Hack (TV series)
Hack is an American crime drama television series, created and written by David Koepp, that aired on CBS in the United States from September 27, 2002 to March 13, 2004, having 40 episodes broadcast over two seasons.[1] The series centers on the fictional life of a former Philadelphia police officer, Polish-American Mike Olshansky (David Morse), who leaves the force after being accused of corruption, and now works as a taxi driver in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2]
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| Genre | Crime drama |
| Created by | David Koepp |
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| Composer(s) | Jay Gruska |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 40 |
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| Running time | 60 minutes |
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| Picture format | 720p (HDTV) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | September 27, 2002 – March 13, 2004 |
Premise
Mike Olshansky (David Morse), a Philadelphia police officer, leaves the force after being accused of corruption. Although the charges were never clearly proven, Olshansky, riddled with guilt, considers it his duty to make up for his past wrongs by helping those the police will not help. Olshansky saves many lives and people by going above and beyond the call of duty, becoming a kind of heroic vigilante.[3]
He receives "inside" help from within the police force from his ex-partner Marcellus Washington (Andre Braugher), who often comes close to risking his own career. Meanwhile, he tries to repair his relationships and rebuild his life after losing his marriage, his son's admiration, his professional identity and his reputation.[3]
Production
The series was produced by The Thomas Carter Company, Pariah, Big Ticket Television and CBS Productions. David Morse said of his role as Olshansky; “I think I can really live with Olshansky. We can go a lot of places. And as an actor, being in this kind of production is pretty unheard of. I didn’t even think it was possible. To actually go home every day and see my kids is a great thing….I like being a dad. I like going to the grocery store and cooking every night."[4]
Notably, Hack would go on to become one of the last series to air on Saturdays in the United States for over a decade, as during the series' tenure, networks began to remove first-run scripted programming from the prime-time slot on Saturdays.[lower-alpha 1]
Broadcast
The show also aired in the United Kingdom on ITV3, being only one of two original dramas to be shown on the channel's launch night on November 1, 2004.[5] The final four episodes of the first season never aired on ITV3, as the network allowed the broadcast rights to lapse before they were shown; however, both seasons later aired in their entirety on CBS Drama and CBS Action, beginning with the first season on February 10, 2015. Episodes were broadcast weekdays at 10:00pm.[6]
The series also in Australia on Network Ten and in France on M6. In the United States, the series re-run on Crime & Investigation, AXS TV, Universal TV and GetTV. On GetTV, episodes aired at 3:00pm weekdays from April 24, 2017.[7] Both series were also available for streaming on Netflix, however have since been removed.
Release
On March 8, 2016, CBS Home Entertainment released Hack: Season 1 on DVD in Region 1 via Amazon.com's CreateSpace program. This is a Manufacture on Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Amazon.com.[8]
Cast
Cast listed by number of episodes in which they appeared
- David Morse as Mike Olshansky
- Andre Braugher as Marcellus Washington
- Matthew Borish as Mikey Olshansky
- George Dzundza as Father Tom Grzelak (Season 1)
- Donna Murphy as Heather Olshansky (Season 1)
- Matt Czuchry as Jamie Farrel (Season 2)
- Jacqueline Torres as Liz Garza (Season 2)
- JoAnna Rhinehart as Deborah Washington
- Paul Adelstein as Aldo Rossi
- Bebe Neuwirth as Faith O'Connor (Season 1)
- Gregg Edelman as Ryan Ambrose
- Cindy Katz as Bettina Corwin
- Cameron Ball as Ashton Washington
Episodes
Season 1 (2002–2003)
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Thomas Carter | David Koepp | September 27, 2002 | |
| A minister enlists Mike's help in finding his runaway daughter who may have been lured to Philadelphia by an Internet child predator.[9] | |||||
| 2 | "Favors" | Thomas Carter | David Koepp | October 4, 2002 | |
| Mike helps a desperate gambler who owes money to a bookie, and Marcellus requests his old partner's help in tracking down a suspected killer.[9] | |||||
| 3 | "Domestic Disturbance" | David Platt | Lawrence Kaplow | October 11, 2002 | |
| Mike sets a trap for an abusive policeman whose wife and daughter have fled the violence of their home environment and taken refuge at Saint Victor's, but finds that things are not as simple as they appear on the surface.[9] | |||||
| 4 | "My Alibi" | Michael Fields | Liz Friedman | October 18, 2002 | |
| Mike is accused of a shooting, forcing Mikey into the uncomfortable position of lying on his behalf to provide him with an alibi - and prompting a stinging outburst from Grizz.[9] | |||||
| 5 | "My Brother's Keeper" | Harry Winer | Thomas L. Moran | October 25, 2002 | |
| Mike decides his friend Vanessa's brother Teddy needs to get off drugs, and enlists Marcellus to help, convincing him they can kill two birds with one stone by nabbing a dealer at the same time, but their efforts ultimately prove fruitless.[9] | |||||
| 6 | "Slippery Slope" | Robert Singer | Frank Renzulli | November 1, 2002 | |
| Mike takes a job working for a loan shark, but soon realises he is out of his depth.[9] | |||||
| 7 | "Husbands and Wives" | Fred Gerber | Thomas L. Moran | November 8, 2002 | |
| Soon after taking a job driving for local gangster Jack Shannon, Mike realises he has made a big mistake and quits. His ex-boss attempts to entice him back by offering to call in a favour and restore his tarnished reputation.[9] | |||||
| 8 | "Songs in the Night" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Randy Anderson | November 15, 2002 | |
| When a homeless man passes away in the back of Olshansky's taxi, the cabbie decides to locate his family.[9] | |||||
| 9 | "Bad Choices" | Philip Sgriccia | Leonard Dick | November 22, 2002 | |
| Mike helps a naked man find the prostitute who robbed him of his clothes, money and wedding ring.[9] | |||||
| 10 | "All Night Long" | Elodie Keene | Eugenie Ross-Leming | December 6, 2002 | |
| Mike endures a hectic night when he tries to return $10,000 to a man who left it in the back of a taxi, having accepted the money to help an immigrant mother find her lost child.[9] | |||||
| 11 | "Obsession" | Fred Gerber | Liz Friedman | December 20, 2002 | |
| A woman enlists Mike as a bodyguard, explaining that she is being followed - though her stalker has never been seen. The couple begin an illicit affair, but when the former cop decides it has to end, someone takes a shot at him.[9] | |||||
| 12 | "A Dangerous Game" | Dan Lerner | George Schenck | January 10, 2003 | |
| Mike tries to help a Department of Justice employee whose sister has been kidnapped by a hitman seeking information about a banker in the witness protection programme, who is a key part of the prosecution's case against a money-laundering drug dealer.[9] | |||||
| 13 | "Death of Innocence" | Philip Sgriccia | Lynne E. Litt | January 17, 2003 | |
| Mike's attempts to mend fences with his father meet with a cool reception and Marcellus's new partner takes some getting used to.[9] | |||||
| 14 | "Forgive, But Don't Forget" | Bobby Roth | David Ehrman | January 31, 2003 | |
| Mike realises the importance of spending more time with his son in the wake of the divorce, while Grizz is surprised by the reappearance of an old flame and Marcellus gets a golden opportunity to put his corrupt behaviour behind him.[9] | |||||
| 15 | "Brothers in Arms" | Alex Zakrzewski | Brad Buckner | February 7, 2003 | |
| Marcellus and his team search for Mike's kidnapper, who is threatening to kill his captive at the same time as his brother is executed by the state.[9] | |||||
| 16 | "Black Eye" | David Hugh Jones | Steven Smith | February 14, 2003 | |
| Mike rekindles a high school romance while trying to help an old flame's schizophrenic sister.[9] | |||||
| 17 | "Third Strike" | Kristoffer Tabori | George Schneck | February 21, 2003 | |
| A parolee who witnessed a murder tells Mike that the police have arrested an innocent man, sending him on the trail of the real killer.[9] | |||||
| 18 | "Sinners and Saints" | Bill Norton | Liz Friedman | March 14, 2003 | |
| Heather asks Mike to investigate when a doctor attempts to cover up an error which caused a patient's death and the hospital refuses to take disciplinary action. However, the accusations lose Heather her job and Mike must face the prospect of her moving away with their son.[9] | |||||
| 19 | "Signature" | Michael Zinberg | Lynne E. Litt | April 4, 2003 | |
| Mike incurs his father's wrath when he enlists Marcellus' help in an attempt to free a man he wrongly sent to prison. He also has mixed feelings when he learns that Heather is dating Ryan, who is lavishing fatherly affection on Mikey.[9] | |||||
| 20 | "All Others Pay Cash" | Philip Sgriccia | David Ehrman | April 18, 2003 | |
| Mike takes care of his ailing father, while Grizz's growing attraction to Beth, coupled with what he sees as the bishop's lack of confidence and support, prompts him to consider leaving the priesthood.[9] | |||||
| 21 | "True Lies" | Fred Gerber | Thomas L. Moran | April 25, 2003 | |
| As Mike's trial date draws nearer, he investigates allegations that Marcellus had been accepting bribes for years.[9] | |||||
| 22 | "The Squeeze" | Robert Singer | Lawrence Kaplow | May 2, 2003 | |
| Despite Marcellus's recent betrayals, Mike agrees to help him find out why he's being framed for murder.[9] | |||||
Season 2 (2003–2004)
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "See No Evil" | Robert Singer | Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner | September 27, 2003 | |
| Mike hopes moving house will help him make a fresh start, but soon finds himself helping a man who witnessed a quadruple murder committed by federal agents.[9] | |||||
| 2 | "Hidden Agenda" | Philip Sgriccia | David Ehrman | October 4, 2003 | |
| Mike and Marcellus help an innocent man falsely accused of being a terrorist by a rogue FBI agent - but Jamie's well-meaning efforts jeopardise everything.[9] | |||||
| 3 | "Presumed Guilty" | David Platt | George Schneck | October 11, 2003 | |
| Mike agrees to help clear the name of a man wrongly accused of murder, while Marcellus undergoes minor surgery - and ends up getting shot.[9] | |||||
| 4 | "Collateral Damage" | Michael Zinberg | Steven Smith | October 18, 2003 | |
| Mike manages to identify the man responsible for shooting Marcellus, but the case takes a further deadly twist when another attempt is made on his friend's life.[9] | |||||
| 5 | "Out of the Ashes" | Kristoffer Tabori | Liz Friedman | October 25, 2003 | |
| A traumatised woman sets out to track down and kill the gang who attempted to rape her, convinced it's the only way to prevent them carrying out further attacks.[9] | |||||
| 6 | "My Fare Lady" | Robert Singer | Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner | November 1, 2003 | |
| Mike falls in love with a woman who lost her memory following an attempt on her life and helps her piece together the details of her past. Meanwhile, Jamie poses as Marcellus for an online flirtation.[9] | |||||
| 7 | "The Looking Glass" | Ed Bianchi | Lawrence Kaplow | November 8, 2003 | |
| On the anniversary of his brother's death, Jamie meets with Richard in an attempt at reconciliation - but instead finds himself investigating the murder of his estranged father's lover. Mike tries to discover what evidence Marcellus has on the homicide without revealing Richard's affair.[9] | |||||
| 8 | "Blind Faith" | Rick Rosenthal | TBA | November 15, 2003 | |
| A murder witness asks Mike to protect her from a crooked cop determined to ensure she never testifies, and Marcellus moves out of the family home as his marital problems continue.[9] | |||||
| 9 | "To Have and Have Not" | Rod Hardy | Steven Smith | November 22, 2003 | |
| Mike tries to help a teenage prostitute escape the clutches of her pimp, and when Liz is reluctant to help, Jamie tries to convince her otherwise. Marcellus strikes a deal with a loan shark to arrest his competition in return for Cal's release from his crew.[9] | |||||
| 10 | "Dial 'O' for Murder" | Chad Lowe | George Schneck & Frank Cardea | December 13, 2003 | |
| Liz asks Mike to investigate the death of her firefighter friend's girlfriend, which leads him into a confrontation with an old enemy.[9] | |||||
| 11 | "Gone" | Philip Sgriccia | David Morse | December 20, 2003 | |
| An assassin with a grudge against Mike returns to Philadelphia and takes Mike Jnr hostage. In exchange for the boy, he wants the ex-cop to locate his next target - a Russian mob boss who's gone into hiding. In desperation, he turns to Marcellus for help, while Liz combs the scene of the kidnapping for clues.[9] | |||||
| 12 | "Calibrated Arguments" | David Straiton | Lawrence Kaplow & Liz Friedman | January 17, 2004 | |
| Mike becomes a local hero after killing a mugger in self-defence, but struggles to come to terms with his new-found notoriety. Matters are only made worse when the mother of his attacker decides to sue him. Jamie starts a new job, but worries it is too dangerous and begins carrying a gun during his shifts.[9] | |||||
| 13 | "Double Exposure" | Vincent Misiano | Brad Buckner | January 24, 2004 | |
| Marcellus learns his wife Deborah has been seeing another man, and Mike investigates claims that some police officers are failing to take action over a spate of hate crimes against homosexuals.[9] | |||||
| 14 | "Fog of War" | Philip Sgriccia | David Ehrman | February 7, 2004 | |
| Mike pulls out all the stops to help his suicidal cousin, a war veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.[9] | |||||
| 15 | "Extreme Commerce" | Chad Lowe | Steven Smith | February 14, 2004 | |
| Mike reluctantly agrees to help Liz track down an ex-client's missing child and uncovers an illegal adoption ring trafficking stolen babies. Marcellus realises his jealousy toward his ex-wife's new lover has got out of hand.[9] | |||||
| 16 | "Misty Blue" | J. Miller Tobin | George Schneck & Frank Cardea | February 28, 2004 | |
| Mike discovers one of his passengers has left her mobile phone in his cab and sets out to return her property - only to discover the owner has mysteriously disappeared.[9] | |||||
| 17 | "One for My Baby" | Robert Singer | Mary Hanes | March 6, 2004 | |
| Olshansky reminisces about a case where he searched for a missing hospital patient who disappeared while suffering with an inoperable brain tumour, only to learn that the man's wife was having an affair with her husband's doctor.[9] | |||||
| 18 | "The Reckoning" | TBA | TBA | March 13, 2004 | |
| A drug dealer convicted on Mike and Marcellus's trumped-up evidence is released from prison and comes looking for revenge, endangering Liz and Jamie.[9] | |||||
Note
- Scripted programming returned to Saturdays in 2017 with the series Ransom, on CBS.
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References
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 497. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
- "Hack – An Unsung Great TV Show; CBS 2002 – 2004 starring David Morse". The Village Smith. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "Hack (CBS 2002, David Morse, Andre Braugher)". Memorable TV. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "For Actor, David Morse, 'Hack' Role Hits Close to Home". Urban Ministry. 26 September 2002. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "ITV3 Launches Tonight - Including New 'Rebus' Detective Outing". Campaign Live. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- "Brand New To CBS Drama - Hack". CBS. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "Hack with David Morse and Andre Braugher joins GetTV's Daytime Lineup". GetTV. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "'Season 1' of the 2002 Show Starring David Morse...Now on DVD!". TVShowsonDVD.com. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "Hack - Series and Episode Guide". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
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