The Force: Behind the Line
| The Force: Behind the Line | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Format | Reality |
| Starring | Simon Reeve (2006–present) |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| No. of episodes | 23 (Season 1 & 2) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Dan Meenan |
| Running time | Approx 23 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel Seven |
| Picture format | 576i SDTV |
| Original run | 22 August 2006 – Present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The Force: Behind the Line was an Australian documentary television series about the Western Australia Police, hosted by Simon Reeve and aired nationally on the Seven Network from 22 August 2006. Similarly to Border Security: Australia's Front Line and the American Cops series, each episode intermixed three or four investigations per episode.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The Seven Network first announced The Force (then untitled) on 23 November 2005.[2][dead link] The program underwent a number of name changes, including Police Patrol[3][dead link] and True Blue,[4][dead link] before the eventual title was finally announced in June 2006.[5][dead link]
The Western Australia Police was the only police service to agree to be filmed in the first two series of the show.[6] Lawyers for the Western Australia Police opposed the move, but Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan convinced them otherwise.[7] O'Callaghan was keen for the project, and viewed the program as "a great opportunity to give the community a better understanding of the good and bad parts of policing."[6] A third season began airing in February 2008, also presented by Simon Reeve.
[edit] Format
The Force was filmed in metropolitan and regional Western Australia. Small camera crews follow the police around during their daily duties. Field producer Tim Noonan said the only rule in filming was that the camera crews "can't hinder [the police] in any way".[8] As a result, some footage is filmed from police cars or a safe distance away from the police,[6] with wireless microphones used to record audio.[8][dead link]
The Western Australia Police retained the right to veto any material which posed legal problems, such as footage identifying underage offenders or matters before the courts.[7] Techniques such as pixelisation are used to satisfy legal requirements. The program also blurred out the faces of police officers not wishing to be identified on national television.
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30 second sample from episode 2 of The Force
Audio samples from The Force showing its use of narration and background music. |
| Problems listening to these files? See media help. | |
Episodes of The Force comprised three or four individual stories featuring police officers going about everyday duties, including burglaries, drug-related cases, traffic cases and murder investigations.[6] The choice of stories was usually balanced to include action-oriented stories as well as lighter stories such as family disputes.
[edit] Response
[edit] Ratings
The premiere of The Force was popular with Australian viewers, receiving 2.295 million viewers in metropolitan areas, making it highest rating Australian premiere in 2006.[9] The premiere was the second highest rating program of the week behind Border Security (2.298 million), although The Force outrated Border Security in both Sydney, New South Wales and Perth, Western Australia.[10] The program rated particularly high in Perth due to the program's focus on Western Australian crimes, and a local marketing campaign which emphasised this fact.
Commenting on the program's top ratings, Tim Worner, director of programming and production at the Seven Network, said The Force had surpassed expectation and described the program as one of Seven's "hit shows".[9] The second episode maintained the program's high ratings, achieving an audience of 1.956 million viewers.[11]
The Force experienced a significant drop in numbers following its move to Wednesday night. Critics blamed the lack of lead-in from Border Security and tough competition from Network Ten's Thank God You're Here for the lower ratings.[12] The first series averaged 1.453 million viewers across metropolitan markets, making it the 19th most watched regular program in 2006.[13][dead link]
[edit] Critical reviews
Television critic Robin Oliver (Sydney Morning Herald) claimed that The Force "achieves some of the best reality television of its kind. There is no sense of playing to cameras and it has an element of surprise that catches both officers and camera crews wrong-footed." Oliver did criticise the show, however, of being "too fast... jumping from one story to another in irritatingly quick succession."[14]
Graeme Blundell (The Australian) noted the tabloid nature of the program, and that "issues are rarely explored beyond the simple events in the frame." He continued that despite being "sophisticated TV", The Force often felt like "a corporate training film for clean-cut police units in the WA police force."[15][dead link]
[edit] References
- ^ Millar, Roxanne (22 August 2006). "A new force in reality TV". News Corporation. http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20213260-5007183,00.html. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
- ^ "Seven Announces New Reality Police Show" (Press release). Seven Network. 23 November 2005. http://sevencorporate.com.au/page.asp?partid=825. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
- ^ "Seven unveils first phase of 06 programming" (PDF) (Press release). Seven Network. 8 December 2005. http://sevencorporate.com.au/uploads/files/1134002995421_0.6723005164889118.pdf. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
- ^ "True Blue". Seven Perth 2006 Preview Magazine (Seven Network): p. 11. 24 January 2006.
- ^ "The Force" (Press release). Seven Network. 19 June 2006. http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/The_Force_190606.html. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
- ^ a b c d Ganska, Helen (20 August 2006). "Drama on the Beat". The Sunday Times tvguide.
- ^ a b Ghandour, Rania (21 August 2006). "Show of Force". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-force-behind-the-line/2006/08/19/1155408060432.html. Retrieved 30 August 2006.
- ^ a b Thom, Greg (23 August 2006). "Gripping frontline TV". Herald Sun. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20200052-5006022,00.html. Retrieved 24 August 2006.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Seven's Force: Behind the Line" (Press release). Seven Perth. 23 August 2006. http://7perth.com.au/view/releases/20060823172946/. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
- ^ Dale, David (27 August 2006). "The ratings race: Nine bequeaths its curse". The Tribal Mind (Sydney Morning Herald). http://blogs.smh.com.au/entertainment/archives/the_tribal_mind/005584.html. Retrieved 27 August 2006.
- ^ Dale, David (30 August 2006). "The ratings race: Enough dancing? No stars left?". The Tribal Mind (Sydney Morning Herald). http://blogs.smh.com.au/entertainment/archives/the_tribal_mind/005685.html. Retrieved 30 August 2006.
- ^ Dale, David (7 September 2006). "The ratings race: comedians kill cops". The Tribal Mind (Sydney Morning Herald). http://blogs.smh.com.au/entertainment/archives/the_tribal_mind/006139.html. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
- ^ "Seven dominates television in 2006" (PDF) (Press release). Seven Network. 3 December 2006. http://sevencorporate.com.au/uploads/files/1165195762613_0.7959107373196659.pdf. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
- ^ Oliver, Robin (21 August 2006). "The Force – TV Reviews". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv-reviews/the-force/2006/08/21/1156012463464.html. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
- ^ Blundell, Graeme (19 August 2006). "True Blue". The Australian. http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20138291-16947,00.html. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
[edit] External links
- The Force – Official website (broken link)
- The Force: Behind the Line at the Internet Movie Database
- The Force: Behind the Line at TV.com
