If you’re after a new procedural drama filled with action, then the new CBS series FBI may do just the trick if you haven’t had enough with the hundreds of procedurals out there.
From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind the “Law & Order” franchise, FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe.
Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI. Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge, Dana Mosier, who operates under intense pressure 24/7/365 and has undeniable command authority.
The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. Kristen Chazal is the team’s most valued resource, a brilliant analyst recruited straight out of university who can piece together the big picture faster than anyone. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organised crime and counterintelligence.
FBI was initially planned as a spin-off from Dick Wolf’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but the series took a different direction. After the cancellation of Chicago Justice, NBC began talks again about FBI as Dick Wolf wanted to get another show on the air. However, a month later, CBS announced that it had given the series a direct-to-series order. This will be the first scripted series Wolf has done for another network other than NBC since 1997. Funnily enough, the other series was called Feds and it focused on agents from the New York division of the FBI.
During the Television Critics Association summer press tour, he spoke about the series.
“The opportunity to do this show has sort of fulfilled a dream for me. My uncle was an FBI agent in the ’50s and ’60s. I grew up not only idolizing my uncle but having a warm feeling for all the agents I met back then,” he said. “They were great role models to have growing up.”
Wolf also hopes the new series will shine a light on the good work of the FBI agents. “Positive images of the bureau make them happy. A lot of them, in the past couple of years, have told me they feel underappreciated for what the real work is,” he said.
In “FBI,” “We’re celebrating the troops on the ground. The New York office has 1300 agents and there are endless stories in there,” he said. “I’m not changing trying to change hearts and minds. People are going to get a very realistic view of how that office operates. … It’s a good day when nothing happens. An enormous amount of time is spent in preventative efforts.”
Starring Missy Peregrym (Stick It), Zeeko Zaki (Valor), Ebonée Noel (Still Star-Crossed), Jeremy Sisto (Suburgatory), Sela Ward (Gone Girl), Dallas Roberts (Insatiable).
FBI premieres Tuesday Sept. 25th, (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
