L.A. Heat (TV series)

Last updated
L.A. Heat
L.A. Heat (TV series) dvd cover.jpg
DVD cover
Genre Action
Created by
  • Joseph Merhi
  • Richard Pepin
Starring
Composers
  • Stephen Edwards
  • Louis Febre
  • John Gonzalez
  • John Sponsler
  • Alex Wilkinson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes48
Production
Executive producerGeorge Shamieh

Richard Pepin

Joseph Merhi
Running time60 minutes (approx.)
Production company PM Entertainment Group, Inc.
Release
Original network TNT
Original releaseMarch 15 (1999-03-15) 
May 19, 1999 (1999-05-19)

L.A. Heat is an American action fiction television series starring Wolf Larson and Steven Williams as Los Angeles police detectives. The series aired on TNT for two seasons beginning March 15, 1999.

Contents

Show history

Produced by PM Entertainment, L.A. Heat began filming 1996, in areas that included Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, San Diego, Long Beach and Hollywood. But due to the fact the show didn't have the backing of a major network, it was not picked up for domestic distribution in the U.S. It was instead sold overseas where, in its second season, it accomplished the impossible: it took the #1 spot away from Baywatch in Germany. The show was also popular in Lebanon after being broadcast on Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International, and was broadcast in other Arabic speaking countries. In France, the show was aired Monday through Friday at 6PM on M6 and reran several times since due to its popularity. The show's big budget car chases and explosions were in part sourced from scenes from feature films also produced by PM Entertainment.

Due to financial troubles within PM Entertainment, production ended in 1998 after just two seasons. A year later, the show finally premiered in the U.S. when it was sold to the cable network TNT. All 48 episodes were shown Monday through Friday at 4PM for almost two years. Afterwards, airings became more and more sporadic, sometimes only a few times a week and in the early morning hours. When TNT's contract to run the show expired, it disappeared from the airwaves and has not been aired on television in the United States since. In 2000, plans to resurrect the show for a third season were underway but ultimately fell through when financing could not be secured.

The show is (as of 2017) available on Amazon Prime Video for $2 per episode. [1]

Premise

The show follows the action-packed adventures of two Los Angeles robbery/homicide detectives, Chase McDonald and August Brooks. The detectives are as different as night and day, but they work great together at keeping the streets of L.A. safe. Chase also makes extra money on the side by selling metal sculptures he makes himself, while August spends his free time running a youth center for underprivileged teens.

Main characters

Detective Chester "Chase" McDonald (Wolf Larson) has been with the Los Angeles Police Department for seven years. A risk-taker, McDonald likes to live on the edge and is passionate about his work. Though a born leader, he often needs the guidance of someone with his partner's experience to keep him out of trouble. In his free time he enjoys making metal sculptures. He's in a relationship with Jodi when the series starts, but after they broke up, he began dating a variety of women, but none of them ever worked out. Despite their initial resentments towards each other, he began dating Det. Nicole Stockman towards the end of the second season.

Detective August Brooks (Steven Williams) is a seasoned veteran with sixteen years on the Los Angeles Police Department. In his youth, August was a promising boxer, a contender in every sense of the word, who always put his opponents down in the ring. But after discovering that his manager and promoter were embezzling funds from fellow boxers, and after he was forced to throw his first pro fight, August became disillusioned with the sport and left to join the police academy. Discovering he was a natural at police work, he quickly rose through the ranks of the LAPD to become a detective. He also runs the Hoover Street Youth Boxing Center in his spare time, an old gym he bought and converted into a recreation area for underprivileged children, providing an alternative to gang life. He also served in the Vietnam War.

Kendra Brooks (Renee Tenison) is the love of August's life, and works at the recreation center. Like August, she is known by all the kids who frequent the place, and she helps them with their problems from time to time. She and August have been married for five years at the start of the series.

Jodi Miller (Dawn Radenbaugh) is Chase's girlfriend. Having never been happy with Chase's job, she always expressed concern for his life and tried talking him into quitting many times to concentrate completely into his art. In episode "Killing on Lily Lane", she got a job offer to run an art gallery in Dallas, Texas and began pressuring him even more to quit and come with her. Chase refused to do so, insisting they could work things out, but ultimately, Jodi left without him.

Captain Robert Jensen (Kenneth Tigar) is the high-tempered superior of Chase and August. Despite the aggravation they usually cause him, he still considers them his best detectives. Despite appearing frequently in all but a few episodes, Kenneth Tigar is never billed in the opening titles, only at the end of each episode's billing of guest stars.

Recurring characters

Arnold Cragmeyer (Christopher Boyer) is the head of the forensics lab and tends to always come through in helping Chase and August uncover clues and other useful information. He has a bachelor's degree is Forensic Science, and was previously a bomb squad commander in the premiere episode before requesting a transfer.

Det. Sam Richardson (Clay Banks) is another detective who assists Chase and August from time to time. He's originally from New York, but transferred to Los Angeles sometime prior to the third episode. Chase was the first cop he met and he wasn't too impressed with him, but he eventually grew to like him.

Det. Benny Lewis (Sugar Ray Leonard) was another detective who occasionally assisted Chase and August. He only appeared in the first, second, and fourth episodes before disappearing without explanation.

Annie Mason (Jessica Cushman) is a forensics assistant who joined midway through the first season. Her father is a detective in Riverside, California.

Dr. Judith Sands (Jessica Hopper) is the department's psychologist, whose assistance Chase and August sometimes require when dealing with the more crazed suspects. Her and Chase had a past relationship until he dumped her, claiming she was driving him crazy by always trying to get inside his head. She also had a somewhat successful (though short-lived) modeling career before becoming a psychologist.

Dr. Samantha Morecroft (Debbie James) is the new head coroner at the start of the second season. She's straightforward and to-the-letter, and is constantly put off by Chase's sly comments and flirting.

Det. Jack Lawson (Michael McFall) is a former D.E.A. agent who used his connection within the police department (his Aunt Grace, the police commissioner) to transfer to the department's robbery/homicide division. He thinks Chase is a little too on the reckless side, but ultimately comes to respect him.

Det. Nicole Stockman (Sandra Ferguson / Jillian McWhirter) is a beautiful but tough San Francisco detective. She came to Los Angeles to deliver a witness to the LAPD. Initially finding herself in conflict with Chase and his methods, they eventually became friends over the phone and through weekend visits. At the end of the second season, she returned to Los Angeles to strike a deal with a crime boss in return for him testifying against Bobby Cole. Her and Chase were getting serious about her transferring to LA so she could move in with him, but she was killed in a hit ordered by Bobby Cole.

Bobby Cole (Gary Hudson) was introduced early in the second season and became the show's only recurring adversary. Known as the "Teflon crime lord," he was a notorious criminal with everyone from politicians to police officers on his payroll and could never be connected to any of his crimes. Everybody in the city knew he was a vicious criminal who had committed dozens of crimes, but no one could prove it. After numerous confrontations, his organization was finally broken down, and Cole was shot and killed by Chase in the series finale.

Other appearances

Episode list

Season 1 (1999)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Daybomber"Richard PepinJoseph John BarmettlerMarch 15, 1999 (1999-03-15)
22"Too Young to Die"Richard PepinRichard Preston Jr.March 16, 1999 (1999-03-16)
33"In Transit"Richard PepinRichard Preston Jr.March 17, 1999 (1999-03-17)
44"Electra"Richard PepinWilliam Applegate Jr.March 18, 1999 (1999-03-18)
55"Silicon Sting"Paul G. VolkJacobsen HartMarch 19, 1999 (1999-03-19)
66"Cop Star" Joey Travolta Joseph John BarmettlerMarch 22, 1999 (1999-03-22)
77"Strange Currencies"Cole McKayWilliam Applegate Jr.March 23, 1999 (1999-03-23)
88"Rage"Joseph John BarmettlerJoseph John BarmettlerMarch 24, 1999 (1999-03-24)
99"Words Will Never Hurt Me"Richard Pepin Nathan Long March 25, 1999 (1999-03-25)
1010"Rap Sheet" Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs William LawlorMarch 26, 1999 (1999-03-26)
1111"For Whom the Bullet Tolls"Cole McKayWilliam Lawlor & Giuseppie GillisMarch 29, 1999 (1999-03-29)
1212"Old Scores"Richard PepinStory by: Art Camacho
Teleplay by: Richard Preston Jr.
March 30, 1999 (1999-03-30)
1313"My Brother's Keeper"Paul G. VolkNick StoneMarch 31, 1999 (1999-03-31)
1414"211 Kidney"Bill TunnicliffeNick StoneApril 1, 1999 (1999-04-01)
1515"Special Order 40"Robert RadlerJacobsen Hart & Joseph John BarmettlerApril 2, 1999 (1999-04-02)
1616"Falcon"Joseph MerhiNick StoneApril 5, 1999 (1999-04-05)
1717"Green Justice" Art Camacho William LawlorApril 6, 1999 (1999-04-06)
1818"Smash and Grab"Ken BlakeyStory by: William Applegate Jr. & Kyle Einhorn
Teleplay by: Kyle Einhorn
April 7, 1999 (1999-04-07)
1919"Killing on Lily Lane"Jerry JacobsNick Stone & Nathan LongApril 8, 1999 (1999-04-08)
2020"Death House"Cole McKayNick StoneApril 9, 1999 (1999-04-09)
2121"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"Joseph John BarmettlerStory by: William Applegate Jr.,Shari Lane Bowles,& William Lawlor
Teleplay by: Nathan Long
April 12, 1999 (1999-04-12)
2222"Chester Nut"Joey TravoltaWilliam Applegate Jr. &
William Lawlor
April 13, 1999 (1999-04-13)
2323"Captain Crimestopper"Jerry P. JacobsStory by: Mark Sikes
Teleplay by: Mark Sikes & Nathan Long
April 14, 1999 (1999-04-14)
2424"Big Guns"Paul G. VolkNick Stone & Shari Lane BowlesApril 15, 1999 (1999-04-15)
2525"National Security"Jerry JacobsRichard Preston Jr.April 16, 1999 (1999-04-16)
2626"Wake Up Call"Richard PepinNathan LongApril 19, 1999 (1999-04-19)

Season 2 (1999)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
271"Fangs"Richard PepinNick StoneApril 20, 1999 (1999-04-20)
282"F is for Framed"Paul G. VolkBob Stiff & David Byron LloydApril 21, 1999 (1999-04-21)
293"Burning Sanctuary"William WarrenRichard Preston Jr. & William LawlorApril 22, 1999 (1999-04-22)
304"Strip Show"Jerry JacobsNick Stone & Shari Lane BowlesApril 23, 1999 (1999-04-23)
315"Eyewitness"Kevin MockNick StoneApril 26, 1999 (1999-04-26)
326"Little Saigon" Richard W. Munchkin Richard Preston Jr. & William LawlorApril 27, 1999 (1999-04-27)
337"John Doe"Paul G. VolkNick StoneApril 28, 1999 (1999-04-28)
348"Widow Maker"Raymond MartinoWilliam LawlorApril 29, 1999 (1999-04-29)
359"Obsession"Richard W. MunchkinNick StoneApril 30, 1999 (1999-04-30)
3610"Call of the Wild"Cole McKayMichael Gerbosi & Shari Lane BowlesMay 3, 1999 (1999-05-03)
3711"The Bigger They Are"Richard W. MunchkinNathan LongMay 4, 1999 (1999-05-04)
3812"Faces of Fear"Bryan GoeresBob Stiff & David Byron LloydMay 5, 1999 (1999-05-05)
3913"The Monk"Cole McKayNick Stone & Martin H. Lawlor & Michael RobinsonMay 6, 1999 (1999-05-06)
4014"Ties That Bind"Kevin MockBob Stiff & David Byron LloydMay 7, 1999 (1999-05-07)
4115"In Harm's Way"Cole McKayJoseph John Barmettler & William LawlorMay 10, 1999 (1999-05-10)
4216"Bad Reputation"Raymond MartinoNathan LongMay 11, 1999 (1999-05-11)
4317"Danny the Eel"Bryan GoeresBob Stiff & David Byron LloydMay 12, 1999 (1999-05-12)
4418"Cop Killer"William WarrenSimon PorterMay 13, 1999 (1999-05-13)
4519"Professor Benton"Harris DoneNick Stone & William LawlorMay 14, 1999 (1999-05-14)
4620"Legacy of a Buffalo Soldier"Cole McKayS.O. Lee & Helen ColombyMay 17, 1999 (1999-05-17)
4721"Armageddon: Part 1"Paul G. VolkBob Stiff & David Byron LloydMay 18, 1999 (1999-05-18)
4822"Vengeance: Part 2"Paul G. VolkSimon PorterMay 19, 1999 (1999-05-19)

Episodes aired out of order

TNT aired a handful of episodes in each season out of order, which results in some confusion when watching the episodes in question. (The DVD release does not fix this mistake). Below is a comparison list of the episodes as aired and how they should be viewed.

Airdate OrderCorrect Order
"My Brother's Keeper""My Brother's Keeper"
"211 Kidney""Green Justice"
"Special Order 40""Falcon"
"Falcon""Special Order 40"
"Green Justice""211 Kidney"
"Smash and Grab""Smash and Grab"
Airdate OrderCorrect Order
"Call of the Wild""Call of the Wild"
"The Bigger They Are""Faces of Fear"
"Faces of Fear""The Monk"
"The Monk""The Bigger They Are"
"Ties That Bind""Ties That Bind"

Home media

In August 2005, the first season of L.A. Heat was released on DVD by Platinum Disc, LLC. The five-disc set contains all 26 episodes in the same order as they aired on television. Aside from brief biographies for Wolf Larson and Steven Williams on the packaging, there are no bonus features.

Worldwide airdates

Although L.A. Heat premiered in the US on March 15, 1999, it premiered earlier in other parts of the world.

Filming locations

Related Research Articles

<i>In the Heat of the Night</i> (TV series) American TV series

In the Heat of the Night is an American police procedural crime drama television series loosely based on the 1967 film and 1965 novel of the same title. It starred Carroll O'Connor as police chief Bill Gillespie and Howard Rollins as police detective Virgil Tibbs, and was broadcast on NBC from March 6, 1988, until May 19, 1992, then on CBS from October 28, 1992, until May 16, 1995. Its executive producers were Fred Silverman, Juanita Bartlett, and O'Connor. This series marked Carroll O'Connor’s return to a series for the first time on NBC and later returned to CBS after Archie Bunker's Place ended back in 1983.

<i>NYPD Blue</i> American television police procedural (1993–2005)

NYPD Blue is an American police procedural television series set in New York City, exploring the struggles of the fictional 15th Precinct detective squad in Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwines several plots involving an ensemble cast. The show was created by Steven Bochco and David Milch, and was inspired by Milch's relationship with Bill Clark, a former member of the New York City Police Department who eventually became one of the show's producers. The series was originally broadcast by ABC from September 21, 1993‚ to March 1, 2005. It was ABC's longest-running primetime one-hour drama series until Grey's Anatomy surpassed it in 2016.

<i>Law & Order</i> American police procedural and legal drama television series

Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, launching the Law & Order franchise.

<i>CSI: NY</i> American police procedural drama television series (2004–2013)

CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that ran on CBS from September 22, 2004, to February 22, 2013, for a total of nine seasons and 197 original episodes. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers identified as "Crime Scene Investigators" as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths, as well as other crimes. The series is an indirect spin-off from the veteran series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and a direct spin-off from CSI: Miami, during an episode in which several of the CSI: NY characters made their first appearances. It is the third series in the CSI franchise.

<i>Adam-12</i> American police procedural television series, 1968–1975

Adam-12 is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb and produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol Los Angeles in their police cruiser, assigned the call sign "1-Adam-12". Adam-12 stars Martin Milner and Kent McCord, with several recurring co-stars, the most frequent being William Boyett and Gary Crosby. The series ran from September 21, 1968 to May 20, 1975, over seven seasons.

<i>Hunter</i> (1984 American TV series) 1984–1991 American police drama television series

Hunter is an American crime drama television series created by Frank Lupo, which ran on NBC from September 18, 1984, to April 26, 1991. It stars Fred Dryer as Sgt. Rick Hunter and Stepfanie Kramer as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall. The title character Sgt. Rick Hunter is a wily, physically imposing, often rule-breaking homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department.

<i>Martial Law</i> (TV series) American action-adventure comedy television series

Martial Law is an American action-crime-adventure-comedy television series created by Carlton Cuse that aired on CBS from September 26, 1998, to May 13, 2000. The title character, Sammo Law, is a Chinese law officer and martial arts expert who comes to Los Angeles in search of a colleague and remains in the United States.

The Closer is an American television police procedural starring Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief. A CIA-trained interrogator originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Brenda has a reputation as a closer—an interrogator who not only solves a case, but also obtains confessions that lead to convictions, thus "closing" the case. The series ran on TNT from June 13, 2005, to August 13, 2012.

<i>New York Undercover</i> Television series

New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the Fox television network from September 8, 1994, to February 11, 1999. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's Fourth Precinct who were assigned to investigate various crimes and gang-related cases. The cast also included Patti D'Arbanville-Quinn as their superior, Lt. Virginia Cooper, and Lauren Vélez, who joined the cast in the second season as Nina Moreno, fellow detective and love interest to Torres. New York Undercover was co-created and produced by Dick Wolf, and its storyline takes place in the same fictional universe as Wolf's NBC series Law & Order, its spin-offs, the Chicago and FBI series, and Homicide: Life on the Street.

Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) is an American police procedural television series that ran on CBS from September 27, 2002 to April 21, 2003, created by Barry Schindel with executive producers Michael Mann and Sandy Climan.

<i>LAPD: Life on the Beat</i> American reality television series

LAPD: Life on the Beat is an American reality television series that follows officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, as they respond to various incidents within their precincts' jurisdiction. The program aired in first-run syndication from September 11, 1995, to September 10, 1999. Like its contemporary, COPS, LAPD followed police officers on patrol and during investigations. Unlike COPS, Life on the Beat only featured police officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The series was originally titled as simply LAPD for its first season in 1995, before adopting the expanded title in 1996, in conjunction with the introduction of an upgraded graphical look.

<i>Law & Order: Special Victims Unit</i> (season 1) Season of television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The first season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, premiered on September 20, 1999 on NBC and concluded on May 19, 2000. Created by Dick Wolf, it is the first spin-off of Law & Order and follows the detectives of a fictionalized version of the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit, which investigates sexually based offenses. SVU originally aired on Monday nights at 9pm/8c EST, but it was moved to Friday nights at 10pm/9c after the ninth episode. Showrunner Robert Palm felt too disturbed by the subject matter and left after the season's conclusion.

<i>Saving Grace</i> (TV series) Television show filmed in Vancouver

Saving Grace is an American crime drama television series which aired on TNT from July 23, 2007, to June 21, 2010. The show stars Holly Hunter as well as Leon Rippy, Kenny Johnson, Laura San Giacomo, Bailey Chase, Bokeem Woodbine, Gregory Norman Cruz and Yaani King. It is set in Oklahoma City—including numerous shots of local buildings and landmarks —while much of the show was filmed in Vancouver and Los Angeles.

Heart of the City is an American crime drama television series created by E. Arthur Kean and Michael Zinberg. The series aired on ABC from September 20, 1986 to January 10, 1987.

Rizzoli & Isles is an American crime drama television series starring Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Maura Isles. Based on the series of Rizzoli & Isles novels by Tess Gerritsen, the plot follows Boston Homicide police detective Jane Rizzoli and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles combining their experiences and strikingly different personalities to solve cases. It premiered on TNT on July 12, 2010 and aired 105 episodes in seven seasons, concluding on September 5, 2016.

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

The first season of the television series Angel, the spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, premiered on October 5, 1999, on The WB and concluded its 22-episode season on May 23, 2000. The season aired on Tuesdays at 9:00 pm ET, following Buffy.

<i>Major Crimes</i> (TV series) American television police procedural series 2012–2018

Major Crimes is an American police procedural television series starring Mary McDonnell. It was a continuation spin-off of The Closer, set in the same police division, now headed by McDonnell's character, Sharon Raydor. It premiered on TNT on August 13, 2012, following the finale of The Closer.

<i>CHiPs</i> American television drama series

CHiPs is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons, plus one reunion television film in October 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PM Entertainment</span>

PM Entertainment Group Inc. was an American independent production, distribution company which produced a distinctive line of low-to-medium budget films mostly targeted for home-video market. The company diversified into television production and larger budgeted star vehicles before being sold by its founders in 2000.

<i>Lethal Weapon</i> (TV series) American television series (2016–2019)

Lethal Weapon is an American buddy cop action comedy-drama television series developed by Matt Miller and based on the Lethal Weapon film franchise created by Shane Black. The series ran for three seasons on Fox, from September 2016 to February 2019.

References

  1. Watch L.A. Heat Season 1 Episode - Amazon Video , retrieved 2016-11-06