Boomtown is an American action drama television series created by Graham Yost, that aired on NBC from September 29, 2002 to December 28, 2003. The show's title is a nickname for its setting: Los Angeles, California.
Contents
Overview
The show portrayed a criminal investigation each week, seen from various points of view: the police officers and detectives, the lawyers, paramedics, reporters, victims, witnesses, and criminals.
The series premiered on September 29, 2002. The first season order was for 18 episodes. After disappointing ratings, the series was retooled: the reliance on non-linear storytelling was lessened, some characters were written out, and others were introduced. Ratings did not improve, and the series was canceled, with the last episode airing on December 28, 2003.
Despite its low viewership, Boomtown received several awards and nominations, including Emmy Awards, Golden Satellite Awards, and Television Critics Association Awards.
Cast and characters
Main
Donnie Wahlberg as Los Angeles Police Department Detective II Joel Stevens
Neal McDonough as Los Angeles County Assistant District Attorney David McNorris
Mykelti Williamson as Los Angeles Police Department Detective II Bobby 'Fearless' Smith
Gary Basaraba as Los Angeles Police Department Police Officer III Ray Hechler
Nina Garbiras as Andrea Little, a reporter (season one)
Lana Parrilla as Teresa Ortiz, a paramedic in season one, and a rookie police officer in season two
Jason Gedrick as Los Angeles Police Department Police Officer II Tom Turcotte
Recurring
Megan Ward as Kelly Stevens
David Proval as Los Angeles Police Department Detective II Paul Turcotte
Dorian Harewood as Los Angeles Police Department Captain Ron Hicks
Kelly Rowan as Marian McNorris (season one)
Erich Anderson as Ben Fisher (season one)
Kim Murphy as Susan (season one)
Matt Craven as Dr. Michael Hirsch (season one)
Rick Gomez as Detective Daniel Ramos (season one)
Kelly Hu as Rachel Durrel (season two)
Vanessa L. Williams as Los Angeles Police Department Detective III Katherine Pierce (season two)
Episodes
Reception
Critical response
Boomtown received largely positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 96% with an average score of 10/10 based on 26 reviews. The website's critical consensus is, "Boomtown gives the police procedural innovative pep with its dense ensemble and warring perspectives, bringing a refreshing moral ambiguity to primetime." On Metacritic, the first season has a score of 89 out of 100 based on 31 reviews, signifying "universal acclaim".
In retrospect, series creator Graham Yost suggested that Boomtown may have been better suited to a cable network, stating, "Boomtown was perhaps, in retrospect, better suited for HBO or FX." However, he noted that HBO was already airing The Wire, while FX had The Shield, leaving NBC as the most viable home for the series. According to Yost, NBC initially embraced the show’s Rashomon-style narrative structure, but its disappointing ratings eventually led the network to question its unconventional approach: "When the ratings weren't spectacular, what happens is everyone questions everything. 'Maybe that's the problem. Maybe it's the music. Maybe it's this. Maybe it's that.' And the doubt becomes corrosive."
Yost also recalled that while the producers were campaigning for a second season, NBC discouraged them from producing further episodes similar to one in which Fearless, portrayed by Mykelti Williamson, confronts his childhood sexual abuse. Although Yost remained uncertain whether compromising the show’s original approach was the right decision, he described the episode as "one of the best episodes we ever did", adding, "I'm extraordinarily proud of that." Reflecting on the show’s abbreviated second season, Yost acknowledged having mixed feelings about the compromises made in an effort to keep the series alive.
Donnie Wahlberg, who portrayed Detective Joel Stevens, also spoke fondly of his experience on the series: "I had a great time. I loved going to work every day. I loved my character, I loved the show. I loved the people I worked with." Discussing its cancellation, Wahlberg acknowledged the pressures surrounding a network television series, citing the different expectations of audiences, the network and sponsors. He concluded that if the series could not meet those expectations, "then the show stops."
Home media
Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released the first season of Boomtown on DVD in Region 1 on July 20, 2004. Season 1 was subsequently released in Region 2 as well. Despite strong sales of season 1 and popular demand on TV-DVD websites, season 2 was never released in the USA or UK. The season 2 episodes were made available on the french DVD box set Boomtown Complet, which also includes a short interview with French film critic Alain Carraze, who offers comments about the show. The DVD's released in the United States contain an optional commentary soundtrack by individuals who were involved in making the show but this is absent from the French and British DVD releases.
The Region 1 release has been discontinued and is now out of print.
In February 2006, Viacom (now known as Paramount Skydance) purchased the live-action film and television assets of DreamWorks for $1.6 billion. This granted it partial ownership of Boomtown, as the show's underlying rights were originally split between NBC Studios and DreamWorks Television. As of 2025, this show isn't available for streaming on NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock, or Paramount's streaming services Pluto TV and Paramount+, but it was available on Amazon Prime Video before being removed in January 2021. NBCUniversal and Paramount have yet to release a complete series of the show on home video.
International distribution rights for the series are currently held by MGM.