TV
2009-10 Midseason
2009 Fall Season
2009 Summer Season
2008-09 Midseason
2008 Fall Season
2008 Summer Season
Best Of 2009
Best Of 2008
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
Recent/Upcoming
Movies & Specials
87
The Pacific
HBO, 3/14
51
Who Is Clark Rockefeller?
Lifetime, 3/13
59
The 39 Steps
PBS, 2/28
79
Reporter
HBO, 2/18
84
Temple Grandin
HBO, 2/6
83
Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America
VH1, 2/6
52
A Family Is a Family Is a Family: A Rosie O'Donnell Celebration
HBO, 1/31
40
Live for the Moment
CBS, 1/28
Recent/Upcoming
Series Premieres
62
Ugly Americans
Comedy Central,
Wednesday
80
Justified
FX,
Tuesday
52
The Price of Beauty
VH1,
Monday
52
Sons of Tucson
Fox,
Sunday
34
High Society
CW,
Wednesday
54
Who Do You Think You Are?
NBC,
Friday
61
Parenthood
NBC,
Tuesday
77
Southland Season Two
TNT,
Tuesday
49
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
NBC,
Weekdays
41
The Marriage Ref
NBC,
Thursday
62
The Ricky Gervais Show
HBO,
Friday
59
How to Make It in America
HBO,
Sunday
64
Prison Wives
Investigation Discovery,
Wednesday
62
Survivors
BBC America,
Saturday
43
Past Life
Fox,
Tuesday
56
Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp Season Seven
VH1,
Monday
59
Undercover Boss
CBS,
Sunday
44
The Michael Vick Project
BET,
Tuesday
44
Kell on Earth
Bravo,
Monday
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.
In Plain Sight
EMAILPRINTSERIES: USA, Sunday 10:00p (60 minutes)

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 35 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >
Show Info
Genre(s): Drama
Created By: David Maples
First Air Date: June 1, 2008
Summary
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.
Episode Guide & More Info: More about this show at TV.com
Also On The Web: Official Show Site
What The Critics Said
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-LedgerAlan 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.
Read Full Review >New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
Mary doesn't win 'em all, but In Plain Sight is a W for USA.
Read Full Review >Entertainment WeeklyKen 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.
Read Full Review >Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob 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.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles TimesRobert 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.
Read Full Review >Washington PostTom 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.
Read Full Review >The New York TimesAlessandra 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.
Read Full Review >PopMattersMichael 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.
Read Full Review >TV GuideMatt Roush
The show is entertaining enough on the job that it doesn’t need so-called comic relief.
Read Full Review >New York PostLinda 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.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen 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.
Read Full Review >San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman
In Plain Sight, in addition to some of the worst character names you'll ever see, has deeper problems in the writing.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm
In Plain Sight may not offer the newest characters on the block, but they're diverting, and at least they can spell.
Read Full Review >USA TodayRobert 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.
Read Full Review >Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert
Ultimately, that episode leaves only a vague sense of the rich territory that In Plain Sight could have explored with better writing.
Read Full Review >Chicago TribuneMaureen 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.
Read Full Review >Hollywood ReporterBarry 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.
Read Full Review >VarietyBrian Lowry
Balancing comedy and drama within this sort of framework requires a delicate touch, and precious little about In Plain Sight achieves that equilibrium.
Read Full Review >LA WeeklyRobert Abele
In Plain Sight already seems tired with its crime-of-the-week, flawed-protagonist self.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this show is 6.2 (out of 10) based on 35 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.
