"Due South" (1997) TV series 1997-1999

Creator:

Paul Haggis

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

14 September 1997 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

The spin-off picks up shortly after the original left off. Fraser returns to Chicago, to find a blond has assumed Ray Vecchio's identity...

Plot Keywords:

Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Mounted Police Officer | Chicago Illinois | Police Officer

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Paul Gross	...	Constable Benton Fraser / ... (26 episodes, 1997-1999)
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Det. Stanley Raymond Kowalski (26 episodes, 1997-1999)
Beau Starr	...	Harding Welsh / ... (19 episodes, 1997-1999)
Ramona Milano	...	Francesca Vecchio / ... (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
Gordon Pinsent	...	Robert Fraser / ... (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
Camilla Scott	...	Margaret Thatcher / ... (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tony Craig	...	Jack Huey / ... (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tom Melissis	...	Thomas E. Dewey / ... (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
Draco	...	Diefenbaker (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Dean McDermott	...	Constable Turnbull / ... (13 episodes, 1997-1999)

Also Known As:

Un tandem de choc (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

60 min | 60 min (26 episodes)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alliance Communications Corporation

Trivia:

David Marciano opted not to return to the spin-off after a contract dispute with Alliance Atlantis, the production company. His character of Ray was replaced by Callum Keith Rennie. The writers wrote Rennie into the story by saying the original Ray Vecchio had gone deep undercover with the mob which was why the appearance change of Ray took place.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Fraser throws the knife at the dart board in "Seeing is Believing." Yet when they switch back to him, he's still got it in his hand and quickly hides it behind his back.

Quotes:

Mama Lolla: You first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of your daddy. And you stayed.
[laughs]
Mama Lolla: So did your daddy.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Royal Canadian Air Farce: (1997-12-31)" (1997)

Was such a good series that finally ended

There are many fans of this series that ended a few years ago. A lot of fans were upset to find the replacement of Ray Vecchio a younger (ish) man with hair. Yes, folks... that was Callum Keith Rennie. But you shouldn't let the switcheroo affect you. He didn't replace Vecchio (well to a degree he did) but he was his own character, did his things differently to the old Ray Vecchio and was quite obviously Stanley "Ray" Kolwaski living in another mans shoes to keep old Vecchio's life safe.

I enjoyed the new series and yes, it was different to the previous two seasons, but as many television programmes change and develop you just have to go with the flow.

Paul Gross and Callum Keith Rennie along with a good list of other cast members kept the Due South programme running for all of our enjoyment. It was witty, action packed, funny, had great music, fantastic acting and it still had that "cop" feel to it. It truly was a magnificent drama/comedy programme that will be sadly missed.

I really miss the show and cannot wait for the DVD release! :)