Due South

Due South originally debuted as a television movie on CTV in Canada and CBS in the United States.[5] After higher-than-anticipated ratings, Due South was turned into a continuing drama series in 1994. It was the first Canadian-made series to have a prime time slot on a major US network.[6]

After the 24-episode first season, CBS cancelled the series,[7] but the show's success in Canada and the United Kingdom enabled the production company to raise enough money to mount a second thirteen-episode season, which ran from 1995 to 1996. The show was once again shown on CBS in late 1995 after many fall shows had failed (CBS ordered an additional five episodes, raising the number to eighteen, but broadcast only four of them), but CBS did not renew the series.[7]

After a one-year hiatus, CTV revived the series in 1997 with international investment (from the BBC, ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, and TF1), and it ran for two further seasons, until 1999.[8] In the United States, seasons three and four were packaged together as a single 26-episode season for syndication. Despite critical acclaim and a consistently warm reception by American audiences, Due South never became a huge hit in the United States; however, it was one of the most highly rated regular series ever broadcast by a Canadian network. The show remains popular in the United Kingdom, and became one of the few non-British shows to have a prime-time weeknight slot on BBC One.[9]

The premise of the series centres on the exploits of Constable Benton Fraser, an officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who travels south to Chicago to initially solve the murder of his father, Sergeant Robert Fraser. However, during his investigation he inadvertently stumbles upon a scheme by several corrupt members of the RCMP that results in the shutdown of a new dam and the loss of many jobs, resulting in him being permanently stationed as a liaison officer in the Canadian consulate, which is depicted as a stand-alone building rather than as the 24th floor of Two Prudential Plaza. During his time in Chicago, Fraser works alongside Detective Raymond Vecchio - a tough, streetwise cop - in solving a series of cases around the city and occasionally across the border in Canada. After the second season, Fraser is forced to work alongside a second partner, Stanley Raymond Kowalski, who poses as Vecchio after he leaves to assist in an undercover operation.

Fraser often differs in his manners, including his politeness and honesty, and his methods of solving crimes, but is determined and dogged in pursuing and bringing down suspects, including his ability to predict where they might attempt to escape. Alongside his partner in the Chicago Police Department, Fraser is accompanied at times by a deaf lip-reading half-wolf named Diefenbaker, whom he adopted after the canine saved his life. After the first episode, Fraser finds himself visited by the ghost of his father Robert, whom only he can see, often providing mixed advice on his cases - with Robert appearing at random, infrequent moments up until the third series. The ghost then appears more frequently, only within the wardrobe of his son's office at the consulate; anyone else who tries to follow merely finds Fraser.

The following lists the primary actors who appear in the series, and the respective role they held:

• Paul Gross as Constable Benton Fraser[15]
• David Marciano as Detective Raymond "Ray" Vecchio[16] (Seasons 1–2, Guest Star 3–4)
• Beau Starr as Lieutenant Harding Welsh
• Catherine Bruhier as Elaine Besbriss (Seasons 1–3)
• Daniel Kash as Detective Louis Gardino (Seasons 1–2)
• Tony Craig as Detective Jack Huey
• Gordon Pinsent as Sgt. Robert "Bob" Fraser
• Ramona Milano as Francesca Vecchio
• Camilla Scott as Inspector Meg Thatcher (Seasons 2–4)
• Callum Keith Rennie as Detective Stanley Raymond "Ray" Kowalski (Seasons 3–4)
• Tom Melissis as Detective Thomas E. Dewey (Seasons 3–4)

The following list prominent recurring cast members and their respective roles:

• Leslie Nielsen as Sgt. Buck Frobisher (Seasons 1–4)
• Alex Carter as F.B.I. Agent Ford (Seasons 1–3)
• Mark Melymick as F.B.I. Agent Deeter (Seasons 1–3)
• Deborah Rennard as Dr. Esther Pearson (Season 1)
• Shay Duffin as Father Behan (Season 1)
• Lee Purcell as D.A. Louise St. Laurent (Seasons 1–2)
• Dean McDermott as Constable Renfield Turnbull (Seasons 2–4)
• Anne Marie Loder as Assistant State Attorney Stella Kowalski (Seasons 3–4)
• Jan Rubeš as Dr. Mort Gustafson (Seasons 3–4)
• Ryan Phillippe as Del Porter (Season 1)
• Carrie-Anne Moss as Irene Zuko "Juliet is Bleeding" (Season 2)

Filming was mostly done in Toronto, Ontario, which was used as a stand-in for Chicago. In many episodes a Toronto Transit Commission bus can be seen in the background. In others, prominent city landmarks such as the CN Tower and the Union Station can be glimpsed. Part of the series was shot in Banff National Park, Alberta.

The producers of Due South sought to showcase various Canadian artists within the show's episodes, with many of the featured tracks released the CD soundtrack Due South: The Original Television Soundtrack (1996). Sarah McLachlan's music was most prominently featured with no fewer than seven songs over the full run of the series; other recurring artists included The Headstones, Loreena McKennitt and Colin James. "The Blue Line" (episode #1.16) featured "The Hockey Theme", the longtime theme song of CBC Television's sports series Hockey Night in Canada.

The show's theme was written and composed by Jay Semko of The Northern Pikes (who recorded a version of the song with lyrics, played during the show's closing credits) working with Jack Lenz and John McCarthy. Semko also scored the first two seasons of Due South.[18] In November 1996, the first album was released, including an in-character soliloquy by Paul Gross on the subject of bravery, taken directly from the episode "An Eye for an Eye".

When the show returned for its third season, Semko returned to complete the second soundtrack.[18] The second soundtrack album, Due South, Volume II: The Original Television Soundtrack, was released in June 1998. Both albums are filled largely with the vocals used in the series.

Over the three-season run of the series, Due South and its cast and crew earned a number of awards. Most significantly, the show earned 53 Canadian Gemini nominations, winning 15, including Best Dramatic TV series three years running (1995–1997), Paul Gross winning Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role two years running (1995–1996) and creator Paul Haggis winning Best Writing in a Dramatic Series the same two years.

Fraser's methods, usually more sensitive and understanding than is typical for police work, gave the series a reputation for well-rounded characters.[22] Variety critic Adam Sandler praised the acting of Gross and Marciano and attributed the "show’s charm" to the writers' development of the two lead characters' relationship.[23] It was named as one of TV's most underrated shows by The Guardian,[24] and Empire critic William Thomas reviewed season 1 and concluded that "At its worst, Due South is a witty and well-written genre hit; at its best, it’s one of the most original and quietly influential shows of the mid-’90s."[25]

A reviewer from the Los Angeles Times was less positive, finding the show's portrayal of RCMP officers unrealistic and unfunny.[26]

A number of fan conventions were organized by Due South fans during the 1990s, the biggest and best-known of which was "RCW 139", so named after the license plate number that recurred throughout the series. RCW 139 was held annually in Toronto between 1996 and 1999, attracting approximately 300 fans from more than 10 countries in both 1998 and 1999. The convention featured games, discussion panels, a formal dinner, and guest panels. Numerous cast and crew members have attended, including David Marciano (1998), Paul Gross (1999), Gordon Pinsent (1998), Tom Melissis (1997, 1998, 1999), Tony Craig (1997), Catherine Bruhier (1998, 1999) and Jay Semko (1998, 1999). Draco (Diefenbaker) and his trainer, Gail Parker, were guests in both 1998 and 1999.

After a nine-year hiatus, the convention was revived in 2008, with guest panels from David Marciano, Jay Semko, Tom Melissis, Catherine Bruhier, and Gail Parker with Cinder, Draco's sister and stunt-double. Another convention was held in August 2010, with Paul Gross, Jay Semko, Tom Melissis, Camilla Scott, Tony Craig, Catherine Bruhier, and Ramona Milano.

RCW 139: From a Million Miles was held from August 17–19, 2012 in Toronto. This event included tours and dining in the Distillery District of Toronto and the Patrician Grill, both of which were frequently used for location filming.[27]

RCW 139: Thank You Kindly was held from August 15–17, 2014 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Due South. Catherine Bruhier, Ramona Milano, Tom Melissis, and Tony Craig, along with guest star Lisa Jakub ("Chicago Holiday" [#1.07/1.08]), appeared on the cast panel; assistant directors Michael Bowman and Woody Sidarous, costume supervisor Alex Kavanagh, and prop master Craig Williams formed the crew panel. Paul Haggis made an appearance via Skype chat. Included in the activities were a tour of the Distillery District, a bus tour of filming locations, a game of "Due South Jeopardy", and a charity auction of props, scripts, costume pieces, and other series memorabilia.[28] This was the first Due South convention to be webcast for the benefit of fans unable to attend.[29]

• In the MMORPG City of Heroes, budding superheroes could take missions from a Detective Frasenbaker, an apparently superhuman Mountie who moved to the fictional Paragon City while on the trail of his father's killers.
• In the Vinyl Cafe Dave and Morley story, Cousin Dorothy comes to Toronto from England to attend a "Friends of Due South" convention.
• The 2010 movie Barney's Version includes a fake TV show called O'Malley of the South starring Paul Gross in a parody of his own character in Due South.
• At the conclusion of one episode of The Pretender, a series also shot in and around Toronto at the same time as Due South, Miss Parker is asked where she thinks Jarod has gone. She replies that "He has gone South, Due South." The next scene shows Jarod participating in the RCMP Musical Ride.

• List of Due South episodes
• Television in Canada

Wikiquote has quotations related to Due South.

• Due South (pilot movie) at IMDb
• Due South (1994-1999) at IMDb
• A Due South retrospective at PaulGross.org
• BBC website, which lists Due South as a cult television show