Fastlane (TV series)
| Fastlane | |
|---|---|
 The main characters of Fastlane (from left to right), Van, Billie, and Deaq. | |
| Created by |
McG John McNamara |
| Starring |
Peter Facinelli Bill Bellamy Tiffani Thiessen |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 23 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
McNamara Paper Products Wonderland Sound and Vision Warner Bros. Television 20th Century Fox Television |
| Distributor |
Warner Bros. (USA) 20th Century Fox (International) |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Picture format |
SDTV (480i) (Original format/DVD Format) HDTV (1080i) (Broadcast Format) |
| Original release | September 18, 2002 – April 25, 2003 |
Fastlane is an American action/crime drama series that was broadcast on Fox from September 18, 2002 to April 25, 2003. On August 14, 2005 G4 began rebroadcasting the complete series.[1] After finishing its initial run on the network, Fastlane stopped airing on G4. Fastlane also aired on TVOne sometime around 2006.
Plot summary
Van Ray and Deaqon Hayes are two mismatched cops teamed together by shady vixen police lieutenant, Wilhelmina "Billie" Chambers, in a secretive undercover division of the Los Angeles Police Department. Operating with the motto "Everything we seize, we keep. Everything we keep, we use," their base of operations is the "Candy Store"—a warehouse containing a fortune in confiscated cars, clothes, weapons and everything else needed to blend into the seedy criminal underworld of Los Angeles. Given criminal covers, the officers use all of the resources at their disposal to apprehend dangerous criminals while walking the line between cop and criminal.
Cast
Main cast
- Peter Facinelli as Donovan "Van" Ray
- Bill Bellamy as Deaqon "Deaq" Hayes
- Tiffani Thiessen as Wilhemina "Billie" Chambers
Recurring cast
- Jay Mohr as Roland Hill
- Mark Famiglietti as Jarod
- Big Boy as Aquarius
- Vondie Curtis-Hall as Andre Hayes
- Jennifer Sky as Cassidy Shaw
- Robert Forster as Raymond Ray
- Jamie Brown as Sophia Jones
- Bill Duke as Captain Parish
- Lamont Johnson as Wisdom Bailey
Guest appearances
Over the course of its run, Fastlane featured cameos and guest appearances from several known figures, including Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Mischa Barton, Jenny McCarthy, Krista Allen, Jake Busey, Bokeem Woodbine, Hudson Leick, Jaime Pressly, George Hamilton, Eric Mabius, Michelle Forbes, Navi Rawat, Iggy Pop, Naomi Campbell, Tommy Lee, Terrence Howard, Isaac Hayes, the Red Elvises, Tatyana Ali, Paul Gleason, Antonio Fargas, Biz Markie, Kurupt, Treach and Ali Landry.
Series run
The series consisted of twenty-two episodes, forty-five minutes each, plus an unaired pilot which ended up being very similar to the first episode broadcast. Episodes 13 and 14 ("Defense" and "Offense") form a two-part story, while episodes 21 and 22 ("Dosed" and "Iced") form a two-part story ending on a cliffhanger which sees Billie Chambers kidnapped and forced to do drugs. As the series was canceled at that point due to the high costs of each episode, there is no known resolution.
Each episode cost the two studios making it (Warner Bros. and Fox) $2.6 million. The show's hallmarks—unconventional cinematography, pyrotechnics, guest appearances, licensed soundtracks, supercars and other exotic vehicles—were the root cause of the exorbitant production costs. The show was canceled because of these high production costs and the ratings drop it suffered from being moved from Wednesday nights to Friday nights.
Episodes
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | "Unaired Pilot" | TBA | TBA | N/A | TBA |
| 1 | "Pilot" | McG | Story by: McG Teleplay by : John McNamara | September 18, 2002 | 475183 |
|
After Deaq's brother's death, Billie partners Van with him to work on catching Deaq's brother's murderer. Meanwhile, Van seems to be interested in the murderer's fence, Cassidy Shaw. Guest stars: Craig Sheffer, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Jennifer Sky, Paul Gleason, John Doe, Big Boy, and Issac Hayes Cameo appearance: Fred Durst | |||||
| 2 | "Girls Own Juice" | Paris Barclay | Kim Newton | September 25, 2002 | 175752 |
|
After taking a 1968 Mustang for a ride, Van and Deaq run into a group of three female jewel thieves. Billie subsequently puts them on the case after they convince her they can do the job better than RHD can. Guest stars: Abby Brammell, Tangi Miller, Tatyana Ali, Big Boy, Courtney Gains, Michael Cudlitz, and Antonio Fargas | |||||
| 3 | "Gone Native" | Josh Pate | Alexandra Cunningham | October 30, 2002 | 175754 |
|
Billie assigns the duo to take on a brother-sister team of arms dealing Russian mobsters. After getting their cover almost blown by an ATF agent, Billie wants them to find out whether he's dirty or not. Guest stars: Rod Rowland, Ilia Volok, Natasha Alam, Levani, Lamont Johnson, and the Red Elvises | |||||
| 4 | "Things Done Changed" | Josh Pate | Salvatore J. Stabile | November 6, 2002 | 175755 |
|
Deaq's ex-girlfriend contacts him to get him to help her get rid of her husband. As it turns out, her husband is a known criminal and Billie decides to let them go undercover anyway to get him off the streets. Guest stars: Terrence Howard, Tammy Townsend, Robert LaSardo, Dex Elliott Sanders, Jeff Philips, and Big Boy | |||||
| 5 | "Ryde or Die" | Winrich Kolbe | Josh Appelbaum | November 13, 2002 | 175753 |
|
Billie forcefully assigns the boys to go after an Ecstasy dealer for no apparent reason. As the case unfolds, it's revealed Billie is a former heroin addict, and that the Ecstasy dealer was her provider of said heroin. Guest stars: Bill Duke, Salvator Xuereb, Big Boy, and Biz Markie | |||||
| 6 | "Ray Ray" | Marcos Siega | Matthew Carnahan & John McNamara | November 20, 2002 | 175756 |
|
To stop a recently inherited crime boss seeking counterfeit to pay off Colombian mobsters, Van seeks help from his father, Raymond 'Ray-Ray' Ray. Guest stars: Robert Forster, Iggy Pop, Brad Hawkins, T.J. Thyne, and Big Boy | |||||
| 7 | "Wet" | Chris Long | Kevin G. Boyd | November 27, 2002 | 175757 |
|
When the contracted murder of club owner/thug, Wisdom Bailey, goes awry, Billie sends in Van to find out if a suspected hit woman, Sophia Jones, is the woman who tried killing him. Guest stars: Jamie Brown and Lamont Johnson | |||||
| 8 | "Mighty Blue" | Guy Bee | Josh Appelbaum | December 4, 2002 | 175758 |
|
Billie's best friend, Alexa Tan, receives help from Van and Deaq to take down Chinese Triad leader, Jackson Yu. Deaq and Alexa, however, seem to be more interested in each other rather than the case itself. Guest stars: Catherine Kwong and Ian Anthony Dale | |||||
| 9 | "Get Your Mack On" | Leslie Libman | John McNamara | December 11, 2002 | 175751 |
|
After several prostitutes go missing, Van and Deaq are sent in after a murderous pimp, Nathan, to make sure it never happens again. Everything goes wrong when one of the prostitutes they're using to get in with Nathan turns out to be dating a federal prosecutor, and Nathan wants her dead. Guest stars: Pras, Bill Duke, Bianca Kajlich, and Channon Roe Cameo appearance: Michelle Forbes as Lena | |||||
| 10 | "Dogtown" | David Barrett | Matthew Carnahan | January 10, 2003 | 175760 |
|
After busting one of Billie's former snitches, the snitch opts to let them take out the "Circle Gang" he's part of and their marijuana dealing schemes. But the snitch seems to have his own scheme in mind, instead. Guest stars: John Asher, Eric Mabius, Nicole Paggi, Billy Rieck, and Big Boy | |||||
| 11 | "Strap On" | Greg Yaitanes | Kim Newton | January 17, 2003 | 175762 |
|
With several rich people's houses being recently robbed, Billie sends in Van and Deaq to take down the girls behind the burglaries, only to discover they are lesbians. Instead, Billie opts to go undercover with Van as a lesbian coming out of a marriage to a criminal. Guest stars: Jamie Pressly, Colleen Porch, Danny Murphy, Paul Ben-Victor, and Big Boy Special guest appearance: George Hamilton | |||||
| 12 | "101" | Sanford Bookstaver | John McNamara | January 24, 2003 | 175761 |
|
The entire team helps rookie officer, Jarod, solve his first case against blackmailers who may be involved in the suicide of Jarod's friend. Guest stars: Mark Famiglietti, Hudson Leick, Bradford Tatum, and Jake Busey | |||||
| 13 | "Defense (Part 1)" | Marcos Siega | Josh Appelbaum | January 31, 2003 | 175763 |
|
The team begins a case against a cop killer known as "Cyrus One", only to discover his tribe is involved in far more than that. Internal Affairs officer, Roland Hill, seeks out Billie to tell her she, Van and Deaq are being watched closely. The episode ends with a cliffhanger. Guest stars: Jay Mohr, Treach, Krista Allen, and Ricky Harris | |||||
| 14 | "Offense (Part 2)" | Sanford Bookstaver | John McNamara | February 7, 2003 | 175764 |
|
The cliffhanger is resolved, Billie gets sentenced to jail for the murder of Cyrus by an agent on the inside, Skylar Case. Internal Affairs gives Van and Deaq 72 hours to solve the case and find out if she's dirty, without use of the Candy Store. Guest stars: Bill Duke, Jay Mohr, Krista Allen, Ricky Harris, Andy Umberger, Mark Famiglietti, and Big Boy | |||||
| 15 | "Popdukes" | Josh Pate | Leonard Dick | February 14, 2003 | 175765 |
|
Van's father is released from prison and as far as Van can see, he's no longer interested in the life of crime. Until Nigerian criminals attempt to kill him, then Billie wants him to go under with Van and Deaq to settle it by giving the crime boss savings bonds of enormous amounts, which will result in the boss's arrest. Guest stars: Robert Forster, Jenny McCarthy, and Evan Parke (credited as Evan Dexter Parke) | |||||
| 16 | "Slippery Slope" | Guy Bee | Kim Newton & Case Krell | March 7, 2003 | 175767 |
|
Cassidy Shaw, who was let go at the end of the pilot, has been scamming and conning her way across the country and Billie puts Van and Deaq up to the challenge to get her. Many things go wrong, even so much as criminals contracted by Cassidy's boyfriend's boss trying to kill her. Eventually, Sophia Jones (from the episode "Wet", who escaped prison in the end) is one of the contract killers. Guest stars: Jamie Brown, Jennifer Sky, Costas Mandylor, Ned Schmidtke, and Robert Lipton | |||||
| 17 | "Simone Says" | Paris Barclay | Alexandra Cunningham | March 14, 2003 | 175766 |
|
A former arms dealer recently gone straight is worried about his own safety and the safety of his teenage daughter, Simone. After realizing its best for her to know that she's being protected, he decides to let Van and Deaq guard her in public. Guest stars: Bill Duke, Mischa Barton, Don McManus, Timothy V. Murphy, and Mark Sheppard Cameo appearance: Jillian Barberie as herself | |||||
| 18 | "Monster" | David Straiton | Alexandra Cunningham | March 21, 2003 | 175759 |
|
A gang banger's brother is murdered and Aquarius wants Van and Deaq to find the murderer and promises no gang related crimes will result from finding the man, who ends up being a rich white guy who runs a modeling agency with his wife. Guest stars: Samuel Ball (credited as Sam Ball), Lobo Sebastian, Rebecca Mader, Darren Kennedy, and Big Boy | |||||
| 19 | "Overkill" | Bill Duke | Hunt Baldwin & John Coveny | March 28, 2003 | 175768 |
|
Van and Deaq are sent after worldwide arms dealers who ship the weapons from Los Angeles to many international cities. Once their initial bust in Morocco goes awry, they discover the guns were stored in crates containing CD's from one label and they assume he, or someone working with him, is behind the distribution. Guest stars: Vondie Curtis-Hall, Bokeem Woodbine, Rowena King (credited as Roweena King), David Chisum (credited as David Chism), Joan Pringle, Clarence Williams III, and Big Boy Cameo appearance: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. as himself | |||||
| 20 | "Asslane" | David Barrett | Josh Appelbaum | April 4, 2003 | 175769 |
|
Billie splits the team up for their latest assignment against a bimonthly meth deal called "The Summit" that goes down between two parties. Deaq goes after Murdoch and Ghost Goucher, the producers, as a dirt bike loving, meth smoking criminal. Van goes after the distributor, Lena Savage, a porn producer, as a porn star agent. Billie joins Van in the case as a porn star. Internal Affairs officer, Roland Hill, requests Billie sends in her old friend and informant, Nat Raiden, to help die mark the meth produced. Guest stars: Naomi Campbell, Tommy Lee, Navi Rawat, Scott William Winters, and Jay Mohr | |||||
| 21 | "Dosed (Part 1)" | Sanford Bookstaver | David H. Goodman | April 18, 2003 | 175770 |
|
After going on a date with his hotel clerk, Hillary, Van gets poisoned by an unknown man who calls him offering Van the antidote in exchange for breaking out a prisoner. During the cliffhanger, Billie discovers clues that lead her to think the blackmailer is her former protege. Guest stars: Ali Landry, Hal Ozsan, Darren Richardson, Kurupt, Clarence Williams III, and Big Boy | |||||
| 22 | "Iced (Part 2)" | Sanford Bookstaver | John McNamara | April 25, 2003 | 175771 |
|
Billie's former protege is revealed to be the blackmailer all along, apparently looking for revenge against her. He requests this time that they rob a bank in exchange for him giving up the names of the families he's poisoned with the same drug Van was poisoned with. The episode ends with an unresolved cliffhanger. Guest stars: Jay Mohr, Bill Duke, Ali Landry, Gina Tognoni, and Kirk Acevedo | |||||
DVD release
Warner Home Video released Fastlane: The Complete Series on DVD as a six disc set on July 8, 2008 in the Region 1. The soundtrack was significantly altered for the DVD release due to licensing issues.[2] Episodes are cropped to be in the original 4:3 format rather than the 16:9 widescreen format as they initially appeared on television.
The complete series was instant streaming on Netflix until the summer of 2011 when it was taken off for unknown reasons.
References
External links
- Fastlane at the Internet Movie Database
- Fastlane at TV.com