Suits Gets Second Season

It should come as no surprise that USA renewed its freshman hit series Suits starring Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams.

Suits on USA Network

[Official USA Network Press Release]

NEW YORK – August 11, 2011 – Coming off its biggest summer ever dominating the television landscape with a record number of scripted originals and a firm hold on the #1 position in cable, USA Network today announced the season two pick up of the new hit original series SUITS with an order of 16 one-hour episodes. The series, which shoots in Toronto, stars Gabriel Macht ("Love and Other Drugs”), Patrick J. Adams ("Lost"), Rick Hoffman ("Samantha Who”), Gina Torres ("Firefly”), Sarah Rafferty (“Brothers & Sisters”) and Meghan Markle ("CSI Miami"). The announcement was made today by Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel, co-presidents, USA Network.

SUITS launched on Thursday, June 23 at 10/9c and will conclude its 12 episode freshman run with the season finale on Thursday, September 8 at 10/9c. The series has made USA the most watched network Thursdays in the 10pm hour in all of television – broadcast or cable – in delivering P18-49, P25-54, and P18-34, beating every cable competitor in total viewers and households, as well. SUITS is one of the network's top ranked freshman seasons of an original series in P25-54 (2.93 million), P18-49 (2.80 million), P18-34 (1.24 million) and total viewers (6.34 million).

“SUITS exceeded our expectations on every level with its sharp writing, engaging ensemble cast and incredible production values,” said Wachtel and McCumber. “Quickly embraced by our viewers, critics and the industry as a series that pushes the envelope of the USA brand, we needed no further evidence to greenlight a second season.”

SUITS delves into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of a top Manhattan corporate law firm where hotshot associate Harvey Specter (Macht) makes a risky move by hiring Mike Ross (Adams), a brilliant but unmotivated college dropout, as his new associate. As he becomes enmeshed in this unfamiliar world, Mike relies heavily on the firm’s best paralegal Rachel (Markle) and Harvey's no-nonsense assistant Donna (Rafferty) to help him serve justice. With a photographic memory and the street smarts of a hustler, Mike proves to be a legal prodigy despite the absence of bonafide legal credentials. Proving to be an irrepressible duo and invaluable to the practice, Mike and Harvey must keep their secret from everyone including managing partner Jessica (Torres) and Harvey’s arch nemesis Louis (Hoffman), who seems intent on making Mike’s life as difficult as possible.

From Universal Cable Productions, creator Aaron Korsh wrote the pilot and serves as co-executive producer of SUITS. The series is executive produced by Doug Liman (COVERT AFFAIRS, the "Bourne" trilogy, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith") and David Bartis (COVERT AFFAIRS, "The O.C.,") of Hypnotic with Gene Klein (COVERT AFFAIRS) serving as producer. Kevin Bray (“Walking Tall”) is supervising producer and directed the pilot. SUITS is shot on location in Toronto, ON.

Capital One Venture Card promoted by Covert Affairs

[Official USA Network Press release]

NEW YORK – July 6, 2011 – USA Network and Capital One announced today the next chapter in their long history of partnerships, this time focused on promoting the Capital One Venture Card during the second season of USA’s hit series COVERT AFFAIRS. USA is integrating Capital One’s brand on-air and in original digital content. The on-air offering includes a sponsorship of two custom Character Builder vignettes featuring Christopher Gorham (who plays Auggie Anderson) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (who plays Jai Wilcox) speaking to the world in which their CIA characters work and play. The online extension features a digital hub in which USA provides fans with a centralized place to not only interact with the program, but learn more about what they need for their own spy travel.

“As viewing habits continue to fragment, USA is constantly innovating new ways for our partners to engage with our series and fans across multiple screens,” said Alexandra Shapiro, senior vice president, brand marketing and digital, USA. “Capital One’s Venture Card double miles theme and promotions dovetail perfectly with both the viewing habits of our audience as well as our globe-trotting COVERT AFFAIRS agents who film on location through the globe.”

“We are excited about working with USA and COVERT AFFAIRS as we have found the perfect way to illustrate the benefits of the Capital One Venture Card,” said Marc Mentry, managing vice president, advertising and sponsorships for Capital One. “In fact, Auggie Anderson and Jai Wilcox both exemplify the perfect travel experts, who like our card members, are never barred by blackout dates or expirations.”

The Character Builder vignettes are also featured within The Spy’s Guide to Travel, created and designed specifically for Capital One. The section features travel tips, must-have accessories and vacation destinations that only a spy would love as well as vital necessities such as the best credit card to have in your wallet: Capital One’s Venture Card. Located on usanetwork.com, The Spy’s Guide to Travel will inform and reward fans with double points that can be redeemed for real and virtual prizes in COVERT AFFAIRS’ popular online affinity program, Covert Operatives. There is also a co-branded canvas element with video and links back to the customized elements.

Beginning Tuesday, June 28 (and continuing through the remainder of the season), Capital One and USA invited viewers to join the online conversation through Character Chatter, USA’s innovative social platform that funnels live feeds from all social communication portals, and streams them online during the original episode.

 The marketing campaign culminates with Capital One’s sponsorship of the COVERT AFFAIRS summer season finale on Tuesday, August 9, when Capital One will be the exclusive financial category marketing partner for the concluding episode.

The sophomore season of COVERT AFFAIRS stars Golden Globe®-nominated Piper Perabo as Annie Walker, a young CIA operative whose exceptional linguistic skills make her invaluable to the Agency in missions that span the globe. While she’s quickly becoming a seasoned field operative, Annie’s career continues to intrude on her personal life as she strives to balance a "pseudo-normal" life with her high-octane adventures as a covert operative. The series also stars Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Kari Matchett and Anne Dudek. From Universal Cable Productions, COVERT AFFAIRS is executive produced by Doug Liman and David Bartis through Hypnotic and written and executive produced by Matt Corman and Chris Ord.