2021 American crime drama television series
The Equalizer
|
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|
Genre
| |
---|
Based on
| The Equalizer
by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim
|
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Developed by
| Andrew W. Marlowe
&
Terri Edda Miller
|
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Showrunners
|
- Andrew W. Marlowe
- Terri Edda Miller
- Joseph C. Wilson
- Adam Glass
|
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Starring
| |
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Music by
| |
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Country of origin
| United States
|
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Original language
| English
|
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No.
of seasons
| 4
|
---|
No.
of episodes
| 56
(
list of episodes
)
|
---|
|
Executive producers
| |
---|
Producers
|
- Zoe Robyn
- Meredith Mills
- Joe Gazzam
- Erik Lee
- Jamila Daniel
- Raymond Quinlan
- Jolian Blevins
|
---|
Cinematography
| |
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Editors
|
- James Kilton
- Dorian Harris
- Matthew Philip Smith
- Nick Towle
- Brock Hammitt
- Doug Hannah
- Steven Lang
- James Michael Crawford
- Debby Germino
- Scott Lerner
|
---|
Camera setup
| Single-camera
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Running time
| 43?44 minutes
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Production companies
| |
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Network
| CBS
|
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Release
| February 7, 2021
(
2021-02-07
)
?
present
(
present
)
|
---|
|
The Equalizer (1985 TV series)
|
The Equalizer
is an American
crime drama
television series that premiered on
CBS
on February 7, 2021. It is the reboot to the
original series of the same name
and the second reboot of the franchise after
the film of the same name
and its
2018
and
2023
sequels. The series is co-created by
executive producers
Richard Lindheim, with Michael Sloan, and
Queen Latifah
, who also stars as the titular character.
John Davis
, John Fox,
Debra Martin Chase
,
Andrew Marlowe
, and
Terri Miller
also serve as executive producers. Lindheim died from heart failure on January 18, 2021, while working on the series; the series premiere is dedicated to his memory.
In March 2021, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on October 10, 2021. In May 2022, the series was renewed for its third and fourth seasons. The third season premiered on October 2, 2022. The fourth premiered on February 18, 2024. In April 2024, the series was renewed for a fifth season.
Premise
[
edit
]
"The series centers around Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman in
New York City
and single mother to teenage daughter Delilah with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn, acting as a guardian angel and a defender for those who cannot defend themselves while pursuing her own redemption."
[1]
Cast
[
edit
]
Main
[
edit
]
- Queen Latifah
as Robyn McCall,
a.k.a.
"the Equalizer", a divorced single mother and former CIA operative who acts as a street vigilante for justice
- Tory Kittles
as Marcus Dante, a divorced single father of two sons, and an intelligent and shrewd NYPD detective on Robyn's trail because he is reluctant to have Robyn help him, but who finds common ground in getting justice. In season 2, they become allies and friends.
- Adam Goldberg
as Harry Keshegian, Melody's husband and a master hacker who faked his death with Robyn's help
[2]
- Liza Lapira
as Melody "Mel" Bayani, a former U.S. Air Force sniper turned owner of a bar that acts as a secret base of operations, and an old friend of Robyn's from her service days
- Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah, Robyn's 15-year-old daughter, who is rebellious and feels neglected by Robyn, despite their attempts to bond with each other
- Lorraine Toussaint
as Viola "Aunt Vi" Marsette, Robyn's wise
paternal
aunt, who lives with Robyn and Delilah, having moved from Milwaukee to help them out, and is an artist.
- Chris Noth
as William Bishop (seasons 1?2),
[3]
a quirky ex?CIA director and old friend of Robyn's who now runs his own private security company. He acts as liaison between Robyn and the CIA. In season 2, he is killed in a plane crash by Robyn's nemesis, Mason Quinn.
Recurring
[
edit
]
- Erica Camarano as Detective Paley (season 1; guest season 2), who works with Dante. She is shot and killed in the second-season premiere while responding to a bank robbery along with Dante.
- Jennifer Ferrin
as Avery Grafton, a district attorney who has made Robyn's arrest and prosecution a priority for her office, seeing her as an embarrassment for the justice system and a threat to her re-election prospects. In the second season, after Robyn saves Grafton from an assassination attempt by a corrupt A.D.A. and a known career criminal - trying to stop a probe into her office that would have exposed them both - and points out the blindspots that both she and her office have developed in their pursuit of justice, she decides to call off the manhunt, as long as Robyn does not cross the line too far.
- Frank Pando
as Captain Torres (season 1?2), Dante's commanding officer
- Chris Vance
as Mason Quinn (season 2?3), Robyn's nemesis
- Dominic Fumusa
as Detective Ken Mallory (season 2), a detective recruited by D.A. Grafton to identify and arrest Robyn
- Brett Dalton
as Carter Griffin (season 2?3)
- Donal Logue
as Colton Fisk (season 3?present)
[4]
- Indira Wilson as Captain Watkins (season 3?present), Dante's precinct captain
Notable guest stars
[
edit
]
Episodes
[
edit
]
Production
[
edit
]
Development
[
edit
]
In November 2019, CBS announced that a reboot was in development with
Queen Latifah
in the lead role as Robyn McCall.
Andrew Marlowe
and
Terri Miller
would serve as showrunners with Latifah herself as an executive producer.
[8]
On January 27, 2020, CBS issued a pilot order for the new version.
[9]
Production companies involved with the pilot include Flavor Unit,
Davis Entertainment
, Martin Chase Productions and
CBS Television Studios
and Universal Television. On May 8, 2020, it was announced that the production had been given a series order.
[10]
On March 9, 2021, CBS renewed the series for a second season.
[11]
On May 1, 2022, Marlowe and Miller stepped down as showrunners and are being replaced by Joseph C. Wilson and
Adam Glass
.
[12]
On May 5, 2022, CBS renewed the series for its third and fourth seasons.
[13]
On April 25, 2024, CBS renewed the series for a fifth season.
[14]
Casting
[
edit
]
In February 2020, it was announced that
Liza Lapira
and
Lorraine Toussaint
had been cast in the pilot's lead roles.
[15]
[16]
On March 3, 2020, it was announced that
Tory Kittles
joined the cast in a starring role.
[17]
On May 8, 2020, it was announced that
Chris Noth
joined a starring role along with Latifah.
[18]
On December 21, 2021, CBS and Universal Television announced Noth was terminated from the series after sexual assault allegations were made against him. His final appearance was in the middle of the second season.
[3]
On January 3, 2022, it was reported that Noth had made his last appearance in "Separated" due to allegations that he assaulted women in December 2021.
[19]
On September 20, 2022, it was announced that
Donal Logue
and
Gloria Reuben
joined the cast in undisclosed capacities for the third season.
[4]
Filming
[
edit
]
The pilot was slated to film in New York City in March 2020. Production was delayed as a direct result of the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
before filming could begin.
[20]
On February 9, 2021, it was reported that production had been temporarily suspended due to a positive COVID-19 test.
[21]
Filming for the series has taken place in several locations in northern New Jersey, including Paterson, Newark, and Jersey City.
[22]
Exterior shots of a Jersey City home are used for Robyn McCall's residence.
[23]
[24]
Broadcast
[
edit
]
The Equalizer
premiered on February 7, 2021,
after
Super Bowl LV
on
CBS
.
[25]
The second season premiered on October 10, 2021.
[26]
The third season premiered on October 2, 2022.
[27]
The fourth season premiered on February 18, 2024.
[28]
The series had its series premiere in Germany on Sky One on July 12, 2021
[
citation needed
]
, in the UK on
Sky Witness
on August 3, 2021,
[29]
and in Italy on Sky Investigation (local version of
Sky Witness
) on October 3, 2021.
[
citation needed
]
Marketing
[
edit
]
On May 19, 2020, a 30-second teaser featuring Queen Latifah explaining her involvement in the series was released by CBS.
[30]
On January 9, 2021, CBS released the first official teaser for the series.
[31]
Reception
[
edit
]
Critical response
[
edit
]
On
Rotten Tomatoes
, the show's first season has an approval rating of 67% based on reviews from 30 critics, with an average rating of 6/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Queen Latifah returns to the small screen in full command of her craft?if only
The Equalizer
's
overly-engineered early episodes were on her level."
[32]
On
Metacritic
(which uses a
weighted average
), the season has a score of 57 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
[33]
Ratings
[
edit
]
}}
Future
[
edit
]
In January 2021, when asked about the show's relationship to
the film series
starring
Denzel Washington
, Marlowe stated that while they are focusing on establishing the television series to stand on its own, they are leaving the opportunity open for a crossover between the two in the future.
[45]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"All Hail: CBS Renews 'The Equalizer' For A Second Season"
.
KWAZ
. Archived from
the original
on April 18, 2021
. Retrieved
October 5,
2023
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2020).
"Adam Goldberg Joins Queen Latifah In 'The Equalizer' CBS Series"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
November 22,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
Zorrilla, Monica Marie (December 20, 2021).
"Chris Noth Dropped From CBS' 'The Equalizer' After Sexual Assault Allegations"
.
Variety
. Retrieved
December 20,
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
Cordero, Rosy (September 20, 2022).
"
'The Equalizer': Donal Logue and Gloria Reuben Join Season 3"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
September 20,
2022
.
- ^
Ng, Philiana (February 25, 2022).
"Jada Pinkett Smith Reunites With Queen Latifah for an Old-Fashioned Heist on 'The Equalizer' (Exclusive)"
.
Entertainment Tonight
. Retrieved
February 27,
2022
.
- ^
Thompson, Erica (November 25, 2022).
"
The Equalizer
: Kelly Rowland Is At the Center of Robyn & Co.'s Undercover Mission ? Watch a Sneak Peek"
.
TVLine
. Retrieved
November 28,
2022
.
- ^
Roots, Kimberly (March 8, 2024).
"
The Equalizer
Casts Mike Epps to Offer a Crucial Assist in McCall's Investigation (Exclusive)"
.
TVLine
. Retrieved
March 8,
2024
.
- ^
Sneider, Jeff (November 4, 2019).
"
'The Equalizer' TV Series Starring Queen Latifah in the Works at CBS"
.
Collider
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (January 27, 2020).
"
'The Equalizer Reboot Starring Queen Latifah Gets CBS Pilot Order"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
February 3,
2020
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (May 8, 2020).
"Dramas 'The Equalizer' With Queen Latifah & 'Clarice', Chuck Lorre Comedy 'B Positive' Picked Up To Series By CBS"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
May 8,
2020
.
- ^
Mitovich, Matt Webb (March 9, 2021).
"
The Equalizer
Renewed for Season 2"
.
TVLine
. Retrieved
March 9,
2021
.
- ^
Toby, Mekeisha Madden (May 3, 2022).
"
The Equalizer
Changes Showrunners Ahead of Likely Season 3"
.
TVLine
. Retrieved
May 2,
2022
.
- ^
Denise, Petski (May 5, 2022).
"
'The Equalizer' Renewed For Seasons 3 & 4 By CBS"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
May 5,
2022
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (April 25, 2024).
"
The Equalizer
Renewed For Season 5 By CBS,
NCIS: Hawai'i
Still In Limbo"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
April 25,
2024
.
- ^
Petski, Denise (February 25, 2020).
"Liza Lapira Joins Queen Latifah In 'The Equalizer' Reboot Pilot On CBS"
.
Deadline
. Retrieved
June 23,
2020
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (February 28, 2020).
"Lorraine Toussaint Joins Queen Latifah In 'The Equalizer' Reboot Pilot On CBS"
.
Deadline
. Retrieved
June 26,
2020
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (March 3, 2020).
"Tory Kittles Joins Queen Latifah In 'The Equalizer' Reboot Pilot On CBS"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
May 10,
2020
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (May 8, 2020).
"Chris Noth Joins Queen Latifah In 'The Equalizer' CBS Series"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
May 8,
2020
.
- ^
Cordero, Rosy (January 4, 2022).
"
'The Equalizer': Chris Noth's Final Episode Provides Satisfactory Conclusion For His Character William Bishop"
.
- ^
Thorne, Will; Aurthur, Kate (March 12, 2020).
"All the Shows and Movies Shut Down or Delayed Because of Coronavirus"
.
Variety
. Retrieved
March 14,
2020
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (February 9, 2021).
"
The Equalizer
Pauses Production After Positive Covid-19 Test"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
February 9,
2021
.
- ^
"Back on home turf: Queen Latifah filming across the state for drama series,
The Equalizer
"
.
Jersey's Best
. December 20, 2020.
- ^
Fry, Chris (March 4, 2021).
"Queen Latifah's
The Equalizer
Character Calls Jersey City Home"
.
Dirt
. Retrieved
May 13,
2021
.
- ^
Blake, Lindsay (February 9, 2021).
"Queen Latifah Calls a Grand Jersey City Victorian Home on Her New Show 'The Equalizer'
"
.
Dirt
. Retrieved
May 13,
2021
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (December 3, 2020).
"
'The Equalizer' Starring Queen Latifah Lands Post-Super Bowl Slot On CBS; 'FBI' Midseason Return Set Post-AFC Championship Game"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
December 3,
2020
.
- ^
Pedersen, Erik (July 12, 2021).
"CBS Fall Premiere Dates: New 'NCIS', 'CSI', 'FBI' Series Plus Returning Comedies, Dramas & Reality Fare"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
July 12,
2021
.
- ^
Schwartz, Ryan (June 23, 2022).
"CBS Sets Fall Premiere Dates for
FBI
,
Ghosts
,
NCIS
,
Young Sheldon
and More"
.
TVLine
. Retrieved
June 23,
2022
.
- ^
Andreeva, Nellie (November 13, 2023).
"CBS Sets 2024 Premiere Dates For Delayed Scripted Series, Confirms 'Matlock' & 'Poppa's House' Move To Next Season"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
November 13,
2023
.
- ^
Harrison, Phil; Verdier, Hannah; Jones, Ellen E; Howlett, Paul (August 3, 2021).
"TV tonight: Queen Latifah returns as a modern-day Robin Hood in The Equalizer"
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
August 3,
2021
.
- ^
"CBS New Series:
B Positive
Trailer,
The Equalizer
&
Clarice
Teases"
from Deadline Hollywood (May 19, 2020)
- ^
Del Rosario, Alexandra (January 9, 2021).
"
'The Equalizer' Teaser: Queen Latifah Protects The Defenseless In Teaser For CBS Series"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
January 10,
2021
.
- ^
"
The Equalizer
: Season 1"
.
Rotten Tomatoes
.
Fandango Media
. Retrieved
September 30,
2021
.
- ^
"
The Equalizer
: Season 1"
.
Metacritic
.
Fandom, Inc.
Retrieved
September 30,
2021
.
- ^
Metcalf, Mitch (February 9, 2021).
"Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.7.2021"
.
Showbuzz Daily
.
Archived
from the original on February 9, 2021
. Retrieved
February 9,
2021
.
- ^
Bauder, David (May 25, 2021).
"Triumph of the unhip: 'NCIS' tops TV, streaming rankings"
.
U.S. News & World Report
. Retrieved
May 25,
2021
.
- ^
Porter, Rick (June 8, 2021).
"2020-21 TV Ratings: Complete 7-Day Ratings for Broadcast Network Series"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
.
Archived
from the original on June 9, 2021
. Retrieved
September 15,
2021
.
- ^
Metcalf, Mitch (October 12, 2021).
"ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.10.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated"
.
Showbuzz Daily
. Retrieved
October 12,
2021
.
- ^
Salem, Mitch (May 17, 2022).
"ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.15.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated"
.
Showbuzz Daily
. Retrieved
May 17,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Porter, Rick (June 7, 2023).
"TV Ratings 2022?23: Final Seven-Day Averages for Every Network Series"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
.
Archived
from the original on June 29, 2023
. Retrieved
December 26,
2023
.
- ^
Berman, Marc (October 4, 2022).
"Sunday Ratings: Football Rules; Modest Sampling for 'East New York' on CBS; CW Premieres Left at the Starting Gate"
.
Programming Insider
. Retrieved
October 23,
2022
.
- ^
Salem, Mitch (May 23, 2023).
"ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.21.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated"
.
Showbuzz Daily
. Retrieved
May 23,
2023
.
- ^
Pucci, Douglas (February 19, 2024).
"Sunday Ratings: 'Tracker' Builds in Total Viewers Out of 'Equalizer' Lead-In for CBS, TNT and TBS Win Key Demos with NBA All-Star Game"
.
Programming Insider
. Retrieved
February 21,
2024
.
- ^
Pucci, Douglas (May 21, 2024).
"Sunday Ratings: 'American Idol' on ABC Earns Season-Highs in Total Viewers and Demos with 22nd Finale"
.
Programming Insider
. Retrieved
May 21,
2024
.
- ^
Schneider, Michael (May 28, 2024).
"100 Most-Watched TV Series of 2023-24: This Season's Winners and Losers"
.
Variety
. Retrieved
May 28,
2024
.
- ^
Cobb, Kayla (January 27, 2021).
"
'The Equalizer' TV Show Isn't Ruling Out a Denzel Washington Crossover"
.
Decider
. Retrieved
January 13,
2022
.
External links
[
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]
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Studio albums
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Compilation albums
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Singles
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Other songs
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Related articles
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