Boomtown (2002 TV series)
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.

The series premiered on September 29, 2002. The first season order was for 18 episodes. After disappointing ratings, the series was retooled: the reliance on non-linear storytelling was lessened, some characters were written out, and others were introduced. Ratings did not improve, and the series was canceled, with the last episode airing on December 28, 2003.

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

Cast and characters

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

Season 1 (2002–03)

Season 2 (2003)

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." On Metacritic, the first season has a score of 89 out of 100 based on 31 reviews, signifying "universal acclaim".

Awards and nominations

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.

References

External links

 

2000s American crime drama television series
2000s American police procedural television series
2002 American television series debuts
2003 American television series endings
American action television series
English-language television shows
Fictional portrayals of the Los Angeles Police Department
NBC original programming
Peabody Award-winning television programs
Television series by DreamWorks Television
Television series by Universal Television
Television shows set in Los Angeles
Nonlinear narrative television series