I recently learned that USA ...

• Aug 18, 2008 04:00 AM ET
• by Matt Roush

Question: I recently learned that USA Network is breaking Burn Notice into two half-seasons. Showing Episodes 1-9 this summer and Episodes 10-16 in early 2009. Can you tell me the reasoning behind this? I really love the show and don't want to have to wait until next year to find out how the season ends.
Answer: This is nothing new for USA Network series, especially shows in this light-crime genre like Monk and Psych, which have aired split seasons for several years. The idea is to launch the show in the midsummer, where it can get a fair amount of attention, but pull it just before the networks' fall season kicks into high gear on the official premiere week of September 22, with so much more competition and hype. It's entirely possible the hard-core Burn Notice fan would keep watching regardless of what the big guys are doing on Thursdays, but the strategy is to return the show at some point in midseason when things have cooled down. And honestly, won't Burn Notice and its Miami setting look awfully tempting in the chill of winter?