She Spies

''She Spies'' is an American action-adventure television show that ran from July 20, 2002, until May 17, 2004, in two seasons. The show was sold into syndication but the first four episodes premiered on NBC, whose syndication arm was one of the producers. Disappointing ratings during the show's second season led to its cancellation after season two ended. ''She Spies'' bore noticeable production and direction similarities with ''Charlie's Angels'' and ''Totally Spies!''.

Plot

Three female convicted felons who were incarcerated for electronic crimes ("DD"), confidence tricks ("Cassie") and battery ("Shane") are paroled from prison in exchange for work as secret operatives for the US government under 'ComCent', a branch of the ISD. In addition, they have to answer to a special agent in charge of the success of their operations and of making sure that the terms of their conditional release are consistently followed.

Cast

* Natasha Henstridge as Cassandra "Cassie" Anne McBain
* Kristen Miller as Deedra "D.D." Cummings
* Natashia Williams as Shane Phillips
* Carlos Jacott as Jack Wilde
* Jamie Iglehart as Duncan Baleu
* Cameron Daddo as Quentin Cross

Production

The show was created by a couple of NBC advertising executives, Vince Manze and Joe Livecchi, for MGM Television.

The show was produced by NBC Enterprises and MGM Worldwide Television Group, and during development was under the title of ''B.A.I.T.''

The women used martial arts and hand-to-hand combat as fighting skills. No guns were used as weapons.

Writing

"I was looking to do ''Lethal Weapon'' or ''Rush Hour'' with women." - Vince Manze

''She Spies'' had very strong comic and chick flick elements which in many instances proved even more relevant to the storytelling than the spy-related situations and gadgets themselves. The type of humor changed markedly from season one to season two, with the former containing much self-referential humor and breaking of the "fourth wall", while both these elements were removed in season two.

Casting

Natasha Henstridge who played Cassie wasn't keen to sign up for the show as she was not interested in the same old "three spies" story, but the makers convinced her that the show would be planned as a spoof, have many comedy elements and no drama like ''Charlie's Angels''.

Release

NBC scheduled a showing of ''Species'' as a lead-in before the premiere.

From Saturday, 20 July 2002, at 10 p.m., and then for a total of four consecutive weeks, NBC broadcast ''She Spies''. It did not air on NBC in the fall, but went into first-run syndication, on 30 September 2002, a partnership of ''NBC Enterprises'' and ''MGM Television''.

Reception

"following the departure of Pamela Anderson’s '' V.I.P.'', and this could certainly satiate the guys looking for sarcasm, short skirts and chicanery. Show attempts to be to ''Charlie's Angels'' what the Leslie Nielsen starrer '' Police Squad'' was to cop shows"

Episodes

Home media

''She Spies: The Complete First Season'' was released on March 14, 2006, by MGM Home Entertainment in a 4-DVD set.

Further reading

*

References

External links

She Spies
- TV Guide

She Spies
- Metacritic

She Spies
- TV Insider
* {{IMDb title, 315064

2002 American television series debuts
2004 American television series endings
NBC television dramas
American spy television series
First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
Television series by MGM Television
Television shows set in Los Angeles
Television shows set in Newport Beach, California
American action adventure television series
American spy comedy television series