Cold Squad is a Canadian police procedural television series created by Julia Keatley and Matt MacLeod that follows the investigations of a part of the Vancouver PD Homicide Division tasked with solving cold cases, the titular Cold Squad.
The series originally aired in Canada on CTV from 23 January 1998 to 4 June 2005. There are 98 episodes in seven seasons.
Cold Squad originally aired in South Africa on SABC2, premiering on Monday 10 May 1999, at 22h30. The series premiered on DStv's M-Net Series channel on Monday 12 May 2008, at 23h00.
Season 4 premiered on M-Net Series on Monday 9 February 2009, at 23h00. There are 20 episodes in the fourth season.
Repeats
Tuesdays: 05h00, 11h00, 17h00
Synopsis
Cold Squad focuses on 'cold cases'; unsolvable cases that have gone for years without a solution. Each week there is a new 'cold case' brought out of the woodwork to solve, which may date back five years, or could even date back 50 years.
The primary personality in Cold Squad is Sgt. Ali McCormick. Although she isn't the official head of the unit, her opinion is invaluable to the other workers.
She is backed up by a team of highly skilled professionals who, as it so happens, are also her good friends.
From the death of a crusading woman trying to avenge the fate of her sister to the murder of a contestant on a televised talent show to the abduction of a 16-year-old girl, the talents and skills of the squad of detectives lead by McCormick is continually put to the test.
With this crack team of experts, no crime on the Vancouver streets will go unsolved.
Casting
The cast of Cold Squad was diverse and changing, McCormick being the only character to appear in all 7 seasons.
Some notable series regulars (but far from all) included Det. Tony Logozzo (Michael Hogan) in seasons 1-2, Sgt. Frank Coscarella (Stephen McHattie) in seasons 3-4, Sgt. Len Harper (Matthew Bennett) in seasons 5-7, Insp. Vince Schneider (Jerry Wasserman) season 1, Insp. Simon Ross (Peter Wingfield) season 2, Insp. Andrew Pawlachuk (Garry Chalk) seasons 4-7, Det. Mickey Kollander (Tamara Craig Thomas) seasons 3-6, Det. Nicco Sevallis (Gregory Calpakis) seasons 3-6, Christine Wren (Joely Collins) seasons 4-7, and Corp. Ray Chase (Tahmoh Penikett) in season 7.
Between seasons 2 and 3, almost the entire cast (both major and supporting) were replaced, along with the sets, which changed the on-screen dynamics considerably.
A major revamp of the opening credits and theme music, and having McCormick go from auburn to dirty-blonde hair, all contributed to this major reworking of the series.