white collar

['White Collar' - 'Forging Bonds']

"Wow, I don't even need a corkscrew." - Neal, to Peter, who bought cheap wine

So here's the big flashback episode we've been waiting for. How did Neal meet Kate? How did Neal and Peter meet? When did Mozzie enter the picture? How did Neal learn all of the cons he uses today?

All of these questions were answered tonight, though a few more questions came up too.

['White Collar' - 'Burke's Seven']

"I have never appreciated your distrust in me more." - Neal, to Peter, who has his computer rigged with a secret code

Never mind the mystery of who killed Kate, or what the secret is behind the music box, or even the mystery of where Neal gets all of his amazing clothes. 'White Collar' fans want to know one thing.

Diz Mozzie survive getting shot in the summer finale?

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by e-mailing us at tvsquad@gmail.com. Your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have spoilers for: 'Chuck,' 'CSI: Miami,' 'Desperate Housewives,' 'Glee,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'House,' 'No Ordinary Family,' 'The Good Wife,' 'The Event,' 'The Simpsons,' 'Torchwood,' and 'White Collar.'

Something's working in the original programming department at USA. The network has just renewed 'White Collar,' 'Royal Pains' and 'Psych,' and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, that means every single original series currently on the channel's lineup will return for another season.

'White Collar,' about a con man working with the FBI to catch white collar criminals, will return for a third season with 16 episodes. 'Royal Pains,' about a private doctor to the fabulously wealthy, will also get a third season, but most likely with 18 episodes to allow for two uninterrupted runs. 'Psych,' the network's long-running show about a police consultant and his buddy, will return for a sixth season of 16 episodes.

['White Collar' - 'Point Blank']

"Get in the mind of the file. Live the life of the file. Hear the pulse of the file!" - Mozz, aging an FBI file quickly

Remember in last week's episode, when Neal and Peter decided that they weren't going to lie to each other anymore? Instead, they were going to join forces and investigate the secrets of the music box?

Yeah, well, forget all that. This week Neal decides to lie to Peter to find out who killed Kate. I thought we had left all of this "keeping secrets" stuff behind us, but I guess not. We're still not sure why Neal keeps lying to Peter, since Peter has proved helpful every single week. If this keeps up, Neal is going to become "The Boy Who Cried 'Trust'."

In baseball, a seasoned, veteran ball player is considered a valuable member of the team. It's not that different in television, and during the summer -- when baseball is thriving -- a lot of primetime drama series thrive thanks in no small part to the contributions of valuable assets like the following "boys of summer."

Without the experienced and knowing assists of veteran actors, the summer series listed here simply wouldn't be as entertaining.

Check out our seven "most valuable players" and tell us if we got it right ... or who we left out!

Ah, Labor Day weekend. A time when most will celebrate the last days of summer by going outside and enjoying the fresh air. Some of us, most probably many reading this right now, will celebrate a long weekend and the opportunity to work on our TV tan.

There are marathons to suit just about everybody, whether you love Charlie Sheen, smart new dramas, evil-looking fish, or just want to kill your husband. Plenty of shows will frequent network schedules, like 'Law & Order' and 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' but here are some multi-hour blocks for which to plan.

(All times noted are Eastern Time.)

['White Collar' - Company Man']

"No more secrets, Pete." - Neal
"No more secrets." - Peter

'White Collar,' like a lot of cable shows, splits their seasons into two parts. Next week is the summer finale of the show. Did you know that? I review the show every week and even I didn't realize that was the case. So I was expecting tonight's episode to be very Kate-centric, with a big lead-up to a cliffhanger, as we can go into the finale. But this was actually a case-of-the-week episode and only had a couple of scenes that had to do with the big picture plot.

But those were very important scenes indeed.

(Season 2, Episode 7) "Because I'm usually here on Wednesdays." - Mozz, on why he calls one of his safe houses "Tuesday"

I think I'm going to pretend to work some place this week. There's an old saying that you can get in anywhere if you look like you belong there. Every week Neal Caffrey does that. Tonight he pretended to be a salesman at a high-end sports car dealership.

I don't have such big aspirations, though. I think I'll start at a pizza place or maybe an ice cream shoppe. Wait until the boss leaves and then walk in like I'm a new hire and start working. Free pizza and ice cream!

'Burn Notice' goes on a break after next week's episode, but you won't have to wait too long until Michael, Sam and Fiona return for more spy games.

USA just announced its fall premiere dates, and the 'Burn Notice' gang will be back for more adventures in November. The show will head back to conclude its fourth season starting Thu., Nov. 11, one day after 'Psych' returns to the tube with new episodes on Wed., Nov. 10, reports The Live Feed.

USA also announced that 'Royal Pains' and hit series 'White Collar' are both slated to return in January. The cable net's new legal drama, 'Facing Kate,' will also bow early next year.

(Season 2, Episode 6) "Carol Brady had an affair with Greg Brady." - Peter, to Neal, about people having another side to them

I don't know why, but I wasn't that interested in the case this week. It was one of those episodes that I half watched/half ignored while waiting for the Neal/Peter scenes and Neal/Sara scenes and Mozz scenes.

It did pick up when Neal confronted Donovan (John Larroquette) in the high stakes poker game, but by that time I just wanted that plot to be over so we could get to the nitty-gritty involving the package Neal got from Sara's apartment.

(S02E05) "Explain to me why you slicked back your hair? An amateur version of 'Grease'? I do think you'd make a sublime Danny Zuko."

I love that line, and the dialogue is just one of the many, many reasons that 'White Collar' has suddenly become one of the most fun, entertaining shows on television. It's certainly better than anything on the networks this summer (sorry fans of 'Bachelor Pad') and it's a solid cable offering too.

I'm not saying it's going to be in an Emmy battle with 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad,' but for pure entertainment value it has become "must-see" in its own way.

(S02E04) "You ever wonder why you've never been introduced? You meet her and suddenly I become the quirky friend." - Mozz, to Neal

I don't know if it's fair to compare 'White Collar' with 'Burn Notice,' but they're both on USA and follow a formula, so what the heck. I'm enjoying 'White Collar' more than 'Burn Notice' right now. Maybe it's a temporary thing. Sometimes these things happen in cycles. Maybe at some point, 'White Collar will become routine and I'll really get into 'Burn Notice' again, but right now I'm loving this show more.

I still love 'Burn Notice,' but 'White Collar' right now is just more fun, more entertaining, more quotable.

(S02E03) "And yet you have three MBAs and two Doctorates." - Peter, on Neal never having gone to college

Shows like 'White Collar,' if they last long enough, have to hit a lot of basic plots. An episode where the hero or heroes find themselves in the middle of a bank robbery, an episode where the hero or a loved one is kidnapped, one where they're trapped in a storm, one where the hero is fired or quits, and maybe one where the hero goes blind or can't walk (and then miraculously can see/walk at the end of the episode).

Tonight's episode had Neal infiltrating a school. Sure, it's been done before and will be done again, but this was actually one of the better stand-alone episodes we've seen in a while.

I've never looked for a house so I don't know all of the ins and outs of checking them out. But I do know you probably shouldn't jump over the fence to look at the backyard if no one is home. This morning on 'Live with Regis & Kelly' (weekdays, check local listings), 'White Collar' star Matt Bomer told the duo about his house-hunting in L.A. (he films in NYC but lives on the West Coast). It didn't go too well.

I think Bomer is lucky there weren't a couple of big dogs in the yard. Maybe he thinks he really is Neal Caffrey and break into places unseen.