It's the first Canadian show to air on US national television and Canadian TV since Due South. It was on last night, definitely up to par with any other American cop show I've seen. What was really cool was that it was set in Toronto, they didn't just fake Toronto for some other American city.

To me, this show is very good for Canadian TV, but the problem is, it's just another cop show in the United States. Anyone else see this last night?

I watched it on CBS-HD. They don't mention the city and their patches just say Metropolitan police. I'll probably keep recording and watching it. It usually takes a few episodes for a show to get into it's rythym.

USA Today Review:

Here's yet one more thing we can blame on the writers' strike.

Surely had CBS not been terrified that it would run out of product, it would not have imported the Canadian cop show Flashpoint (tonight, 10 ET/PT), a cut-rate version of the kind of show CBS already has in overabundance. That's really carrying coals to Newcastle, and in this case, coal that was pretty much burned out a decade ago.

It is at least nice to have Veronica Mars' Enrico Colantoni back on TV, particularly because it may remind someone who's running a better show what a good addition he would be. Here, unfortunately, he's stuck in some purposely unidentified city (the better to sell the show elsewhere) playing the negotiator leader of a SWAT team, a character who's as dull as the show itself.

True, in American crime shows the cops don't sing Gilbert and Sullivan, and they tend to be a bit less weepy/sensitive. Otherwise, though, Flashpoint is as violent, ugly and stupid as any show in the genre, and even more forgettable.

Yes, it's summer and there's not a lot of new options out there. But terrible is terrible in any season, and CBS knows it — which is why the show is airing in one of TV's traditional dead zones.

Leave it to die in peace.

Ouch. I thought it was quite good. I never would have identified it as Canadian production if I hadn't have alreasdy known.

After watching it I would have to agree with the USA today review. It reeks of Canadiana, which is unfortunate because I'd like to see Canadian produced shows succeed. This is another re-hash of a big city cop show. I was actually surprised to see that CBS was also showing it:eek: If you want to watch a successful Canadian produced show, check out Regenesis. I like the fact that they are not afraid to say we're from Canada and proud of it (even if the main lab is in Toronto ;).

I agree that sometimes it can take a few episodes for a show to develop a unique character. I'll try a few more episodes and see.

I thought that the way they introduced the new team member was very labored. They tried to instill a sense of intrigue by slowly moving him into the equation. Too bad it didn't build the wow factor as it should have, maybe the next episode will do that?

I thought it was a decent show and like a previous poster mentioned, it's gonna take a couple of episodes for the show to really see where it's going.

I thought it was a decent show. There were a couple of clues that it was a Canadian show even before the obvious shot of the CN Tower. If you looked closely at their arm patches, they had clasic heraldy symbols.. bears, elk and a crown atop a shield, something you'd never see from a US police force. I doubt it will play very well in the States though, I could just see many Americans scratching there heads after the good guy takes out the bad guy. Instead of high fives and pats on the back for the hero, he's imidately wisked off and practically strip searched, interogated and treated like he's the criminal. I doubt that this will play very well with the average American veiwer who has no concept of SIU investigations and the differences in justice systems.

I caught it too, didn't mind it too much, we'll have to see if it has staying power on our PVR. Certainly didn't "look" like your typical Canadian show though. My main interest in the show was that Hugh Dillon is in it. I'm a HUGE fan of his work and his group The Headstones (may they rest in peace).

"Went down to the cemetery looking for love..."

Ahhhh... good times.

I also think I saw the City of Toronto flag during the show. I am just assuming this because I only saw the flag for a few seconds.

From the Globe and Mail:

More than eight million Americans tuned in for the season premiere of the Canadian-made police drama Flashpoint on CBS Friday night, making it the night's top-rated program in overall U.S. households. This far surpassed the expectations of the network and its Toronto-based producers. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080714.wflash14/BNStory/Entertainment/home)

-Mike

I watched it and wasn't impressed. It just didn't do anything for me.

I think the shot of CN Tower made it pretty obvious where they were.

I found the show pretty good. And yes it's Canadian, but doubtful they americans will notice.

Love the pink power ranger.

I'm surprised they haven't just come right out and stated the city name. American's probably think it is Seatle's space needle rather than the CN Tower...... but both episodes have seemed to make an effort to include a shot of it.

I liked it. I didn't think it was phenominal, but it was certainly worth watching to see where it goes. All new shows start a bit slow.

I'd rate it up there just above The Border which started to grow on me.

Flashpoint moving to Thursday nights at 10 PM ET on CBS and CTV starting with tonight's episode. This move is due to higher than expected ratings for the show for CBS and has switched timeslots with Swingtown.

Friday has always been a dead night, especially during the summer. Winning the time slot means little.

On Thursdays it has a strong lead-in so the ratings should be decent.

Holy Flashpoint over load tonight - it's airing on Global, CTV and CBS at the same time. Heh heh.

I think the show is really in it's rythim now, I really liked the 3rd episode.

Not a bad third episode... buy why didn't they have a bus there ready to go once the undercover got shot...

I think we'll see them start to focus on the team's chemistry now.

I really didn't like this episode as much. If the show is being open about being set in Canada ... then the third strike story line bothered me. We don't have that inanity up here. The other thing that bothered me was the carelessness in scripting. As shabbs pointed out, there's no way a police tactical unit goes into a building like that without paramedics and ambulances on site. Waiting for the ambulance as the kid dies?? Maybe he dies, but not without immediate medical attention.

I don't mind suspending disbelief for shows that are premised that way (eg. 24). However, shows that are trying to base themselves in the emotional realism of being part of tactical unit should be asking me to do so.

I don't see them as being "open" about being in Canada... there's the odd Canadiana reference (ie: Timmy's across the street) and what not, but it's not overly Canadian, and I think that's done on purpose to make it a lot more marketable to the US.