The Final Season: Trailblazing Series FLASHPOINT Goes Out With a Bang, Beginning Sept. 20 on CTV

- Team One faces its toughest challenges yet in fifth and final season -
- Hosted by Ben Mulroney and co-host Hugh Dillon, ETALK celebrates final season with half-hour FLASHPOINT special, airing Sept. 16 -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/QjinLC

TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - The final scene has been shot. Episode #75 is in the can. And the set for the SRU - Strategic Response Unit - Headquarters has officially closed up shop. Now, it's time to celebrate the final season of Canada's trailblazing series, FLASHPOINT. With production wrapped this summer on 13 action-packed episodes, the fifth and final season will premiere Thursday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. The drama reaches a fevered pitch in the shocking series finale - one that changes Team One forever and will go down as the most action-packed Canadian television episode in recent memory (broadcast info TBD).

Viewers can catch up on full episodes of FLASHPOINT across CTV's digital platforms following its television broadcast on CTV.ca, the CTV App, the CTV Mobile channel on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners, such as Bell Fibe TV.

**Media Note** Photography for FLASHPOINT is available online at BellMediaPR.ca

Leading up to the premiere, ETALK kicks-off the final season celebration with a special half-hour preview, ETALK PRESENTS: FLASHPOINT, airing Sunday, Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. Hosted by Ben Mulroney alongside co-host Hugh Dillon, the special provides a sneak peek of the new season and takes a look back at the past four seasons.

"In addition to entertaining millions, FLASHPOINT inspired an industry and paved the way for other successful Canadian series that have followed," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. "Congratulations - and thank you - to the amazing cast and crew on a wonderful run as we celebrate the 13 final episodes."

In Season 5, Team One faces its toughest challenges yet, ones that make its members wrestle with the very reasons they chose their paths as police officers. They question what they've always taken for granted - the peace they protect and the justice it is meant to bring.

In the premiere episode "Broken Peace" (Sept. 20), Team One tears through the city in pursuit of James Mitchell (guest star Ty Olson, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1), an armed and volatile man hunting for his ex-wife Michelle (Lisa Houle, EMILY OF NEW MOON). James' frantic daughter May (Brooke Palsson, LESS THAN KIND) fills the team in on the history of violence and abuse that she and her mother have escaped. As the team corners James on a hotel rooftop, a shocking turn forces Ed into taking a shot he wasn't prepared for.

Originally developed by CTV, a pilot for FLASHPOINT (then called SNIPER) was shot in 2007. In January, 2008, CBS joined on as broadcast partner before the series began principal photography in the spring of 2008. FLASHPOINT premiered on July 11, 2008 on CTV and CBS, with 1.13 million viewers in Canada, and 8.72 million viewers in the U.S. FLASHPOINT was the fist Canadian series since DUE SOUTH to air in network primetime in both Canada and the United States, leading the way for several other Canadian series to head south of the border and air on U.S. networks.

Over the next four seasons, FLASHPOINT went on to become a sure-fire hit, with the most recent season averaging 1.51 million viewers both in and out of simulcast. FLASHPOINT has been nominated 80 times for numerous awards, including the Gemini Awards, Directors Guild of Canada Awards, Writers Guild of Canada Awards, ACTRA and PRISM. The series has won 11 Gemini Awards, including Best Dramatic Series, Best Writing in a Dramatic Series (Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern), Best Direction in a Dramatic Series (Kelly Makin), Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (Enrico Colantoni), and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series (Sergio Di Zio).

In addition to ION Television in the U.S., FLASHPOINT is also licensed in more than 100 territories worldwide, including RTL2 in Germany, Canal Plus in France and Veronica in the Netherlands.

Returning for Season 5 are viewer favourites Hugh Dillon (DURHAM COUNTY) as Ed Lane, team leader and lead sniper; Enrico Colantoni (VERONICA MARS) as Gregory Parker, the team sergeant and head negotiator; Amy Jo Johnson (FELICITY) as Julianna "Jules" Callaghan, secondary negotiator and rappelling expert; David Paetkau (WHISTLER) as Sam Braddock, the young hot-shot sniper on the team; and Sergio Di Zio (JUST BURIED) as Mike "Spike" Scarlatti, explosives and tactical toys expert. Olunike Adeliyi re-joins the Strategic Response Unit (SRU) as officer Leah Kerns.

FLASHPOINT is produced by Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment in association with CTV and ION Television. Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos serve as executive producers. Co-creators/executive producers Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern helm the writing department. Trish Williams and Gosia Kamela are the CTV Production Executives working with the series. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports. Vera and Tele Munchen are the international distributors.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter:
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@FlashpointTeam1
@Flashpoint_TV (co-creator's Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern's popular feed)

Facebook:
facebook.com/CTV.Flashpoint
facebook.com/FPTOne

About CTV
CTV is Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.

Source: BBM Canada, original episodes
Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters

SOURCE: CTV

Jim Quan, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]  
Tonia Addison, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]