Wild Cards (TV series)

For the upcoming TV series based on the Wild Cards science fiction books, see Wild Cards § Television.

Canadian police procedural television series

Wild Cards

Created by| Michael Konyves
Starring|

* Vanessa Morgan
* Giacomo Gianniotti
* Jason Priestley

Country of origin|

* Canada
* United States

Original language| English
No. of seasons| 2
No. of episodes| 11
Production
Executive producers|

* Michael Konyves
* James Genn
* Shawn Piller
* Lloyd Segan
* Alexandra Zarowny
* James Thorpe
* Noelle Carbone
* Morwyn Brebner

Producers|

* Charles Cooper
* Virginia Rankin

Running time| 43 minutes
Production companies|

* Blink49 Studios
* Front Street Pictures
* Piller-Segan Productions

Original release
Network|

* CBC Television (Canada)
* The CW (United States)

Release| January 10, 2024 (2024-01-10) –
present

Wild Cards is a police procedural television series co-produced by the Canadian CBC Television network and American network The CW. It premiered on January 10, 2024 in Canada, followed by its U.S. premiere on January 17, 2024.

On May 23, 2024, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on January 8, 2025 in Canada, and premieres on February 3, 2025 in the U.S.[1][2]

## Premise

[edit]

Cole Ellis, a detective demoted to water-cop duty, is called to transport Max Mitchell, a seasoned con woman. While awaiting booking at the station, she cracks a major case for him involving the mayors friends. The pair are offered an opportunity at redemption - Ellis a chance to get back his detective post, and Max a chance to stay out of jail - but they just have to work together.

## Cast

[edit]

* Vanessa Morgan as Max Mitchell
* Giacomo Gianniotti as Cole Ellis
* Jason Priestley as George Graham
* Terry Chen as Chief Li
* Karin Konoval as Commissioner Russo
* Jonesy a Devon Rex breed cat who plays Marc, Cole's adoptive companion

Recurring

* Martin Sheen as Joseph Edwards, a con man who has ties to Max and George (season 2)[3]

Guest Stars

* Ally Sheedy as Rose Pruett, a tough no-nonsense ranch owner (season 2)
* Marie Avgeropoulos as Nadia Evans, a street racer and no-nonsense mother (season 2)
* Tony D’Angelo as Jaws, a criminal mastermind (season 2)
* Katie Findlay as Maddy, Max's best friend and former partner-in-crime (season 2)

## Episodes

[edit]

### Series overview

[edit]

Season| Episodes| Originally released

|
|

First released| Last released
1| 10| January 10, 2024 (2024-01-10)| March 13, 2024 (2024-03-13)
2| 13[4]| January 8, 2025 (2025-01-08)| TBA

### Season 1 (2024)

[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
season| Title [5][6][7]| Directed by [5][7]| Written by [5][7]| Canada air date [6]| U.S. air date [7]| U.S. viewers
(millions)| Rating/share
(18-49)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1| 1| "The Infinity Thief"| James Genn| Michael Konyves| January 10, 2024 (2024-01-10)| January 17, 2024| 0.50[9]| 0.04/0[9]

To regain his detective status, Cole Ellis, a demoted by-the-book cop, is assigned to work with Max Mitchell, a spirited con artist whose charismatic street smarts could help catch an elusive thief.[8]

2| 2| "Show Me the Murder"| James Genn| Morwyn Brebner| January 17, 2024 (2024-01-17)| January 24, 2024| 0.56[10]| 0.08/1[10]

A community outreach lecture on porch pirates turns into a murder investigation when Max and Ellis find an elite sports agent dead in his condo. Max's dad George gives her advice from his jail cell.[8]

3| 3| "Howl to Get Away with Murder"| Lee Rose| Story by : James Thorpe
Teleplay by : Sabrina Sherif| January 24, 2024 (2024-01-24)| January 31, 2024| 0.48[11]| 0.05/1[11]

Things go from quaint to creepy when Max and Ellis look into the disappearance of a butcher in a small rural town, Max quizzes Ellis on his personal life.[8]

4| 4| "Strangers on a Wave"| Lee Rose| Noelle Carbone| January 31, 2024 (2024-01-31)| February 7, 2024| 0.52[12]| 0.08/1[12]

After a surfer gets shot and washes up on the beach, Ellis goes under cover and Max puts on her detective hat to unravel a criminal plot worthy of Hitchcock.[8]

5| 5| "The Accountant of Monte Cristo"| Shawn Piller| Marcus Robinson & Kristin Slaney| February 7, 2024 (2024-02-07)| February 14, 2024| 0.52[13]| 0.07/1[13]

After an infamous accountant set to testify against the mob is kidnapped, Ellis gets an urgent call from an old friend to help get him back, Chief Li tells Max and Ellis they're on thin ice.[8]

6| 6| "Dead of Night"| Shawn Piller| Robina Lord-Stafford| February 14, 2024 (2024-02-14)| February 21, 2024| 0.45[14]| 0.06/1[14]

Max and Ellis go behind-the-scenes of a long-running vampire TV show when a stalker sends cryptic death threats to the cast. Max opens up to Ellis about her mom.[8]

7| 7| "Con with the Wind"| Winnifred Jong| Seneca Aaron & Marcus Robinson| February 21, 2024 (2024-02-21)| February 28, 2024| 0.47[15]| 0.04/0[15]

George gets a three-day pass from jail to spend his birthday with Max and feels the urge to pull one more con.[8]

8| 8| "Eternal Sunshine of the Therapized Mind"| Winnifred Jong| Alexandra Zarowny| February 28, 2024 (2024-02-28)| March 6, 2024| 0.61[16]| 0.05/1[16]

When a celebrated therapist and best-selling author is murdered, a bickering Max and Ellis go undercover as a married couple at her wellness retreat and discover more than their chakras.[8]

9| 9| "Inside (Con)Man"| Alexandria LaRoche| Marsha Greene| March 6, 2024 (2024-03-06)| March 13, 2024| 0.59[17]| 0.07/1[17]

When Max is taken hostage during a bank robbery, Ellis goes against protocol to secretly infiltrate the bank, where he and Max work together to negotiate the release of hostages.[8]

10| 10| "Romancing the Egg"| Amanda Tapping| Marcus Robinson & James Thorpe & Alexandra Zarowny| March 13, 2024 (2024-03-13)| March 20, 2024| 0.54[18]| 0.06/1[18]

Ellis is drawn into a case involving Max, her ex, and a world-famous Imperial egg, where a cat-and-mouse heist tests their friendship, their partnership, and their trust in each other.[8]

### Season 2 (2025)

[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
season| Title [6][19]| Directed by| Written by| Canada air date [19]| U.S. air date [7]| U.S. viewers
(millions)| Rating/share
(18-49)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

11| 1| "Con in 60 Seconds"| TBA| TBA| January 8, 2025 (2025-01-08)| February 5, 2025| TBD| TBA
12| 2| "Once a Con a Time in the West"| TBA| TBA| January 15, 2025 (2025-01-15)| February 12, 2025| TBD| TBA
13| 3| "The Lorne Identity"| TBA| TBA| January 22, 2025 (2025-01-22)| February 19, 2025| TBD| TBA
14| 4| "Dial 'A' for Alibi"| TBA| TBA| January 29, 2025 (2025-01-29)| TBA| TBD| TBA

## Production

[edit]

### Development

[edit]

In early June 2023, CBC announced its new dramas for the 2023–24 season would include a new show titled Wild Cards from showrunner Michael Konyves. Shawn Piller would serve as executive producer, with Noelle Carbone as head writer/executive producer, and James Genn as pilot director/executive producer. Later that same month it was confirmed that production and filming had begun.[20][21] The series is produced Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures and Piller/Segan in association with CBC Television in Canada; in October 2023, it was announced that The CW in the U.S. would also produce the series.[22][23]

### Casting

[edit]

In early October 2023, the first casting announcements were made for the two main roles with Giacomo Gianniotti to play the cop and Vanessa Morgan to play the con woman.[24] In December 2023, it was announced that Jason Priestley had joined the cast.[25]

### Filming

[edit]

Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia between July 24, 2023 and October 27, 2023, followed by a single day of filming in Toronto, Ontario.[26]

## Release

[edit]

Wild Cards was ordered to series by both Canadian broadcaster CBC and U.S. network The CW. The 10 episode[27] first season premiered on January 10, 2024 on CBC Television in Canada and its associated digital streaming platform CBC Gem, as well as on-demand and both platforms' respective websites in Canada, and on January 17, 2024 on The CW,[26] and the following day its app, on-demand and its website in the United States.

## Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 100% based on 5 critic reviews.[28]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ White, Peter (May 23, 2024). "'Wild Cards' Renewed For Season 2 At The CW & CBC". Deadline. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
2. ^ Petski, Denise (November 20, 2024). "The CW Midseason Premiere Dates: 'All American' Season 7, 'Wild Cards' Season 2, More". Deadline. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
3. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (December 16, 2024). "Martin Sheen, Ally Sheedy and More Join 'Wild Cards' as Season 2 Guest Stars (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
4. ^ "Wild Cards". Futon Critic. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
5. ^ a b c "The CW Press - Episodes Wild Cards". CW Press. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
6. ^ a b c "Wild Cards – Listings". Zap2It. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
7. ^ a b c d e "Shows A-Z – Wild Cards on CW". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "CW Original — Wild Cards". CWTV. The CW Network. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
9. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (January 17, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: NBC Easily Tops Prime Time with Return of Dick Wolf's Chicago Dramas". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
10. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (January 24, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: NBC on Top with Chicago Trio, ABC's NBA Among 18-34 Leaders". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
11. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (January 31, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: NBC Tops in All Key Prime Time Figures". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
12. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (February 7, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Abbott Elementary Season Premiere on ABC Tops Its Hour Among Adults 18-49 and 18-34". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
13. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (February 14, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Game Shows Help CBS Take Broadcast Demo Crown, NBC Still Tops in Viewers with Chicago Reruns". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
14. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (February 21, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: The Challenge Crowns New Champion in 39th Season Finale on MTV". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
15. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (February 28, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Survivor 46th Season Premiere Helps CBS to Key Demos Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
16. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (March 6, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Fox Distant Runner-Up in Key Demos with The Masked Singer and Animal Control Season Premieres and New Night for Family Guy". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
17. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (March 13, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: CBS Leads the Night as The Amazing Race Returns for its 36th Season". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
18. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (March 21, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: truTV Among Key Demo Leaders with March Madness First Four Action". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
19. ^ a b "Wild Cards Shows CBC Gem". cbc.ca. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
20. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (June 1, 2023). "CBC sets new series and FAST channels for 2023-24 slate". Playback. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
21. ^ Gittins, Susan (June 16, 2023). "CBC's Cop-Con Detective Show WILD CARDS Filming in Vancouver This Summer & Fall". Hollywood North Buzz. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
22. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (October 12, 2023). "The CW Orders Scripted Series 'Wild Cards' & 'Sight Unseen' for 2024". TV Insider. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
23. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 12, 2023). "The CW Picks Up 'Wild Cards' & "Sight Unseen' For 2024". Deadline. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
24. ^ Reid, Elizabeth (October 12, 2023). "VANESSA MORGAN AND GIACOMO GIANNIOTTI TO STAR IN NEW CBC ORIGINAL CRIME-SOLVING DRAMA WILD CARDS". CBC.ca. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
25. ^ Goldbart, Max (December 4, 2023). "Jason Priestley Boards Canadian Detective Drama 'Wild Cards'; CBC & CW Premiere Dates Set". Deadline. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
26. ^ a b Gittins, Susan (December 4, 2023). "Vancouver's WILD CARDS With Vanessa Morgan Debuts This January on CBC/CW". Hollywood North Buzz. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
27. ^ Roy, Joon (January 18, 2024). "Wild Cards Season 1: How Many Episodes & When Do New Episodes Come Out?". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
28. ^ "Wild Cards: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 7, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Wild Cards at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

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