The USA channel show In Plain Sight is going to be returning tonight! Yes, tonight – March 16, 2012. Mary (Mary McCormack) will be back after maternity leave, and Brandi (Nichole Hiltz), … well, I’m assuming she will still be single after last season’s cliff hanger. I sure hope we get to see more of Jinx (Lesley Ann Warren) this season, and I also hope this show is not in its last season! (It’s going to be bad enough losing The Closer after this summer’s run!)
In Plain Sight is one of my favorite shows. It ranks (for me) right up there with TNT’s The Closer. Both of these shows are on “non-major” networks, which may have something to do with how women are portrayed on the major networks, and perhaps because they aren’t major network shows, the writers try harder. (I don’t know of any really good shows that feature strong, female leads on the major networks. – I’m sure though, that I will hear from people who know of such shows, they just aren’t shows that have “hooked me” into watching them.)
And, the writers have managed to make the male characters on the show interesting, also. I love Marshall Marshall Mann (Frederick Weller), Mary’s long-suffering boss Stan (Paul Ben-Victor), and think Brandi made a terrible mistake with Peter (Joshua Malina). As for Raphael (Cristián de la Fuente), well… what’s to say? I guess Mary just didn’t want to be burdened with absolute perfection!
If you haven’t already watched In Plain Sight, I strongly recommend that you do. (I would definitely watch it chronologically, though.) If you are a fan (as I am!): Get over to your DVR right now, or make sure you are watching tonight as Albuquerque’s Witness Protection marshalls do their thing!
linda says
I think “The Good Wife” seems to be about a strong woman. “The West Wing” had strong women mixed in the fold. Except for sports I seldom watch the major networks. As I have said before most cops and robber shows are just that, no real mystery in any of these shows. I am so disappointed with “Harry’s Law.” I have always loved Kathy Bates and she does a very good acting part on this show. But I think the writing is so hokie. I listen and watch the news out of Cincinnati and I am telling you, a lot of those crooks in real life don’t begin to relate to the crooks on that show.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, my daughter and I were hooked on The Good Wife at the beginning of its run. There were just some things that started to annoy us, so we left the show. (I remember that one of the things I absolutely could not stand was the son acting like one of the Hardy Boys and deciding to not involve his parents in a rather important thing that was going on at the time. Also, the son’s whole Facebook-like ordeal with his girlfriend was just too much for me. I guess that makes it two things I remember…)
As for West Wing, I always saw that as more of an all-boys show. Of course, there were some female secretaries in it during the first few years. I dropped that show when I thought it just got too “let-us-tell-you-how-to-think” preachy for me.
(Yikes! I must be in a terrible mood to come down so strong on these two shows!)
linda says
I don’t mind your coming on strong about these 2 shows Danna. I really only watched “The West Wing” on cable TV. At the time this show was on the network I was still working and it was shown just too late for me.
As I have said before I rarely watch the regular network TV. A lot of the network crime shows throw me off on their openings of the show. Most of the women are portrayed as being just modern day “Wonder Women.” This reminds me of the opening for “Walker Texas, Ranger.” Superman in a cowboy hat!!
One show that I do like to watch from time to time on cable is “Cold Case.” I think that one is kind of good sometimes. Can’t think of the actresses name but I do like the part she plays.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, we are so lucky to be in the time zone that airs the prime time shows between 7:00 and 10:00.
Kalena says
Both these shows are favorites of mine and I just found another that I think looks very promising – “Missing” starring Ashley Judd which premiered on ABC last night. Did anyone else enjoy it?
Sheila says
Yes I watched it and really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for Thursday.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Kalena and Sheila, for telling us about Missing. I have it set up to be recorded. I’m glad they are re-airing the pilot on Wednesday night.
kaye says
I love In Plain Sight but I think this is the final season. Boooooo hooooo. I’ll miss them. Mary and Marshall are so perfect together.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kaye, my daughter and I watched the show this morning and are already sad about this being the last season. I’m glad I wrote the reminder, ’cause after reading the comments this entry got, I added Ashley Judd’s Missing to my DVR queue.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oh, I forgot about one show that was on one of the major networks – which featured a strong, female lead. NBC brought us the USA version of Prime Suspect this past year, with Maria Bello as Jane Timoney. I was really sorry NBC cancelled that show. My daughter and I actually talked about what a good show it turned out to be, and how we thought it would have done really well on a non major network channel.
There’s a reason a lot of people end up watching a whole lot of British television shows!
Pamela says
Sadly this is the last season.
USA network has had some outstanding series including In Plain Sight, Monk, Burn Notice. But the new series on USA seem directed at younger audiences. For example the CIA show and Barely Legal with their long legged female stars wearing designer clothes and $600 shoes.
Burden of Proof on ABC offers strong female leads. But most TV shows are reality based on some “famous” person or family or group. I will just read and wait for baseball season.
Thanks for all of your hard work. I live for your posting of new books.
linda says
Pamela, The tv show “2 broke girls” is a joke. those 200 dollar shoes they wear! i have to buy mine at wal mart. sometimes i can buy my shoes at Sear’s if they are having a good sale!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pamela, my daughter and I saw an ad for USA’s Fairly Legal during In Plain Sight, and I can see what you mean about a different demographic. I’m not sure why the actress does the “sex kitten pout” pose at the end of the commercial, nor am I sure why the picture on USA’s official website has the actress with her pinky in her mouth…
Oh, wait a minute, I guess I am sure why!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Let me add one more Fairly Legal tidbit: I was just searching the USA channel’s site for information about In Plain Sight, when I clicked on one of their links. The picture of the Fairly Legal actress on this link had her posing with her index finger in her mouth. (The other picture on the USA site shows her with her pinky in her mouth.)
Maybe if In Plain Sight‘s Mary would pose with both of her index fingers in her mouth – this wouldn’t be the last season! Just wonderin’…
Shirley says
hi Danna 3/17/12
Happy Leprechaun Day…..watch out! smile
They have a new show on Channel 9 (CBS) on Tuesday night at 10 p.m. called Unforgettable……about a police woman that never forgets anything in the past or now. She is one of five police women and men who gets the killer, but they do because she always remembers some small clue that helps solve the case.
I love this show and this show has already showed and will be around for next year, too. Watch it! You will see what I mean. grin. It really is a good hour of enjoyment.
Not good with names but she is a star.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oh my goodness, Shirley! I forgot to post a Happy St. Patrick’s Day picture and greeting! I hope you had a great day, also.
Thanks for the tip about the CBS show Unforgettable. I’ll try to give it a try…
linda says
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. Sure is a beautiful day here in Ohio.
I am reading “V is for Vengence” by Sue Grafton this weekend. I have a large pot of vegetable soup cooking and that is my Happy St. Patrick’s Day gift to myself. Taking a day off!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, it sounds like you spent St. Patrick’s Day exactly the way you wanted.
(A large pot of vegetable soup sounds like work to me!)
linda says
No Danna. my vegetable soup was a piece of cake. Just buy the frozen corn, green beans, a large bag of mixed veggies, a large can of whole peeled tomatoes, some tomato soup, some tomato sauce. Throw all of this in a large crock pot type cooker. Add some already chopped up ground chuck, a few real potatoes and some beef bullion cubes. For cabbage I just bought a large bag of cole slaw mix. Add some salt and pepper and that’s it. For bread I just put a tube of biscuts in the oven. For dessert I just opened up a box of Oreo’s!! Happy birthday Oreos!!!!!!!!!
This all took about 15 minutes total. I will never be able to say that I am a Julia Child wannabe but hey, the soup was good. This was done on Saturday morning and after that I sat outside all day and read!
I can cook from scratch but normally people won’t eat it!!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, your soup’s description sounds like something I would enjoy making. I love that you use frozen and canned vegetables.
I have almost all of JoAnna Lund’s cookbooks, and she does that a lot, too. I just can’t see wasting time chop, chop, chopping, when I could just pour, pour, pour (out of the open bags and cans.)
Your description makes me think that maybe I should do an entry where everyone shares a favorite (hopefully easy!) recipe. I know it would have nothing to do with mysteries, but let’s face it, we all eat!
linda says
Danna, There are a lot of the Cozy mysteries that have some sort of eating mixed in with the murder. I don’t see how anyone who reads these kind of mysteries cannot eat!
There is one that has some sort of chocolate (can’t think of the author). But while this is a good series I have to keep telling myself that chocolate will trigger a very bad migraine!!! darn it!!! How can something that taste so good be so bad for me!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, that’s really bad luck to have chocolate triggering migraines! Yow! Does coffee affect you that way, also?
Dru says
I love this show and I’m so sad this is the last season. I do hope we get to see more of Jinx.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I know, Dru. I feel the same way about Jinx. As soon as she got that phone call from Florida, I thought it might be reminiscent of the seasons that had Brandi off some place, while Jinx was busy doing something on her own. I hope that’s not the case. I think both characters add so much to the show, although Marshall and Mary can certainly carry the show by themselves.
Angie says
Does anyone know of anywhere I can DVR the other years of In Plain Sight? I’m hoping someone will replay the show so we can watch it from the start. It really sounds like a great show.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sorry, Angie, the only places I know that have the In Plain Sight past seasons are places like Amazon and Netflix.
Misty says
Angie – You should go to your local public library and check out the movie/DVD section. I have done this several times when a friend has suggested a series and “rented” all the past seasons to get caught up with the current one. Hope your library has what you are looking for.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Terrific idea, Misty!
Salena says
I noticed today that TV Land has started showing Murder, She Wrote episodes. I don’t know how long they have been on.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Salena. Hopefully everyone with a Murder, She Wrote craving will see your post!