Television during the 1980s were a decade of Magnum, P.I., The Equalizer, The Dukes of Hazzard, The A-Team, and MacGyver – heroes on either side of the law wandering throughout the world fighting the good fight for those that can’t fight for themselves against those that are above the law. Now, those days are here again on with two addictive and cool cable shows.
USA Network’s Burn Notice blacklisted Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) uses his covert training as a freelance spy/investigator to help those in need while trying to find out who burned him in the intelligence community and why. Michael is a cross between McCall and MacGyver: a freelance troubleshooter that is available to handle to special problems, using his brain and brawn to outwit — and outsmart –his enemies and bring them to justice.
TNT’s new hit Leverage follows an elite team of hackers, thieves, and con artists led by former insurance investigator Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton), the honest man living in a dishonest world. As Robin Hoods of this Great Recession, this modern-day A-Team targets corrupt businessmen and morally bankrupt officials of government and law enforcement on behalf of the helpless and the powerless. “Sometimes bad guys make the best good guys” said Ford of Leverage Consulting & Associates.
Both Burn Notice and Leverage have been renewed, and though new episodes won’t air until this summer, it is still worth the wait. These two shows are filled with action, adventure, humor, excitement, and fun, as they’re about fighting injustice, getting even, and standing up for the little guy.
“I love it when a plan comes together”
– Col. John “Hannibal” Smith (George Peppard, The A-Team)
