"Without a Trace" (2002) TV series 2002-????

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Creator:

Hank Steinberg

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

26 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

The cases of a FBI unit specializing in missing persons investigations.

Plot Keywords:

Missing | FBI | Missing People | New York City | Missing Person

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 16 wins & 29 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 11	4:00 AM	TNT	The Calm Before	#5.6
Wed. Nov. 11	5:00 AM	TNT	All the Sinners Saints	#5.7

Cast

Anthony LaPaglia	...	Jack Malone (160 episodes, 2002-2009)
Poppy Montgomery	...	Samantha Spade (160 episodes, 2002-2009)
Enrique Murciano	...	Danny Taylor (160 episodes, 2002-2009)
Eric Close	...	Martin Fitzgerald (160 episodes, 2002-2009)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste	...	Vivian Johnson (159 episodes, 2002-2009)
Roselyn Sanchez	...	Elena Delgado (89 episodes, 2005-2009)

Also Known As:

Vanished (USA) (working title)
W.A.T (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18 (season 2) | Singapore:PG (season 1) | Chile:14 | Singapore:NC-16 (season 3) | South Korea:15 | Hungary:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Jerry Bruckheimer Television

Trivia:

The original title of the show was "Vanished", but when CBS opted to pick it up the title was changed to "Without a Trace".

Goofs:

Factual errors: In more than one instance, suspects being interviewed with a polygraph answer all the control questions (Is your name John Doe? Are you 39?) truthfully. In reality, a suspect is told to answer all the control questions "yes", whether true or not, to determine the accuracy of the polygraph machine.

Quotes:

[about Jack's army expertise]
Jack Malone: I was in the 82nd airborne, first battalion in the 504 in '79.
Manny Ayabar: Red devils, huh?
Jack Malone: Yeah. Baggy pants.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Fade Into You

What a waste of what could be a great show

I've come to hate this show--the agents are so over the top and the events are so badly done that to say it stretches reality is greatly beyond an understatement. Malone is off-kilter so much he should be in jail for all the stuff he pulls. The personal drama between the characters detract too much from what's going on. The agents consistently abuse, threaten, and brow-beat suspects, witnesses, and victims that that whole unit should be looking for new jobs...or suspension at the least. I've stopped watching this show...no originals, no reruns, no more TiVo season pass.

I started watching because of Eric Close--I thought this show would give him a chance to truly develop into a top-tier actor, but that just has not happened. LaPaglia is good as Jack Malone, but the overdone maverick behavior of Malone so distracts from the show--greatly so. However, the one actor that truly shines in the show is Marianne Jean-Baptiste as agent Vivian Johnson. She is the only one on the show that acts like an FBI agent with the portrayal of the character's personal side being the most believable.

And to the CBS directors and writers, you guys need an FBI technical adviser for more than just a few shows...or fire Mark Llewellyn for doing such a poor job.