More Canadian series on American TV

CTV’s original crime drama series The Bridge, which begins production in Toronto this spring, has been picked up by CBS for broadcast in the United States. The Eye network has ordered 13 episodes for telecast next season. The Bridge was originally conceived as a two-hour made-for movie and back-door pilot. After screening the pilot (shot in Toronto last summer) and ordering the series in November 2008, CTV shared the pilot with CBS executives late last year. The deal further consolidates CTV’s relationship with CBS, currently partners on the North American hit drama Flashpoint. The Bridge is the third CTV commissioned series in less than 18 months to be picked up by a major U.S. network. Flashpoint, currently airs on CBS following Ghost Whisperer on Fridays. The second series is drama The Listener, expected to run on NBC this summer.

E1 Entertainment will begin production of The Bridge in late spring (to be shot on location in Toronto) and will distribute the series internationally. Written by five-time Gemini Award winner and six-time nominee Alan Di Fiore (Da Vinci’s Inquest), the pilot movie of the week was helmed by award-winning director John Fawcett. The Bridge is inspired by the insights of veteran insider and outspoken former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell. It is described by producers as providing an unflinching look at the struggle street cops face as they battle criminals – and their own bosses – in order to protect society and, ultimately, themselves.

The Bridge stars Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica, Smallville) as outspoken union head Frank Leo; Paul Popowich (Angela’s Eyes, I Me Wed) as Frank’s partner and confidante Tommy Dunn; Gemini-Award nominee Inga Cadranel (Rent-A-Goalie, MVP) as Jill, the free-spirited cop on the force; Frank Cassini (Vice, Intelligence) as Staff Sergeant Bernie Kantor; Theresa Joy (All The Good Ones Are Married, Sixty Days) as feisty tomboy Police Constable Billy; Ona Grauer (Stargate Sg-1 And Stargate Atlantis) as beautiful, passionate prosecutor Abby St. James; Michael Murphy (Away from Her, X-Men: The Last Stand) as Chief of Police, and political animal, Ed Wycoff; and two-time Emmy Award winner Stuart Margolin (The Rockford Files, Tom Stone) as Frank’s father, Vic Leo.