Burn Notice

Season 3

Friends and Family

1. When Michael gets into the SUV for the meeting with Rufino, he says, "I like these SUVs. They're roomy." This is a callback to the pilot where he is forced to ride in the back of a Mercedes sedan between two gunmen and says, "You know, Mercedes makes an SUV now. They're roomy and surprisingly affordable."
2. While waiting to ambush Rafino in the train yard, Sam and Harlan are hidden in the train car. Sam calls Harlan "Hercules". Bruce Campbell played Autolycus on the long running series "The Legend of Hercules"

Question and Answer

End Run

Fearless Leader

1. The last name of the criminal boss who steals from drug dealers is Matheson. This is an in-joke reference to Tim Matheson, who directed several episodes of Burn Notice as well as appearing in several eps as Weston's former mentor/partner in the covert ops profession.
2. The character Tommy is a reference to the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard. In the movie, the actor plays the character Brucie whose behavior and mannerisms mimic those of Tommy. Tommy also states he did time in Allendale, the fictional prison in which most of the movie is set.

Signals and Codes

1. Burn Notice's main protagonist Michael Westen (played by Jeffrey Donovan) meets real-life guest star Michael Weston (who plays the mentally-disturbed client Spencer). Weston's birth name was Rubenstein - he is actor John Rubenstein's son.
2. The "spy plane" Michael Westen identifies is actually a Beech 1900 with Gulfstream International, a regional airline out of Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and clearly painted in Continental Connection livery. The "FAA" window which Michael escapes from is in the Sheltair/Jet Center FBO building at FLL; which houses the local FAA/FSDO office.

The Hunter

1. The head of the criminal syndicate is named Pyotr Chechik. This is a nod to Jeremiah S. Chechik who directed several episodes in the series.

Shot in the Dark

Friends Like These

1. As the opening credits are rolling Sam is talking to Michael and he mentions that someone is hiding out at the Wages Motel just before cinematographer William Wages' name is shown.

Long Way Back

1. Much like the episode where Michael Westen meets the real-life actor Michael Weston, in this one he assumes the identity of "Micheal McBride." One of the Irish thugs is played by Michael McBride.
2. The episode's bad guy is named Thomas O'Neill. Presumably not by coincidence, the writer of the episode, Craig (S.) O'Neill, has the same last name.

A Dark Road

1. Tyne Daly appears in this episode; she and Sharon Gless (Madeline Westen) previously played the title roles (126 episodes, 1981-1988) in the award-winning TV series Cagney & Lacey (1981).
2. Michael's way in with Ryan, the insurance scammer in this episode is a mutual contact named "Erik Lee". Erik Lee is also the name of associate producer of Burn Notice, the first name listed in the episodes' end credits.
3. During the recap of the previous episode Strickler is seen pointing his gun at Michael in his left hand but after he is shot he is seen with it in his right hand. Even in the previous episode it is always in his right hand.

Friendly Fire

Noble Causes

1. The picture of the hydraulic rescue tool (Jaws of Life) that Lynch hands to Michael during the meeting is taken from Wikipedia. You can find the original picture, taken by Derek Eiland, on the article page for "Hydraulic rescue tools".
2. The character "Bolo," the fence that Michael blackmails, is shown wearing a bolo tie.
3. The bottle of whiskey at the end of the episode is labeled "Glencallan". It is a fake brand of whiskey created by Independent Studio Services as a prop.
4. "Bolo", the character played by Erik King, refers to bodybuilder / actor Bolo Yeung, bad guy in hundreds of kung fu flicks (most noticeably Enter the Dragon (1973)).
5. When Sam ask's Michaels mom for a cup of sugar it's a clear reference to season 3 ep:7 a kid tries to steal Michaels gun He says a neighbor borrows a cup is sugar, not a gun" in this episode Sam borrows a cup of sugar.

Enemies Closer

1. This episode involves sicarios (cartel slang for hit man). Jeffrey Donovan co-starred in Sicario (2015) with Josh Brolin and Emily Blunt.

Partners in Crime

1. The way that Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) repeatedly dons his sunglasses dramatically while saying a line is a blatant reference to the character of Horatio Caine from "CSI: Miami."

Good Intentions

1. Fiona's Interpol file lists her as being on Interpol's Orange Notice. This means Interpol has identified Fiona as posing an imminent threat and danger to persons or property.

Devil You Know