“COVERT AFFAIRS” GOT TWO big boosts recently. The first was surely intentional. USA took lead Piper Perabo – who remotely resembles Angelina Jolie in “Salt” – and plastered her picture everywhere, notably in a black-and-white outfit that resembles the imagery from that anticipated film. OK, well played. The second break came in the form of the bumbling Russian spies who reminded us that espionage, well, isn’t just for Hollywood and cable networks. Both combined to give “Covert Affairs” a great debut last week with 5 million viewers – indeed the newbie topped its lead-in “White Collar,” a solid performer in itself, by a surprising 1 million. So USA has a good start on its hands. But a renewal isn’t a sure thing. Action dramas have trouble maintaining viewer interest – after all, Hollywood does it so much better, as “Salt” will surely show this week alone. And even though the timing was perfect for “Covert,” story arcs will have to deliver to maintain strong numbers. We’ll find out in the coming weeks if “Covert” is something more than a passing affair. 7/19/09.
THE MARKET: Will “Covert Affairs” be renewed by USA? The drama premiered Tuesday, July 13. Trading will close immediately after its scheduled sixth episode. If the network approves a second season, shares are worth $100. If it doesn’t, they’re worth $0.
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