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Person of Interest (TV series)

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Person of Interest
GenreThriller
Crime
Drama
Created byJonathan Nolan
StarringJim Caviezel
Taraji P. Henson
Kevin Chapman
Michael Emerson
ComposerRamin Djawadi
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes23 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJ. J. Abrams
Bryan Burk
Jonathan Nolan
Greg Plageman
Richard J. Lewis
ProducersAthena Wickham
Margo Lulick
Kathy Lingg (co-prod)
Stephen Semel (co-prod)
Ben Brafman (associate)
Production locationsNew York, New York
CinematographyTeodoro Maniaci
EditorsDorian Haris
Farrel Jane Levy
Running time43 minutes
Production companiesBad Robot Productions
Kilter Films
Warner Bros. Television
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 22, 2011 (2011-09-22) –
present

Person of Interest is an American television crime drama broadcasting on CBS. It is based on a screenplay developed by J. J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan.[1] The series revolves around a former CIA agent (Jim Caviezel) recruited by a mysterious billionaire (Michael Emerson) to prevent violent crimes in New York City. On March 14, 2012, CBS announced that the series had been renewed for a second season.[2]

Plot

Main article: List of Person of Interest episodes

"You are being watched. The government has a secret system: a machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it. I designed the machine to detect acts of terror, but it sees everything. Violent crimes involving ordinary people, people like you. Crimes the government considered irrelevant. They wouldn't act, so I decided I would. But I needed a partner, someone with the skills to intervene. Hunted by the authorities, we work in secret. You'll never find us, but victim or perpetrator, if your number's up...we'll find you."

Opening voice-over by Mr. Finch[3]

John Reese (Jim Caviezel), a former Green Beret and CIA field officer, is living as a derelict in New York City after an unspecified incident, and is presumed dead. He is approached by Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), a reclusive billionaire computer genius who is living under an assumed identity. Finch explains that after 9/11, he built a computer system for the government which uses information gleaned from omnipresent surveillance to predict future terrorist attacks. However, Finch discovered that the computer was predicting ordinary crimes as well. While the government was not interested in these results, Finch is determined to find a way to stop the predicted crimes. He hires Reese to conduct surveillance and intervene as needed, using his repertoire of skills gained in the military and CIA. Through a back door built into the system, Finch receives a social security number for someone who will be involved in an imminent crime, at which time he contacts Reese. Without knowing what the crime will be, when it will occur, or even if the person they were alerted to is a victim or perpetrator, Reese and Finch must try to stop the crime from occurring. They are helped by NYPD Detectives Lionel Fusco (Kevin Chapman), a corrupt cop whom Reese coerces into helping them, and Joss Carter (Taraji P. Henson) who had originally been investigating Reese for his vigilante activities. Although Carter and Fusco are partners in the NYPD, for the entirety of the show's first season, neither was aware that the other is working with Finch and Reese.

A major subplot concerns "HR", an organization of corrupt NYPD cops in league with budding mob boss Carl Elias (Enrico Colantoni). Led by several high-ranking officers, the members of HR work with Elias in an attempt to return New York to the old order, when the mob and police worked together. Elias, on the other hand, is merely using HR as a means to regain complete control of New York's organized crime. Despite his desire to be seen as a good cop, Fusco must appear to be in league with HR, which allows Reese to keep tabs on the activities of both HR and Elias.

Characters

Main characters

  • John Reese (Jim Caviezel): A former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier and CIA field officer, who is presumed dead. Little is known about Reese's background, and his name is believed to be one of several aliases he uses. He lost his lover, Jessica, at some time prior to his having met Finch which appears to have marked him deeply. Reese demonstrates skill in the use of a range of weapons, hand-to-hand combat and surveillance tactics. He knows very little about Finch and is rebuffed when he attempts to learn more about him.
  • Harold Finch (Michael Emerson): A reclusive, intensely private billionaire software genius. Finch developed a machine that can isolate the social security numbers of people with either premeditated homicidal intent or who will be homicide victims, based on its analysis of surveillance data. Following a traumatic event in his own life that led to the death of his business partner, he recruits Reese to help him deal with the people the machine identifies. Finch lives and works in an abandoned library, and shows the results of severe physical injuries, including the inability to turn his head, rigid posture, and a limp.
  • Detective Joss Carter (Taraji P. Henson): A NYPD detective whose husband was killed in the line of duty and single mother to a teenaged son, Taylor. Carter is a former U.S. Army interrogator who passed the bar in 2004, but gave up practicing the law to return to police work. Carter first crosses paths with Reese following his encounter with a group of young men on a New York subway, but knew him principally as a mysterious man in a suit. Carter is initially determined to apprehend Reese, but eventually forms an alliance with him and Finch. She is unaware of the Machine's existence.
  • Detective Lionel Fusco (Kevin Chapman): A corrupt cop who Reese blackmails into being a source inside the police department. Finch later arranges for Fusco to be transferred so that he works with Carter. Over time, Fusco becomes increasingly loyal to Finch and Reese.

Recurring characters

  • Jessica Arndt (Susan Misner): Reese's deceased lover. When Jessica and Reese's relationship ends, she marries another man, but remains in contact with Reese.
  • Nathan Ingram (Brett Cullen): Finch's deceased collaborator on the Machine, who died under unknown circumstances. Ingram acted as the interface between the government and their company while the Machine was under development.
  • Alicia Corwin (Elizabeth Marvel): A liaison between Ingram and the government while the Machine was being developed, living hidden in a small town after Ingram's death. A former member of the National Security Council.
  • Zoe Morgan (Paige Turco): A fixer who specializes in crisis management. Finch and Reese first meet her as a person of interest; later she works with them on cases that require her skills. She has an ill-disguised interest in Reese.
  • Special Agent Donnelly (Brennan Brown): An FBI agent who becomes interested in Reese when his case crosses one of Reese's. He periodically offers Carter the opportunity to work with him as he pursues Reese.

HR

The following characters are involved in the HR storyline, in which a group of corrupt cops work in collaboration with an upcoming mob boss to control organized crime in New York.

  • Carl Elias (Enrico Colantoni): A nascent crime boss and the illegitimate son of Mafia don Gianni Moretti. Elias is determined to revive the crime families of New York and to eliminate the Russian mob, with the assistance of elements of the NYPD. He first meets Reese while masquerading as a high school teacher supposedly under threat in Brighton Beach.
  • Scarfaced Cop (David Valcin): An unnamed NYPD uniformed officer who works as Elias' principal enforcer. He is easily identifiable by a large scar on his right cheek.
  • Officer Simmons (Robert John Burke): A uniformed officer who is connected to "HR"; he periodically meets with Fusco.
  • Captain Lynch (Michael Mulheren): A major figure in "HR" and with whom Fusco must appear to be working.

CIA

The following characters are part of Reese's backstory relating to his time with the CIA.

  • Mark Snow (Michael Kelly): A CIA operative who once worked with Reese and is now trying to find and kill him.
  • Tyrell Evans (Darien Sills-Evans): A CIA agent working with Snow.
  • Kara Stanton (Annie Parisse): Reese's former CIA partner, widely believed to be dead.

Production

The series was officially picked up by CBS on May 13, 2011,[4] and debuted on September 22, 2011.[5]

Reception

According to CBS, Person of Interest received the highest test ratings of any drama pilot in 15 years,[6] what one CBS executive called "crazy broad appeal you don't usually see," prompting CBS to move CSI, which was broadcast on Thursday for over 10 years, to Wednesday, opening up a slot for Person of Interest.[7] The pilot episode won its time slot, drawing 13.2 million viewers.[8] On October 25, 2011, the show received a 22 episode full season order. The order was later increased to 23 episodes.[9]

Critical reception

David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle said "Person of Interest separates itself from the gimmick pack, not only because of superbly nuanced characterization and writing but also because of how it engages a post-9/11 sense of paranoia in its viewers."[10] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News gave the pilot four stars out of five, commenting on Caviezel and Emerson's performances, saying Caviezel "brings the right stuff to this role" and Emerson "is fascinating as Mr. Finch."[11] Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times stated, "the notion of preventing crimes rather than solving them is an appealing twist...The surveillance graphics are very cool."[1]

Ratings

Season Episodes Timeslot (ET/PT) Premiere Finale TV Season Rank Viewers
(in millions)
Date Premiere
Viewers
(in millions) 		Date Finale
Viewers
(in millions)
1 23
Thursday 9:00 PM
September 22, 2011
 13.33[12]
May 17, 2012
 13.47[13] 2011–12 #13 14.34[14]

International distribution

The following table lists the countries in which Person of Interest airs outside the USA.

Country Network(s) Series premiere Timeslot
 Argentina Warner Channel
 Australia Channel Nine September 25, 2011[15] Sundays at 9:30 pm[16]
 Belgium La Une August 28, 2012 Tuesdays at 8:15 pm
 Brazil Warner Channel
 Canada Citytv September 22, 2011 Thursdays at 9/8c
 Chile Warner Channel
 Costa Rica Warner Channel November, 2011 Tuesdays at 9:00 pm
 Cyprus NovaCinema 1, NovaCinemaHD September 30, 2012 Sundays at 9:00 pm
 Fiji Fiji One July 11, 2012 Wednesdays at 9:00 pm
 Germany RTL September 13, 2012 Thursdays at 9:15 pm[17]
 Greece NovaCinema 1, NovaCinemaHD September 30, 2012 Sundays at 9:00 pm
 Hungary Viasat 3 March 8, 2012[18]
 India STAR World March 6, 2012 Tuesdays at 10:00 pm
 Israel Yes Action March 15, 2012
 Italy Mediaset Premium Crime April 30, 2012 Fridays at 09:15 pm
 Japan TV Tokyo TBA
 Netherlands Veronica August 26, 2012 Sundays at 9:25 pm
 New Zealand TV ONE January 16, 2012[19] Mondays at 9:30 pm[20]
 Norway Canal+ 2011 Mondays at 8:00 pm
 Philippines Chase January, 2012
 Poland ITI Neovision February 2012 VoD
 Portugal RTP1, RTP2 May 8, 2012 Wednesdays at 02:32 am
 Slovenia POP TV March 20, 2012 Tuesdays at 10:30 pm
 South Korea Channel CGV May 11, 2012[21] Fridays at 10:00 pm[21]
 Spain laSexta November 17, 2011[22] Wednesdays at 10:30 pm
 Sweden Canal+ November 21, 2011 Mondays at 8:00 pm
 Trinidad and Tobago CBS March 8, 2012 Thursdays at 9:00 pm AST
 Turkey CNBC-e November 17, 2011[23] Thursdays at 9:00 pm
 Ukraine ICTV 2012 Mondays and Tuesdays at 23:57; Thursdays at 00:01[24]
 United Kingdom Channel 5[25] August 14, 2012[26] Tuesdays at 9:00 pm[26]
 Venezuela Warner TV November 2011

Awards

Person of Interest won Favorite New TV Drama at the 2012 People's Choice Awards.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b McNamara, Mary (22 September 2011). "'Person of Interest': TV review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  2. ^ de Moraes, Lisa. "CBS picking up most of its primetime slate for next season". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Person of Interest" (2011) – Memorable quotes. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  4. ^ Roffman, Marisa (13 May 2011). "CBS Orders PERSON OF INTEREST and TWO BROKE GIRLS". Give Me My Remote. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  5. ^ Seidman, Robert (29 June 2011). "CBS Announces Fall 2011 Premiere Dates". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  6. ^ Karlin, Susan (21 September 2011). "'Person Of Interest' Creator Jonathan Nolan Isn't Paranoid--Or Is He?". Fast Company. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  7. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (18 May 2011). "Upfronts Week 2011: CBS moves 'CSI' to Wednesday to make room for new J.J. Abrams series". The TV Column. The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ O'Connell, Mikey (23 September 2011). "TV Ratings: 'X Factor' holds, 'Charlie's Angels' off to modest start". From Inside the Box. Zap2it. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  9. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (25 October 2011). "'Person of Interest', 'Unforgettable' Get Full-Season Orders at CBS". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  10. ^ David Wiegand (21 September 2011). "'Person of Interest' and 'Prime Suspect' reviews". San Francisco Chronicle. p. E-1. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  11. ^ Hinckley, David (22 September 2011). "'Person of Interest' review: John Reese and Mr. Finch partner up in ultimate mystery CIA operatives". Daily News. New York. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  12. ^ Seidman, Robert (23 September 2011). "Thursday Finals: 'Big Bang Theory', 'The X Factor', 'Parks and Recreation' and 'Whitney' Adjusted Up". Zap2it. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  13. ^ Bibel, Sara (May 18, 2012). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'American Idol', 'Grey's Anatomy', '30 Rock' Adjusted Up; 'Touch', 'Scandal' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  14. ^ "Nielsen Television – TV Ratings for Primetime: 2011-12 Season-to-Date". Zap2it. May 13, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  15. ^ Knox, David. "Airdate: Person of Interest". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  16. ^ "Person of Interest". ninemsn.
  17. ^ Template:De
  18. ^ viasat3.hu Template:Hu
  19. ^ Throng
  20. ^ "Person of Interest | US Crime Drama on TV ONE". TVNZ.
  21. ^ a b "퍼슨 오브 인터레스트". CJ E&M.
  22. ^ vertele.com Template:Es
  23. ^ cnbce.com Template:Tr
  24. ^ "Особливо Небезпечний". Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  25. ^ Munn, Patrick (May 18, 2012). "Channel 5 Acquires UK Rights To 'Person Of Interest'". TVWise. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  26. ^ a b Munn, Patrick (August 1, 2012). "Channel 5 Sets UK Premiere Date For 'Person Of Interest'". TVWise. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  27. ^ "People's Choice Awards 2012". Chiff. November 8, 2011.
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