What’s Bertie Watching? USA’s “White Collar”

Created by Jeff Eastin for the USA Network, White Collar stars Matt Bomer as up-market con-man, Neal Caffrey and Tim DeKay as his unlikely ally, FBI Special Angent, Peter Burke. After a too-long hiatus, White Collar begins with new episodes tonight at 10:00 P.M. Eastern on USA.




USA Network



Neal Caffery is not just your average conman. He’s an art forger and thief. After eluding the FBI for four years, Caffrey is caught and sent to prison. Of course, with his superior intellect and charm, he manages to escape so that he might find his erstwhile girlfriend, Kate. Apprehended once again, Neal offers some valuable information to Agent Burke, but not without a price. In exchange for his services in catching other high-profile criminals, Neal wants to be released from prison. Burke reluctantly agrees, arranging lodging for Caffrey at the Manhattan loft of a wealthy widow named June (Diahann Carroll). June takes an immediate liking to Neal and offers him the use of her late husband’s gorgeous vintage wardrobe.

USA Network

Neal and Burke work well, if not awkwardly, together, and soon, the team has managed to successfully capture many elusive criminals. However, Neal’s girlfriend, Kate—who also has had her fair share of questionable pursuits, appears to have been murdered, sending Neal into a period of confusion and a desire to find answers. Do the answers to his questions lie in an unusual antique music box? Will Neal hold true to his promise to Burke?

This is a smart, sophisticated drama which is superbly written and acted. It’s made all the better by elegant locations and the fantastic wardrobe worn by the impossibly handsome Matt Bomer. The cast is excellent, also including Tiffani Thiessen as Agent Burke’s wife, Willie Garson as Neal’s peculiar close friend and confidant “Mozzie,” and Marsha Thomason as Agent Diana Barrigan.

USA Network

If you’ve not seen White Collar, Bertie and I strongly recommend it. It’s mentally, emotionally, and visually stimulating in ways which have been lost as of late on Primetime television.