He played Cliff Calley in West Wing. Wasn't he the one who explained why the ashtrays on submarines have to cost $400? I remember that, like all good explanations, it included shattering things with a wrench.

Maggie Cats said...

No, I think the ash tray thing was Christian Slater since he was a naval officer (who was also dating Donna). But I am not 100% certain about that.

Monkey Sri said...

Hmm, you're probably right. Still doesn't detract from the awesomeness.