White Collar - TV Fanatic

White Collar Review: Outlaws and In-Laws

chandel@mediavine.com (C. Charles) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:34:43 EST

It was a busy week for our White Collar crew: Peter entertained Elizabeth’s in-laws for her birthday weekend; Neal and Sara reunited to solve a sensitive case; Diana got engaged; Jones got to run lead; and Mozzie came in with a save for Peter.

Oh yes, "Pulling Strings" was another packed and intriguing installment of this TV Fanatic favorite.

After weeks of wondering when she would return, we FINALLY got to have Sara back! I'm sure Sara and Neal fans were rejoicing across the country, even if there is still a significant faction of folks who aren't fans of the pair like I am.

If anything, it was great to see them together simply because it added another element to the show, especially one that allowed for the unmatched entertainment provided by Peter's in-laws. It's beyond clear that these two are not only a great working partnership but definitely exude romantic chemistry as well. Hinting at the potential for Sara and Neal to get back together was simply a bonus.

Even if you can't stand Sara, you can stand her effortless panache, which I would imitate in a heartbeat if I could. Next to Elizabeth, she's the only other female character whose style is something I look forward to getting glimpses of during the course of these great stories.

I'd be remiss now not to comment on the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell. Elizabeth's parents are as quirky as I could possibly imagine them to be. It was no surprise that Mozzie hit it off famously with the pair.

I found it especially touching that Peter found himself leaning on Mozzie to help him sort out his birthday present mess. Let's be honest, something like that has happened to us all. We find a great deal on the Internet that we can't help but take advantage of, only something ends up going terribly wrong. Lucky for Peter, he had a comrade to assist, and the result got Elizabeth to tear up a bit. Nice save!

Then, there was one more surprise: the re-emergance of Agent Kramer. Did I hear him leaning on Diana for information about Neal? Really? What on earth was that about? Will it seriously jeopardize Neal's commutation hearing?

We must wait two more weeks for the next new episode, which at least gives us time to debate: Are you excited to have Sara back? Anxious to have Agent Kramer poking around? I know I am - in both cases!

White Collar Review: Get Ryan

chandel@mediavine.com (C. Charles) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:07 EST

White Collar delivered another edge-of-your-seat installment this week, with one major exception: Elizabeth Burke played a critical investigative role that really got her into some trouble.

But leave it to the "Neighborhood Watch" - consisting of Neal, Mozzie and Peter - to have her back... though some more readily than others.

This episode really felt like the Rear Window of the 21st century, complete with police scanners to overhear a dastardly plot unfolding instead of a murder. And it made for a great hour.

Putting Elizabeth at the center was simply icing on the cake. I love nothing more than to see our beloved Mrs. Suit in action. It definitely wasn't hard to root for her from beginning to end.

She took some serious risks. I could not have been any more anxious for her during the sequence when she was locked inside that room on the second floor of Ben and Rebecca's house. I love that she waved a white handkerchief out the window to get Neal's attention, and that he was at the ready to assist. Even if the assist did result in a stern rebuke for Mr. Suit, who was none to pleased to be the patsy in this plot.

I didn't realize how exciting an episode could be simply from choosing to put different personnel at the forefront. In a lot of ways, it wasn't different that Neal and Mozzie were helping a Burke, it was just which Burke that made the difference. And the difference certainly showed. We know Peter wouldn't pack Neal and Mozzie a practically gourmet stakeout meal. No one would.

Elizabeth's (and Satchmo's) choice to call on Mozzie reminded me of the special relationship these two share. If there was ever a single person with the ability to put Mozzie at ease in some small way, it was always Elizabeth. I will never forget Elizabeth going to see Mozzie in the hospital in "Burke's Seven." Definitely one of the more memorable moments between the two, but this episode added to that list.

We've really been seeing some great relationship moments between all the characters on the show in this part of the season. Keep it coming!

And speaking of coming: when will Hilarie Burton return in that series regular spot I was so excited about?! With only two episode left before the finale, will we have to wait till Summer to see her back in action?

Other episode highlights:

Neal's street clothing? A little grungy for my usual taste, but seeing him in something different is always welcome.
Peter's distaste for quinoa was thoroughly entertaining. I'm more meat and potatoes as well!

Have you ever thought your neighbors were up to no good? What did you do?

Which White Collar Star is Headed to Glee?

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:21:55 EST

Forget stunt casting. This is closer to hunk casting.

TV Line confirms that White Collar star Matt Bomer is thisclose to finalizing a deal to appear on an April episode of Glee. In what capacity? The actor will reportedly come on board as... Blaine's older brother!

We can sort of see the resemblance:

Before Bomer stops by, of course, there will be plenty for fans to Gleek out over, starting this Tuesday with a Michael Jackson tribute hour. Darris Criss will play a major role on the installment, leading an impressive cover of "Wanna Be Startin Something."

White Collar First Look: Welcome, Joe Manganiello!

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:07:20 EST

Yes, folks, White Collar can get even better looking.

On next Wednesday night's "Neighborhood Watch," True Blood star - and former Carnegie Mellon classmate of Matt Bomer - Joe Manganiello will stop by, portraying a new, shady neighbor of Peter and Elizabeth's. What's the deal with this new guy on the block?

Watch the couple try to figure it out in the following USA Network promo:

White Collar Promo: "Neighborhood Watch"

Our critic, meanwhile, loved the most recent installment of White Collar. Find why in her review of "Upper West Sider."

White Collar Review: Textbook Behavior?

chandel@mediavine.com (C. Charles) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:07 EST

Neal toed the line between asset and liability this week, playing substitute teacher and partner to Peter's Hong Kong banker as they investigated an embezzlement scheme at Manhattan Prep.

If you had any doubts about the intensity of the prep school atmosphere before, White Collar made it blatantly clear on "Upper West Sider."

There were lessons to be learned all around, and not just in romantic poetry. The episode started with Neal, in essence, attempting to bribe Peter with baseball tickets. It wasn't long before Peter taught him a very valuable lesson: focus on the job at hand.

If Neal had done that all along, he wouldn't be finding himself in this particular position. It wasn't Neal's work for the FBI that put him in the path of the treasure he so desperately sought, it was his extracurricular pursuit and eventual deceit regarding it. If Neal had simply focused on the cases at hand as he worked them with Peter, things would be a lot different - but perhaps also a lot less interesting.

Personal issues aside, this episode had me on the edge of my seat more than once. There were several close calls as they investigated Andy Woods.

My favorite moment took place when Peter was forced to pull the fire alarm to clear that hallway. What was that about textbook behavior, Peter?

Similarly, when Peter was interacting with Woods and they were discussing their children, I loved how Peter seemed to continuously reference Neal as his son, calling him "very bright, but impulsive. His moves seem to land him in trouble." It emphasized for me a sometimes lost element of Peter and Neal's relationship, this parent/child connection.

Peter not only looks out for Neal, but also wishes that he learn a lesson at each step. In this case, Peter was struggling with whether or not to make a full and complete statement regarding the Keller case, realizing that doing so would implicate and doom Neal to prison. Acting in a motherly role, and as Peter's most trusted confidante, Mrs. Suit stated that the right man (Keller) was behind bars. That says a lot about how familial the relationship between Peter and Neal has become, if not how it has always been.

More telling were Neal's words to Chloe about being able to start a new life now that her father was going to prison. You really can see how much Neal wants to change, yet at the same time you wonder if any of it is a face he's putting on. I still hear, and will likely continue to repeat until it comes to pass, that Neal said explicitly to Peter that you can only change once you've hit rock bottom, and openly admitted that he did not believe he had hit it yet.

Either he was arrogantly running his mouth, or he's significantly reformed his behavior in some way, as spurred on by some catastrophic event, including Elizabeth's kidnapping.

Another highlight of the episode was Neal and Mozzie launching a secondary operation of their own to unite Evan and Chloe... and that Neal perfectly recited poetry from memory. Did anyone else find themselves swooning even a little bit (or even a whole lot)?

I did well in school, but I would have done better with Neal as my substitute teacher. Good news is there is still hope for my college career that he could one day appear as a substitute for one of my professors. I will continue to dream, unashamed.

Luckily for Evan, Neal and Mozzie's love advice and behind-the-scenes mastery seemed to pull the star-crossed lovers together. If only we could get the same results for Neal and a very absent Sara, then we would be back in business!

Who is you favorite romantic poet? Favorite poem, maybe? Sound off below!

White Collar Review: Next Chapter

chandel@mediavine.com (C. Charles) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:00:10 EST

After a very long few months away, White Collar’s Neal and Peter were back in the game in "Checkmate." But in this game, the stakes were more than the treasure that Neal and Mozzie took such care to conceal, as Elizabeth’s life hung in the balance.

Following the midseason bombshell that was Elizabeth’s kidnapping, White Collar wasted no time in pushing the intensity of the show and its characters to a new level.

Perhaps the most infamous villain, Keller, went from running the game to being a manipulated piece in it. The most surprising element was not the turned tables, but who chose to turn them, as Peter seemingly tapped into con-mode, emulating Neal’s quick thinking and scheming to reclaim the treasure.

It was no surprise, given Peter’s motivation to save his wife and partner-in-crime. Of course there were no limit to how far he would go to get her back.

I would argue that this episode was Tim DeKay’s best performance as Peter Burke. He went from distressed husband to convincing ringleader in a very delicate con with ease. Peter has progressively become more open to alternative tactics when it comes to taking down criminals, but the assertiveness with which he took the reins here was a welcome sight.

As much as Peter’s mission to save his wife was compelling, so were Elizabeth’s efforts to save herself. I have always maintained that Elizabeth Burke is one of my favorite leading women on television for her strength and resolve both as a wife and as an asset to her husband and the team in previous cases.

I think her decision to psychologically toy with her captor was a nice touch. Even better, she was successful.

Above all else, I appreciated that, in the end, Neal’s decision to do the right thing and come clean coincidentally resulted in his opportunity to become a free man. Particularly reassuring was the fact that even though Keller took responsibility for the treasure’s theft, Neal struggled with - but ultimately rejected - the impulse to do anything about it. I am really starting to have faith in him.

Then again, remember that Neal made a comment earlier in the season about truly having to hit rock bottom in order to change. I don’t think Neal has truly hit rock bottom yet, though the argument could be made that his connection to the treasure and Elizabeth’s abduction could qualify as dangerously close to that.

Other highlights:

Neal’s recollection of the story of the pigeon who saved 200 lives.
Mozzie’s part in the con which required him to rat out deserving colleagues.
The slightly cheesy but still epic gladiator showdown between Neal and Keller.

It’s going to be quite an exciting season 3.5! You have NO excuse NOT to tune in! Do you think Neal will be a free man in three months? Can he be fully redeemed? Watch the official preview for next week's episode now!

White Collar 2012 Return Preview: No More Secrets

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:08:32 EST

Let's face it: Elizabeth will be found alive at some point on White Collar, following her fall finale kidnapping at the hands of Neal's rival, Keller.

But that doesn't mean everything will be okay between Peter and Neal when this USA hit returns next week. Far from it, in fact.

Watch the latest preview now for the January 17 premiere and witness Peter's reaction to learning that Neal was in possession of the U-boat treasure all along. Considering the resulting danger that secret has placed his wife in, it's hard to see how this pair will mend fences any time soon...

White Collar Promo: "Checkmate"

White Collar Winter Premiere Promo: Jump In!

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:17:03 EST

White Collar is on its way back to USA.

On January 17, this TV Fanatic favorite picks up where its summer finale cliffhanger left off, as Neal was in possession of the stolen Nazi treasure, which, of course, led to Elizabeth's kidnapping. Are you ready to jump back in?

Circle the date now, bookmark our White Collar show section and check out the recently-released network promo for next month's return episode.

White Collar Winter Premiere Preview

USA Sets Premiere Dates for White Collar, Royal Pains

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:56:59 EST

USA has unveiled the return dates for two favorites, along with the premiere date of a new series that looks to fit in perfectly with the network's light-hearted buddy theme.

First, White Collar will continue its third season at 10 p.m. on January 17.

The next night, at the same time, Royal Pains will resume its Hamptons shenanigans.

Finally, Common Law - which stars Michael Ealy and Warren Kole as partners who are ordered to undergo couples' counseling - will debut on Thursday night, January 26. Check out the official USA promo for the upcoming series now:

Common Law Promo

White Collar Star to Stop by Chuck

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:42:50 EST

Chuck has given fans yet another reason to tune in for its final season.

As first reported by Entertainment Weekly, White Collar star Tim DeKay will stop by for an episode of the NBC hit this winter, coming on board installment number-eight as Sarah’s former CIA handler. The character is described as series and as someone who forces the blonde spy to “confront her past and the choices she’s made.”

Other Chuck guest stars this season will include Mark Hamill, Carrie Anne-Moss, Danny Pudi and Stan Lee. It will return with new episodes on October 28.