CHAOS (TV series)

CHAOS
Genre Comedy-drama
Created by Tom Spezialy
Starring Eric Close
Christina Cole
Carmen Ejogo
James Murray
Tim Blake Nelson
Freddy Rodriguez
Kurtwood Smith
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Tom Spezialy
Brett Ratner
Martha Haight
Location(s) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Running time 42 minutes
Production company(s) 20th Century Fox Television
Rat Television
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Original run April 1 – July 16, 2011
External links
Website

CHAOS is an American comedic drama that aired on CBS from April 1, to July 16, 2011, as a mid-season replacement for The Defenders.[1][2] The series was officially cancelled on May 15, 2011.

Premise

Threats to national security are investigated by a group of rogue CIA spies in the division of Clandestine Homeland Administration and Oversight Services (CHAOS), also trying to keep their jobs from being eliminated due to budget cuts. New agent Rick Martinez (Freddy Rodriguez) joins the team as an in-house mole for CIA National Clandestine Service Director H.J. Higgins (Kurtwood Smith). However, Martinez is quickly found out by the ODS (Office of Disruptive Services) team, who "turn" him for their own use.[3]

Cast

The main cast of CHAOS.

Development and production

In January 2010, CBS ordered production of a pilot written by Tom Spezialy.[4] Casting announcements began in mid-February, with Freddy Rodriguez being the first actor cast.[5] Next to come on board were James Murray[6] and Tim Blake Nelson.[7] Eric Close joined the cast in early March,[8][9] followed by Carmen Ejogo.[10] Finally, Stephen Rea completed the main cast in mid-March.[11] The pilot was filmed in Los Angeles.[12]

In late July, CBS announced that it had officially ordered 13 episodes of the series for a mid-season start.[13][14] Kurtwood Smith joined the cast in November 2010, replacing Rea in the role of Director H.J. Higgins.[15]

Starting in mid-December 2010, CHAOS film crews were spotted and the actors photographed at various set locations around Vancouver – at the Vancouver Rowing Club, in Gastown, on the rooftop of The Bay, at the Terminal City Iron Works, and at mansions in the Shaughnessy and Point Grey neighborhoods – with these locations standing in for exotic locales around the world.[16]

After CHAOS was removed from CBS's schedule on April 19, filming on the remaining episodes continued in and around Vancouver until the originally scheduled completion date of May 2.[17]

Episodes

For unknown reasons CBS aired the episodes out of chronological order.[18] The production codes in the episode table reveal the originally intended order.

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code		 U.S. viewers
(million)
1"Pilot"Brett RatnerTom SpezialyApril 1, 20111ASM796.53[19]
Newbie Rick Martinez (Freddy Rodriguez) is partnered with three unruly agents who quickly learn he is a mole out to cut their jobs. But when a hostage crisis in Sudan materializes, Rick joins the team to aid in the rescue.
2"Song of the North"Ron UnderwoodJace RichdaleApril 8, 20111ASM035.73[20]
When a North Korean diplomat embarrasses himself in front of the UN, Rick agrees to have the CIA orchestrate his defection. But when he demands that they also smuggle his family out of the Communist country, the CHAOS agents pose as anti-capitalism entrants in the Pyongyang Film Festival to accomplish the mission.
3"Love and Rockets"Ron UnderwoodMatt Ward & David GerkenApril 15, 20111ASM065.68[21]
The CHAOS agents pose as lawyers to infiltrate an international arms dealer's Russian compound and capture him, but when his daughters befriend Rick and Billy, the team must work around the distractions.
4"Two Percent"Jeff MelmanChris DingessMay 28, 20111ASM083.56[22]
Casey's off his game when the team heads to China to extract a compromised female spy who just happens to have been his former girlfriend. The team decides to finish her assignment and continue on the trail of a major terrorist.
5"Molé"Bryan SpicerTom Spezialy and Bruce ZimmermanMay 28, 20111ASM043.88[22]
The CIA offices go on lockdown when the director suspects a mole, putting a foreign operative in danger. The agents' must figure out how to get the operative the support needed for a drug cartel operation already in play.
6"Eaten by Wolves"Bryan SpicerKatie FordJune 4, 20111ASM023.12[23]
The agents head to Russia pretending to be tourists looking for brides, but are really trying to find a scientist selling nuclear materials. When Martinez becomes entangled with one of the women (Winter Ave Zoli), his cover story starts to unravel.
7"Remote Control"Fred GerberKatie Ford and Vivian LeeJune 11, 20111ASM053.23[24]
The CHAOS team, in Paris to capture a terrorist, is discovered by French intelligence and forced to shut down their operation. Now the team must find a way to continue the mission without creating an international incident.
8"Core Fortitude"David StraitonTom SpezialyJune 18, 20111ASM013.86[25]
When Rick's new team goes against orders to apprehend an arms dealer, Rick must decide if he can trust them or if he should report their unauthorized activities to the CIA director.
9"Defending Sophia"Fred GerberChris Black & Bruce ZimmermanJune 25, 20111ASM073.24[26]
The ODS goes in undercover as election monitors in Rukovia to help secure the legitimate election of a reformist politician who is being hunted by a Cold War era general who is the current President.
10"Glory Days"Sarah Pia AndersonMichele Fazekas & Tara ButtersJune 25, 20111ASM093.24[26]
An ex-member of the ODS uncovers a private company trading national secrets to international terrorists, criminals and rival powers and contacts the ODS for help. The connection and source of loathing the Director has for the ODS is revealed.
11"Deep Cover Band"Oz ScottDan E. FesmanJuly 2, 20111ASM102.49[27]
The ODS goes undercover in Germany as drug dealers in the Industrial-Postmodern-Punk rock scene to extract a CIA operative who is in deep cover with a German drug ring. Complications arise when the operative fakes his death to try to escape with his lover.
12"Mincemeat"Ron UnderwoodEd ZuckermanJuly 9, 20111ASM112.85[28]
The ODS work to ensure that a dying hard-line Middle East President chooses his reformist and Westernized son to succeed him instead of his brutal brother. The ODS use an old trick from the WWII intelligence game to solve their problem, but things go awry when Operative Blank is involved.
13"Proof of Life"Jerry LevineChris Black & Ed ZimmermanJuly 16, 20111ASM123.04[29]
A former member of the ODS is discovered in Panama after Martinez concludes his first solo assignment. The ODS call upon the counterfeiting office to help them in an operation that makes the enemy of the U.S. Secret Service and the Treasury Department.

International distribution

In Canada, the show was simsubbed on the Global Television Network.

In New Zealand, the show has a late-night slot from October 4, 2013 through to the end of December on TV3.

Reception

Critical reception

Metacritic assigned CHAOS a score of 50, signifying mixed or average reviews.[30]

Ratings

The series premiered with 6.53 million viewers and a 1.1 rating in the adults 18–49 demo.[19] The rating equaled the lowest ratings achieved by Medium and The Defenders in the same slot, also the lowest rating for any CBS drama this season.[31]

Hiatus

CBS removed the series from the schedule on April 18, 2011, after airing three episodes of the 13-episode order, and placed it on hiatus.[32][33] The series resumed with episode 4 and episode 5 on May 28. The final episodes aired on Saturdays at 8 pm Eastern.[34]

Awards

Series star Freddy Rodriguez won an Imagen Award in the category "Best Actor/Television" from The Imagen Foundation for his role as Rick Martinez in CHAOS on August 12, 2011.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "CBS Embraces "Chaos"". Futon Critic. July 22, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  2. ↑ Gorman, Bill (December 21, 2010). "CBS Mid-Season Schedule: 'Criminal Minds: SB' Wed. 10p; 'Mad Love' Mon. 8:30p; 'Chaos' Fri. 8p; 'Rules' Moves To Thu. 8:30p". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  3. ↑ "The Futon's First Look: "Chaos" (CBS)". The Futon Critic. April 1, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Development Update: Tuesday, January 26". The Futon Critic. January 26, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Development Update: Thursday, February 11". The Futon Critic. February 11, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 16, 2010). "Nelson Franklin, James Murray, Joe Manganiello land roles". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Development Update: Thursday, February 25". The Futon Critic. February 25, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  8. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (February 28, 2010). "Pilot Intel: Eric Close drawn to 'Chaos'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 2010.
  9. ↑ Bryant, Adam (March 1, 2010). "Without a Trace's Eric Close to Cause a Little Chaos". TV Guide. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Development Update: Thursday, March 4". The Futon Critic. March 4, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  11. ↑ Adalian, Josef (March 10, 2010). "PilotWatch 2010: Stephen Rea Makes U.S. Series Bow in CBS' 'Chaos'". The Wrap. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  12. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 1, 2010). "SHOCKER! Drama 'Chaos' Left To Die After CBS And 20th TV Can't Agree On Order". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  13. ↑ Schneider, Michael (July 21, 2010). "CBS revives Ratner's 'Chaos'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 21, 2010). "It's Official: 'Chaos' Picked Up To Series At CBS For Midseason". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  15. ↑ Jeffrey, Morgan (November 3, 2010). "Kurtwood Smith joins 'Chaos' cast". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  16. ↑ Gittins, Susan (February 3, 2011). "#YVRSHOOTS: CHAOS SURVIVES VANCOUVER RAINOCALYPSE". Vancouver Is Awesome.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  17. ↑ Gittins, Susan (May 5, 2011). "#YVRSHOOTS: CHAOS SPIES BURN NOTICED". Vancouver Is Awesome.com. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  18. ↑ Rodriguez, Freddy (June 22, 2011). "Twitter Status". Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Seidman, Robert (April 4, 2011). "Friday Final Ratings: 'CSI: NY,' 'Shark Tank,' 'Who Do You Think You Are?' Adjusted Up; 'Fringe' Repeat Down; 'Chaos' Stays Low". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  20. ↑ Gorman, Bill (April 11, 2011). "Friday Final Ratings: 'CSI:NY,' 'Blue Bloods' Adjusted Up; 'Smallville,' 'Supernatural' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  21. ↑ Seidman, Robert (April 18, 2011). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Fringe,' 'CHAOS' and 'Kitchen Nightmares' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Gorman, Bill (May 29, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Baseball Brings Fox Win; 'Chaos' Burn Off Ratings Not "En Fuego"". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  23. ↑ Gorman, Bill (June 5, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 2 Plunges; 'Chaos' Burn Off Generates No Heat". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  24. ↑ Gorman, Bill (June 12, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: 'Cops,' 'America's Most Wanted' Win For Fox; 'Chaos' Burn Off, 'Field Of Vision' Unwatched". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  25. ↑ Gorman, Bill (June 19, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Weekly 'America's Most Wanted' Bows Out With A Fox Win". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Seidman, Robert (June 26, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Gooooaaaaal! Univision Wins Saturday as Mexico Defeats USA in CONCACAF Gold Cup Final". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  27. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 3, 2011). "TV Ratings Saturday: Fox Wins a Slow Holiday Weekend Saturday with 'Cops' Repeats". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  28. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 10, 2011). "TV Ratings: Fox Wins a Slow Saturday with 'Cops' and Animation Repeats". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  29. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 17, 2011). "TV Ratings: CBS's CHAOS Quietly Fades Away; Fox Wins a Slow Saturday with 'Cops' and 'Indestructibles' Special". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Chaos - Season 1 Reviews, Ratings, Credits and More at Metacritic".
  31. ↑ Gorman, Bill (April 5, 2011). "CBS: 'CSI: Miami' Above A Toss-Up; 'CM: Suspect Behavior' could go either way; 'Chaos' is DOA". Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  32. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (April 18, 2011). "CBS Pulls 'Chaos' from Schedule After Three Episodes". The Hollywood Reporter.
  33. ↑ "CBS's POLICE DRAMA, "FLASHPOINT," RETURNS ON FRIDAY, MAY 6, 8:00-9:00 PM". CBS ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES. April 19, 2011.
  34. ↑ "THE AGENTS DISCOVER CASEY'S SOFTER SIDE WHEN A MISSION TO CHINA REUNITES HIM WITH A FORMER FLAME, ON A REBROADCAST OF "CHAOS," ON A SPECIAL NIGHT, SATURDAY, MAY 28". CBS ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES. May 26, 2011.
  35. ↑ Hernandez, Margie (August 12, 2011). "Winners of 26th Annual Imagen Awards Announced Honoring Latinos in Entertainment". Retrieved August 21, 2011.

External links