It’s been a case of burnout for “Burn Notice” star Jeffrey Donovan. He admits the grueling work pace of his hit USA Network series has left him feeling so exhausted that changes must be made. “We start production of Season 4 in March, and they’re going to try to diminish my presence in the show. It’s been 95 percent. They’re going to try to get it down to 80 percent,” reports the affable star.
The action comedy-drama, in which he plays disenfranchised government spy Michael Westen, returns for the second half of its third season Jan. 21, with an episode that has his series mom, Sharon Gless, working with her former “Cagney & Lacey” cohort, Tyne Daly.
With all of Season 3 in the can, Donovan says, “I worked the last two hiatuses, and I was worn out. So instead of going after jobs this hiatus, I’m starting to develop projects myself, working with writers.”
Donovan also spent some hiatus time “visiting troops in Iraq with Bruce,” he says, referring to cast mate Bruce Campbell. “It was an amazing experience, meeting these soldiers. On the way back, we visited Walter Reed (Army hospital), talked to soldiers who’d been injured, who’d lost limbs — it was just heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking. It took every bit of strength I had not to lose it. Not because I felt sorry for them, but because of their courage. One thing they all said was that they felt bad they weren’t back there helping their friends.”
As far as what’s coming up on the show, Donovan says that “Burn Notice” fans can expect lots of big changes. As far as complaints: “The ratings are great and I know the network is very happy — but the show doesn’t get the accolades it should. I’m not talking about my performance at all,” he insists, “but the writing on the show. The writers do such an amazing job. And I think Sharon should get every award for her work.”
Source: Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
Read More