Covert Affairs
Genre
Created byMatt Corman
Chris Ord
Starring
Opening theme"Can You Save Me"
ComposersToby Chu
Christopher Tyng
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes75 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Production locationsToronto, Ontario, Canada as main; location shooting elsewhere as required
CinematographyColin Hoult
Jamie Barber
EditorsLori Jane Coleman
Leon Martin
Chris Brookshire
Camera setupMultiple
Running time45 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkUSA Network
ReleaseJuly 13, 2010 (2010-07-13) –
December 18, 2014 (2014-12-18)

Covert Affairs is an American action drama television series filmed in Toronto, Canada, starring Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham that premiered on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.[1] On January 6, 2015, USA Network canceled Covert Affairs after five seasons.[2]

Plot overview

A young CIA trainee, Annie Walker, is sent to work in the Domestic Protection Division (DPD) as a field agent. August "Auggie" Anderson, a blind tech operative, is Annie's guide in her new life. In the beginning, Annie's cover story is that she works in Acquisitions at the Smithsonian Museum but she is later let go. As of the fourth season, her new cover is that of a glamorous and well-connected importer/exporter, with expensive tastes and dealings that may not always be legal. The series traces Annie's evolution from a wide-eyed young operative who fetches coffee for her co-workers to a hardened spy who does not balk at enhanced interrogation. This change in tone is also seen in the opening credits, which used chick lit–style graphics in the early seasons. The cartoons, like the focus on Annie's home life with her sister, were gone in the fourth and fifth seasons.

Cast and characters

Christopher Gorham as August "Auggie" and Piper Perabo as Anne Catherine "Annie" Walker.
Christopher Gorham as August "Auggie" and Piper Perabo as Anne Catherine "Annie" Walker.

Main cast

  • Piper Perabo as Anne Catherine "Annie" Walker: a CIA trainee who is suddenly promoted to field operative. In addition to English, she speaks seven languages fluently and several other languages with various skill levels.
  • Christopher Gorham as August "Auggie" Anderson: Annie's handler. Auggie is a CIA military intelligence/special ops officer who was blinded while on a mission in Iraq where he served in an Army Special Forces unit.
  • Kari Matchett as Joan Campbell: a senior officer who heads the Domestic Protection Division (DPD); she is Annie's supervisor and a skilled spymaster who was quite talented in her field days. She attended Pennsylvania State University, and her cover is that of an executive at the World Bank.[3]
  • Anne Dudek as Danielle Brooks (seasons 1–2, main; 3, recurring): Annie's older sister, who is married with two children; Annie lives in her guest house. Initially she is unaware of Annie's real career, knowing only Annie's cover, that she works in Acquisitions at the Smithsonian Institution. Annie is forced to reveal her CIA employment in season 2 when her Chinese defector is poisoned by radiation; she is possibly radioactive and the CIA has to sweep her house. This forces her to tell her sister to go elsewhere for the night which causes a rift between them. Fortunately, the two manage to mend fences before Danielle and her family move to California.[4]
  • Sendhil Ramamurthy as Jai Wilcox (seasons 1–3): CIA officer assigned to the DPD by Arthur Campbell. His family has a difficult history with the CIA; his father, Henry Wilcox, was formerly the CIA Director of the National Clandestine Service (D/NCS). He is killed by a car bomb at the beginning of the third season.
  • Peter Gallagher as Arthur Campbell (seasons 2–5, main; 1, recurring): D/NCS. During his time as a field operative in the late eighties, he posed as a student in East Berlin to gather intel on the Stasi.
  • Hill Harper as Calder Michaels (seasons 4–5): CIA station chief based in Medellin, Colombia who is reassigned to Langley. Calder becomes the new head of the DPD after Joan is made D/NCS.
  • Nic Bishop as Ryan McQuaid (season 5): The owner of a private security firm for whom Arthur Campbell works, who finds himself working alongside Annie.

Recurring cast

  • Oded Fehr as Eyal Lavin (seasons 1–5): A Mossad operative who occasionally works with Annie on her missions, and has become her confidante. The two are close, and turn to one another when in trouble.
  • Noam Jenkins as Vincent Rossabi (season 1–4): an FBI agent with whom Annie must occasionally work despite their antagonistic relationship.
  • Eion Bailey as Ben Mercer (seasons 1–2): Annie's ex-boyfriend, who was being targeted by the CIA, before returning to the Agency. He is hired by Arthur as a "black ops" agent.[5]
  • Gregory Itzin as Henry Wilcox (seasons 1–4):[6] The former Director of the National Clandestine Service and Jai Wilcox's father.
  • Sarah Clarke as Lena Smith (season 3): Annie's supervisor in another CIA division. Lena is not satisfied with Annie's performance and sends Annie back to the DPD. Lena believes in a more hands-on, direct action approach to espionage compared to Joan's by-the-book approach. Revealed as a mole for the FSB after she shoots Annie and sets her up to look like a traitor.
  • Emmanuelle Vaugier as Liza Hearn (seasons 1–2): A journalist with a mysterious source inside the CIA, who publishes a series of damaging articles about the Agency.
  • Richard Coyle as Simon Fischer (season 3): A venture capitalist and suspected SVR spy, whom Annie is assigned to cultivate while working in Lena's division during season 3. They become both physically and emotionally involved, with serious consequences on both sides.
  • Perrey Reeves as Caitlyn Cook (season 5): Ryan McQuaid's assistant.
  • Amy Jo Johnson as Hayley Price (season 5): An NCTC official who is investigating the Chicago bombing and soon forms a relationship with Auggie.
  • Shailene Garnett as Joan's Assistant (season 5, episodes "Trigger Cut" and "Brink of the Clouds")

Development, casting, and production

Covert Affairs first appeared on USA Network's development slate in July 2008.[7] The pilot episode was written by Matt Corman and Chris Ord.[7] Casting was underway in June 2009, with the expectation that successful casting would lead to a production commitment.[8] Piper Perabo was the first actress cast in early July 2009, as CIA officer Annie Walker.[9] The casting of Christopher Gorham came in late July,[10] quickly followed by an announcement that the pilot had been green-lighted by USA Network.

In early August 2009, Tim Matheson signed on to direct a 90-minute pilot.[11] Further casting announcements included Anne Dudek in mid-August,[10] followed by Kari Matchett and Peter Gallagher in early September.[12][13] Eric Lively was cast as a fellow CIA officer and peer to Perabo's character, and Eion Bailey was cast in a recurring role as Annie Walker's ex-boyfriend.[12] The pilot began filming in Toronto in September 2009.

In January 2010, the Covert Affairs pilot received a 10-episodes order.[11][14] Sendhil Ramamurthy was added to the cast as a CIA officer, replacing Lively's character,[15] along with Emmanuelle Vaugier in a recurring role as a journalist.[16]

The series executive producers are Doug Liman and David Bartis and the co-executive producer is Jonathan Glassner.[1][17] Production of the series takes place in Toronto, Ontario, at primary static sets housed in a studio, as well as at "stock" shooting locations throughout the local area. This is combined with material filmed at various international locations in which the series' episodes are set, such as Washington, D.C.,[11][16] capturing geographically unique elements of these places. In some instances, the series' producers use a stand-in location for shots where the costs and logistics of the actual location shoot are impractical, or if the location specified is fictional.

Episodes

Season Timeslot (ET) # Ep. Premiered Ended TV Season Viewers
(in millions)
Date Premiere
Viewers
(in millions)		 Date Finale
Viewers
(in millions)
1 Tuesday 10:00 pm (July 13, 2010 – Sept. 7, 2010)
Tuesday 9:00 pm (Sept. 14, 2010)		 11
July 13, 2010
 4.88[18]
September 14, 2010
 5.23[19] 2010 6.70[20]
2 Tuesday 10:00 pm (June 7, 2011 – Nov. 20, 2012) 16
June 7, 2011
 4.56[21]
December 6, 2011
 3.20[22] 2011 5.64[23]
3 16
July 10, 2012
 3.50[24]
November 20, 2012
 2.47[25][26] 2012 3.06[27]
4 Tuesday 9:00 pm (July 16, 2013 – Sept. 17, 2013)
Thursday 10:00 pm (Oct. 17, 2013 – Nov. 21, 2013)		 16
July 16, 2013
 2.39 [28]
November 21, 2013
 2.34[29] 2013 3.96[30]
5 Tuesday 10:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 pm		 16
June 24, 2014
 1.88[31]
December 18, 2014
 1.59[32] 2014 3.3[33][34]

Reception

Covert Affairs received positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 93% approval rating,[35] while on Metacritic, the first season of Covert Affairs received a score of 64 out of 100, based on 23 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[36] The second season received a score of 68, based on six reviews.[37] At the 68th Golden Globe Awards, Piper Perabo was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series—Drama.[38] She also won the award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Breakthrough Role at the Gracie Awards in 2011. Christopher Gorham won the Seeing Beyond Vision Loss Special Achievement Award at the CNIB Awards in 2013.[39]

DVD releases

Season Episodes DVD release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 Discs
1 11 May 17, 2011[40] June 18, 2012[41] June 2, 2011[42] 3
2 16 May 1, 2012[43] September 17, 2012[44] October 3, 2012[45] 4
3 16 May 28, 2013[46] March 17, 2014[47] September 5, 2013[48] 4
4 16 May 27, 2014[49] August 10, 2015[50] TBA 4
5 16 April 28, 2015[51] TBA TBA 4
Total 75 TBA TBA TBA TBA

Syndication

Since November 14, 2022, Start TV started airing reruns of the series.

References

  1. 1 2 "Summer Belongs to USA Network as "Covert Affairs" and "White Collar" Heat Up Tuesday Nights Starting July 13". The Futon Critic. May 5, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  2. ↑ Gelman, Vlada (January 6, 2015). "USA Network Cancels Covert Affairs". TVLine. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ "A Girl Like You". Covert Affairs. Season 2. Episode 13. USA Network.
  4. ↑ "What Is and What Should Never Be". Covert Affairs. Season 1. Episode 8. August 31, 2010. 33:20 minutes in. USA Network. I don't carry a gun, and I'm not a curator, I'm in acquisitions.
  5. ↑ "Pilot". Covert Affairs. Season 1. Episode 1. July 13, 2010. USA Network.
  6. ↑ "24's Gregory Itzin Heading to Covert Affairs". TV Guide. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "USA Network Announces New Cast of Characters on its Development Slate". The Futon Critic. July 20, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Development Update: Wednesday, June 3". The Futon Critic. June 3, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Development Update: Thursday, July 2". The Futon Critic. July 2, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  10. 1 2 "Development Update: Thursday, August 13". The Futon Critic. August 13, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 Andreeva, Nellie (January 6, 2010). "USA greenlights 'Covert Affairs'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  12. 1 2 Porter, Rick (September 8, 2010). "Casting call: 'White Collar,' '24,' 'Covert Affairs'". ZAP2it.com. Tribune Media Services. Archived from the original on August 12, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Development Update: Wednesday, September 9". The Futon Critic. September 9, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  14. ↑ Seidman, Robert (January 7, 2010). "USA Network Picks-Up "Covert Affairs"". TVbythNumbers. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  15. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 8, 2010). "'Heroes' actor cast in new USA series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  16. 1 2 Vlessing, Etan (May 7, 2010). "Emmanuelle Vaugier cast in 'Covert Affairs'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  17. ↑ IMDb on executives "The show airs on July 13 (10/9 C) Executive produced by Doug Liman and David Bartis, Jonathan Glassner (Co-executive producer). A New Series From the Producers of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and the Producer of the "Bourne" Trilogy..."
  18. ↑ Gorman, Bill (July 14, 2010). "Tuesday Cable: Deadliest Catch Soars, Plus White Collar, Covert Affairs, Memphis Beat, The Hills Finale Ratings & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  19. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 15, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: Covert Affairs, Warehouse 13 Finales; Teen Mom, Sons Of Anarchy & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  20. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 30, 2010). "'Covert Affairs,' 'Rizzoli & Isles,' 'The Closer,' 'Jersey Shore,' & 'Deadliest Catch' Lead Cable Series Ratings In 2010 Q3 – Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  21. ↑ Gorman, Bill (June 8, 2011). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: Deadliest Catch Tops Night; White Collar, Covert Affairs Return Down, Plus Tosh.0, 16 & Pregnant & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  22. ↑ Gorman, Bill (December 7, 2011). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Teen Mom 2' Premiere, 'American Chopper' Top 'Sons of Anarchy' Finale + 'Storage Wars,' 'Covert Affairs,' 'Moonshiners' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  23. ↑ Seidman, Robert (December 12, 2011). "*Updated* USA Dominates Landscape with Unprecedented Six Straight Years as #1". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  24. ↑ Bibel, Sara (July 11, 2012). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Storage Wars' Wins Night, 'White Collar', 'Rizzoli & Isles','Pretty Little Liars', 'Covert Affairs', 'Workaholics', 'Jane By Design', & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  25. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 22, 2012). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarachy' Rides Highest Again + 'Tosh.0,' 'Covert Affairs' Finale and 'Ink Master'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Shows A-Z – covert affairs on usa". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Covert Affairs: Season Three Ratings". TV Series Finale. November 22, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  28. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 17, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Catfish' Wins Night + 'The Game', 'Suits', 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'Covert Affairs,' 'Pretty Little Liars' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  29. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 22, 2013). "Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Thursday Night Football' Wins Night + 'Pawn Stars', 'Beyond Scared Straight', NBA Basketball + More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 25, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  30. ↑ Seat42f. "USA Network Renews Covert Affairs". Retrieved October 3, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ↑ Bibel, Sara (June 25, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Deadliest Catch' Wins Night, 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'The Haves and the Have Nots', 'Tyrant' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Thursday cable ratings for December 18, 2014". TV by the numbers. December 22, 2014. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Cover Affairs cancelled". Deadline Hollywood. January 6, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  34. ↑ "USA cancels Covert Affairs after five seasons". TV Guide. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  35. ↑ Fujitani, Ryan. "Covert Affairs : S01-S05 reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Covert Affairs: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Covert Affairs: Season 2". Metacritic. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  38. ↑ "The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations". goldenglobes.org. December 14, 2010. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  39. ↑ Kennedy, John R. (September 7, 2013). "'Covert Affairs' star Christopher Gorham accepts CNIB award". Global News. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  40. ↑ Lambert, David (February 17, 2011). "Covert Affairs - DVD Release for USA's Spy Show with Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham!". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Covert Affairs - Season 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Covert Affairs - Season 1 (3 Disc Set) (DVD)". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  43. ↑ Lambert, David (February 15, 2012). "Covert Affairs - 'Season 2' Starring Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham!". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  44. ↑ "Covert Affairs - Season 2 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Covert Affairs: Season 2 (DVD)". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on September 5, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  46. ↑ Lambert, David (March 28, 2013). "Covert Affairs - 'Season 3' Set Formally Announced by Universal!". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Covert Affairs: Season 3 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Covert Affairs: Season 3 (DVD)". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  49. ↑ Lambert, David (March 4, 2014). "Covert Affairs - Universal Declassifies 'Season 4' Date, Price, Extras, & Box Art!". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Covert Affairs - Season 4 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  51. ↑ Lambert, David (February 3, 2015). "Covert Affairs - Date, Cost, Box Art, Extras for 'Season 5: The Final Season'". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
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