| Prime Suspect | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Police procedural Drama |
| Created by | Lynda La Plante |
| Inspired by | Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante |
| Developed by | Alexandra Cunningham |
| Starring | Maria Bello Brian O'Byrne Kirk Acevedo Peter Gerety Tim Griffin Damon Gupton Kenny Johnson Elizabeth Rodriguez Aidan Quinn |
| Composers | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | John McNamara Alexandra Cunningham Peter Berg Sarah Aubrey Julie Meldal-Johnson Paul Buccieri Lynda La Plante |
| Producers | Alexandra Cunningham Nan Bernstein Freed |
| Cinematography | Todd McMullen |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera film |
| Production companies | ITV Studios America Film 44 Universal Television Open 4 Business Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | September 22, 2011 (2011-09-22) – January 22, 2012 (2012-01-22)[1] |
Prime Suspect is an Americanpolice proceduraldrama television series that aired onNBC from September 22, 2011, to January 22, 2012.[2] It starsMaria Bello as Detective Jane Timoney. The series was a "re-imagining"[3] of the original British seriesPrime Suspect.[4] The series was created byLynda La Plante and developed byAlexandra Cunningham, who also serves as executive producer and writer.Peter Berg serves as executive producer and director.Sarah Aubrey, Julie Meldal-Johnson, Paul Buccieri,Lynda La Plante, andJohn McNamara all serve as executive producers. The series is produced byUniversal Television,ITV Studios America, and Film 44.[citation needed]
On November 14, 2011, NBC announced it would replacePrime Suspect in the Thursday night line-up withThe Firm, beginning January 12, 2012.[5][6] The final two produced episodes were broadcast by NBC on Sunday, January 22, 2012.[7]The Firm also struggled in the time slot, and was moved within four weeks to a different time slot and replaced by another new series,Awake;Awake was another ratings failure, and all three series were cancelled that season.
Produced byPeter Berg andAlexandra Cunningham, the crime dramaPrime Suspect takes place within a New York City Police Department homicide squad. The series starsMaria Bello as NYPD homicide detective Jane Timoney, an outsider who has just transferred to a new squad where her new colleagues already dislike her. Jane is confident and focused, but also rude, abrupt and occasionally reckless. She has her vices, and rumors about how she got the job follow her everywhere.[8]
An American remake of the UK series was previously ordered by NBC in September 2009 as part of a two-year, three pilot deal with ITV Studios. Hank Steinberg, the creator of the CBSWithout a Trace series, was set to write and executive produce the two-hour pilot. In early 2010,Erwin Stoff and Paul Buccieri were to also serve as executive producers—forITV Studios andUniversal Media Studios—andMick Jackson was on board to direct. By late February, the project was put on hold because reportedly an actress could not be found to play the lead character. In July 2010, Universal Media Studios signed a new deal with Film 44, the production company ofPeter Berg andSarah Aubrey. As part of the agreement, they took over the development ofPrime Suspect. "We are proud to continue our productive creative relationship with Peter and Sarah in developingPrime Suspect, among others… They have immense talent and passion".[9]
In early 2011, NBC gave the green light to produce a pilot script.[9] In late May, NBC announced thatPrime Suspect would premiere on Thursday September 22, 2011.[10]
It was announced in early August thatMaria Bello would star as the main character of Det. Jane Timoney.[9] The series was filmed inLos Angeles although it is set inNew York City.[11]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Peter Berg | Alexandra Cunningham | September 22, 2011 (2011-09-22) | 101 | 6.05[12] |
Jane gets a rough start working on a New York homicide squad when she questions the work of her new colleagues in the case of a woman who is raped and murdered in front of her kids. Jane wants in on the investigation, but they rebuff her. When the lead detective on the case dies of a heart attack, Jane is appointed as his replacement, much to their chagrin. Jane manages to find a unique angle to solve the crime. | ||||||
| 2 | "Carnivorous Sheep" | Jonas Pate | Teleplay by : Alexandra Cunningham | September 29, 2011 (2011-09-29) | 102 | 5.69[13] |
Jane is called into Duffy's homicide and kidnapping case after Sweeney calls for all hands on deck. Duffy gets irritated with Jane after she suggests talking with the deceased woman's employees. | ||||||
| 3 | "Bitch" | Michael Waxman | Liz Heldens | October 6, 2011 (2011-10-06) | 103 | 5.04[14] |
Jane's father's bar is robbed while she's helping out at the establishment. Calderon and Jane are assigned to the murder of a woman found in a dumpster. In other events, Jane gives the female cop (Elizabeth Rodriguez) investigating the bar robbery the cold shoulder. After solving the case, Jane finally starts to get some of the recognition she deserves. | ||||||
| 4 | "Great Guy, Yet: Dead" | Jonas Pate | John McNamara | October 13, 2011 (2011-10-13) | 104 | 4.60[15] |
When a good-looking stockbroker is killed mysteriously, Jane automatically suspects his wife. Meanwhile, Jane enlists the help of a hypnotist to fight her addiction to smoking and, incidentally, to help solve the crime. Elsewhere, Matt is furious when his ex-wife suggests Jane shouldn't attend their son's birthday party. | ||||||
| 5 | "Regrets, I've Had a Few" | Stephen Williams | Randy Huggins | October 27, 2011 (2011-10-27) | 105 | 4.03[16] |
While Jane investigates the death of a woman in the park, Duffy and Evrard look for the victim's stepfather. Jane and her father celebrate her parents' 45th wedding anniversary by remembering Jane's mother. | ||||||
| 6 | "Shame" | Jonas Pate | Tyler Bensinger | November 3, 2011 (2011-11-03) | 106 | 4.51[17] |
A businessman in town for a hardware convention is found dead in his hotel room. The prostitute he hired the previous evening is the suspect. Within hours, the same suspect strikes again, only this time her victim—a naval commander—survives. Meanwhile, Jane is distressed that her past relationship has become department gossip. | ||||||
| 7 | "Wednesday's Child" | Jonas Pate | Nichole Beattie | November 10, 2011 (2011-11-10) | 107 | 4.86[18] |
A toddler dies at day care after suffering head trauma. | ||||||
| 8 | "Underwater" | Stephen Williams | Roberto Patino | November 17, 2011 (2011-11-17) | 108 | 4.34[19] |
A young girl finds her parents dead, and becomes the target of the murder's associates. | ||||||
| 9 | "Gone to Pieces" | Laura Innes | Ron Fitzgerald | December 1, 2011 (2011-12-01) | 109 | 4.69[20] |
A hit and run victim is linked to a porn producer. | ||||||
| 10 | "A Gorgeous Mosaic" | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Kevin J. Hynes | December 15, 2011 (2011-12-15) | 110 | 3.70[21] |
A jewelry merchant is murdered, and an Irish gangster is implicated. | ||||||
| 11 | "The Great Wall of Silence" | Michael Waxman | Mike Sheehan | December 22, 2011 (2011-12-22) | 111 | 4.44[22] |
A murder victim is found in a restaurant kitchen in Chinatown. | ||||||
| 12 | "Ain't No Sunshine" | Roxann Dawson | Eli Bauman | January 21, 2012 (2012-01-21) (Global) January 22, 2012 (2012-01-22) (NBC) | 112 | 4.35[23] |
A 15-year-old girl is found in the garbage chute of her building. A wealthy woman suddenly dies in her bathroom. When an entry wound is found her 'gigolo' husband is suspected of shooting her but the evidence doesn't quite fit the theory. | ||||||
| 13 | "Stuck in the Middle with You" | Bart Freundlich | Alexandra Cunningham | January 22, 2012 (2012-01-22) | 113 | 3.65[23] |
An imprisoned drug dealer tries to unravel a pending court case by killing the witnesses and detective who will testify against him. After thugs kill one witness, the homicide squad learns Detective Duffy is a target. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Air Date | 18–49 Rating | U.S. Viewers (in millions) | Timeslot Rank | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | September 22, 2011 (2011-09-22) | 1.8 | 6.05 | #3 | [24] |
| 2 | "Carnivorous Sheep" | September 29, 2011 (2011-09-29) | 1.5 | 5.69 | #3 | [25] |
| 3 | "Bitch" | October 6, 2011 (2011-10-06) | 1.5 | 5.04 | #3 | [26] |
| 4 | "Great Guy, Yet Dead" | October 13, 2011 (2011-10-13) | 1.3 | 4.50 | #3 | [27] |
| 5 | "Regrets, I've Had a Few" | October 27, 2011 (2011-10-27) | 1.1 | 4.03 | #3 | [28] |
| 6 | "Shame" | November 3, 2011 (2011-11-03) | 1.2 | 4.51 | #3 | [29] |
| 7 | "Wednesday's Child" | November 10, 2011 (2011-11-10) | 1.3 | 4.86 | #3 | [30] |
| 8 | "Underwater" | November 17, 2011 (2011-11-17) | 1.1 | 4.39 | #2 | [31] |
| 9 | "Gone to Pieces" | December 1, 2011 (2011-12-01) | 1.3 | 4.69 | #2 | [32] |
| 10 | "A Gorgeous Mosaic" | December 15, 2011 (2011-12-15) | 0.9 | 3.70 | #2 | [33] |
| 11 | "The Great Wall of Silence" | December 22, 2011 (2011-12-22) | 1.0 | 4.44 | #2 | [34] |
| 12 | "Ain't No Sunshine" | January 22, 2012 (2012-01-22) | 0.8 | 4.31 | #3 | [35] |
| 13 | "Stuck in the Middle with You" | January 22, 2012 (2012-01-22) | 0.7 | 3.65 | #3 | [35] |
The series premiere was viewed by 6.05 million viewers with a 1.8 rating in the 18–49 demographic.[36] The series has received generally positive reviews from critics and viewers. The series received 66/100 based upon 26 reviews on the websiteMetacritic indicating the series as generally favourable.[37] Most critics found Maria Bello's performance the strongest factor of the series praising her excellent and intriguing portrayal of Det. Jane Timoney. Mo Fathelbab ofBuzzFocus said, "I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the American version ofPrime Suspect is my favorite new hour-long show on network television. It may very well be the best new show premiering this fall. It's a smart, un-condescending cop show that is anchored by a fantastic performance by Maria Bello".[38] Eric Blattberg said, "What makesPrime Suspect compelling enough to see where this show goes is its remarkable cast. This show is not actually bad at all; it's an enjoyable hour, but it's going to need a lot of work to avoid being lost in the shuffle amongst other established police shows. Not to mention the fact that it's up against Thursday heavyweights".[39]
On October 4, 2011, NBC announced that the show's first three episodes would be rerun on Monday nights for the month of October, following the cancellation ofThe Playboy Club.[40]
| Country | Channel | Premiere date |
|---|---|---|
 Australia | Nine Network | 28 September 2011[41] |
 Canada (English) | Global TV | 22 September 2011[42] |
Canada / Quebec (French) | Séries+ (AsSuspect No 1) | May 29, 2012[43] |
 New Zealand | TV One | Autumn 2011[44] |
 Italy | Fox Crime | 17 May 2012[45] |
 United Kingdom | Universal Channel | 18 June 2012[46] |
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