Crime drama series The Agency detailed the cases of a highly skilled team of CIA agents based in Washington, D.C. ‘The Agency’ was the first television series ever granted permission to film inside CIA headquarters.
The show was controversial regarding its exploration of current international affairs and its treatment of the ethical conflicts inherent in intelligence work. Beckner’s pilot script, written in March 2001, posited a re-invented CIA tasked with a ‘War on Terror’ after Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terrorist organisation plots a lethal attack on the west. The pilot was to premiere at CIA Headquarters on September 18, 2001 and set to air on CBS September 21, 2001, however, the actual 9/11 attacks convinced the network to hold the pilot and instead air a later episode. That first episode was aired later as the third episode of the first season.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist events changed the way Americans viewed topical entertainment and The Agency, at the time, was one of the most topical offering on network television. The producers of the series quickly responded to this new American perspective on world affairs, but CBS chose to cancel the show shortly after the second season’s final episode.
production details
USA | CBS | 45×50 minutes | Aired from 27 September 2001 – 17 May 2003
Creator: Michael Frost Beckner
Executive Producers: Wolfgang Petersen, Gail Katz Michael, Frost Beckner
cast
Ronny Cox as director Alex Pierce
Rocky Carroll as deputy director Carl Reese
Gil Bellows as operations officer Matt Callan, whose brother was an outstanding CIA agent but died on duty
Gloria Reuben as counter terrorism leader Lisa Fabrizzi, who was going out with Matt’s brother and has become a workaholic since his death
David Clennon as forgery chief Joshua Nankin
Paige Turco as forgery expert Terri Lowell, who has marital difficulties
Beau Bridges as former senator Tom Gage, who replaces Pierce as director
Daniel Benzali (of Murder One fame) as Robert Quinn, who temporarily replaces Pierce as director
Jason O’Mara as AB Stiles
Chadwick Pelletier as Gunner
Richard Speight Jr as Lex
Lolita Davidovich as Avery Pohl
Will Patton as Jackson Haisley
Camryn Walling as Brock Haisley
Natalie Marston as Diane Haisley