FX Network and NBC picked the perfect time to launch their season premiers of spy drama shows, The Americans and Allegiance, respectively.  A creative prosecutor may even charge the feds with conspiracy in them timing the indictment of a real life Russian spy nest and premiering of the shows within weeks of each other. If indeed this was a coincidence, then the shows’ producers have caught a lucky break and a ratings bonanza.  Timing is so perfect that an argument could be made that the producers have corrupted the FBI into arresting the alleged Russian spy just as the shows were set to premier.

Arrests of a dozen Russian operatives embedded in the American society made headlines in 2010, mostly due to the now infamous spy seductress Anna Chapman.  The public was galvanized that even after the end of the Cold War, Russian clandestine services are still utilizing spies on American soil, some of whom were carefully disguised into being US-born American citizens.

Inspired by the real life spy network, a few shows were produced on the topic. FX Network was first to fictionally depict the embedded Russian operatives in critically acclaimed and high rated show, The Americans.  Now in its 3rd Season, it could be seen Wednesdays at 10PM.

Next, came The Assets on ABC about the recruitment of CIA Agent Aldrich Ames into becoming on of the best assets of the KGB.  The series flopped on ABC, becoming of the lowest rated TV shows in ABC history, ever.

Undeterred by the failure of the Assets, NBC ordered a season of a new show, the Allegiance.  This show is about a CIA agent whose parents are members of a Russian spy sleeper cell.  Allegiance will commence on February 5th at 10PM.  Increased interest to real life Russian spying efforts should give a huge boost to the series.

Finally, last week, the US government has launched its own reality show that stars three alleged Russian spies. The allegation against the one whom the FBI managed to arrest is that he was a Russian spy working under the guise of a bank worker, while the other two were his handlers.  In a sexy twist, the main goal of the detained spy was to recruit young female coeds to gather info on US businesspeople and politicians, feds say.  I can already predict that this show will not reach the season finale of a trial and/or US jail sentence since the defendants were indicted with relatively small charges of failing to register as agents of foreign governments.  Assumingly, the goal of the feds was just to make a statement of warning Russia or to force some kind of prisoner exchange or other concessions from Russia before the bumbling spy is deported back to his Motherland.

Regardless of the collaboration, or not, of the TV producers and the US prosecutors, the timetables of the show releases and the indictments will prove to be mutually beneficial for all- the ratings driven producers and the PR hungry prosecutors.

By: Michael Levitis