Boomtown (2002 TV series)

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)

Guest star: Neil Patrick Harris as Peter Corman.

Season 2 (2003)

Guest star: Rebecca De Mornay as Sabrina Fithian.

Guest stars: Rebecca De Mornay as Sabrina Fithian, Stacy Keach as Mac McNorris, and Roma Maffia as Sally Jacobson.

Guest star: LeVar Burton as Marvin Lloyd.

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

Awards and nominations

Home media

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released the first season 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 1 and popular demand on TV-DVD websites, season 2 was never released in the USA or UK. The season 2 episodes were made available 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.

As of 2025, this show isn't available for streaming on Peacock, but was available on Amazon Prime Video before being removed in January 2021. Comcast has yet to release a complete series of the show on the said streaming service.

International distribution rights for the series are currently held by MGM.

References

References

1. "Boomtown: Season 1".
2. "Boomtown: Season 1".
3. "2002-03: The Season of Angels in America". Online Film & Television Association.
4. [http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/boomtown 62nd Annual Peabody Awards] {{webarchive. link. (2014-10-06 , May 2003.)
5. "Boomtown: Season One (DVD 2004) - DVD Empire".