Network: CTV Television Network
Broadcast Run: 2008 to 2012
Broadcast Medium: Television
Originally commissioned under the working title Sniper, 13 episodes of a new one-hour drama series titled Flashpoint were commmitted to by CTV in late 2007 for broadcast in the fall of 2008. Then, in January 2008, it was announced that CBS had bought the U.S. network rights to the series, thus offering CTV the potential for simulcast of a Canadian series for the first time since Due South in 1994.
Flashpoint was a police drama about a highly skilled group of enforcement officers known as the Strategic Response Unit (SRU), who handled such operations as defusing bombs, rescuing hostages and breaking up gangs. Their role was also to deduce what were their suspects’ motivations, and thereby the flashpoint that triggered each crisis they were called on to deal with.
Flashpoint was scheduled on both CBS and CTV on Fridays at 10:00pm effective July 11th 2008. After only two weeks, pleased with the ratings, CBS moved the program to Thursdays effective July 24th, and CTV followed suit to maintain simulcast.
The series starred Enrico Colantoni, Hugh Dillon and David Paetkau, with Michael Cram, Sergio Di Zio, Amy Jo Johnson, Ruth Marshall and Mark Taylor. Retired Toronto police force veteran Barney McNeilly was brought on board to ensure the authenticity of the series.
Flashpoint was written and created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, with executive producers Anne Marie La Traverse for Pink Sky Entertainment and Bill Mustos for Avamar Entertainment, in association with CTV and CBS Paramount Network Television.
In August 2008 it was announced that CTV had ordered a second season of Flashpoint, and 13 new episodes began production early in 2009. CBS also commited to take the new 13 episodes.By this time, Ruth Marshall and Mark Taylor had left the cast. Olunike Adeliyi joined the series during season two.
In January 2009, CTV and CBS returned Flashpoint to their schedules, starting on January 9th. It was also announced that the order for new episodes had been increased to 18.
In June 2009 CTV announced its fall schedule, with Flashpoint listed on Fridays at 10:00pm. The program was not included in the CBS fall schedule. Flashpoint premiered on CTV on Friday September 25th 2009 at 10pm. Olunike Adelyi left in season 3. On October 6th, CBS announced it was picking up another 13 episodes, but no airdates were announced.
After a brief hiatus in the winter, Flashpoint returned to the CTV schedule on June 4th 2010, with encore episodes airing on Fridays at 9pm. At the same time the network announced that it had committeed to a fourth season of Flashpoint to air late in 2011. New episodes from Season 3 began being aired on August 6th. Then, after a hiatus, a new short season of original episodes began on January 5th 2011 at 10 pm, concluding on February 6th, following the Super Bowl.
On May 6th CTV began running six encore presentations of Flashpoint, to lead into the start of the fourth season of originals on June 17th. Michael Cram was replaced by Cle Bennett partway through season 4. (Cle left after the first episode of season 5). On June 2nd, CTV announced that Flashpoint would be returning to the schedule for the 2011-2012 season, on Tuesdays at 8:00 pm, with repeats on Saturdays at 8:00pm.
The fifth season of Flashpoint began on CTV on October 18th 2011. Olunike Adelyi returned to the cast.
On May 1st 2012, CTV announced that Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment had chosen to cease production on Flashpoint following the conclusion of its fifth season, which was currently in production in Toronto for broadcast in 2012-2013 on CTV.
“Producing Flashpoint over the last five seasons has been an exceptional adventure,” said producers Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos. “We’ve been incredibly lucky to work with committed and supportive broadcast partners who have enabled us to reach many millions of fans across North America. While the series is still at its creative apex, we’ve decided to end the series on a high note.”
In CTV’s Fall 2012 schedule the sixth and final season of Flashpoint premiered on September at 10:00pm, with repeats on CTV Two on Mondays at 10:00 pm.
Written by Pip Wedge – June, 2012