King (2011 TV series)
Encyclopedia
King is a Canadian police drama which premiered 17 April 2011 on Showcase. The series stars Amy Price-Francis
as Jessica King, a veteran police officer who gets promoted to head of the Major Crimes Task Force in Toronto after her predecessor has a breakdown on television.
. The show is filmed in Toronto
making use of a combination of on-location shooting and the soundstages of Dufferin Gate Productions. Filming of the first season began in November 2010 and was scheduled to conclude in February 2011. The first two episodes of the show were directed by Clark Johnson
. In speaking of the casting Johnson said that they had seen many actresses before Amy Price-Francis auditioned and that prior to her audition he wasn't convinced she was right for the role but she "just became the character" and now "she completely embodies this character" much like what happened with Michael Chiklis
on The Shield
, another pilot that he directed. The first season has eight episodes.
, Rookie Blue, and The Listener
the unique spin of setting a cop drama in Toronto is no longer so unique. Szklarski admits that King is another "urban whodunit" but that it goes about it from a distinctively female point of view. Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald
found the fallibility of the character Derek Spears to be "what promises to give King its continued dramatic tension." Bill Harris of Quebecor Media found King is "not a cookie-cutter police procedural" in that DS King's personal life is a significant part of the show.
in Canada, on 19 May 2011 it was announced that King will be shown on Séries+
for French-speaking
Canadians. Shaw Media announced the renewal of the show on 31 May, scheduling season two for a winter premiere on Showcase. The series was picked up by M6 for broadcast in France
.
Amy Price-Francis
Amy Price-Francis is an actress who played characters on the television series Little Men, Tracker, Snakes and Ladders, Rumours and, especially, The Cleaner, where she has played the role of Melissa Banks...
as Jessica King, a veteran police officer who gets promoted to head of the Major Crimes Task Force in Toronto after her predecessor has a breakdown on television.
Cast
- Amy Price-FrancisAmy Price-FrancisAmy Price-Francis is an actress who played characters on the television series Little Men, Tracker, Snakes and Ladders, Rumours and, especially, The Cleaner, where she has played the role of Melissa Banks...
as Detective Sergeant Jessica King, the new head of the Major Crimes Task Force with eight years working Homicide, two failed marriages, and a desire to have an idyllic family life - Gabriel HoganGabriel HoganGabriel Hogan is a Canadian actor.Hogan is best known for his continuing roles on Canadian hit dramas Traders and The Associates.- Background :...
as Danny Sless, an officer with the 'Guns and Gangs' squad and Jessica's current husband - Tony NardiTony NardiTony Nardi is a Canadian actor, playwright, director and producer.Tony Nardi is a two-time winner of the Genie Award for Best Actor, for his roles in La Sarrasine and My Father's Angel....
as Police Chief Peter Graci - Suzanne Coy as Officer Eleni Demaris
- Zoe Doyle as Detective MK Gordon
- Aaron PooleAaron PooleAaron Poole is a Canadian actor. His credits include the films Killing Zelda Sparks, Adoration and This Beautiful City, and the television series Strange Days at Blake Holsey High and ZOS: Zone of Separation. He was nominated for Best Actor at the 29th Genie Awards for his performance in This...
as Detective Jason Collier - Alan van SprangAlan van SprangAlan van Sprang is Canadian actor best known for playing Sir Francis Bryan in the series The Tudors and for appearing in the Living Dead films of George A. Romero. He has many other television and film credits.-Filmography:...
as Detective Sergeant Derek Spears, the former head of the Major Crimes Task Force and Jessica's partner
Production
King was created by and is executive produced by Bernard Zukerman and Greg Spottiswood and is produced by Indian Grove Productions in association with Shaw MediaShaw Media
Shaw Media is the television broadcasting division of Shaw Communications. Shaw Media owns the Global Television Network, which broadcasts via 11 television stations, as well as various specialty channels including HGTV Canada, Showcase, Food Network Canada, and History Television.Despite also...
. The show is filmed in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
making use of a combination of on-location shooting and the soundstages of Dufferin Gate Productions. Filming of the first season began in November 2010 and was scheduled to conclude in February 2011. The first two episodes of the show were directed by Clark Johnson
Clark Johnson
Clark Johnson , sometimes credited as Clark 'Slappy' Jackson, Clarque Johnson, and J. Clark Johnson, is an American actor and director who has worked in both television and film.-Early years:...
. In speaking of the casting Johnson said that they had seen many actresses before Amy Price-Francis auditioned and that prior to her audition he wasn't convinced she was right for the role but she "just became the character" and now "she completely embodies this character" much like what happened with Michael Chiklis
Michael Chiklis
Michael Charles Chiklis is an American actor, voice actor, occasional director and television producer. Some of the previous roles for which he is best known include Commissioner Tony Scali on the ABC police drama The Commish, LAPD Detective Vic Mackey on the FX police drama The Shield, Thing in...
on The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
, another pilot that he directed. The first season has eight episodes.
Reception
Bill Brioux notes that King is one of many new shows premièring in April 2011 which is making April to be the "new September", the traditional time for premièring new series in North America. "Spring really is the new fall on specialty channels." In reviewing the first episode Brioux found it "seemed pretty seen-it-before" but that Amy Price-Francis "has sass and sparkle which should enliven a drama with a bit of a dark comedy tone." Cassandra Szklarski points out that with the "recent explosion in Hogtown-based series" such as FlashpointFlashpoint (TV series)
Flashpoint is a Canadian police drama television series that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and ran on CBS in the United States for its first three and a half seasons. In 2011, Ion Television began airing new episodes of the series in the United States...
, Rookie Blue, and The Listener
The Listener (TV series)
The Listener is a Canadian science fiction drama set in Toronto about a young paramedic named Toby Logan with the ability to listen to people's minds. The series premiered on Fox International Channels beginning with the Arabic-speaking area of northern Africa and south-western Asia on March 1, 2009...
the unique spin of setting a cop drama in Toronto is no longer so unique. Szklarski admits that King is another "urban whodunit" but that it goes about it from a distinctively female point of view. Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
found the fallibility of the character Derek Spears to be "what promises to give King its continued dramatic tension." Bill Harris of Quebecor Media found King is "not a cookie-cutter police procedural" in that DS King's personal life is a significant part of the show.
Broadcast
The series premiered 17 April 2011 on ShowcaseShowcase
A showcase, or vitrine, is a glassed-in cabinet or display case for displaying delicate or valuable articles such as objets d'art or merchandise in a shop, museum, or house...
in Canada, on 19 May 2011 it was announced that King will be shown on Séries+
Séries+
Séries+ is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel devoted to scripted comedy and dramatic programming. The channel is a joint venture between Astral Media and Shaw Media.-History:...
for French-speaking
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Canadians. Shaw Media announced the renewal of the show on 31 May, scheduling season two for a winter premiere on Showcase. The series was picked up by M6 for broadcast in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Episodes
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Canadian viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|