Flashpoint (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Flashpoint


caption = Flashpoint title screen
show_name_2 =
genre = Police drama
creator = Mark Ellis
Stephanie Morgenstern
director = David Frazee, Clark Johnson
creative_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring = Enrico Colantoni
Hugh Dillon
Amy Jo Johnson
David Paetkau
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = Flagicon|Canada Canada
language = English
num_seasons = 1 produced; second season green-lit by CTV
num_episodes = 13
list_episodes = List of Flashpoint episodes
executive_producer = Anne Marie La Traverse
Bill Mustos
Mark Ellis
Stephanie Morgenstern
co_exec = Tassie Cameron
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography = David Perrault
camera =
runtime = 44 mins (excluding commercials)
network = CTV
picture_format = HDTV 1080i
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = July 11, 2008
last_aired = Present
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20071221/home-sniper/20071221/
production_website =
imdb_id = 1059475
tv_com_id = 75209

"Flashpoint" is a Canadian police drama television series that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and CBS in the U.S. [cite news |work=Globe and Mail |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080501.wflashpoint01/BNStory/Entertainment/home |first=Gayle |last=MacDonald |date=2008-05-01 |title=Are U.S. networks messing with our shows?] "Sniper" [cite news |work=CTV |title=CTV adds two new Canadian dramas to lineup |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20071221/two_new_series_071221/20071221/ |date=2007-12-21 |accessdate=2008-07-13] and "Critical Incident"cite news |url=http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20070720/critical.html |work=Playback |title=Cop action in the works for CTV |first=Tracy Nita |last=Pender |accessdate=2008-07-13 |date=2007-07-20] were former working titles. The original 2007 pilot for the series was filmed using the "Critical Incident" title and "Sniper" was used when CTV originally announced the series in late December 2007. [cite news |work=TV, eh? |url=http://www.tv-eh.com/2007/12/20/ctv-orders-two-new-one-hour-canadian-drama-series/ |title=CTV Orders Two, New One-Hour Canadian Drama Series |date=2007-12-20 |accessdate=2008-07-13]

Plot

"Flashpoint" is about the dramatic portrayal of an elite tactical unit, called the Strategic Response Unit (SRU), within a Canadian metropolitan police force (styled on the Toronto Emergency Task Force, Toronto being where the series is filmed). The SRU are tasked to resolve extreme situations that regular officers cannot handle including hostage-taking, bomb threats and heavily armed criminals. Even though they're backed with high-tech equipment with an arsenal of explosives, tasers, submachine guns, assault and sniper rifles, the SRU operators use intuition and judgement to resolve the situation.

Production

"Flashpoint" began filming 13 episodes on April 17, 2008. It is written and created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and executive produced by multiple Gemini Award-winner Anne Marie La Traverse for Pink Sky Entertainment and Bill Mustos for Avamar Entertainment in association with the CTV Television Network and CBS Paramount Network Television.

Flashpoint began life as a part of a CTV project that encouraged actors to submit scripts to the network. The original Flashpoint script (when it was known as "Critical Incident") was for a two-hour TV movie. CTV's interest in the project led to Flashpoint being reworked as a regular CTV series which was approved in mid-December 2007. Although originally developed for a Canadian audience only, it was announced on January 29, 2008 that American network CBS had purchased the rights to air the series in the United States. [cite news |date=2008-01-30 |work=Reuters |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2964677720080130 |title=CBS bypasses writers to import Canadian cop series] This will be the first Canadian TV series aired in prime time on a US broadcast network since "Due South", also a CTV show aired by CBS. [ cite news |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20080129/flashpoint_pickedup_080129/20080129/ |title=New CTV series 'Flashpoint' picked up by CBS |work=CTV |date=2008-01-29] In addition, "Flashpoint" will become the first Canadian series aired by a major US broadcast network that is set entirely in Canada (as "Due South" was primarily set in Chicago).

Some sourceswho suggest that CBS is using the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) to do struck work shows in Canada to bypass the strike at the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The WGC vehemently denies this, and says that since the show was greenlit before CBS bought the show, and it was created for CTV, that it is a Canadian show and not American, thus not related to the strike. The WGC further pointed out that all of the writers working on "Flashpoint" are Canadian writers who are not members of the WGA. [cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/international/news/e3ifd053af8bbfcf736c55e329b37d3ad2d |title='Flashpoint' not struck work, WGC says |date=2008-02-01 |first=Etan |last=Vlessing |work=The Hollywood Reporter]

On March 5, 2008, CBS announced that "Flashpoint" would premiere on that network in July 2008. [cite news |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981887.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=Flashpoint |title=CBS Announces Thursday Plans |date=2008-05-03 |first=Michael |last=Schneider |work=Variety] CTV announced on May 8, 2008 that it will simulcast the show in Canada beginning on July 11, 2008.

The pilot episode titled "Scorpio" was based on an actual event that occurred in Toronto in 2004 in which a gun-wielding hostage taker was shot and killed by an Emergency Task Force sniper. [ [http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080625_20530_20530 A series inspired by a T.O. sniper.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] Ellis and Morgenstern wrote their teleplay for the episode after interviewing members of the ETF. [cite web |url=http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/07/11/001823.php |title=Cop Drama "Flashpoint" Explores Human Cost Of Heroism |date=2008-07-11 |first=Diane |last=Kristine]

Director David Frazee carefully shoots the SRU as one unit in order to show their unity throughout the show. [ [http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=216527 HBO presents a pat war drama; CBS surprises with 'Flash point'.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] Producer Anne Marie La Traverse said that the show would take people to their "own personal flash point." [ [http://hub.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/THINGS0206/807110305/1104/HUB 'Flashpoint' brings police drama to summer TV.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] David Paetkau, one of the show's regular cast members, said Flashpoint "tries to capture the human element involved in policing and discusses how some officers end up with emotional baggage and suffering with mental illnesses like post traumatic stress disorder." [ [http://www.coastreporter.net/madison%5CWQuestion.nsf/0/D74B9718503E1B7C88257483001146B6?OpenDocument David Paetkau shoots new series in Toronto.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] Input and advice from various ETF personnel were used in the making of the series. [ [http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1109342 'Flashpoint' chronicles the price heroic cops must pay on the job.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.]

On August 25, 2008, CTV announced it had renewed the show for a second season of 13 episodes to begin production in Toronto in early 2009. [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20080823/flashpoint_20080825/20080823 More Flashpoint In The Crosshairs] Retrieved August 25, 2008.] CBS announced that they were also ordering the second season on September 19, 2008. It was not specified if the show will return midseason or next summer, nor when the final four episodes of season one will air. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992507.html?categoryId=14&cs=1]

Music

Hugh Dillon and Amy Jo Johnson are both involved in the show's production with their music being used. [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20080813/flashpoint_songs_080813/20080814/ 'Flashpoint' stars feature musical side in upcoming episodes.] Retrieved on August 19, 2008.] Johnson's "Dancing In-between" was used in the ending of episode 6 "Attention Shoppers" and Dillion's "Lost at Sea" was used to conclude the 8th episode, "Never Kissed a Girl". [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20080717/flashpoint_music_080717/20080708 Music Page, CTV's Flashpoint site.] Retrieved on August 19, 2008.] The shows short 30 seconds theme was created by Amin Bhatia and Ari Posner.

Setting

The setting for the series is a large Canadian metropolitan city that is assumed to be Toronto, the largest city in Canada. Enrico Colantoni has stated that attempts were made to downplay the city's importance and make it a seemingly indistinctive city. He also said in the same interview that "Toronto" is never identified as the city in which the series is set. [cite news |url=http://watch.ctv.ca/etalk/tv/extended---flashpoint/#clip61512 |title=Enrico Colantoni's CTV "Flashpoint" interview — only viewable in Canada ] Nevertheless, shots do show the CN Tower, countless Toronto landmarks, a fictional "Toronto Interpreter" newspaper (designed in the style of the "Toronto Star"), Canadian mailboxes, Canada's flag on uniforms and actual Toronto Transit Commission subway stations and railcars, and the occasional Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Ontario Provincial Police patrol cars. Dialogue also references Tim Hortons, and local streets such as Yonge and Queen Streets. Bill Mustos, founder of co-production company Avamar Entertainment, points out that "you’re not going to see a show that is screaming ‘Canada.’ It’s a show in a big sophisticated urban city where crises take place. The stories we’re trying to tell are universal stories." [http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/canadians-sneak-across-border-hide-on-cbs/ Canadians Sneak Across Border, Hide on CBS.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] CTV's press release regarding the series does identify Toronto, and notes that the SRU is based on Toronto's Emergency Task Force. [cite press release |work=CTV |date=2008-06-25 |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20080625/flash_release_080625/20080625/ |title=High-stakes Drama "Flashpoint" Targets CTV July 11]

The set of the SRU's headquarters are fully functional as they appear on the show and are not simply props, though some of the firearms used in the show are, while others are actual decommissioned formerly firing weapons. [ [http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8797466 Tour of Flashpoint set in Toronto.] Retrieved on August 19, 2008.]

Episodes

Cast and characters

The majority of the cast involved in the making of Flashpoint are Canadians including Enrico Colantoni, David Paetkau, Hugh Dillon, Sergio Di Zio, Michael Cram, Mark Taylor and Ruth Marshall. Amy Jo Johnson is the only American actress starring in Canadian-made drama, [http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1121090 Checking in with Amy Jo Johnson.] Retrieved on August 18, 2008.] who said that she had no problems being in Flashpoint despite announcing to the press that she was already pregnant [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/06/26/2008-06-26_amy_jo_johnson_to_deliver_for_flashpoint.html Amy Jo Johnson to deliver for 'Flashpoint'.] Retrieved on August 18, 2008.] with her first child with her fiancée Oliver Giner [ [http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2008/06/amy-jo-johnson-oliver-giner-expecting/ Amy Jo Johnson & Oliver Giner: Expecting!.] Retrieved on August 18, 2008.] during initial production of Flashpoint. [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/06/26/2008-06-26_amy_jo_johnson_to_deliver_for_flashpoint.html Amy Jo Johnson to deliver for 'Flashpoint'.] Retrieved on August 18, 2008.]

Equipment

The series uses non-lethal copies of the following weapons:

* SPECTRA helmet
* Heckler & Koch MP5
* C8 Rifle
* Chevy Suburban
* International Truck Mobile Command Unit
* battering ram
* Remington 700 sniper rifle
* Glock pistol

Locations

* Commerce Court - as a office complex in "Scorpio"
* Metro Hall - as a hospital in "First In Line"
* University College, University of Toronto - as a court house in "Never Kissed A Girl"
* 205 Yonge Street - as a bank in "Who's George"
* Atrium on Bay - as a shopping mall in "Attention Shoppers"

Reception

Canada

Due to the original timeslot allotted for the show and the reception, "Flashpoint" was rebroadcast on July 13, 2008. [ [http://torontosun.com/Entertainment/Television/2008/07/12/6136361-sun.html Flashpoint debut gets a second chance.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] Sussana Boyce explained that the audience, especially the American audience, would be getting new contents at a low price as the producers get to put more money on the screen. [http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/canadians-sneak-across-border-hide-on-cbs/ Canadians Sneak Across Border, Hide on CBS.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] The pilot episode was watched on CTV by 1.11 million viewers, earning the #1 spot in its timeslot. [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20080714/flashpoint_debut_080714/20080714/ CTV's Flashpoint debuts #1 in Canada: #1 in US.] .] CTV would show the second episode on July 20, 2008 due to the reception like the first episode. [http://torontosun.com/Entertainment/Television/2008/07/19/6205211-sun.html Flashpoint is getting second second-go-round.] Retrieved on July 19, 2008.]

Flashpoint drew in 1,216,000 viewers from July 28 to August 3 of 2008. [ [http://www.bbm.ca/en/nat07282008.pdf Top Programs - Total Canada. July 28-August 3, 2008.] Retrieved on August 19, 2008.] It gained a bit more audience when the show drew in 1,300,000 viewers. [ [http://www.bbm.ca/en/nat08042008.pdf Top Programs - Total Canada. August 4-10, 2008.] Retrieved on August 19, 2008.]

United States

BC TV Review had said "Flashpoint" is a different kind of cop show, since it portrays human emotions and how their actions would make the audience empathize with them. [ [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/07/11/205128.php TV Review: Flashpoint - A Different Kind Of Cop Show, Eh?] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] The Boston Globe praised the show for using emotions that "lingers on the psychic toll that such high-tension work can take." [ [http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/07/11/flashpoint_resorts_to_usual_suspects/ 'Flashpoint' resorts to usual suspects.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] As an example, a recent episode has the team shoot a bank robber who is stealing money for the Alzheimer's treatment of his eldery ill wife, which is presented as sad but necessary. Shooting the bereft senior citizen whose wife is going to be evicted from the senior citizen's home for lack of funds is troublesome for the team. The pilot episode was watched on CBS by 8.23 million people, earning the #1 ranking for the hour. [ [http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/07/12/nielsen-ratings-friday-july-11-flashpoint-eh/4401 Overnight Nielsen TV Ratings Friday, July 11, 2008: Flashpoint, Eh?] Retrieved on July 14, 2008.] CBS aired the second episode on July 20, 2008 due to a positive reception. [http://torontosun.com/Entertainment/Television/2008/07/19/6205211-sun.html Flashpoint is getting second second-go-round.] Retrieved on July 19, 2008.] In addition, CBS is also considering expanding the show beyond 13 episodes. [ [http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/2008/07/18/6199881-cp.html CBS considers more 'Flashpoint'.] Retrieved on July 19, 2008.]

According to Flashpoint executive Bill Mustos, the success of the show in the US is not due to the Writer's Guild strikes, but mainly because of the need of having a new kind of show on television. [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990286.html?categoryId=2522&cs=1 Canadian TV sizzles in U.S..] Retrieved on August 19, 2008.]

"Flashpoint" did well in its initial airings on Friday nights (in the time slot normally given to "NUMB3RS"), building on the leadin from that show. In fact, it drew more viewers on Friday nights than "Swingtown", another new drama, did on the normally busier Thursday nights, which prompted CBS to move "Flashpoint" to Thursday nights in an attempt to further build its audience. [ [http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/national-broadcast/e3i9d791163c345384d4d493f0e5ef0e741 CBS Moves Flashpoint to Thursday] ]

International Distribution

Flashpoint is being distributed by Alchemy Television and Tele München Group to all international markets outside of North America. Flashpoint is available in nScreen VOD on n satellite service in Poland. [ [http://n.pl/vod/nscreen/film/flashpoint.html nScreen VOD - "Flashpoint"] ] The show will air on the Nine Network in Australia, [ [http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/07/nine-acquires-flashpoint.html Nine acquires Flashpoint] Retrieved on July 30, 2008] TVNZ in New Zealand and ITV in the UK. [ [http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20080724/flashpoint.html Brits, Kiwis buy Flashpoint] Retrieved on August 26, 2008.] The series has also been picked up by television networks in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Latin America. [ [http://www.tv-eh.com/2008/07/25/flashpoint-canadian-ratings-foreign-sales/#more-2744 Flashpoint Canadian ratings, foreign sales.] Retrieved on July 27, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20071221/home-sniper/20080624/ CTV "Flashpoint" official website]
* [http://www.cbs.com/primetime/flashpoint/ CBS "Flashpoint" official website]