The District
Encyclopedia
The District is a television police drama
which aired on CBS
from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief
of Washington, D.C.
's Police Department
(MPDC).
Jack Mannion is hired as the commissioner of the bureaucracy-laden D.C. Police Force. Together with his detectives and allies he must fight crime as well as internal corruption and the powers of Congress
in order to reorganize and renovate the force.
The District was inspired by the real-life experience of former New York
Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Maple
. Along with Police Commissioner William Bratton they had reorganized the NYPD and one of the achievements was the CompStat
program (comparative statistics) since 1994 that has its own major role in the TV series. After the success in New York the CompStat program has really been adapted by other cities however Jack Maple himself chose to publish his experiences - along with Chris Mitchell
he wrote a book ("The Crime Fighter", 2000) and along with Terry George
he prepared a TV series concept. His impact on the story line is limited for he died of colon cancer on August 4, 2001.
Primary filming was in Los Angeles
, with some location shooting in Washington.
Note: Throughout The District's entire run it was located in the Saturday night timeslot.
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
which aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
's Police Department
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
The Metropolitan Police Department, also known as the DC Police, DCPD, MPD, and MPDC is the municipal police force in Washington, D.C...
(MPDC).
Premise
Former New York City Police CommissionerNew York City Police Commissioner
The New York City Police Commissioner is the head of the New York City Police Department, appointed by the Mayor of New York City. Governor Theodore Roosevelt, in one of his final acts before becoming Vice President of the United States in March 1901, signed legislation replacing the Police Board...
Jack Mannion is hired as the commissioner of the bureaucracy-laden D.C. Police Force. Together with his detectives and allies he must fight crime as well as internal corruption and the powers of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in order to reorganize and renovate the force.
The District was inspired by the real-life experience of former New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Maple
Jack Maple
Jack Maple served New York City as the Deputy Police Commissioner for Crime Control Strategies. He created the CompStat methodology of crime fighting and law enforcement strategy...
. Along with Police Commissioner William Bratton they had reorganized the NYPD and one of the achievements was the CompStat
CompStat
CompStat—or COMPSTAT— is the name given to the New York City Police Department's accountability process and has since been replicated in many other departments...
program (comparative statistics) since 1994 that has its own major role in the TV series. After the success in New York the CompStat program has really been adapted by other cities however Jack Maple himself chose to publish his experiences - along with Chris Mitchell
Chris Mitchell
Chris Mitchell is an Australian journalist and is editor-in-chief of The Australian. He began his career on the former afternoon tabloid, The Telegraph, in 1973 and after working on The Townsville Bulletin, The Daily Telegraph and the Australian Financial Review, became editor of The Australian in...
he wrote a book ("The Crime Fighter", 2000) and along with Terry George
Terry George
Terry George is an Irish screenwriter and director. Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland much of his film work involves the Troubles in Northern Ireland...
he prepared a TV series concept. His impact on the story line is limited for he died of colon cancer on August 4, 2001.
Primary filming was in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, with some location shooting in Washington.
Cast
- Craig T. NelsonCraig T. NelsonCraig Theodore Nelson is an American actor. He is probably best known for his Emmy-winning roles as Hayden Fox on the TV series Coach, and as Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist. He also starred in The Incredibles in 2004 as Mr...
as Chief Jack MannionChief Jack MannionJack Mannion is the chief protagonist of the television show The District. In the series, Mannion is the Chief of Police in the District of Columbia. Mannion is named after, and is loosely based on, real-life New York City deputy police commissioner Jack Maple, who helped create the series. He is... - Lynne ThigpenLynne ThigpenCherlynne Theresa “Lynne” Thigpen was an American stage and television actress, most famous as "The Chief" in the various Carmen Sandiego television series.-Early life:...
as Ella Mae Farmer (2000–2003) - Roger Aaron BrownRoger Aaron BrownRoger Aaron Brown is an American character actor known for his role as Deputy Chief Joe Noland on the hit CBS drama television series The District from 2000 to 2004, and for his minor role in the 1988 science fiction film Alien Nation as Det. Bill "Tug" Tuggle, the partner and friend of Matthew...
as Deputy Chief Joe Noland - Sean Patrick ThomasSean Patrick ThomasSean Patrick Thomas is a Guyanese-American actor. He is perhaps best known for his co-starring role in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance, as well as his television role as Detective Temple Page in The District and also "Barber Shop".- Early life :Thomas is the son of immigrants from Guyana and was...
as Detective Temple Page - Elizabeth MarvelElizabeth Marvel-Biography:Marvel was born in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. She studied at Juilliard. She has several credits on Broadway and in film and television. Marvel was a series regular on The District, and has appeared in two films by the Coen Brothers: True Grit as the adult Mattie Ross, and Burn After Reading...
as Officer Nancy Parras - Wayne DuvallWayne DuvallWayne Duvall is an American actor, known for playing Homer Stokes in O Brother Where Art Thou?, Coach Ferguson in "Leatherheads" and Ned Guston in "Duplicity". On television he is best known for playing Sgt. Phil Brander on The District . In 2002, he married Denise Guillet...
as Sgt. Phil Brander - Jonathan LaPagliaJonathan LaPagliaDr. Jonathan LaPaglia, M.B.B.S. is an Australian actor known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the television series Seven Days, Kevin Debreno in The District and Det...
as Detective Kevin Debreno (2001–2004) - Christopher B. DuncanChristopher B. DuncanChristopher B. Duncan is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Braxton P. Hartnabrig on The Jamie Foxx Show and he is also known for playing President Barack Obama on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He portrayed Obama in the 2010 film My Name is Khan as well.Duncan received his B.F.A....
as Sgt. Ray Cutter (2001–2004) - Justin Theroux as Nick Pierce (2000–2002)
- David O'HaraDavid O'HaraDavid O'Hara is a Scottish actor.-Life and career:O'Hara was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Martha and Patrick O'Hara, a construction worker....
as Detective Danny McGregor (2000–2001) - Jayne BrookJayne BrookJayne Brook is an American actress, known for her role as Dr. Diane Grad on the medical drama Chicago Hope. She appeared on the series from 1995 to 1999.-Early life:...
as Deputy Mayor Mary Ann Mitchell (2000–2001)
Recurring guests
- Jaclyn SmithJaclyn SmithJacquelyn Ellen "Jaclyn" Smith is an American actress and businesswoman. She is best-known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run...
as Vanessa Cavanaugh (2002–2004) - John AmosJohn AmosJohn Amos is an American actor and former football player. His television work includes roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, the miniseries Roots, and a recurring role in The West Wing. He has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades...
as Mayor Ethan Baker (2000–2001) - In 2001, Jean SmartJean SmartJean E. Smart is an American film, television, and stage actress. She is known for her comedic roles, one of the best known being her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. She later gained critical acclaim for dramatic work, with her portrayal of Martha Logan on 24...
was nominated for an Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series" for her performance as "Sherry Regan". - On March 12, 2003, original cast member Lynne ThigpenLynne ThigpenCherlynne Theresa “Lynne” Thigpen was an American stage and television actress, most famous as "The Chief" in the various Carmen Sandiego television series.-Early life:...
died at her Marina del Rey, CaliforniaMarina del Rey, California-Demographics:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Marina del Rey had a population of 8,866. The population density was 6,094.6 people per square mile...
home of a cerebral hemorrhage. The show paid tribute to her character in the third season finale.
Ratings
| Season | U.S. ratings | Network | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-01 | 12.7 million | CBS | #35 |
| 2 | 2001-02 | 10.3 million | CBS | #49 |
| 3 | 2002-03 | 9.8 million | CBS | #60 |
| 4 | 2003-04 | 9.0 million | CBS | #65 |
Note: Throughout The District's entire run it was located in the Saturday night timeslot.
International Broadcasts
- In AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, The District aired on the Nine NetworkNine NetworkThe Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
in late night slots throughout its run. - In BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, the first two seasons aired on Nova TelevisionNova TelevisionNova Television is the first Bulgarian commercial television network launched on July 16, 1994....
. The whole series was aired on AXNAXNAXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America...
with subtitles and later on AXN CrimeAXN CrimeAXN Crime is a European movie channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is broadcast 18 hours per day, between 11:00 am and 03:00 am hrs. It is available in Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria on Boom TV, Bulsatcom, Cyfra Plus, Cyfrowy Polsat, Digi TV, Dolce, iNES, Max TV and N...
. Later Fox CrimeFox CrimeFox Crime is a television network, launched by the Fox International Channels, which airs across several countries of Europe and Asia, such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and Bulgaria...
repeated the first two seasons and the dub was rerecorded with the same actors. The third season started in October 2010. - In SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, The District airs Monday through Thursday at 12:30am on TV4. - In PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, The District aired on the Universal ChannelUniversal ChannelUniversal Channel is a television channel specializing in movies and television series in the thriller, drama, comedy, horror, crime and investigation genres, owned by Universal Networks International, a division of NBCUniversal and available on satellite and cable platforms...
. - In GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, The District airs on VOX. - In the UK, it airs on CBS ActionCBS ActionCBS Action is a television channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland that launched on 16 November 2009.On 14 September 2009, it was revealed that the international arm of CBS, CBS Studios International, struck a joint venture deal with Chellomedia to launch six CBS-branded channels in the UK during...
(Sky channel 148), Monday to Friday at 2pm, 6pm and 10pm. - In SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, it aired on Radio Television of SerbiaRadio Television of SerbiaRadio Television of Serbia or Serbian Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster in Serbia. It broadcasts and produces a variety of news, drama, and sports programming through radio, television and the Internet. RTS is, since July 2001, a member of the European Broadcasting Union. RTS is...
.