USA renews 'White Collar' for second season

By Nellie Andreeva

USA Network's freshman dramedy "White Collar" has been collared for a second season.

The show's creator/executive producer Jeff Eastin tweeted the newsFriday evening. "Congratulations to the best cast and crew ontelevision," he wrote.

The pickup was confirmed by USA though no details on the size ofthe order or the second season's premiere date were provided.

In the first portion of its freshman season, "White Collar" was asolid performer though not a breakout hit of the caliber of recentadditions "Royal Pains" or "Burn Notice."

Still, the show, which got off to a strong start with 5.4 millionviewers tuning in for the well-reviewed premiere, boasts acharismatic lead in Matt Bomer as a suave white collarcriminal-turned-FBI consultant and began to hit its creative stridetowards the end of its initial seven-episode run. That run ended ona high note when the fall finale, which followed therecord-breaking "Monk" series finale, hit series highs, averaging5.55 million viewers.

"White Collar" is slated to return for the rest of its freshmanseason Jan. 20 when it moves from Fridays to Tuesdays.

Philiana Ng contributed to this report.