USA pats themselves on the back for their formula.

I'd always thought that, despite Bruce Campbell, Burn Notice was a bit dark for their tone, but given that it used to be "in Newark, in rat-infested alleyways" I can see how they've done some work to make it more their own.

But what really caught my eye was the assertion that a network that ran 8 seasons of Monk was focussed on "aspirational, upbeat characters who don't view themselves as victims and aren't Debbie Downers."

Wow, that article made me more than a little ashamed that I adore White Collar and have watched In Plain Sight. I don't think I really want to be their audience...

Wow, that article made me more than a little ashamed that I adore White Collar and have watched In Plain Sight. I don't think I really want to be their audience...

Don't be a Debbie Downer, Cass.

Does anyone know anything about this new TNT show, with Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula? I like them both (so long as I ignore the existence of Enterprise), but the advertising makes it look kind of meh.

Still, Andre Braugher on my television!

Don't be a Debbie Downer, Cass.

::resolves to be an aspirational, upbeat character::

I just know it exists and I will watch it even though the premise sounds terrible and it also has Ray Romano. There is supposedly a preview video at tnt.tv, but it isn't playing for me.

Dude, they show *House* on USA. House makes *me* feel better, but that's because I'm not right. I mean, that's like showing your "Family values" with the "Emanuel Follies", right? And, yeah, I'm kind of excited by the Braugher show. Love him, and have seen Diner five times. I think that's all you need for that one, right? Ha...does that make Romano Old!Turtle?

Consuela, it's a show about men going through a midlife crisis. I love Braugher, but I don't think I like him that much. Ray is a toss-up. I like his standup and he's nice. It's the premise.

I rewatched the season finale of In Plain Sight last night and have resolved to make it my series finale. I loved those characters and cannot, for the life of me, see how messing with that formula occurs to anyone as a good idea.

So, Mary will become happy-slappy now...no more morose realism? Feh. What a waste.

And I'm with ita. Monk isn't a Debbie Downer? Then again, maybe that's one of the reasons the series is ending. Apparently, success isn't part of their business plan. Again, I say, feh.

If you take a close look at Burn Notice, it's basically MacGyver with some fun sex and buddies involved

As someone who enjoys the show, I would never have described it that way. That whole article felt insulting to people who actually watch their shows.