Newly-Reviewed Programs
TV on DVD
All Shows: A-Z Index
Advanced Search

2008 Fall Season
2008 Summer Season
2007-08 Midseason
2007 Fall Season
2007 Summer Season
2006-07 Midseason
2006 Fall Season
2006 Summer Season
2005-06 Midseason
2005 Fall Season
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss TV In Our Forums

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story 73
PBS, 9/23

Easy Money 67
CW, Sunday

Valentine 47
CW, Sunday

The Ex List 62
CBS, Friday

Star Wars: The Clone Wars 64
Cartoon Network, Friday

Sanctuary 56
Sci-Fi, Friday

Friday Night Lights Season Three 78
101 (DirecTV), Wednesday

Pushing Daisies Season Two 82
ABC, Wednesday

Private Practice Season Two 44
ABc, Wednesday

Dirty Sexy Money Season Two 69
ABC, Wednesday

The IT Crowd 67
IFC, Tuesday

Chuck Season Two 74
NBC, Monday

Life Season Two 72
NBC, Monday, Friday

Dexter Season Three 78
Showtime, Sunday

Desperate Housewives Season Five 71
ABC, Sunday

Californication Season Two 62
Showtime, Sunday

Little Britain USA 61
HBO, Sunday

The Life & Times of Tim 57
HBO, Sunday

Grey's Anatomy Season Five 69
ABC, Thursday

Gary Unmarried 47
CBS, Wednesday

Knight Rider 21
NBC, Wednesday

The Mentalist 65
CBS, Tuesday

Opportunity Knocks 55
ABC, Tuesday

Worst Week 62
CBS, Monday

Heroes Season Three 58
NBC, Monday

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season Four 70
FX, Thursday

In Plain Sight
SERIES: USA, Sunday 10:00p (60 minutes)


5.9

based on 19 reviews
read critic reviews
how did we calculate this?

based on 32 votes
read user comments
rate this tv show

Get more information on this show at TV.com.

Official Show Site

Starring Mary McCormack, Frederick Weller, Cristián de la Fuente, Nichole Hiltz, Lesley Ann Warren, Todd Williams, and Paul Ben-Victor

Following the trend of tough-talking female law-enforcement cable series such as TNT's "Saving Grace" and "The Closer," USA Network serves up Mary McCormack as U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon, who helps those in the witness-protection program.

GENRE(S):	Drama
CREATED BY:	David Maples
FIRST AIR DATE:	June 1, 2008

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Newark Star-Ledger Alan Sepinwall

In Plain Sight is a definite for any summer TV To-Watch list; don't cross it off until you've seen at least one.

New York Daily News David Hinckley

Mary doesn't win 'em all, but In Plain Sight is a W for USA.

Entertainment Weekly Ken Tucker

The plots are often unbelievable. But I like Mary, especially as she's set up in the series premiere, complete with a wacky mom.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

Unlike "Monk," which is essentially warmed-over "Columbo" with a more interesting character in the lead, In Plain Sight augments its plain premise with a full cast of colorful characters.

Los Angeles Times Robert Lloyd

The plots are a little obvious--you can usually stay a jump or two ahead of the revelations--but the actors keep you well distracted.

Washington Post Tom Shales

The plot and subplots of the premiere eventually deteriorate into pandemonium, but McCormack remains the steadying center that makes the show intelligible and, more important, involving. And, perhaps more important still, fun.

The New York Times Alessandra Stanley

This latest hardboiled-but-dedicated babe with a badge follows all the clichés of the genre but knows it and will find ways to twist the formula in novel, interesting ways.

PopMatters Michael Abernethy

With this shaded tone and careful plotting going for it, In Plain Sight is a welcome addition to USA’s line-up of detective shows. Especially when it keeps focused on the new places and new identities, rather than the old memories.

TV Guide Matt Roush

The show is entertaining enough on the job that it doesn’t need so-called comic relief.

New York Post Linda Stasi

It's all a bit ridiculous and the writing is scary, although the stars are first rate and the locales are pretty good too.

Philadelphia Daily News Ellen Gray

McCormack, a rangy actress who looks more comfortable in Mary Shannon's tank tops and casual jackets than she ever did in the lawyerly business suits she wore way back on "Murder One," manages to make all this crankiness intermittently endearing.

San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman

In Plain Sight, in addition to some of the worst character names you'll ever see, has deeper problems in the writing.

Philadelphia Inquirer Jonathan Storm

In Plain Sight may not offer the newest characters on the block, but they're diverting, and at least they can spell.

USA Today Robert Bianco

The writers overplay the banter and allow Mary to become so harsh, you wonder why even the most devoted partner puts up with her. But for the most part, as long as McCormack and Weller are together, or sharing time with their boss (Paul Ben-Victor), the show functions as harmless hot-weather pleasure.

Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert

Ultimately, that episode leaves only a vague sense of the rich territory that In Plain Sight could have explored with better writing.

Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan

In Plain Sight is another attempt at mixing the jokey and the serious within a loose procedural format. But Sight’s writing is distressingly predictable, and McCormack’s character is the least interesting thing about the show.

Hollywood Reporter Barry Garron

Apart from its New Mexico setting and its witness protection angle, little stands out here. Stories are less than suspenseful and characters are mainly two-dimensional.

Variety Brian Lowry

Balancing comedy and drama within this sort of framework requires a delicate touch, and precious little about In Plain Sight achieves that equilibrium.

LA Weekly Robert Abele

In Plain Sight already seems tired with its crime-of-the-week, flawed-protagonist self.

The average user rating for this tv show is 5.9 (out of 10) based on 32 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jeff H gave it a9:
This show got better with almost every episode. I'm even starting to like de la Fuente's stiff-as-a-board character. I think it will settle in as a pretty great show after time. As to the plots... just think about some of the insane things that have happened on other workplace dramas like ER or Grey's. It's TV. If they just showed the boring days at work, then no one would watch.

Kristin D. gave it an8:
I have enjoyed the shows so far, although the writing could stand a bit of improvement. The characters are engaging and the banter is enjoyable.

Ervin M. gave it a4:
Could be a good show, but relegates stars to typical Hollywood dysfunctional characters. Nothing redeeming about current story plots. Predict short life w/o major rewrite. Too bad. I was a deputy US Marshal and know how interesting this program could be-challenging Law & Order.

Ted gave it an8:
Great partners and interesting stories make for fun viewing. The sophisticated banter in the icing on the cake but it's probably over the heads of a lot of viewers. Mom and sis add nothing, however.

Terry gave it a9:
I really enjoy the show. I hope they leave it on.

Missy H gave it a9:
Not the greatest I've seen, but I certainly enjoy it and make a point of watching.

Chris J. gave it a9:
The characters blend well. The story is pretty average but is made up but excellent characters, and actors. I enjoy the conversations they have. Action is abound in this show and is a nice change of pace. McCormack is a strong woman but isn't an overbearing or a feminist.

In Plain Sight SERIES: USA, Sunday 10:00p (60 minutes)

In Plain Sight
SERIES: USA, Sunday 10:00p (60 minutes)