CHAOS (TV series)

Last updated
CHAOS
Chaos 2011 Intertitle.svg
Genre Comedy drama
Created by Tom Spezialy
Starring
Composer David Schwartz
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producers
Production locations Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Running time42 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseApril 1 (2011-04-01) 
July 16, 2011 (2011-07-16)

Chaos (stylized as CHAOS) is an American comedic drama television series that aired on CBS from April 1, to July 16, 2011, as a mid-season replacement for The Defenders . [1] [2]

Contents

Premise

Threats to national security are investigated by a group of rogue CIA spies in the division of Clandestine Homeland Administration and Oversight Services (CHAOS), also trying to keep their jobs from being eliminated due to budget cuts. New agent Rick Martinez (Freddy Rodriguez) joins the team as an in-house mole for CIA National Clandestine Service Director H.J. Higgins (Kurtwood Smith). However, Martinez is quickly found out by the ODS (Office of Disruptive Services) team, who "turn" him for their own use. [3]

Cast

The main cast of CHAOS. Chaospromo.jpg
The main cast of CHAOS.

Development and production

In January 2010, CBS ordered production of a pilot written by Tom Spezialy. [4] Casting announcements began in mid-February, with Freddy Rodriguez being the first actor cast. [5] Next to come on board were James Murray [6] and Tim Blake Nelson. [7] Eric Close joined the cast in early March, [8] [9] followed by Carmen Ejogo. [10] Finally, Stephen Rea completed the main cast in mid-March. [11] The pilot was filmed in Los Angeles. [12]

In late July, CBS announced that it had officially ordered 13 episodes of the series for a mid-season start. [13] [14] Kurtwood Smith joined the cast in November 2010, replacing Rea in the role of Director H.J. Higgins. [15]

Starting in mid-December 2010, CHAOS film crews were spotted and the actors photographed at various set locations around Vancouver – at the Vancouver Rowing Club, in Gastown, on the rooftop of The Bay, at the Terminal City Iron Works, and at mansions in the Shaughnessy and Point Grey neighborhoods – with these locations standing in for exotic locales around the world. [16]

On April 15, 2011, the CBS series went on hiatus after 3 episodes due to low ratings. [17]

After CHAOS was removed from CBS's schedule on April 19, filming on the remaining episodes continued in and around Vancouver until the originally scheduled completion date of May 2. [18]

Episodes

For unknown reasons CBS aired the episodes out of chronological order. [19] The production codes in the episode table reveal the originally intended order.

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot" Brett Ratner Tom Spezialy April 1, 2011 (2011-04-01)1ASM796.53 [20]
Newbie Rick Martinez (Freddy Rodriguez) is partnered with three unruly agents who quickly learn he is a mole out to cut their jobs. But when a hostage crisis in Sudan materializes, Rick joins the team to aid in the rescue.
2"Song of the North" Ron Underwood Jace Richdale April 8, 2011 (2011-04-08)1ASM035.73 [21]
When a North Korean diplomat embarrasses himself in front of the UN, Rick agrees to have the CIA orchestrate his defection. But when he demands that they also smuggle his family out of the Communist country, the CHAOS agents pose as anti-capitalism entrants in the Pyongyang Film Festival to accomplish the mission.
3"Love and Rockets"Ron UnderwoodMatt Ward & David GerkenApril 15, 2011 (2011-04-15)1ASM065.68 [22]
The CHAOS agents pose as lawyers to infiltrate an international arms dealer's Russian compound and capture him, but when his daughters befriend Rick and Billy, the team must work around the distractions.
4"Two Percent" Jeff Melman Chris DingessMay 28, 2011 (2011-05-28)1ASM083.56 [23]
Casey's off his game when the team heads to China to extract a compromised female spy who just happens to have been his former girlfriend. The team decides to finish her assignment and continue on the trail of a major terrorist.
5"Molé" Bryan Spicer Tom Spezialy and Bruce Zimmerman May 28, 2011 (2011-05-28)1ASM043.88 [23]
The CIA offices go on lockdown when the director suspects a mole, putting a foreign operative in danger. The agents must figure out how to get the operative the support needed for a drug cartel operation already in play.
6"Eaten by Wolves"Bryan Spicer Katie Ford June 4, 2011 (2011-06-04)1ASM023.12 [24]
The agents head to Russia pretending to be tourists looking for brides, but are really trying to find a scientist selling nuclear materials. When Martinez becomes entangled with one of the women (Winter Ave Zoli), his cover story starts to unravel.
7"Remote Control" Fred Gerber Katie Ford and Vivian LeeJune 11, 2011 (2011-06-11)1ASM053.23 [25]
The CHAOS team, in Paris to capture a terrorist, is discovered by French intelligence and forced to shut down their operation. Now the team must find a way to continue the mission without creating an international incident.
8"Core Fortitude" David Straiton Tom SpezialyJune 18, 2011 (2011-06-18)1ASM013.86 [26]
When Rick's new team goes against orders to apprehend an arms dealer, Rick must decide if he can trust them or if he should report their unauthorized activities to the CIA director.
9"Defending Sophia"Fred Gerber Chris Black & Bruce ZimmermanJune 25, 2011 (2011-06-25)1ASM073.24 [27]
The ODS goes in undercover as election monitors in Rukovia to help secure the legitimate election of a reformist politician who is being hunted by a Cold War era general who is the current President.
10"Glory Days" Sarah Pia Anderson Michele Fazekas & Tara ButtersJune 25, 2011 (2011-06-25)1ASM093.24 [27]
An ex-member of the ODS uncovers a private company trading national secrets to international terrorists, criminals and rival powers and contacts the ODS for help. The connection and source of loathing the Director has for the ODS is revealed.
11"Deep Cover Band" Oz Scott Dan E. Fesman July 2, 2011 (2011-07-02)1ASM102.49 [28]
The ODS goes undercover in Germany as drug dealers in the Industrial-Postmodern-Punk rock scene to extract a CIA operative who is in deep cover with a German drug ring. Complications arise when the operative fakes his death to try to escape with his lover.
12"Mincemeat"Ron UnderwoodEd ZuckermanJuly 9, 2011 (2011-07-09)1ASM112.85 [29]
The ODS work to ensure that a dying hard-line Middle East President chooses his reformist and Westernized son to succeed him instead of his brutal brother. The ODS use an old trick from the WWII intelligence game to solve their problem, but things go awry when Operative Blank is involved.
13"Proof of Life" Jerry Levine Chris Black & Ed ZimmermanJuly 16, 2011 (2011-07-16)1ASM123.04 [30]
A former member of the ODS is discovered in Panama after Martinez concludes his first solo assignment. The ODS call upon the counterfeiting office to help them in an operation that makes the enemy of the U.S. Secret Service and the Treasury Department.

International distribution

In Canada, the show was simsubbed on the Global Television Network. In New Zealand, the show had a late-night slot from October 4, 2013 through to the end of December on TV3.

Reception

Critical reception

Metacritic assigned CHAOS a score of 50, signifying mixed or average reviews. [31]

Ratings

The series premiered with 6.53 million viewers and a 1.1 rating in the adults 18–49 demo. [20] The rating equaled the lowest ratings achieved by Medium and The Defenders in the same slot, also the lowest rating for any CBS drama this season. [32]

Hiatus

CBS removed the series from the schedule on April 18, 2011, after airing three episodes of the 13-episode order, and placed it on hiatus. [33] [34] The series resumed with episode 4 and episode 5 on May 28. The final episodes aired on Saturdays at 8 pm Eastern. [35]

Awards

Series star Freddy Rodriguez won an Imagen Award in the category "Best Actor/Television" from The Imagen Foundation for his role as Rick Martinez in CHAOS on August 12, 2011. [36]

Related Research Articles

Love Bites is an American anthology comedy-drama television series originally planned for the 2010–11 television season on the NBC network that eventually aired as a summer replacement series. It premiered in its regular Thursday night time slot at 10:00 pm Eastern/9:00 pm Central, on June 2, 2011. On July 11, 2011, NBC canceled the show and the series finale aired on July 21, 2011.

The 2008–09 network television schedule for the six major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers prime time hours from September 2008 through August 2009. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2007–08 season. The schedule omits the Public Broadcasting Service.

The 2009–10 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 2009 through August 2010. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2008–09 season.

The 2010–11 network television schedule for the five major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers prime time hours from September 2010 through August 2011. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2009–10 season. As in previous years, the schedule omits the Public Broadcasting Service.

<i>Bones</i> (season 4) Season of television series

The fourth season of the American television series Bones premiered on September 3, 2008, with a two-hour episode and concluded on May 14, 2009, on Fox. The show changed time slots again, airing on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm ET before moving to Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET in 2009. The season consisted of 26 episodes and averaged 10.8 million viewers.

<i>The Cleveland Show</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of The Cleveland Show aired from September 26, 2010, to May 15, 2011. Fox ordered a second production series of 22 episodes (2APSxx) in October 2009.

<i>The Defenders</i> (2010 TV series) 2010 American legal comedy drama

The Defenders is an American legal comedy-drama television series that was ordered to series by CBS for the 2010–11 television season. The series originally ran from September 22, 2010, to March 11, 2011. Set in Las Vegas, Nevada, the show involves a pair of defense attorneys who go all out to help their clients while keeping their personal lives in order. The show is loosely based on real-life Vegas lawyers Michael Cristalli and Marc Saggese. This series is not related to the 1960s CBS series of the same name.

<i>Chase</i> (2010 TV series) American TV series or program

Chase is an American police procedural drama television series created by Jennifer Johnson for NBC. The series follows a U.S. Marshals fugitive-apprehension team, based out of Houston, Texas. Jerry Bruckheimer and Johnson serve as executive producers for the one-hour drama. The series originally aired on Mondays at 10:00 pm ET/9:00 pm CT and premiered on September 20, 2010. After the mid-season break, Chase returned on Wednesdays at 9:00 pm ET/8:00 pm CT. On October 19, 2010, the network ordered a full season consisting of 22 episodes, but this order was cut to 18 in December. On February 3, 2011, the show was put on "a hiatus" with no plan regarding the remaining episodes. On April 6, 2011, NBC announced the remaining five episodes would be broadcast on Saturday nights beginning on April 23 and ended the series on May 21, 2011. Later the show was replaced by Harry's Law.

<i>CSI: NY</i> (season 7) Season of television series

The seventh season of CSI: NY originally aired on CBS between September 2010 and May 2011. It consisted of 22 episodes. Its regular time slot moved to Fridays at 9pm/8c. The premiere, "The 34th Floor", concluded the story from the previous season's cliffhanger finale, "Vacation Getaway".

<i>Plain Jane</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

Plain Jane is an American reality television series that transforms one woman each week. The series debuted on July 28, 2010, on The CW. Despite the series not being renewed by its original network, Sony Pictures Television worked with MTV to produce a second season. An 8-episode second season was greenlit and aired in October 2011.

<i>Mad Love</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

Mad Love is an American sitcom television series created by Matt Tarses, that aired on CBS from February 14 to May 16, 2011. The sitcom was planned as a mid-season replacement during the 2010–11 television season. On May 15, 2011, Mad Love was cancelled by CBS after one season.

The 2011–12 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers prime time hours from September 2011 through August 2012. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2010–11 season.

<i>How to Be a Gentleman</i> American sitcom television series

How to Be a Gentleman is an American sitcom television series that originally aired on CBS from September 29, 2011, to June 23, 2012. Lead actor David Hornsby created the series, adapting the nonfiction book of the same name by John Bridges.

<i>Raising Hope</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the American television series Raising Hope premiered on September 21, 2010 and concluded on May 17, 2011 on the Fox Television Network. The show aired on Tuesday at 9:00 pm ET. The season consisted of 22 episodes and averaged 6.40 million viewers.

References

  1. "CBS Embraces "Chaos"". Futon Critic. July 22, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  2. Gorman, Bill (December 21, 2010). "CBS Mid-Season Schedule: 'Criminal Minds: SB' Wed. 10p; 'Mad Love' Mon. 8:30p; 'Chaos' Fri. 8p; 'Rules' Moves To Thu. 8:30p". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  3. "The Futon's First Look: "Chaos" (CBS)". The Futon Critic. April 1, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  4. "Development Update: Tuesday, January 26". The Futon Critic. January 26, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  5. "Development Update: Thursday, February 11". The Futon Critic. February 11, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  6. Andreeva, Nellie (February 16, 2010). "Nelson Franklin, James Murray, Joe Manganiello land roles". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  7. "Development Update: Thursday, February 25". The Futon Critic. February 25, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  8. Ausiello, Michael (February 28, 2010). "Pilot Intel: Eric Close drawn to 'Chaos'". Entertainment Weekly .
  9. Bryant, Adam (March 1, 2010). "Without a Trace's Eric Close to Cause a Little Chaos". TV Guide. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  10. "Development Update: Thursday, March 4". The Futon Critic. March 4, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  11. Adalian, Josef (March 10, 2010). "PilotWatch 2010: Stephen Rea Makes U.S. Series Bow in CBS' 'Chaos'". The Wrap. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (July 1, 2010). "SHOCKER! Drama 'Chaos' Left To Die After CBS And 20th TV Can't Agree On Order". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  13. Schneider, Michael (July 21, 2010). "CBS revives Ratner's 'Chaos'". Variety . Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
  14. Andreeva, Nellie (July 21, 2010). "It's Official: 'Chaos' Picked Up To Series At CBS For Midseason". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  15. Jeffrey, Morgan (November 3, 2010). "Kurtwood Smith joins 'Chaos' cast". Digital Spy . Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  16. Gittins, Susan (February 3, 2011). "#YVRSHOOTS: CHAOS SURVIVES VANCOUVER RAINOCALYPSE". Vancouver Is Awesome.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  17. Nordyke, Kimberly (April 19, 2011). "CBS Pulls 'Chaos' From Schedule After Three Episodes". CBS Broadcasting. CBS Entertainment. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  18. Gittins, Susan (May 5, 2011). "#YVRSHOOTS: CHAOS SPIES BURN NOTICED". Vancouver Is Awesome.com. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  19. Rodriguez, Freddy (June 22, 2011). "Twitter Status" . Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  20. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (April 4, 2011). "Friday Final Ratings: 'CSI: NY,' 'Shark Tank,' 'Who Do You Think You Are?' Adjusted Up; 'Fringe' Repeat Down; 'Chaos' Stays Low". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 6, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  21. Gorman, Bill (April 11, 2011). "Friday Final Ratings: 'CSI:NY,' 'Blue Bloods' Adjusted Up; 'Smallville,' 'Supernatural' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  22. Seidman, Robert (April 18, 2011). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Fringe,' 'CHAOS' and 'Kitchen Nightmares' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  23. 1 2 Gorman, Bill (May 29, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Baseball Brings Fox Win; 'Chaos' Burn Off Ratings Not "En Fuego"". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 1, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  24. Gorman, Bill (June 5, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 2 Plunges; 'Chaos' Burn Off Generates No Heat". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  25. Gorman, Bill (June 12, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: 'Cops,' 'America's Most Wanted' Win For Fox; 'Chaos' Burn Off, 'Field Of Vision' Unwatched". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  26. Gorman, Bill (June 19, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Weekly 'America's Most Wanted' Bows Out With A Fox Win". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  27. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (June 26, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Gooooaaaaal! Univision Wins Saturday as Mexico Defeats USA in CONCACAF Gold Cup Final". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  28. Seidman, Robert (July 3, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Fox Wins a Slow Holiday Weekend Saturday with 'Cops' Repeats". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  29. Seidman, Robert (July 10, 2011). "TV Ratings: Fox Wins a Slow Saturday with 'Cops' and Animation Repeats". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  30. Seidman, Robert (July 17, 2011). "TV Ratings: CBS's CHAOS Quietly Fades Away; Fox Wins a Slow Saturday with 'Cops' and 'Indestructibles' Special". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  31. "Chaos - Season 1 Reviews, Ratings, Credits and More at Metacritic". Metacritic .
  32. Gorman, Bill (April 5, 2011). "CBS: 'CSI: Miami' Above A Toss-Up; 'CM: Suspect Behavior' could go either way; 'Chaos' is DOA". Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  33. Nordyke, Kimberly (April 18, 2011). "CBS Pulls 'Chaos' from Schedule After Three Episodes". The Hollywood Reporter.
  34. "CBS's POLICE DRAMA, "FLASHPOINT," RETURNS ON FRIDAY, MAY 6, 8:00-9:00 PM". CBS ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES. April 19, 2011.
  35. "THE AGENTS DISCOVER CASEY'S SOFTER SIDE WHEN A MISSION TO CHINA REUNITES HIM WITH A FORMER FLAME, ON A REBROADCAST OF "CHAOS," ON A SPECIAL NIGHT, SATURDAY, MAY 28". CBS ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES. May 26, 2011.
  36. Hernandez, Margie (August 12, 2011). "Winners of 26th Annual Imagen Awards Announced Honoring Latinos in Entertainment". Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.