Paul Gross

The residents of Wilby, Nova Scotia, learn the importance a day can make as scandal weighs heavily on their conscience in the sophomore feature from Canadian playwright-turned-filmmaker Daniel MacIvor. Suicidal Dan Jarvis (James Allodi) is longing to find a reason to live, and as Buddy and Carol Franch's (Paul Gross and Sandra Oh) marriage falls to pieces, single mom Sandra Anderson (Rebecca Jenkins) seeks male companionship to relieve the strain of raising a child alone and unlucky painter Duck MacDonald (Callum Keith Rennie) struggles to overcome his own nagging problems. On the horizon, a shocking revelation threatens to change the way the residents of the small town view both themselves and their neighbors, but how will the people of Wilby deal with such a major problem when they can't even work out their own issues? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Despite Ray's best efforts, killer Charles Carver (Colm Feore) is paroled for good behavior. Although the authorities believe that the soft-spoken, intellectual Carver has mended his ways, Ray (David Marciano) is convinced that the parolee intends to knock off everyone responsible for his arrest--and Carver confirms this by tauntingly leaving clues for Ray to uncover. As if this wasn't bad enough, Carver manages to persuade the public that he was wrongly imprisoned in the first place--and that Ray had framed him on a phony charge. Originally broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on May 3, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although the tongue-in-cheek cop show Due South was canceled by CBS at the end of its second season, the series remained a fixture of Canada's CTV network for two additional years. It was also kept alive in certain American markets through the magic of off-network syndication. As season three begins, Canadian mountie Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) returns from an above-the-border vacation to his new stamping grounds in Chicago, only to discover that his apartment has been torched and his best friend (and sometimes) partner, Chicago police detective Ray Vecchio, has disappeared (series co-star David Marciano had left the show to bargain for a starring series of his own). It soon develops that he has gone deep undercover on behalf of the A.T.F., posing as mob functionary Armando Logustini. To cover up Ray's absence, Detective Stanley Kowlaski (Callum Keith Rennie) has been assigned to impersonate Vecchio and to work as Benton's new partner whenever the mountie is inclined to assist in a local investigation. And just like his predecessor, whose life was occasionally complicated by an ex-wife, Stanley Kowalski is saddled with a former spouse of his own, an assistant states attorney named -- you guessed it -- Stella Kowalksi (played by Melissa DeMarco). As for Ray's loudmouthed sister Francesca (Ramona Milano), she has chosen to remain close to her "beloved" Benton Fraser by hiring on as the 27th precinct's new civilian aide, replacing Elaine Besbriss (Catherine Bruhier), who has joined the police force as a full-fledged officer (but not for long: having opted to move from Toronto to L.A., actress Bruhlier would leave the series three episodes into its third season).
Back on the job are Benton's two superiors, Chicago police lieutenant Welsh (Beau Starr) (newly promoted from Captain), and Inspector Margaret Thatcher (Camilla Scott), the constable's boss at the Canadian Consulate. As for Frasier's rival detective Jack Huey (Tony Craig), who in partnership with Det. Louie Gardino had been known as one of the "Duck Boys," he has now latched onto a new partner, Det. Thomas Dewey (Tom Melissis), keeping his Disneyesque nickname intact. (In case you haven't caught on, Huey has gone from Louie to Dewey!) Also added to the cast this season is the 27th precinct's new medical examiner and resident opera buff, (Mort Gustafson). The 13 episodes of Due South's third season were filmed at the same time as the 13 installments of the series' fourth season. Though telecast over a two-year period in Canada, these two seasons were combined into one for American syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Organizing a neighborhood watch group, Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) teach a self-defense course to a group of senior citizens. One of their elderly pupils, a mugging victim named Herb Colling (Carl Gordon), uses what he has learned to become a dangerous one-man vigilante force, complete with baseball bat. Meanwhile, Fraser's pet wolf Diefenbaker has troubles of his own when he is "adopted" by a sweet old lady with a knitting fetish. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Leslie Nielsen makes a return appearance as "legendary" Canadian mountie Sgt. Buck Frobisher, as do Alex Carter and Mark Melymick as well-meaning but bumbling FBI agents Ford and Deeter. Frobisher is among a group of singing mounties on board a train bound for an American concert. These redcoated songbirds as hijacked by a group of terrorists, led by Randal Bolt (Kenneth Walsh), who intend to kill everyone on board the train whether their demands are met or not. The climax involves a runaway choo-choo and Frobisher's sudden attack of "excess gas." Drama students will appreciate the character names given the members of the phony movie production crew. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on April 12, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) appear in Federal court to testify against Randal Bolt (Kenneth Welsh), the terrorist leader who attempted to hijack a trainload of singing mounties in the previous episode "All the Queen's Horses." Unfortunately for the two lawmen, the courtroom is invaded by Ray's cousins, who intend to free the terrorist and kill off his accusers. The climax finds our heroes strapped to a bomb that is set to go off if their combined heartrate exceeds 200 beats per minute. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on May 24, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When a computer glitch declares that Ray (David Marciano) is dead, he and Fraser (Paul Gross) head to their bank to correct the error and free up Ray's money. Once at the bank, the two lawmen recognize one of the cleaning crew as a crook of their acquaintance--and before long, our heroes are in the middle of a bank robbery. Locking themselves in the vault, Ray and Fraser set off the bank's sprinkler system in hopes of foiling the thieves, only to nearly drown themselves in the process. And as if this isn't bad enough, Ray's sister Francesca (Ramona Milano) manages to get herself snatched as a hostage. Camilla Scott makes her first series appearance as Constable Margaret Thatcher, Fraser's beautiful but contentious new boss. Originally broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on December 8, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having been shot by his partner Ray (David Marciano) in the previous episode "Victoria's Secret", Fraser (Paul Gross) recuperates in the hospital. With plenty of time on his hands, Fraser tries to get over his duplicitious ex-lover Victoria (Melina Kanakaredes), and wonders if his friendship with Ray can ever be repaired. And, oh yes, he manages to get involved in the pursuit of a gang of murderous extortionists, thanks to the enthusiasm of his physical therapist Jill Kennedy (Laurie Holden). First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on June 9, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide