This Collar Looks Good.

I am not an easy judge of any media I consume. Frankly, I'm a bit of a downer when it comes to tv shows and movies that have mass appeal. I probably nit pick and denigrate more than I should.
Maybe this was the case with season one of White Collar. Regardless, I can authoritatively say (because I have my own blog) that season two is a refreshing breath of air and a quality summer dalliance.
The show revolves around a con man who has turned his skills into an asset of the FBI. This is still the essential plot in the second season, except the running theme isn't a chase for an annoying ex-gf, but rather exploring who killed her. This is a plus for two reasons: 1, Our hero is better as a swinging single and 2, It has introduced a mysterious bad guy who actually has some balls. (Even if we don't know who this is, at least we know he or she likes killing.)
Additionally, it has allowed one of my favorite characters, Alex (Gloria Votsis with plenty of time since GATES was canceled) to enjoy an expanded role. She was the girl Neal kept at an arms length before, but now seems poised to enter his life in a closer way.
The other fun piece of the puzzle is Marsha Thomason as the hot/sexy FBI agent working under Peter. She helps even things out in terms of pressence against the overwhelming persona that is Neal. She also benefits from an off the books endeavor with Peter, which has them running a parallel investigation to Neal's snooping.
All in all, the show is fun and good. Some might even say good fun. It still utilizes the episodic format, but with a good amount of running stories and a reduction of Kelly from saved by the bell.
The best part is, you can't get involved now on PRIMETIME ON DEMAND and skip out on the waste that was season one.

Dressed for Success

I want people to understand that I don't like White Collar. There are a few elements that are enjoyable, such as the bald sidekick, our protagonist's smile (I'm fine with my manhood) and the recurring con artist Alex. I'll get back to Alex in a second, but first i need to vent.
This show is insanely formulaic. It masquerades as something more than it is, yet in the end it's just another chirpy USA action-comedy. Since it's NY they just don't need sunglasses or shiny open collared shirts. They mix it up with white collars that have ties, but accessorize with trendy jackets and hats!
My problem, aside from this tired and overdone recreation, is that it's all too convenient. Much like an episode of Law & Order, the dominoes always fall for these guys. This is very frustrating, especially because this show presents a very interesting premise and has two excellent leads. Neil is amazing suave, possessing more charm than Michael Westin, and the cop guy has a bit of a dark side to him. Unfortunately we get it like Campbell's chicken noodle soup, condensed, and it ends up lacking flavor.
That is except in the finale. In the finale Neil is offered a chance at everything he's wanted since leaving prison, which is his ex-gf and his freedom. This in itself isn't compelling, but the role Alex plays in aiding his cause is extremely watchable.
Alex is a morally corrupt lady who is smart, sexy and sinister. She may be in a man's world, but she writes her own rules (What a corny and terrible tagline I just wrote). It's true, though, as played by Gloria Votsis we get to see some of the grey area that belongs on cable television. Votsis plays Alex by constantly teasing Neal (I changed his spelling because he's a con man, and this is indicative of how he'd use an alias) and the audience with her full potential.
What i mean is that she always appears to be holding back, like she knows something we don't know and we think we need to know it. Plus, she's easy on the eyes, and we're left hoping she won't hold back there either. In particular her flirting with Kneel (there it is again! Sneaky) is well written, but only possible by the chemistry that Alex initiates. She is the flame that sets all the dormant agents on this show ablaze. And it's fun to watch it burn.
(spoiler alert) Speaking of burning, it was fun to watch Kate die. Kate is Gneil's ex and she is the bane of my existence. I can't stand her and find her extremely annoying. Not a problem anymore, as she was in a plane that blew up. An impressive move by the show, which showed that it may actually have some guts.
I like where the show is now heading, with the possibility of a larger conspiracy and a void in the love life that could be filled by Alex.
For now I'd say i'm cautiously optimistic about White Collar's future.

White Collar is stiff as ever!

White Collar is back and while not better than ever, it's at least not worse! I've settled into a nice zone with this show where I don't expect much and have my expectations met each week.
We left the show on a cliffhanger of sorts that could have been really interesting if USA put on shows that were really interesting. Instead everyone is friends, we all wear fancy shirts and there are some gratuitous attempts at conveying a lavish lifestyle that fall devastatingly short.
(Spoiler Alert) There was a chance that the agent guy, whose name currently escapes me, might have been a bad guy, but that isn't the case. Crazy twist, right? WRONG! The twist would have been provocative television, but instead we get the same buddy dramedy we always get on USA. Oh it could have been good...We could have had some Lost type stuff here, with Neil investigating his supposed friend and then we get some back story later on that explains stuff or something. Anything like that would have been amazing, but USA doesn't do serial dramas. They do episodic crap that they can churn out in the vein of a GM plant.
I'm so mad!!!!!
Maybe I'm expecting too much from a television show, when i want it to be the THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR. But this is supposedly the golden era of television when people swing for the fences. This feels like a sacrifice bunt or whatever the equivalent safe move is.
My overwhelming problem with White Collar is that I don't believe the world it creates. Not for a minute to I buy this world or the characters that inhabit it. Maybe you can say it is escapism, but this setup is a lame fantasy.
I want to embrace this show because there is a bit of mystery. The idea of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN as a tv show is cool, and its made better with this hidden conflict. This could be a good show on FX, except it is just a happy go lucky romp on USA. Whatever.

Perfect Product Placement

Maybe I'm the only one who is tickled pink by this, but I need to tell someone. And by someone, obviously i mean you (Steve).
I'm watching WHITE COLLAR on my computer which means I'm using HULU. Hulu has had a ton of Fed Ex commercials on the site lately. This has included sponsoring an SNL skit that mocks the UPS commercials.
ANyway, I'm watching White Collar and the lead escapes in a van past a Fed Ex truck. Cut to commercial and a Fed Ex commercial. So happy right now. Doesn't even matter that the show is dumb.

I know him...

Journeyman actor Kirk Acevedo appeared in Friday's episode of WHITE COLLAR. Haven't finished the episode, but so far it stinks.
Acevedo was most recently in FRINGE, where he left under murky terms. His character was killed off, which may or may not have been the result of tensions he had with the creative staff.
Anyway, you might have also seen his face in BAND OF BROTHERS or the indie hit DINNER RUSH!
My prediction for his stint on WHITE COLLAR, where he is playing a cop, will be that he is killing the mafia guys.