Boomtown (2002 TV series)

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Boomtown
BoomtownDVD1.jpg
Season 1 DVD cover
Genre
Created byGraham Yost
Starring
ComposerPhilip Giffin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time45 minutes
Production companies
Distributor
  • MTV Networks (US)
  • Universal Worldwide Television (international)
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 29, 2002 (2002-09-29) –
December 28, 2003 (2003-12-28)

Boomtown is an American action drama television series created by Graham Yost, that aired on NBC from September 29, 2002 to December 28, 2003. The show's title is a nickname for its setting: Los Angeles, California.

Overview[]

The show portrayed a criminal investigation each week, seen from various points of view: the police officers and detectives, the lawyers, paramedics, reporters, victims, witnesses and criminals. Despite the show's innovative style – similar to that of Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon, except all the perspectives agree – and glowing critical reviews, the show never drew a significant audience.

The series premiered on September 29, 2002. The first season order was for 18 episodes. After airing 12 episodes with disappointing ratings, NBC moved Boomtown from Sundays to Fridays, putting the show on a two-month hiatus before it returned in March 2003. Its first season ended before May sweeps, an important period in determining ratings and thus ad revenue values.

Boomtown was renewed for a second season, but to satisfy the network's concerns with low ratings, the producers made some changes. Most significantly they reduced reliance on some of the show's signature elements. In season one each story was told in a non-linear fashion, with each character's view adding a new detail. In season two, they still would put up people's names as it followed them, but there was less new information on the mystery, and aside from a few flashbacks, the episode's events would run in order. There were changes within the cast as well. Nina Garbiras was let go, as the producers wished to focus more exclusively on Law & Order type characters. There was never any mention of her reporter character again. Lana Parrilla's character suddenly joined the police academy. The character had previously been seen as never wanting to be anything but a paramedic after her mother's death. Vanessa L. Williams joined the cast for every episode, but was billed as a guest star. She played Detective Katherine Pierce, a high-ranking officer who transfers into Bobby and Joel's division. Jason Gedrick and Neal McDonough were absent from one episode each (although Gedrick's Tom Turcotte was heard on the telephone), and McDonough was also absent from all but the last 20 seconds of the season premiere. Lana Parrilla was not in three of the six episodes. After airing only two episodes, the series was put on hiatus. NBC broadcast reruns of Law & Order in its place before deciding to cancel the series. Three of the remaining unaired episodes were broadcast on December 27, 2003, and the final episode aired on December 28, 2003.

In retrospect, the show's creator, Graham Yost said: "Boomtown was perhaps, in retrospect, better suited for HBO or FX. But at that time, HBO had The Wire, and FX had The Shield. So NBC was really the only place for it, and they embraced the Rashomon structure and were excited by that, but then when the ratings weren't spectacular, what happens is everyone questions everything. 'Maybe that's the problem. Maybe it's the music. Maybe it's this. Maybe it's that. And the doubt becomes corrosive. So when we were lobbying for a second season, we were told straightforwardly that... there was one particular episode toward the end of the first season where Fearless, played by Mykelti Williamson, has to deal with the past of having been molested as a child, and we were basically told, 'You can't do any more episodes like that.' To this day, I don't know if that was the right decision. I do feel like that was one of the best episodes we ever did. I'm extraordinarily proud of that. But you want to keep going, you want to work with those actors, those writers, that crew. You want to take a shot, and you're hoping you will succeed, but we didn't. So there's a part of me that regrets the abbreviated second season, but there's also a part of me that's like, 'Eh. We gave it a shot.'" [1]

Boomtown received several awards and nominations, including Emmy Awards, Golden Satellite Awards, and Television Critics Association Awards.

Cast and characters[]

Boomtown season 2 promotional image

Main[]

  • Donnie Wahlberg as Los Angeles Police Department Detective II Joel Stevens
  • Neal McDonough as Los Angeles County Assistant District Attorney David McNorris
  • Mykelti Williamson as Los Angeles Police Department Detective II Bobby 'Fearless' Smith
  • Gary Basaraba as Los Angeles Police Department Police Officer III Ray Hechler
  • Nina Garbiras as Andrea Little, a reporter (season one)
  • Lana Parrilla as Teresa Ortiz, a paramedic in season one, and a rookie police officer in season two
  • Jason Gedrick as Los Angeles Police Department Police Officer II Tom Turcotte

Recurring[]

  • Megan Ward as Kelly Stevens
  • David Proval as Los Angeles Police Department Detective II Paul Turcotte
  • Dorian Harewood as Los Angeles Police Department Captain Ron Hicks
  • Kelly Rowan as Marian McNorris (season one)
  • Erich Anderson as Ben Fisher (season one)
  • Kim Murphy as Susan (season one)
  • Matt Craven as Dr. Michael Hirsch (season one)
  • Rick Gomez as Detective Daniel Ramos (season one)
  • Kelly Hu as Rachel Durrel (season two)
  • Vanessa L. Williams as Los Angeles Police Department Detective III Katherine Pierce (season two)

Episodes[]

Series overview[]

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
118September 29, 2002 (2002-09-29)April 20, 2003 (2003-04-20)
26September 26, 2003 (2003-09-26)December 28, 2003 (2003-12-28)

Season 1 (2002–03)[]

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
11"Pilot"Jon AvnetGraham YostSeptember 29, 2002 (2002-09-29)2101
A drive-by shooting is investigated from several angles. We meet Fearless, detective and Gulf War veteran with a list of things to do before he dies, and a habit of telling stories; Joel, a detective who is still attempting to hide the suicide attempt of his wife Kelly; Teresa, the kind-hearted paramedic who was on duty the night of said attempt; David McNorris, the manipulative deputy district attorney; reporter Andrea Little, his secret mistress; Ray Hechler, a cop under suspicion of corruption; and his young partner Tom, a mediocre officer who is frequently criticized by his father.
22"Possession"Jon AvnetGraham YostOctober 6, 2002 (2002-10-06)1002
After a telemarketer overhears a murder plot on the phone, Joel, Fearless, Ray and Tom scramble to find him; while David and Andrea find the pressure of their affair building.
33"The Squeeze"Jon AvnetMichelle AshfordOctober 13, 2002 (2002-10-13)1003
A prominent attorney gets murder charges against him dropped, and everyone takes different paths in an attempt to get him to confess.
44"Reelin' In the Years"Bobby RothLaurence AndriesOctober 20, 2002 (2002-10-20)1004
After Joel and Fearless solve the murder of Tom's father's former partner, Tom and Andrea face their past.
55"All Hallow's Eve"Frederick King KellerGraham YostOctober 27, 2002 (2002-10-27)1005
On Halloween, David is stunned when Andrea breaks up with him on the same night that Marian accuses him of adultery; Ray and Tom go undercover to stop pumpkins thieves; while Joel and Fearless try to save Teresa - whose ambulance has been hijacked.
66"The Freak"Jon AvnetMichelle AshfordNovember 3, 2002 (2002-11-03)1006
Ray and Tom investigate a bizarre case while Fearless risks his life to save a little girl, because of a haunting memory of an old war buddy.
77"Insured by Smith & Wesson"Peter WernerStory by : Chris Brancato & Albert J. Salke
Teleplay by : Chris Brancato
November 10, 2002 (2002-11-10)1008
When Ray goes undercover into a hostage situation inside a sporting goods store, he discovers that the store manager is a former actor of Ray's favorite 1980s TV show. While attempting to convince the manager to help him save the day, Ray's illusions are shattered.
88"Crash"Jeremy KaganFred GolanNovember 17, 2002 (2002-11-17)1009
Fearless's ex-girlfriend joins him and Joel on a case to crack an insurance fraud ring.
99"The David McNorris Show"Peter WernerLaurie D. ArentDecember 1, 2002 (2002-12-01)1010
While Joel and Fearless investigate the death of a teenage girl, McNorris makes some dirty deals which collapse just as his marriage does.
1010"Coyote"Alex ZakrzewskiRonald A. BurlaDecember 8, 2002 (2002-12-08)1007
Joel and Fearless must convince Andrea to face a psychotic homeless man who she went to school with to find a kidnapped teenager.
1111"Monster's Brawl"Rodrigo GarcíaJavier Grillo-MarxuachJanuary 5, 2003 (2003-01-05)1011

On a tip from Teresa, Joel, Fearless, Tom and a slowly falling apart David team up to convict a group of filmmakers inspiring homeless people to kill each other.

Guest star: Neil Patrick Harris as Peter Corman.
1212"Sinaloa Cowboys"Michael W. WatkinsGraham YostJanuary 12, 2003 (2003-01-12)1012
A simple domestic disturbance call becomes a life-changing event for Ray and Tom as they find themselves in the middle of a drug war, while Joel and Teresa grow closer.
1313"Home Invasion"Tucker GatesJoel Anderson ThompsonMarch 2, 2003 (2003-03-02)1013
Joel and Fearless must reluctantly let Andrea in on their case when they discover a group of killers who stake out a family home before torturing and killing the family.
1414"Execution"Jon AvnetLaurence AndriesMarch 9, 2003 (2003-03-09)1014
On the night of his execution, a criminal gives McNorris an ultimatum: save his life or risk the death of a kidnapped cop. While McNorris attempts to save him, Ray and his fellow officers attempt to take a more pragmatic course, unaware of what they are up against.
1515"Storm Watch"Jon AvnetStory by : Chris Brancato & Kevin Dunigan
Teleplay by : Chris Brancato
March 16, 2003 (2003-03-16)1015
Ray, Joel, Tom and Fearless are locked down in the station along with their fellow cops when a mole is suspected and Ray has no choice but to ask Andrea - who almost cost him his badge a year earlier - to help; meanwhile McNorris continues on a downward spiral.
1616"Fearless"Frederick King KellerStory by : Graham Yost & Mykelti Williamson
Teleplay by : Graham Yost
March 30, 2003 (2003-03-30)1016
In a rather different episode (featuring only one point of view, Fearless's), Fearless investigates the shooting of a drug dealer, and faces his past.
1717"Blackout"Jack BenderFred GolanApril 13, 2003 (2003-04-13)1017
With his wife having left him, and Andrea refusing to take him back, McNorris finds himself drinking into blackouts, which ultimately leads him to wake up with blood on his car. When he learns about a hit-and-run incident, he begins to act fearfully, and his suspicions tip off Joel, who is working with Fearless, Ray and Tom to crack the case.
1818"Lost Child"Frederick King KellerMichelle AshfordApril 20, 2003 (2003-04-20)1018
Already agonizing over his feelings for Teresa, Joel is put on the case of a kidnapped newborn. While Fearless, Andrea, Ray and David (preparing for rehab) investigate, Joel finds himself finally confronting his wife's suicide attempt and the death of their newborn daughter; while Tom finds himself being coerced into snitching on Joel.

Season 2 (2003)[]

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
191"The Love of Money"Jon AvnetGraham YostSeptember 26, 2003 (2003-09-26)2001

Joel, Fearless, Ray and Tom work together to investigate a group of cop killers, who threaten Joel's family. Joel has Robbery/Homicide detective Katherine Pierce reassigned to their division to assist. Meanwhile, David recovers in rehab and Teresa considers her future.

Guest star: Rebecca De Mornay as Sabrina Fithian.
202"Inadmissible"Jon AvnetAnne McGrailOctober 3, 2003 (2003-10-03)2002

Ray and Katherine testify against the cop killers; David comes out of rehab and gets straight onto the case despite his recent alcoholism; and Teresa joins the police academy.

Guest stars: Rebecca De Mornay as Sabrina Fithian, Stacy Keach as Mac McNorris, and Roma Maffia as Sally Jacobson.
213"Wannabe"Jon AvnetFred GolanDecember 27, 2003 (2003-12-27)2003
Joel and Fearless investigate when Teresa discovers a body at the police academy; Ray, Tom and Katherine work to stop a gang of thieves who pose as police officers.
224"Haystack"Frederick King KellerClyde PhillipsDecember 27, 2003 (2003-12-27)2004
A gang of fleeing bank robbers take a group of hostages at a shopping center, including Teresa.
235"The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang"Kevin HooksLaurence AndriesDecember 27, 2003 (2003-12-27)2005

A frat boy killed and buried in the wall of a frat house twenty years ago is found, and David, Katherine, Joel and Fearless investigate.

Guest star: LeVar Burton as Marvin Lloyd.
246"The Big Picture"Frederick King KellerLaurie D. ArentDecember 28, 2003 (2003-12-28)2006

Not following his instincts on a domestic disturbance call, Tom is horrified when the woman goes missing and the chief suspect is murdered; so he works with Katherine in a desperate effort to find the truth.

Guest star: Virginia Madsen as Erika Ashland.

Reception[]

Critical response[]

Boomtown received largely positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 96% with an average score of 10/10 based on 26 reviews. The website's critical consensus is, "Boomtown gives the police procedural innovative pep with its dense ensemble and warring perspectives, bringing a refreshing moral ambiguity to primetime."[2] On Metacritic, the first season has a score of 89 out of 100 based on 31 reviews, signifying "universal acclaim".[3]

Awards and nominations[]

Awards and nominations for Boomtown
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2003 American Film Institute Award TV Program of the Year Won
Casting Society of America's Artios Award Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Pilot Meg Liberman and Camille H. Patton Nominated
Imagen Foundation Award Best Supporting Actress - Television Lana Parrilla Won
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Mykelti Williamson Nominated
Online Film & Television Association Award[4] Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Neal McDonough Nominated
Best Direction in a Drama Series Jon Avnet (For the pilot episode) Nominated
Peabody Award NBC Studios, in association with DreamWorks Television Inc., and Nemo Films Won[5]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Main Title Theme Music Philip Giffin Nominated
Television Critics Association Award Program of the Year Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Drama Won
Outstanding New Program Won
Individual Achievement in Drama Neal McDonough Nominated
2004 Satellite Award Best Television Series – Drama Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Television Series – Drama Neal McDonough Won

DVD release[]

Lionsgate Home Entertainment release Season 1 of Boomtown on DVD in Region 1 on July 20, 2004. Season 1 was subsequently released in Region 2 as well. Despite strong sales of season one and popular demand on TV-DVD websites, season 2 was never released in the USA or UK. The season two episodes were made available, however, on the French DVD box set Boomtown Complet, which also includes a short interview with French film critic Alain Carraze, who offers comments about the show. The DVD's released in the United States contain an optional commentary soundtrack by individuals who were involved in making the show but this is absent from the French and British DVD releases.

The Region 1 release has been discontinued and is now out of print.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ VanDerWerff, Emily. "Graham Yost talks Justified, Speed, and... Full House?". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Boomtown: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Boomtown: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "2002-03: The Season of Angels in America". Online Film & Television Association. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  5. ^ 62nd Annual Peabody Awards Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine, May 2003.
  6. ^ "Boomtown: Season One (DVD 2004) - DVD Empire". dvdempire.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

External links[]

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