Burn Notice

USA network's Burn Notice has become one of the cable channel's biggest successes. Mixing elements of MacGuyver and I Spy, Burn Notice's writers and producers have crafted a story-engine that defies any sign of wear and mated it with a cast that meets the material with authenticity and equal amounts of innovation. The result is two seasons of programming that have elevated the Burn Notice skein from 'cult' appeal to hotly anticipated summer fare. Among that cast is Bruce Campbell as Sam Axe, a cold warrior who was long removed from the rough and tumble existence of clandestine spying. Campbell's signature swagger, machismo, and crackling wit make Sam an irreplaceable element in the Burn Notice design.

Bruce sat down with reporters to discuss his return to the show, as well as his humble beginnings. It seems that despite what he does, Bruce will always be most universally known as a horror icon. "You are guilty by association, so when my first movie was Evil Dead, which is now 30 years ago I suppose if I had made a romantic comedy when I was 21 and that did crazy, then I'd be the romantic comedy guy. It's kind of how Hollywood works. So, it's material that I'm sort of interested in, though, too, at the same time, so part of me perpetuates it in that I gravitate toward oddball stories, some genre stuff, not all horror. I like fantasy and sci-fi and that sort of stuff, too, but for me, I guess it's the combination of starting out in the genre and then being attracted to certain material that could also be considered genre."

As for the popularity of his current gig, Burn Notice, Campbell had some very enlightened ideas as to why the series was continuing to snare viewers. "I'd go with what distinguishes Burn Notice from the rest of the gang is that we have a sense of humor. Bourne Identity is very humorless, and 24 is completely humorless, so I think what we have there is a sense of humor to let people know that this is still entertainment. This is not reality, and we have no intention of going there."

"I think people are interested in spies because they represent a heightened aspect of their own lives. It's the same people who want to ride on a roller coaster, they want to get that second hand thrill. So you go see a spy because you know he's going to be shot at, you know he's going to get sexy ladies, you know he's going to be cool, and you know he's usually going to succeed by doing some really cool thing, so it's just a certain form of entertainment that is very extreme."

As for the status of the Evil Dead series, Bruce had some interesting news regarding the possibility of a sequel. "There's really no sequel for Evil Dead planned right now. We are going to forge ahead and do the remake; we are going to do that. There's nothing for me in the remake, though, do you know what I mean? That's a cast of young people. So I'll be on as the producer but I won't be in it other than playing the old guy at the bait store at the beginning."