F/X: The Series

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F/X: The Series
StarringCameron Daddo
Christina Cox
Kevin Dobson
Chris P. Anson (season 1)
Jacqueline Torres (season 2)
Jason Blicker
Carrie-Anne Moss (recurring)
Theme music composerChristophe Beck
Opening themeChristophe Beck
Ending themeChristophe Beck
ComposersChristophe Beck
Adam Berry (additional music)
Mark Kilian (additional music)
Eric Colvin (additional music)
Kevin Manthei (additional music)
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes40
Production
ProducersStephen Downing
Jay Firestone
Running time1 hour
Production companiesRysher Entertainment
Fireworks Entertainment Inc.
Original release
NetworkCTV
ReleaseSeptember 9, 1996 (1996-09-09) –
May 25, 1998 (1998-05-25)

F/X: The Series is a television series based on the film F/X, starring Cameron Daddo, Christina Cox, Kevin Dobson (season 1), Jacqueline Torres (season 2), Carrie-Anne Moss and Jason Blicker. It ran for 40 episodes from 1996 through 1998.

Much or all of the show was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (save for stock footage to make it appear to be New York City). The opening sequence ended with a television crew in the foreground loading trucks, and an enormous advertisement (painted on the rear of a building) for The Phantom of the Opera, of which a theatrical production was showing in Toronto at the time.

Premise[edit]

The show focuses on Rollie Tyler (Cameron Daddo), a special effects man in NYC, who assists NYPD detective Leo McCarthy (Kevin Dobson) in capturing criminals. In the second season, Dobson's character was killed and replaced with Mira Sanchez (Jacqueline Torres).

Cast[edit]

  • Cameron Daddo as Rollie Tyler, a special effects expert who moonlights as a forensic investigator and expert for the NYPD.
  • Kevin Dobson as Det. Leo McCarthy (season 1), a veteran NYPD officer and Tyler's handler until his untimely murder.
  • Christina Cox as Angie Ramirez, Tyler's friend and co-worker.
  • Jason Blicker as Det. Francis Gatti, McCarthy's partner.
  • Richard Waugh as Capt. Marvin Van Duren, the NYPD commander overseeing all of Tyler's cases.
  • Carrie-Anne Moss as Lucinda "Luce" Scott (season 1), a struggling actress brought in by Tyler to act as a ringer or body double when needed.
  • Jacqueline Torres as Mira Sanchez (season 2), the NYPD officer who replaces McCarthy as Tyler's police handler.
  • Sherry Miller as Colleen O'Malley (season 1)

Episodes[edit]

Season 1 (1996–97)[edit]

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"The Illusion"Paul LynchJohn FasanoSeptember 9, 1996 (1996-09-09)
22
33"Zero Hour"Eric TillMary Crawford & Alan TempletonSeptember 16, 1996 (1996-09-16)
44"High Risk"Mike VejarWilliam GraySeptember 23, 1996 (1996-09-23)
55"Payback"Mike VejarWilliam GraySeptember 30, 1996 (1996-09-30)
66"The Ring"Mike VejarWilliam GrayOctober 7, 1996 (1996-10-07)
77"Dingo"Allan EastmanWilliam GrayOctober 14, 1996 (1996-10-14)
88"White Light"Mario AzzopardiMary Crawford & Alan TempletonOctober 21, 1996 (1996-10-21)
99"The Brotherhood"Jim CharlestonJohn SheppardOctober 28, 1996 (1996-10-28)
1010"French Kiss"Allan EastmanRobert HopkinsNovember 4, 1996 (1996-11-04)
A close friend of Tyler's is accidentally killed by a bomb meant for Diane Nealey, an investment banker and money launderer who stole millions of dollars from Cuban mobster Ernesto Arias. McCarthy enlists Tyler and Angie to help him find Nealey after determining that she faked her death with help from Ernesto's top enforcer, Roberto. However, when Roberto realizes that the cops are onto him, he electrocutes Nealey to cover his tracks. Tyler then uses prosthetics to transform actress Lucinda Scott into the spitting image of Nealey in order to trick the gangsters into revealing their location by having her pretend to ask for "protection". Roberto sees through Lucinda's disguise and leaves another bomb to kill her. Angie and McCarthy use clever deceptions to trick Roberto's men into surrendering while Lucinda helps Tyler retrieve the bomb and detonate it under Roberto's van, killing him while still leaving enough evidence to build a case against Arias.
1111"Eye of the Dragon"Mike VejarRobert HopkinsNovember 11, 1996 (1996-11-11)
1212"Target"Mike VejarMary Crawford & Alan TempletonNovember 18, 1996 (1996-11-18)
1313"Supernote"Steve DiMarcoJohn ConsidineNovember 25, 1996 (1996-11-25)
1414"Medea"Jon CassarAlison Lea BingemanJanuary 20, 1997 (1997-01-20)
1515"Shivaree"Mike VejarMary Crawford & Alan TempletonJanuary 27, 1997 (1997-01-27)
1616"Gemini"Paul LynchJohn SheppardFebruary 3, 1997 (1997-02-03)
1717"Double Image"Paul LynchRobert HopkinsFebruary 10, 1997 (1997-02-10)
1818"Quicksilver"Mike VejarAlison Lea BingemanFebruary 17, 1997 (1997-02-17)
1919"Get Fast"Allan EastmanMary Crawford & Alan TempletonApril 21, 1997 (1997-04-21)
2020"Bad Influence"J. Miles DaleJohn SheppardApril 28, 1997 (1997-04-28)
2121"Reunion"Paul LynchWilliam GrayMay 5, 1997 (1997-05-05)
2222"Script Doctor"Steve DiMarcoJohn FasanoMay 12, 1997 (1997-05-12)

Season 2 (1997–98)[edit]

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
231"Requiem for a Cop"Paul LynchStephen DowningSeptember 15, 1997 (1997-09-15)
242"Unfinished Business"Paul LynchEdward Allen BerneroSeptember 22, 1997 (1997-09-22)
253"Siege"Doug LeflerWilliam GraySeptember 29, 1997 (1997-09-29)
264"Shooting Mickey"William GereghtyMary Crawford & Alan TempletonOctober 6, 1997 (1997-10-06)
275"Deep Cover"Stephen PoseyMary Crawford & Alan TempletonOctober 13, 1997 (1997-10-13)
286"House of Horrors"Mario AzzopardiAvrum JacobsonOctober 20, 1997 (1997-10-20)
297"High Roller"James HeadMary Crawford & Alan TempletonOctober 27, 1997 (1997-10-27)
308"Ritual"Doug LeflerStory by : Damian Kindler
Teleplay by : Damian Kindler & Mary Crawford & Alan Templeton
November 3, 1997 (1997-11-03)
319"Spanish Harlem"Paul LynchRobert HopkinsNovember 10, 1997 (1997-11-10)
3210"Flashback"Paul LynchDoug MolitorNovember 17, 1997 (1997-11-17)
3311"Standoff"Brad TurnerWilliam GrayFebruary 2, 1998 (1998-02-02)
Det. Ramirez leaves an informant, Jennifer Elliot, under Tyler's supervision until she can be placed in protective custody, as Ramirez is trying to build a case against Bobby, the right-hand man of biker gang boss Earl Sarason. Bobby obtains pictures of Jennifer onset at one of Tyler's films. Tyler alerts Ramirez and attempts to move Jennifer discreetly by having her and Angie trade clothes and then fitting both women with identical prosthetic masks of each other's faces; the ruse works long enough for him to reach a secure location, but the gang catches up. Deanna, Bobby's girlfriend (and the real informant), persuades Earl to expel Bobby from the gang. Tyler uses his equipment to set various traps, holding off the bikers, but Bobby soon has a gun pointed at Jennifer. Earl then surprises and beats him into unconsciousness, agreeing to let Ramirez take him into custody. Jennifer and Deanna embrace, now both free of the gang's clutches.
3412"Vigilantes"Brenton SpencerEdward Allen BerneroFebruary 9, 1998 (1998-02-09)
3513"Reaper"Neill FearnleyMary Crawford & Alan TempletonFebruary 16, 1998 (1998-02-16)
3614"Inferno"Mike VejarJim HenshawFebruary 23, 1998 (1998-02-23)
3715"Evil Eye"James HeadJ. Larry Carroll & David Bennett CarrenMay 4, 1998 (1998-05-04)
3816"Chiller"Neill FearnleyAlex BoonMay 11, 1998 (1998-05-11)
3917"Thief"Mike VejarRobert HopkinsMay 18, 1998 (1998-05-18)
4018"Red Storm"J. Miles DaleMary Crawford & Alan TempletonMay 25, 1998 (1998-05-25)

DVD releases[edit]

Alliance Home Entertainment has released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 (Canada only).[1][2]

In Region 2, Cinema Club released the first season on DVD in the UK on March 27, 2006.[3]

DVD Name Ep# Region 1 (CAN) Region 2 (UK)
Season 1 22 September 28, 2010 March 27, 2006
Season 2 18 October 26, 2010 TBA

References[edit]

  1. ^ "F/X: The Series Season 1: Amazon.ca: DVD". September 28, 2010.
  2. ^ "F/X: The Series - Season 2: Amazon.ca: DVD". October 26, 2010.
  3. ^ "Fx: Series 1 (DVD) Amazon.co.uk: Fx: the Series: Film & TV". Amazon UK. March 27, 2006.

External links[edit]