NO WHITE-WASH IN THE WHITE HOUSE! SIGOURNEY WEAVER's 'POLITICAL ANIMALS'

Ready to rock the world's cradle, Sigourney Weaver and the cast of POLITICAL ANIMALS. Images: USA NETWORK.

No longer fighting and flame-throwing gooey, bloodthirsty aliens in cramped, sweaty ventilation shafts and lightless, spooky corridors as brave and iconic Ellen Ripley, the versatile Sigourney Weaver takes on predators of an altogether more human, but often no less nasty, kind as the lead star of a hot and successful new six episode American mini-series from the USA NETWORK which we hope will come to UK shores in the not too distant future. POLITICAL ANIMALS is the story of Elaine Barrish, ambitious and distinctively bright former First Lady and ex-Governor of Illinois who becomes Secretary of State to current Presidential incumbent, Paul Garcetti (HEROES always politically adroit Adrian Pasdar), juggling a career, a frosty relationship with her powerful and corrupted ex-husband, Bud Hammond (ROME's Ciaran Hinds), and a fragmented family whose difficulties, resentments and back-stabbing very much blur into one another as she makes advanced plans to run for the Commander-in-Chief's job for herself...

Trailer: 'Political Animals' Trailer - YouTube

Weaver as series lead political heroine Elaine Barrish. 

Though it could easily have become the kind of LIVING TV movie of the week for stay at home mums to enjoy, Greg Berlanti and Laurence Marks series, though no THE WEST WING or WASHINGTON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, has received overall positive reviews in the way it shows us characters not able to give up that power is the drug quality about them within their daily lives of political duty, brought to life by an inspired Weaver, continuing to find quality roles in a weakened condition US film and TV industry, backed up with a very strong supporting cast the likes of Vanessa Redgrave, THE EVENT's Roger Bart, Dylan Baker (sooo good in the fourth season of DAMAGES) as the current Vice President, yummy Carla Gugino as a feisty and clever reporter/antagonist to Elaine, and Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn as Elaine's tough and frank mother, Margaret.

Behind every great man is an even greater woman... It's an old saying but it seems particularly prescient with regards to life and power in the Oval Office!

Character poster for the first series.

Political Animals: "First Look with Sigourney Weaver" - trailer #1 - YouTube

SUMMER-TIME VENGEANCE! 'BURN NOTICE' RETURNS...

Glamorous danger with Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) and Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) in BURN NOTICE. Images: USA Network.

Miami's main man combo of Jack Bauer and Jim Rockford- Michael Westen, as played by mad eyed, adrenaline charged Jeffrey Donovan, returns for a sixth season of the inventive USA Network's hit action drama laced with comedy, BURN NOTICE, created by Matt Nix, starting on the UK's FX HD channel exclusively from tonight. Now kinda back in the good books of the CIA, Michael starts getting some new cases and new heads to collide with (including taking on a formidable drug cartel and other gangsters), whilst also still trying to find out exactly who put the original pariah Burn Notice sanction on him five years previously. The pursuit of his old nemesis Anson (Jere Burns), aided once again by ex-CIA agent Rebecca (TERMINATOR 3's Kristanna Loken), remains firmly on his agenda, too, as does his continuing complex relationship with old-flame Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), once IRA terrorist now languishing in jail and facing her own set of dangerous hurdles if she's to survive life behind bars.

The producers and lead star, who also directs an episodes this season, have indicated there will be a few shocks and surprises to come, including the death of a major character...

Trailers: Burn Notice Season 6 Promo (HD) - YouTube
Burn Notice Season 6 Teaser (HD) - YouTube

The new Season Six key art, also featuring series veteran Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell).

FIRE-POWER! THE RETURN OF "BURN NOTICE"

Miami nice! Smooth duo Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar return for more action and intrigue in BURN NOTICE. Image: USA NETWORK.

The British Summer may not continually live up to our ultimate desires and expectations, but you can always relax safe in the knowledge that Miami will never let you down when you wanna feel the heat. And its that main locale setting of the wild and the beautiful for the new fourth season of the hit action adventure series BURN NOTICE, starting its new run tonight on the UK's FX HD channel, which proves a perfect match for the adventures of Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), where the temperature gage shoots ever further when the ex-spy is cornered by his former masters and offered a deal to return to his good old, bad old days in the hunt for a dangerous terrorist mastermind on the loose. Will our sharp suited hero be able to resist the offer?

Joining Donovan and his main cast of chalk and cheese operators (comprising the lovely Gabrielle Anwar as gun savvy Fiona, cult film and TV actor Bruce Campbell as Sam Axe and Sharon Gless as his fiery, sharp tongued mom, Madeline) is newcomer Coby Bell, playing Jesse Porter, a counter-intelligence agent Michael owes a lot to after unwittingly burning him in a similar manner to his own once misfortunes. The seasons opportunity for comedy and drama between the pair, resulting from this deed, could be intriguing if well thought out by the writers in a way that won't upset the delicate and enjoyable apple cart cast balance that the show's fan already enjoy (we don't want the kind of overcrowding that previously damaged CSI:MIAMI's Season Eight!). Hopefully, Bell will find a likable niche within the series and please viewers.

Season Four promos: Burn Notice Season 4 Promo 1 - YouTube
Burn Notice Season 4 Promo 2 - YouTube
Burn Notice Season 4 Promo 3 - YouTube
Burn Notice Season 4 Promo 4 - YouTube

With an impressive guest star rota this year that includes THE X-FILES Robert Patrick, Tim Matheson, Dylan Baker, THE WALKING DEAD's Michael Rooker, Frank Whaley, Callie Thorne, Alan Dale and film star Burt Reynolds, expect the action to be bigger than ever, the glamour even more seductive and the location cinematography powerful enough to send THOMSON'S tour operators into a joyous supernova of holiday bookings!