Overview

Chase is an American action‑drama television series that premiered on the NBC network during the 2010–2011 broadcast season. The show followed a specialized fugitive‑apprehension unit and emphasized mobile operations, surveillance and pursuit tactics. It was conceived as a procedural with a strong action component and a focus on episodic captures rather than long serialized arcs.

Premise and format

The central premise revolved around a team of U.S. Marshals (or a similarly organized federal fugitive unit) who tracked, located and arrested high‑risk fugitives across the country. Episodes typically featured a single case per hour, blending investigation, stakeouts, undercover work and physical chases. Production emphasized realistic fieldwork, vehicle pursuit scenes and coordination between team members.

Production and broadcast history

NBC gave the series a midseason launch and, after initial episodes, ordered a full season of 22 episodes on October 19, 2010. Ratings did not meet network expectations and the program was moved out of its original prime‑time slot late in its run. On April 6, 2011, NBC announced that the remaining episodes would be broadcast on Saturday nights beginning April 23; the final episode aired May 21, 2011. Following its removal from the schedule, the series was replaced in NBC's lineup by another program.

Reception and cancellation

Critical and audience response was mixed. Reviewers praised the show for its action sequences and procedural structure but criticized certain elements of characterization and originality within a crowded field of law‑enforcement dramas. The shift of remaining episodes to Saturday nights—a common network practice for winding down underperforming series—signalled that the show would not be renewed for a second season.

Cast, characters and themes

The ensemble cast portrayed members of the fugitive team: field agents, tactical specialists and support staff. Performances emphasized teamwork and the professional stresses of fugitive work, including ethical dilemmas and the personal costs of a high‑risk assignment. One of the series' better‑known performers later went on to appear in other prominent network dramas.

Notable facts

  • The series combined episodic case‑of‑the‑week storytelling with action‑oriented production values.
  • NBC ordered a full 22‑episode season but chose to burn off the final episodes on Saturdays.
  • After its conclusion the network replaced the program in its schedule with a different drama.

For original broadcast information and scheduling details see the network record: NBC.