Wendy Redfern/Getty ImagesThe cast and creators of our favorite spy show dish on what's to come, boffing and more at Comic-Con
"It's like watching a rock star work a crowd," Burn Notice's Jay Karnes, who plays bad guy Brennen, mused to the packed Comic-Con panel about the show's resident old-school tough guy, Bruce Campbell (Sam Axe).
Rock star, indeed. Bruce, a veteran of the San Diego convention of freaks and geeks (we say that lovingly) by way of the Evil Dead movies, entertained in his character's trademark Tommy Bahama shirt and gave out cash to the crowd for showing him some love.
"How's Comic-Con, Bruce? Expensive," joked the actor, between popping Hershey's kisses into his mouth. After the panel, he told us, "I gave away two dollars and two dollars and then I gave a ten away, so $14. And I'm glad because I was down to twenties and I'll be damned if I'm giving out a twenty. They were saying very nice things."
Those nice things included an audience member shouting out, "I love you." The second round of dough came when an audience member asked Matt Nix (creator and executive producer) if Bruce "is the one helping you write the funny lines."
His answer? Read on...
In two words: sure, sometimes. The cut-up tough guy's favorite line that he's written lately? "Mike at one point says, 'Sam I could kiss you.' Sam says, 'Get in line.' That was mine. But whatever, we throw them out whenever they are appropriate and if they use them," he told us.
Bruce also joked to the crowd about there being a "Xena out there that I want to boff." Speaking of boffing, when asked if Sam would ever settle down, Bruce said that his ladies' man character is "still putting the hammer down." But when asked about it postpanel, he told us, "I have a new girl named Miss Reynolds, but you never see her. Sam just talks a lot. So maybe he's lying. Maybe he doesn't have that many chicks."
The relationship on everyone's minds, though, is of course the difficult ship that is Michael Westen and Fiona Glenanne, played fabulously by the absent Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar, who were off shooting scenes and couldn't make the panel. Our burning questions: Will we see some real romance? How about a hot sex scene? Answers: No on traditional romance. Yes on steamy sex.
Matt explained, "When you think of Michael and Fi, what are their romantic scenes? Their romantic scenes tend to be when they are building explosives, when they're in action or on a task—not when they are getting ice cream. Not to get too heavy with it, but that's not really a healthy basis for a relationship. It's a little bit like a couple who is good together when it's hot and difficult."
As for the sex, remember episode six of season one when Michael and Fi were beating the crap out of each other and then falling into bed? Matt says we will see more of that in a future episode. "Yes. But let me put it this way: Things will get worse before they get better."
Things get so rough, in fact, that Fiona's decision to see her family in Ireland is because of trouble with Michael. "Fiona gets fed up with what Michael is doing and decides she wants to go home," Matt told us. Alfredo Barrios Jr. (coexecutive producer and writer) added, "There is a critical juncture where they both have to make a decision that will affect their survival and their relationship."
What else is coming up for the Burn Notice gang? Jay's arms dealer Brennen might turn from a bad guy to a client. (The audience went crazy for that loose promise.) Seth Peterson (Michael's brother Nate) might learn a few spy tricks of his own from Sam ("Matt, that's a great idea," said Bruce.) Michael Shanks' Victor is probably staying dead.
And Bruce and Matt joked about merging Bruce's cult horror film background with his current gig in the form of a horror-spy flick dubbed Dead Notice. They're kidding about that one, but you can catch Bruce on the big screen in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and as he said probably Spider-Man 4. "I'm sure I'll be in there somewhere," he said.
What do you think of this season of Burn Notice so far? Bombs away in the comments below!