Copper (TV series)

Copper was an American drama television series created by Tom Fontana and Will Rokos for BBC America. It is set in 1860s New York City, during the American Civil War, and stars Tom Weston-Jones as an Irish immigrant policeman, or "copper", who patrols and resides in the Five Points neighborhood. Other cast members include Kyle Schmid, Ato Essandoh, Anastasia Griffith, Tessa Thompson and Franka Potente.

This article is about the BBC America series. For the Canadian series produced under the title Copper, see Rookie Blue.

Copper
Title card
GenrePeriod drama
Created byTom Fontana
Will Rokos
StarringTom Weston-Jones
Kyle Schmid
Anastasia Griffith
Franka Potente
Ato Essandoh
Kevin Ryan
ComposerBrian Keane
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes23 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersBarry Levinson
Tom Fontana
ProducersBran Van Arragon
Glen Salzman
Production locationsToronto, Ontario[1]
CinematographySteven Cosens
Paul Sarossy
EditorDavid B. Thompson
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time45 minutes
Production companiesCineflix Studios
Shaw Media
Release
Original networkBBC America
Original releaseAugust 19, 2012 (2012-08-19) –
September 22, 2013 (2013-09-22)

The series was BBC America's first original scripted program after previously only airing co-productions and shows from the United Kingdom. Fontana, Rokos, Barry Levinson, and Christina Wayne were executive producers of the series.

The first season of 10 episodes premiered on August 19, 2012. The series was renewed for a second season of 13 episodes, which premiered on June 23, 2013.[2] On September 19, 2013, Copper's cancellation was announced, three days before its second-season finale aired.[3]

Premise

The series centers on Kevin "Corky" Corcoran, an Irish immigrant police detective trying to keep the peace in the historical Five Points neighborhood, in 1860s New York City. Initially, he is simultaneously searching for information on his wife, who disappeared, and daughter, who was killed, while he was fighting down south for the Union Army. The show explores the effects of the American Civil War as well as the social stratification involving New York's aristocracy and African American population.[4]

Cast and characters
  • Tom Weston-Jones as Kevin "Corky" Corcoran, a rugged Irish immigrant cop in New York City
  • Kyle Schmid as Robert Morehouse, the son of a wealthy Fifth Avenue industrialist, formerly Corcoran and Freeman's major in the Union Army
  • Ato Essandoh as Matthew Freeman, an African-American physician and runaway slave, who serves as an informal pathologist for Corcoran
  • Anastasia Griffith as Elizabeth Haverford, the English wife of a wealthy Fifth Avenue friend of Morehouse's
  • Franka Potente as Eva Heissen, a shrewd Prussian businesswoman and madam of a brothel
  • Kevin Ryan as Francis Maguire, an Irish cop working alongside Corcoran
  • Dylan Taylor as Andrew O'Brien, a detective who works with Corcoran and Maguire
  • Kiara Glasco as Annie Reilly, a 12-year-old orphaned prostitute
  • Tessa Thompson as Sara Freeman, Matthew's wife, a runaway slave whose brothers were lynched by a group of Irishmen
  • Alex Paxton-Beesley as Ellen Corcoran, Corky's wife, who disappeared while he served in the Union army
  • Ron White as Ciaran Joseph Sullivan, the captain of the sixth precinct and Corcoran's boss
  • Donal Logue as Brendan Donovan, a Civil War Brigadier General who is the Sixth Ward Tammany Hall boss
  • Alfre Woodard as Hattie Lemaster, Sara's mother, a newly freed slave

Episodes
Main article: List of Copper episodes
Season Episodes Originally aired
Season premiere Season finale
1 10 August 19, 2012 (2012-08-19) October 21, 2012 (2012-10-21)
2 13 June 23, 2013 (2013-06-23) September 22, 2013 (2013-09-22)

Production

BBC America announced the series during the Television Critics Association (TCA) summer press tour, on July 28, 2011.[5] General Manager Perry Simon said the series is a "great fit" for the network, as it "[captures] the early American multicultural experience in provocative, ground-breaking fashion".[6] Series creators Tom Fontana and Will Rokos are joined as executive producers by Barry Levinson and Cineflix Studios president Christina Wayne.[7] Additional members of the production team include Steven Cosens as director of photography, Delphine White as costume designer, and John Blackie as production designer.[8]

In January 2012, the main cast of the series—comprising Weston-Jones, Schmid, Griffith, and Potente—was unveiled.[8] The actors hail from a variety of backgrounds: Weston-Jones and Griffith are British; Potente is German; and Schmid is Canadian.[9] Irish actor Kevin Ryan and American actress Tessa Thompson also joined as series regulars.[10][11]

Filming began in January 2012, in Toronto.[10][12] After naming it their "highest-rated drama series ever", BBC America ordered a second season of 13 episodes, which began airing in June 2013.[13]

Broadcast

Copper premiered August 19, 2012 on BBC America in the United States,[14] and August 26, 2012 on Showcase in Canada.[15] It is also broadcast on FX Australia in Australia and on HBO in the Netherlands.[16][17] On September 19, 2013, BBC America announced that Copper would end its run after the Season 2 finale, stating that the series had reached "a fitting moment to conclude".[18] A feature film was considered, but so far nothing has happened.[19]

Soundtrack

On May 28, 2013, Valley Entertainment released Copper: Original Soundtrack, with music composed by Brian Keane, worldwide on CD and in digital formats.[20]

See also

References
  1. Lowry, Brian (August 14, 2012). "Variety Reviews - Copper". Variety. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  2. Kondology, Amanda (March 29, 2013). "BBC America's Hit Original Series 'Copper' to Return June 23". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  3. Marechal, AJ (September 19, 2013). "'Copper' Cancelled by BBC America". Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  4. "Coming Soon to BBC America — 'Copper'" (Press release). BBC America. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  5. O'Connell, Mikey (July 28, 2011). "BBC America announces 'Copper,' first original scripted series". Zap2it. Archived from the original on September 1, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  6. Fienberg, Daniel (July 28, 2011). "BBC America breaks into original programming with 'Copper'". HitFix. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  7. Press, Joy (January 4, 2012). "BBC America gives details about its first original drama, 'Copper'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  8. O'Connell, Michael (January 4, 2012). "BBC America Original 'Copper' Lines Up Franka Potente, Tom Weston-Jones as Leads". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  9. Porter, Rick (January 4, 2012). "BBC America's 'Copper' casts Franka Potente, 'OUAT's' Anastasia Griffith". Zap2it. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  10. Roxborough, Scott (January 8, 2012). "Irish Actor Kevin Ryan Joins Cast of BBC America's 'Copper'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (January 4, 2012). "Tom Weston-Jones Lands Lead In 'Copper', Franka Potente & Tessa Thompson Co-Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  12. Finke, Nikki (January 26, 2012). "UTA Signs Barry Levinson From ICM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  13. O'Connell, Mitchell (October 18, 2012). "BBC America Renews 'Copper' for Second Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  14. Hibberd, James (March 30, 2012). "First look at BBC America's 'Copper,' plus premiere date". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  15. Shaw Media (2012). Copper on Showcase. Retrieved from http://www.showcase.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?Root_Title_Id=278563 Archived June 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  16. "Copper". Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  17. "Copper". Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  18. "'Copper' Canceled by BBC America". TheWrap. September 19, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  19. Heldenfels, Rich (September 25, 2015). "Mailbag: Why networks drop shows; a TV-series flashback with Ben Gazzara". Akron Beacon-Journal.
  20. "Copper: Original Soundtrack". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
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