Tradecraft: CBS Buys Mission: Impossible-like Spy Drama From James Patterson

CBS has bought a spy drama, Stingray (no relation to the Stephen J. Cannell series of the same name), written by David Marshall Grant (Code Black) based on a novella by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski. According to Deadline, "Stingray is described as a fun, adrenaline-fueled drama in the tradition of Mission: Impossible and Ocean’s Eleven. It centers on a group of ex-con artists who work for the FBI, using their amazing transformational skills and elaborate deceptions to take down the most elusive criminals." Hm, okay, maybe it is a little bit like that Cannell drama... though that was a loner who used his amazing transformational skills and elaborate deceptions to take down the most elusive criminals, not a group. No, no, it's not based on that, but it certainly sounds in the tradition of not only Mission: Impossible, but also other shows I've loved like The Saint, Burn Notice, Hustle and Leverage. It's a good formula, and I hope this one works as well as those others.