Tradecraft: Covert Action

Following their huge success with Burn Notice, USA Network is moving forward with another spy series, Covert Affairs. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the cable net has hired a casting director and "put out feelers" to agents with an eye toward casting the lead roles--signs that they're getting close to ordering a pilot. The trade describes the show as centering on Annie Walker, "a linguist and CIA trainee who is summoned to headquarters and given assignments assisted by blind tech expert Auggie Anderson. While she believes she's been recruited for her language skills, it might be an elusive former boyfriend her CIA bosses are after." Hm. The Alias-ish logline doesn't exactly brim with excitement (or convey an accurate understanding of what linguists do and how their skills apply to intelligence work), but exec producer Doug Liman (director of The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the upcoming Valerie Plame movie) has lots of impressive spy cred, so I've got faith. Plus, Burn Notice is the best spy show in a long, long while, so the network has a good track record right now. Covert Affairs is written by Matt Corman and Chris Ord.