Last modified: 26 January 1997, Version 2.0
Disclaimers: The information contained herein has been derived from internet sources (discussion lists, web sites, usenet groups) as well as official Alliance publicity material, and is accurate and timely to the best of my knowledge. This FAQ is in no way officially affiliated with Alliance Communications or CBS Television. The creation and posting of this document in no way intends to infringe upon copyrights held by Alliance Communications, CBS Television, or any other due SOUTH copyright holders. Listing of web sites and/or material does not imply endorsement.
Please do not post this document to any Internet lists/newsgroups or printed forums without prior permission. This document may be downloaded or distributed for private use as long as no fees are charged and no modifications are made. For web site owners: It is preferable that this document be linked to your site as this will ensure that visitors will read the most up-to-date information possible; however, you may download and post the FAQ to your site as long as no changes are made. The FAQ is located at William Rydbom's web site (address under 6.4 World Wide Web Sites).
This document was conceived and created by cmcc@charm.net and revised by JRD 203@aol.com. Many thanks go out to the fans and DS personnel who have graciously shared information without which this document would not have been possible. If you have additions or corrections to this site, please send them to the JRD 203@aol.com address above.
For those new to the World Wide Web, please be aware that when you click on highlighted sections, it will take you to another part of this document, or even off-site to another web page entirely. Use your browser's 'back' button to return to this FAQ, or be sure to write down the URL.
This site is best viewed in Netscape or Internet Explorer.
You've reached the due SOUTH Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. This document summarizes major topics about the TV show due SOUTH, and provides references to more detailed information. This FAQ is divided into several sections:
January 27, 1997
The FAQ document has been updated to include second season information, as well as more information on what's out there on the Internet.
Sadly, CBS did not renew the series for a third season. Under the terms of the production deal, funding from a US network supplied a significant part of the production costs. While CTV and other Canadian sources were prepared to fund the show in its entirety, it appeared that a US partner was necessary for the show to continue. In fall 1996, the Toronto Star printed an article stating that Alliance was in the process of securing foreign investment to produce a third season. Stay tuned!
due SOUTH is shown in a variety of foreign countries. For the most up-to-date information, please go to 5.2 Production/Distribution.
Paul Haggis is currently the executive producer of the CBS series EZ Streets. For more information on this gritty crime drama, please go to http://members.aol.com/SaveEZSts.
It was also the name of a fan-run due SOUTH convention held in Toronto in August 1996.
Be warned: watching for license plates is but one symptom of Due South Withdrawal Syndrome (DSWS), the effects of which intensify in the absence of new DS programs.
U.S. and Canadian fans can purchase the Pilot movie on NSTC (VHS) tape from Canadian sources. It is not sold in the U.S. There is word that several first season episodes may soon be available for purchase in North America in Spring 1997.
The production company was asked for their opinion on friends making copies of episodes taped off television. The response gained from informal phone calls seems to be 'go ahead with sharing tapes'. Fans from all over appreciate this attitude, which, while not an official legal position, eases our minds when the topic comes up.
The list members who looked up the legalities of copyright law interpret the law to mean that such tape copying and/or trading is not a problem as long as no one is making a profit from it. That is, it would be okay to ask for compensation for materials (a new tape and postage) but nothing more.
This covers the issue of episodes that were taped off television, and not commercially produced tapes. To reproduce those is copyright infringement and a no-no. By bootlegging those tapes, you are depriving Alliance of revenue - money that could fund new episodes of the show.
Make up your own mind whether you feel comfortable trading tapes or looking for copies.
Having described the issues surrounding a simple request for a copy of a tape of an episode, the best place to contact people to look for a tape would be on the DSOUTH-L discussion list. See 6.0 due SOUTH on the Internet to find out how to join this list.
Literary members of the DSOUTH-L list believe the poem to be "The Windhover" by Gerald Manley Hopkins (1844-1889).
Constable Benton Fraser is a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.) posted to consular duty in Chicago. He first came to Chicago searching for his father's killer, working with Detective Ray Vecchio of the Chicago Police Department in the course of the investigation. Fraser's actions to bring his father's killers to justice made him unwelcome among his R.C.M.P. superiors, who posted him to duties at the Chicago consulate for the indeterminate future. Accompanied by his deaf wolf Diefenbaker, Fraser works unofficially with Ray Vecchio in finding and solving crimes when not serving as doorman at the Canadian Consulate.
3.2 THE CHARACTERS
Constable Benton Fraser (rhymes with 'razor') is a modest man of firm character. He was raised by his librarian grandparents after his mother died when Benton was six years of age. He spent most of his childhood in the far reaches of the Northwest Territories, living in Alert, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, among other places. His father, Sgt. Robert Fraser, was a career Mountie, apparently rarely home, but served as a role model for Fraser, who later joined the R.C.M.P. himself. Sgt. Fraser's death was a turning point in Fraser's life, as it brought about the inquiry that resulted in his posting to Chicago. Fraser is still influenced by his father from beyond the grave, reading his father's journals when seeking advice or insight into difficult situations. In times of stress, his father appears to him and they hold conversations, although not always bringing the answers that Fraser needs.
Fraser's upbringing in the "Territories" (presumed to be the Northwest Territories, although this is not explicitly stated), and subsequent postings there brought him in contact with the Inuit, whom he respect greatly. The Inuit are responsible for developing his talents in backwoods survival and tracking skills, but more importantly, for his attitudes toward respecting life. As the Inuit are a significant point of reference for Fraser, he is often found relating an Inuit tale to make a point.
Fraser had been a member of the R.C.M.P. for 13 years at the time of the Pilot, and was approximately 34 years old (he was 7 years old in '69) in 1994. He is known for his tenaciousness in tracking and apprehending his chosen quarry, and is considered diligent to the point of folly by some of his peers. The specialized nature of his tracking skills have resulted in continual postings to remote areas; his only posting to a city (Moose Jaw) ended after just five weeks, terminated by his inability to adjust to city life.
He has made his life in Chicago little different from a posting in Canada. Arriving with only a backpack containing uniforms, bedroll and camping gear, he now resides in an austere apartment where the only personal items are his clothes, a poster and his father's locker. In deference to city living he has added items like a lamp, but mostly relies on borrowing modern conveniences from his neighbors when the situation warrants, on the condition that he has them repaired before returning them.
Fraser's relationship with Ray Vecchio is based on respect for their common interest in upholding the law ("Maintiens le droit" being the Mountie motto). Ray's casual attitude about the finer points of the law, such as use of turn signals, has been known to irritate Fraser, which only encourages Ray to further transgressions. Nonetheless, they share a willingness to go to any lengths to see justice done.
Fraser's constant companion through all this is a deaf wolf, Diefenbaker, who saved Fraser's life by pulling him out of Prince Rupert Sound. As a rule, Diefenbaker ignores Fraser, who attributes Dief's intransigence to the wolf's deafness. Fraser finds Dief's independence irritating, but he wouldn't have it any other way, maintaining Dief's right to make his own decisions.
Admittedly, Fraser is attractive, a fact not unnoticed by apparently all members of the opposite sex. The attentions of the women with whom he comes in contact appear to confuse him, resulting in his ignoring all their overtures with polite disregard. All except for Victoria Metcalf, a bank robber he once had occasion to arrest. In the course of tracking her, he spent several days with her caught in a snowstorm, somehow attributing their survival to her. Despite this, he still turned her over to authorities when they reached civilization, a fact that he has somehow regretted ever since. He has convinced himself that she is the only woman he will ever love, a fact that has tragic results when they meet again.
When his superior (Inspector Moffat) was promoted, Fraser was given a new and more determined superior -- Inspector Margaret Thatcher. At first she disliked him – and fired him -- but soon the two Mounties became attracted to each other. They expressed their desire for each other on top of a runaway train filled with 32 unconscious Mounties but after that, the relationship cooled -- only because it didn't seem to be proper decorum.
Fraser has other skills to offer - a good singing voice, a fine drawing hand, typing and computer skills (100 words per minute; he can use Chicago PD computers which Ray cannot), horseback riding, and dogsled driving. All valuable skills that contribute greatly to his present duties as doorman at the Canadian consulate. When duties permit he retreats to his father's cabin in "the Territories."
Ray Vecchio, detective with the Chicago Police Department, is the product of a big Italian family. With a close family, he is about as different from Fraser as a man can get. Extroverted, he shares the house left to him by his father with his mother, his divorced sister Francesca, married sister Maria and her lazy husband Tony.
On the Chicago police force for approximately a decade, Ray, presumably in his early to mid 30's, is a plainclothes detective, although plain hardly describes his apparel. Ray is known for his distinctive clothes, adopted partly to blend in with the neighborhood where his criminal quarry reside. Fortunately as his undercover work dwindled, his attire approved. His unconventional, breezy, working style is regarded with resignation by his peers, as he apparently gets results. Ray takes great pride in his 1971 Buick Riviera for reasons known only to him. He is now on his third one, as he shot and blew up the first one to save his and Fraser's lives, and the second one was destroyed in a car bomb meant for him (but which tragically killed Louis Gardino).
Ray's relationship to Fraser started out as exasperation as Fraser involved him in case after case, but he has come around to appreciate the effectiveness of techniques that are as quirky as his own. Underneath, Ray is as dedicated to seeing justice done as Fraser is, only with a more pragmatic attitude that balances effort against the probable result.
Given the amount of time Ray spends on the job, he has very little social life. The one woman that touched his heart was an undercover agent for the department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, agent Suzanne Chapin, who ran him over, shot at him, then hit him in the head with her gun. It was obvious that the attraction was there. But she left town when the job was done -- never to contact Ray again?
In the second season, it was revealed that Ray was divorced. His ex-wife Angie lives in or around town. Whether or not they ever get together again depends on whether the show comes back.
He also pursued, and courted briefly, State's Attorney Louise St. Laurent. However, this relationship did not develop and the two have remained platonic friends (or adversaries, in some instances.)
Diefenbacker is a wolf-dog hybrid whom Fraser rescued as a pup from an abandoned mine shaft. Diefenbaker also saved the Mountie's life by pulling him onto the safety of an ice floe in a frigid sound. He has been with Fraser virtually all of his life, demonstrating the same tenacity in pursuing his prey as is shown by Fraser. Diefenbaker is reportedly deaf (the result of exposure to the above-mentioned frigid water), but is believed by Fraser to be able to read lips -- when he wants to. However, there is much evidence to the contrary as to Dief's deafness. Perhaps it is only 'selective' deafness.
Dief has settled into Chicago life, developing his own local pack and selecting a mate, a Husky named Maggie with whom he sired a litter of three puppies.
At the Chicago PD precinct, there are a crew of regulars. Elaine Besbriss is a member of Civilian Aid who provides computer and other assistance to Fraser and Vecchio as needed, particularly in the area of applying first aid to wounds on a bare-chested Fraser.
Other characters include Lt. Harding Welsh who is constantly amazed that Fraser has no other interests in life other than the CPD. Detectives Jack Huey and Louis Gardino ("Huey and Louie") were frequently involved with Ray's cases, if only to express amazement at the odd techniques employed in tracking and apprehending criminals. Louis Gardino unfortunately met a fiery end in a car bomb meant for Ray in the episode "Juliet is Bleeding." Huey apparently works on his own or with other plainclothes detectives.
Occasionally Consulate personnel are shown, to reinforce the importance of Fraser's position in Canadian foreign affairs. One person is Constable Turnbull, whose dead seriousness in his job makes Fraser look downright relaxed at times.
Certain characters appear occasionally, but to great effect.
The ghost of Fraser's father, Sgt Robert Fraser, appears to Fraser whenever Fraser needs moral support or advice.
Ray's father has appeared on occasion, but with less frequency than Sgt. Fraser.
Then there is Ray's sister, Francesca, who is smitten with Fraser and schemes to catch his eye (and whatever else that is within reach). She and Fraser seem to have reached an agreement about how to handle this odd relationship, achieving a truce that both worries and puzzles Ray.
But Fraser apparently has eyes for his new superior, Inspector Margaret Thatcher. She replaced Inspector Moffat during Fraser's recuperation from his bullet wound ("Letting Go"). At first the two Mounties didn't see eye to eye; in fact, she fired Fraser! However, they now seem to get along and there is the potential for a romantic involvement.
Certain characters have appeared only once or twice, but have contributed greatly to the episodes in question.
Sgt. Buck Frobisher is a friend of Fraser's father, and a role model for Fraser. Fraser was able to help him out of a mess, cementing their friendship.
Willie, a mischief-maker in Chicago, is a young teenager whom Fraser has taken under his wing and shows up from time to time.
Victoria Metcalf is Fraser's one and only love. After her release from prison she enacted her revenge by seducing him, then blackmailing him to convert stolen money. In the end he got shot for his pains while she got away.
Suzanne Chapin, an agent from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has caught Ray's eye and his heart.
Angie Vecchio, Ray's ex-wife. A former police officer. Unknown as to the reasons for their divorce.
Ian MacDonald is a pathological liar whom Fraser once had to extradite back to Canada. This resulted in the loss of Ray's first Riviera. He came back once after that to plague both Fraser and Ray with stories of alien abductions.
Irene Zuko, a love from Ray's teenage years. She married someone else and left town, but returned when the marriage broke up. Ray rekindled their romance, only her brother Frank Zuko (Ray's lifelong enemy) did not like it. Tragically, she died in a fight between Ray and Frank.
For more information on Fraser and Ray, from a writer's perspective, check out the 'Character Sketches' located on the due SOUTH Fan Fiction Resource Site (See 6.4 World Wide Web Sites).
3.3 FIRST SEASON
In the initial two-hour Pilot movie, Benton Fraser is stationed in the Northwest Territories when he hears of his father's death. His investigation leads him to Chicago, where he meets Ray Vecchio, getting Ray injured in the course of their research. Sent back to Canada, Fraser is visited by Ray, now recovered, just in time to uncover the secret for which his father died. After an ambush by the killers, the two apprehend the man responsible for Robert Fraser's death. The consequences of this arrest make it difficult for Fraser to remain in Canada, so he resumes his posting in Chicago.
What follows is a brief episode guide to the first season, 1994-1995. A more complete guide, including synopsis, guest stars and music credits can be found in the official episode guide as prepared by the due SOUTH production office, as well as at fan-created web sites.
* original CBS airdate--Saturday at 9PM (after Dr. Quinn)
** special presentation--Wednesday at 9PM
***special two-hour presentation
What follows is a brief episode guide to the second season, 1995-1996. A more complete guide, including synopsis, guest stars and music credits can be found in the official episode guide as prepared by the due SOUTH production office, as well as at fan-created web sites.
The show is set in Chicago, principally in the Chicago police department precinct, Fraser's apartment at 221 W. Racine and the neighborhood surrounding it. Occasionally Ray's house or the Fraser's father's cabin is shown. The single recurring Canadian 'location' is the Canadian Consulate.
3.6 SYMBOLS
The show is full of inside jokes and symbols for the perceptive.
There is a theory going around that Diefenbaker represents Fraser's alter ego, the side that Fraser suppresses. Fraser attributes feelings and attitudes to Diefenbaker that would be more appropriate for Fraser to express, such as exasperation, impatience, embarrassment, reluctance to spend time with seniors, etc. Diefenbaker has also acted as a surrogate Fraser in pursuing and tracking criminals at Fraser's behest. Diefenbaker, by siring a litter, also assumes a more mature role, that of father, that Fraser is not yet prepared to accept
Ray's car, a green 1971 Buick Riviera, is treasured by him, as symbolized by his hunt first for a certain cigarette lighter that he will never ignite, then by the car's exact replacement when he was forced to shoot out its gas tank to get out of a tight situation. What does it symbolize? Sometimes a car is just a car...
One can look at the clothes used in the episodes as a clue to the characters. For Fraser, the introvert, clothes represent attitudes and emotions that he won't express. On the other hand, Ray, the extrovert, selects his clothes to reflect an image he wants to project to others.
Fraser appears in several different personas, illustrated by his clothes. He is at this starchiest and most correct when he is dressed in his dress 'reds', the red serge tunic with the riding breeches, boots and hat. Seen this way, he is acting as 'super-cop', more of a hero than a person, the ultimate Mountie, the perfect representative of Canada. This attitude is so ingrained in him that he is probably not conscious of it. When wearing his regulation brown uniform Fraser is stepping into a regular policeman role, performing such routine police chores as making door-to-door inquiries. His most casual 'uniform' would be the R.C.M.P. sweats he wore while recovering from his wounds. In effect he's saying that even while ill, he maintains his R.C.M.P. persona.
Fraser appears to be acting on his own when wearing civilian clothes, neither acting the hero, nor portraying a cop. Examples include his work with senior citizens in "An Eye for an Eye" and his hunt for Diefenbaker in "The Wild Bunch," where his search was personal, not duty. Much of "Victoria's Secret" was costumed in civilian clothes, most notably the ending.
The last and most intimate attire would be the red long johns. Here he is most vulnerable, opening himself up for reflection, searching for insight and help from his father's journals.
Ray, on the other hand, uses clothes to announce his arrival. Always flashy, his clothes fit the persona he consciously wants to project, whether he frequents a bar or attends church. His clothes are as outgoing as he is. He feels as comfortable in flashy clothes as he does in tasteful Armani, as long as the people he's trying to influence understand the image he is projecting.
Special mention needs to be made of Fraser's hat. Fraser is always seen wearing his Stetson; it appears very important to him. Note in "Free Willie" he comments, with some surprise, that he was shot -- in the hat. He was surprised because it appears that the hat acts as protection for Fraser, as if the spirit of the R.C.M.P. protects him whenever he wears it, whether in uniform or not. Whenever he loses the hat something happens to him. In "Victoria's Secret", he leaves the hat on the Riv then runs off, resulting in the hat being flung on the street. Result? Dief is shot. In "Manhunt" the hat flies off his head and he gets stabbed in the leg. In "The Deal" the hat flies off and he is subsequently beaten up. And of course, most of the time he is with Victoria he is hat-less, most notably at the end when he runs toward her and is shot. In "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?," when Fraser and Ray are stuck in a meat locker, Fraser gives Ray his hat, as if the hat will protect Ray from the unaccustomed cold. In "Hawk and a Handsaw," Fraser is admitted to a mental hospital. While there, he adopts the patient dress code of pajamas, but refuses to relinquish the hat, which comes in handy when he and Ray need to find a way out of a padded cell. The evidence is overwhelming that the Hat is an important talisman for Fraser.
At various times supporting characters have been given names of famous Canadian personages, including Lester Pearson, MacDonald, Frobisher, St. Laurent, etc. Other times Canadian university names have been used. Names of sports figures have also been used in the series.
Viewers accustomed to TV series shot in Los Angeles may notice that snow appears more frequently than is seen on other US-based TV series. This has no significance except in the two-hour episode "Victoria's Secret," where snow is used as a symbolic device. It has been suggested that snow is used to represent death or danger. A case has been made to equate snow to insanity, representing Fraser's illogical and overwhelming reaction to Victoria. Whichever theory you subscribe to, snow was a significant element in that episode.
The cast, with the exception of David Marciano, are Canadian. Many of the guest cast can be seen frequently in other Canadian-made TV production, such as F/X, the Series.
4.1 PAUL GROSS as Constable Benton Fraser
Following university, he performed extensively in Canadian regional theaters in addition to forging a writing career. His first play, The Deer and the Antelope Play, performed in Edmonton, won the Clifford E. Lee National Playwriting Award and the Alberta Cultural Playwriting Award (1982). His second play, The Dead of Winter, a Gothic tale of family life in the Badlands of Alberta, was a rousing success in its staging at the Toronto Free Theater.
Artistic Director John Neville then invited him to be playwright-in-residence at the Stratford Festival which, in co-operation with the Toronto Free Theatre, produced his Sprung Rhythm, a study of a megalomaniacal heart surgeon. This play was originally commissioned for the National Arts Center in Ottawa while Gross was the playwright-in-residence. This was a position he also held at The Grand Theater Company, under artistic director Robin Phillips. The Toronto Free Theater also produced Thunder, Perfect Mind, a sci-fi multi-media rock extravaganza, which ran for a year at Toronto's McLaughlin Planetarium.
For television he has written 'In This Corner,' an episode of CBC's "For The Record "series, which dealt with terrorism and its innocent victims and earned a Best TV Drama nomination at the 1986 Gemini Awards. He also wrote the widely-acclaimed drama "Gross Misconduct," concerning the life of Brian Spencer which was produced by CBC and directed by Atom Egoyan (this years winner of the Cannes International Critics Prize for Exotica).
In between writing assignments, Gross occupies his time acting both on stage and screen. His acting talents were recognized with a Dora Award nomination for "Romeo and Juliet" (1985) and a Dora Award for Best Performance in his role in the critically-acclaimed North American premiere of "Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Toward the Somme" (1988), which played at Toronto's Canadian Stage.
On television and film, his numerous starring appearances include "Chasing Rainbows" (CBC), "Getting Married in Buffalo Jump," "Cold Comfort" (Canadian Features/1990), "Buried On Sunday" (Alliance/1992), "Aspen Extreme" (Hollywood Pictures/1992), and "Tales of the City" (PBS Mini-series/1993).
Copyright 1995 Alliance Communications Corporation
Additional Notes: Paul won two Best Actor Geminis (1995 and 1996) for his portrayal of Fraser. He was also nominated for a Gemini for Best Writer for the episode "All the Queen's Horses" in 1997. He is composer (with partner David Keeley) and singer of the song "Ride Forever," which is available on the due SOUTH soundtrack. He is currently working on a country music CD with David Keeley, which is slated for Spring 1997 release. He also recently completed work on the Hallmark CBS television miniseries '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,' due for 1997 release.
4.2 DAVID MARCIANO as Detective Ray Vecchio
Beginning in June of 1983, Marciano spent a year working as an actor in Boston. During that time, he also attended bartender school and worked as a bartender. He appeared in little-theater productions, one local movie, and a commercial for Northeastern University, but he realized he needed more training.
Fortunately, he was accepted into the Drama Studio of London at Berkeley, California. Completing the one year course, he tried finding work as an actor in New York for a time; then in December, 1985, moved to Los Angeles. After working in commercials, he got his first major break: the guest star lead in an episode of "Wiseguy."
Other guest star roles followed in such series as "Duet," "China Beach" and "Vietnam War Story." His film credits include "Come See the Paradise," "Harlem Nights" and "Lethal Weapon II."
Marciano has recently completed Gypsy for CBS, a three-hour mini-series with Bette Midler, Ed Asner, and Cynthia Gibb.
Copyright 1995 Alliance Communications Corporation
Additional Notes: David was also seen in a guest appearance of the CBS TV series 'Touched by An Angel' (1996) and is currently working on plans for another CBS series. He recently finished the six-hour CBS miniseries "The Last Don," which is due for airing sometime in the 1997 TV season.
4.3 LINCOLN as Diefenbaker
At present, Lincoln is enjoying the good life at home.
On the small screen, Tony has appeared on NBC, CBS and ABC in a variety of programs. Highlights of his career to date would include: Hoover vs. the Kennedys; The Return of Eliot Ness; Top Cops; Forever Knight; and the David Cronenberg-directed episode of "Scales of Justice." Tony's film performances include Stephen Williams' "Soul Survivor," and Walt Disney's "The Ref" with Judy Davis and Dennis Leary.
Copyright 1995 Alliance Communications Corporation
For more information on this actor, please check out this web site devoted especially to his talents: http://www.thequest.net/TCEB.
4.5 DANIEL KASH as Detective Louis Gardino
On television, Daniel has had roles in "Charlie Grant's War," "Secret Service" and "Law and Order." He has also appeared in episodes of "Street Legal," "Katts & Dog" "Robocop" and in George Lucas' "Young Indiana Jones." Amongst his many films are James Cameron's "Aliens," Clive Barker's "Nightbreed" and Atom Egoyan's "Gross Misconduct," which was written by his "Due South" co-star Paul Gross. "Gross Misconduct" has won several awards, including San Francisco's Golden Gate Award, as well as garnering Daniel a Gemini Award Nomination for Best Actor.
Copyright 1995 Alliance Communications Corporation
Daniel Kash left the series in mid-second season to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles.
4.6 BEAU STARR as Lt. Harding Welsh
Copyright Alliance Communications Corporation
4.8 WHERE TO WRITE
At present, fan mail can be sent to the performers at these locations. It is very important that you put the performer's name on the envelope. Please allow months for mail to be answered as actors are frequently inundated with fan mail.
This was the address where the production took place over the last two years:
Until official notification is made, please do not send mail to this address. Other production companies have since used this location. Once due SOUTH is up and running again and it is confirmed that mail can be sent to this address, this section will be updated.
At present, no e-mail addresses for fan mail are available. Once one is available from the studio, it will be posted here.
4.9 FAN CLUBS
There are no official, authorized fan clubs for due SOUTH or any of the cast at present. If you wish to create an official fan club for either the series or any of the performers, you must first contact either Alliance Communications or the performers' agents respectively.
There is one unofficial 'snailmail' fan club. Although it now has the capability to pull information from the internet, it is purely a hard-copy (paper) endeavor for those fans who are 'net-less.' A nominal fee is charged to help defray postage and printing costs.
To inquire about exact postage costs to your country, please either e-mail her at: elucas@provider.co.uk or write to the above address. Please include a Self-Addressed Envelope and International Reply Coupon.
The show due SOUTH was a highly rated show in Canada, winning a number of awards for Best Drama and Best Feature at Canada's Gemini awards. The show did not fare as well in the United States, where the Emmys ignored it. Pre-emptions for specials, as well as bad time slots, contributed to poor ratings in the U.S. However, it has found a niche in the foreign market.
Despite the fact that due SOUTH was based in Chicago, Illinois, the actual production of the series took place in Toronto. Fans with sharp eyes will occasionally notice distinctive Canadian items, such as gas prices in litres, the famed CN Tower, and the Canadian flag!
5.1 CAST AND CREW
CONST. BENTON FRASER - Paul Gross
DET. RAY VECCHIO - David Marciano
LT. HARDING WELSH - Beau Starr
DET. LOUIS GARDINO - Daniel Kash (This character died in season two.)
DET. JACK HUEY - Tony Craig
ELAINE BESBRISS - Catherine Bruhier
CBS purchased the broadcast rights in the United States for the first season. These rights expired June 20th (1995), when CBS did not exercise their rights to pick up due SOUTH for the second. The rights were renewed when they invested money into the second season.
At this point, it seems unlikely that CBS will have any more involvement in the production of due SOUTH.
due SOUTH has been sold to over 40 countries around the world. Not all countries have begun airing episodes yet. Complete information about countries, networks, air days and times is not yet available. This section of the site is under constant construction due to programming changes.
In other lands, due SOUTH is known as Uppdrag Chicago, Chicago Kalder, Tandem de choc, Oppdrag Chicago, Ausgerechnet Chicago, and Chicagon ratsupoliisi.
Australia - due SOUTH is not currently airing
Belgium - Sundays on BRTN1
Canada - due SOUTH is not currently airing
Denmark - Saturdays on TV2
Finland - Saturdays
Germany - due SOUTH is not currently airing
Holland - Friday nights
New Zealand - due SOUTH is not currently airing
Norway - due SOUTH is not currently airing
South Africa - Monday nights on Bop-TV
Sweden - Wednesday nights on Kanal 5
Switzerland - Sunday afternoons on TSR
Tasmania - due SOUTH is not currently airing
United Kingdom - Sundays on BBC1 (no commercials)
United States - due SOUTH is not currently airing
Thanks to William Rydbom's web site for providing this information. If anyone has any updates, please send them to JRD 203@aol.com so it can be included in this FAQ. Thank you kindly.
5.3 STORY IDEAS AND SUBMISSIONS
This is the official script submission policy, and even though the show is not in production, this policy still remains in force.
The production company will not accept unsolicited story ideas or materials. Unsolicited ideas will be discarded.
If the production company decides to accept story ideas and scripts for submission to the show, information on how to do so will be posted to the due SOUTH related internet lists.
Even then, there is no guarantee how soon such submissions will be read, nor is it possible to provide feedback, due to the volume of scripts that are submitted. All submissions must be accompanied by a signed release form.
For now, do not send any submissions by fax, e-mail, snail-mail or other means. Should there be any change to this policy, it will be posted.
due SOUTH is a fandom which has benefited greatly from the internet explosion. It has kept the fans in contact with the production office. Its power also enabled fans to rally together for a letter-writing campaign to help bring the series back for a second season.
Much of the on-line activity concerning due SOUTH occurs on the Internet. However, due SOUTH information is available through the on-line services as well. Scott Cooper, formerly a 'story department coordinator' in the due SOUTH production company, assumed the role of liaison to the Internet, participating in groups and disseminating information as it became available. He provided information, episode guides, cast biographies, and air schedules.
6.1 ON-LINE SERVICES
Go to Keyword 'TV Viewers'; then click on Primetime and Late Night, then on Syndicated Shows D-F, then on CBS-Due South.
There is also a weekly chat in a Private Room. To join, you must be on AOL. Go to Keyword and type in People Connection. Choose List Rooms. Choose Private Rooms. Type in Due South. Chats are regularly scheduled at 7:00 p.m. E.S.T.
Files can be found in the eTV library in the Classic TV library (Library 9). Keyword search for Due South.
Discussion still takes place in the Legal/Police Dramas section (Section 10). Currently, there are no weekly chats.
Categories / Arts & Entertainment / Television & Radio / The Television Forum / Television Programs / Shows A-H / Due South
(1)Jump TV BB / Topics A-M / locate topics beginning with D; (2) Jump CBS / Bulletin Boards / locate topics beginning with D; (3) Jump Canada BB / Entertainment / locate dueSOUTH topic.
6.2 MAILING LISTS
Listed below are two discussion lists for this show. You must subscribe to these lists in order to participate, and each list has their own set of rules.
This list exists to discuss due SOUTH, Canadian culture, and anything else remotely related to due SOUTH. With over 600 members on this list from several different countries, this is possibly the most active due SOUTH discussion list. Because of the possibility that production personnel could frequent this list, no fan fiction, nor in-depth discussion of potential storylines (third season plots) is permitted.
To subscribe to this list send e-mail to
with the message
supplying your first and last name where indicated.
You will get a confirming message back with further information.
This list is moderated by and Missy (missy@ocean.nova.edu) who has established rules of conduct meant to keep this list as a pleasant place to 'hang out' and discuss due SOUTH. These rules are posted occasionally. You may also be asked to post an 'intro' to the list. See the sign-up mail for details.
This list was formed in celebration of the television show, due SOUTH, and is intended to provide a forum upon which to exchange ideas, information and comments regarding the program. Because no present (or former) production personnel are members of this list, fans are free to discuss all aspects of due SOUTH, including personal observations, characters, speculation and storylines of potential new seasons, fan fiction (but no posting of actual fiction), as well as a variety of other fascinating topics.
For information regarding this list and subscribing instructions, please send an e-mail to Quelin@aol.com. Indicate that you are interested in subscribing in the subject line of your message. Please note that no anonymous memberships are allowed.
6.3 USENET
A Usenet newsgroup has been created for due SOUTH. Look for
alt.tv.due-south.
6.4 WORLD WIDE WEB
There are now many WWW home pages that carry due SOUTH content. Some of these home pages are dedicated solely to due SOUTH, while others are personal pages with due SOUTH topics on them. With the exception of the Official home page, all sites are created by fans.
There is also a Usenet newsgroup for fan fiction:
The following is the fan fiction resource site, which contains files and links to other sites which is very handy for research when writing fiction. Need to know the statistics of Inuvik? You can probably find it here!
InterRelay Chat (IRC) is a way to 'talk' on-line with other DueSers. To participate, you need IRC software. IRC software can be downloaded from:
To obtain an up-to-date list of servers around the world, check out:
ftp://ftp.comco.com/pub/irc/server-list-current
Currently, DueSers gather on an Efnet server, channel #duesouth. If you need an Efnet server, select one from this list:
Then select channel on #duesouth
When an IRC session is slated with a due SOUTH performer, efforts will be made to post that information to any and all lists so that as many people as possible can participate.
There are instructions on how to understand the IRC at http://fly.hiwaay.net/~warydbom/duesouth/ircfaq.htm.
6.6 FTP
Once information on FTP sites is modified, it will be posted to this section.
Fan fiction refers to stories written by fans, using the due SOUTH characters, for the sole consumption of fans. Nowadays, many TV shows have fan followings which produce and consume fan fiction in great quantities. Fan fiction has been around since STAR TREK.
Fan fiction is available in fanzines (either by mail order or at conventions), circuits (small groups of fans who write and pass stories amongst themselves only), specially set up Internet discussion groups, and Usenet news groups.
One hard-copy novella (112 pages) is Partial Recall by Elyse Dickenson. Please contact the author by e-mail at JRD 203@aol.com for more information on availability and price.
There are fan fiction lists available on the internet, where fans submit stories (virtually all of which end up on a web archive). Each list has their own rules (such as content, ratings, etc., which list members must abide by). Listed below are two fiction lists:
To subscribe to DSFICT-L send e-mail to:
with the message
You will get a confirming message back with further information. Judy Stouffer (mjstouff@execpc.com) is the 'listmom,' who will answer any questions you may have.
To subscribe to DIEF (which accepts G - R rated material, some of it adult in nature) send e-mail to majordomo@jbx.com with message text: subscribe dief.
Please look for world wide web sites at 6.4 World Wide Web Sites.
Core pieces of pre-recorded music for each episode are derived from Canadian artists. Sarah McLachlan, Lorena McKennett, Crash Test Dummies, Toronto Symphony etc. are featured on this show.
Incidental music is recorded specifically for each episode. The "three J's" -- Jay Semko, Jack Lenz & John McCarthy -- are responsible for the original music. The composers sit down and watch each episode, with the producers, decide where they want to place special music and then they record it before the final mix.
A full listing of the artists and selections used in each episode can be found on a variety of due SOUTH web sites or click HERE. Use your browser's 'back' button to return to this site.
8.1 RIDE FOREVER
Fans have asked about the song Paul Gross sang at the Gemini awards held in March 1995. Here are the words, written by Paul Gross and David Keeley. No copyright infringement is meant by the reposting of this material.
Since due SOUTH graced the TV screens in 1994, the fans have been clamoring for merchandise. The following items are now available:
9.1 BOOKS
Two novelizations are currently available in the United Kingdom:
The official soundtrack is available on the Unforscene Label (division of Nettwerk). The CD number is #D2-40004. It also available on audiotape (# W4-40004). The soundtrack contains a number of selections from both first and second seasons. It is available in North America and Europe, and is usually located in either the Soundtrack or Import sections.
The soundtrack contains:
North America: U.S. fans must currently purchase any due SOUTH videotapes from Canadian sources. At this point only the PILOT episode is available for sale, although it is reported that several episodes will soon be available for sale in Canada in Spring 1997. These tapes are for play in NSTC machines (those used in the U.S. and Canada).
Europe: The PILOT as well as first and second season episodes are available for purchase on video in the United Kingdom. These are PAL tapes and cannot be played on U.S. video machines.
This section contains items too good to omit that don't necessarily fit anywhere else.
10.1 ACRONYMS
Internet fans of the show have developed their own shorthand for referring to central characters. These acronyms are commonly found in e-mail postings and can be used on IRC sessions as shortcuts. The most common ones are listed here.
The Geminis are awards given for excellence in Canadian television in the same fashion as the United States hands out their Emmys. due SOUTH was nominated for 14 awards for the first season, based on the pilot film and two episodes that aired before the closing date for nominations. Of the 14 nominations, due SOUTH won 4 awards, in the following categories:
Best TV Movie
Paul Haggis, Jean Desormeaux, Jeff King
Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Paul Gross
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
Kathy Slevin and Paul Haggis for The Pilot
In 1996, due SOUTH was nominated for 15 awards and won six. It also won Chrysler Canada's Choice Award (determined from a poll conducted by Canada's TV Guide magazine) for being the favorite TV program of Canadian viewers.
The awards were as follows:
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Paul Gross for Gift of the Wheelman
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
Paul Haggis and David Shore for Hawk and a Handsaw
Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series
Gordon Pinsent in Gift of the Wheelman
Best Direction in a Dramatic or Series
Jerry Ciccoritti for Gift of the Wheelman
Best Sound
Brian Avery, Allen Ormerod, Keith Elliot, Michael Werth, Jann Delpuech for Victoria's Secret.
due SOUTH was up for seven awards for the 1997 Geminis. The awards will be announced on March 2, 1997.
Best Direction in a Dramatic or Comedy Series
STEVE DIMARCO "White Men Can't Jump to Conclusions"
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
PAUL GROSS, JOHN KRIZANC, PAUL QUARRINGTON
"All the Queen's Horses"
PAUL HAGGIS "Bird in the Hand"
Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series
MALCOLM CROSS "Mask"
Best Performance by an Actress in a featured supporting role in a
dramatic series
RAMONA MILANO "Vault"
Best Performance by an Actress in a guest role in a dramatic series
CARRIE ANNE MOSS "Juliet is Bleeding"
Neither Paul Gross nor David Marciano were nominated for Best Actor. Those nominations were as follows: Robert Blockstael (North of 60), Cedric Smith (Avonlea), David Cubitt (Traders), Chris Martin and Peter Stebbings (Madison).
10.3 THE DRINKING GAME
This game was born over Spring break [March 1-March 16, 1995] when the authors [Tara O-Shea, Perri] marathoned all of due SOUTH to date. The shows were viewed consecutively over a 15 hour period, very late at night, in Los Angeles, CA. Oddly enough, no alcohol was involved (unless that bottle of Amaretto consumed afterwards counts...), and the authors are ashamed to admit they came up completely sober. Ben & Jerry's, however was consumed in liberal amounts.
How to play -- each time a certain phrase or situation occurs you take one or more 'drinks' as indicated in the situation sheet. Each 'drink' is a swallow or a sip of the beverage in question. The really daring can substitute M&M's or Reeses peanut butter cups or ice cream for beverages, if you prefer. The one able to walk at the end WINS!
The "Drinking Game" can be found at some of the home pages listed above or send e-mail to the DSOUTH-L where someone may help you.
10.4 DUESIES
DueSies are favorite quotes from the show. A small selection is quoted here. For a more extensive listing, please check any number of fan-run due SOUTH web sites or click here. Use your browser's 'back' button to return to this site.
"You know, you let a wolf save your life, and then you pay and you pay and you pay."
Benton Fraser, "Chinatown"
"That's the last time he'll fish over the limit."
Benton Fraser, The Pilot
"I'm perfectly capable of handling myself in any situation. I am. I'm a Mountie."
Benton Fraser, "Diefenbaker's Day Off"
"I rented it [the Mountie suit]. If we don't catch him by Tuesday I have to pay extra."
Buck Frobisher, "Manhunt"
"EUUUUWWWW, don't put that in your mouth!"
Ray Vecchio, The Pilot
"First dirt tasting, now piddle-sniffing, I don't want to be around when you start listening to dung."
Ray Vecchio, "Pizzas and Promises"
"A rookie mistake. I was following a Lhasa Apso for two blocks."
Benton Fraser, "Pizza and Promises"
"He's getting intimate with me!"
Ray Vecchio, due SOUTH: the Pilot (when Diefenbaker is crawling all over him)
"That's a popular misconception Ray. Wolves only kill when they're ravenous and even then their prey is usually large hoofed animals. I don't see how Mrs. Pumputis' Pekinese could possibly bear a passing resemblance to a caribou, even if it was wearing shoes,"
Benton Fraser, "The Wild Bunch"
"There is nothing more frustrating than playing hide and seek with a deaf wolf."
Benton Fraser, "An Invitation to Romance"
"Pet, is it?"
Coroner to Fraser, who dumps a dead caribou on table
"You want to get that wolf away from my kid?" "Oh, well, that's going to be difficult. He rarely does anything I ask him to. We've tried to work through it, God knows I've done my part, but it's something we can't seem to get past."
Benton Fraser, "A Cop, a Mountie and a Baby"
"Do you have any idea what's in this water? Rats. Rats *this* big. And you know what they're doing? They're laughing at us. I'm in a canoe with two wounded Mounties and I'm being humiliated by rats."
Ray Vecchio, "Manhunt"
"I had no idea that Spiro Agnew's birthday was so widely celebrated here."
Benton Fraser, "The Man Who Knew Too Little"
"She shot my hat, Ray."
Benton Fraser, "Free Willie"
"I want two of our best people undercover in Chinatown. Get McCloskey and O'Hara."
Agent Ford, "Chinatown"
"It's a rather long story, it takes exactly two hours to tell..."
Benton Fraser, "A Hawk and a Handsaw"
"Why do I always have to be the fulcrum?"
Ray Vecchio, "A Hawk and a Handsaw"
"Officer in pursuit of black Cadillac in pursuit of two guys on ice skates. Why is that so hard to believe?"
Ray Vecchio, "The Blue Line"
"Never mind, I believe Ray was just mocking me."
Benton Fraser, "The Deal"
"That's what Canada needs? To be feared by tailors?"
Benton Fraser, "An Invitation to Romance"
"In Canada, we have more than a passing familiarity with confusion..."
Benton Fraser, "Chinatown"
"I need more money, too" "All I have left is Canadian." "Fine, then I'll drive 30% slower."
Cabbie and Fraser, "Chicago Holiday" part 1
"You know what I love most about Canadians? They're real easy to elbow out of the way."
Ray Vecchio, "An Invitation to Romance"
"He's thinking about transferring you farther north."
"That would put me in Russia, sir."
Gerard and Benton Fraser, due SOUTH: The Pilot
"Do all Canadians grow up longing to be doormen? Because that would explain the uniform."
Ray Vecchio, episode?
"Damn, I shouldda brought the snow tires." "Well, Ray, if we get stuck, I'm sure there'll be a dogsled waiting for us at the bridge."
Ray Vecchio, Benton Fraser, "The Man Who Knew Too Little"
"She's a lovely girl." "She's not a girl, she's a therapist." "Then one of us is going blind."
Robert Fraser, "Letting Go"
"I thought I was in love once. Then later, I thought it was an inner ear imbalance."
Benton Fraser, "An Invitation to Romance"
"Sometimes it's easier to believe that you're in love than to admit that you're alone."
Benton Fraser, "An Invitation to Romance"
"She recited a poem. You know the funny thing? I must have heard that poem a thousand times that night, but I never heard the words. It ended...badly."
Benton Fraser "You Must Remember This"
"Like a squirrel caught in your headlights just before you hit him..."
Francesca, "Heaven and Earth"
"Does insanity run in our family?"
Benton Fraser, "Gift of the Wheelman"
"It's your Grandma." "How is she?" "Not dead enough."
Robert Fraser, Benton Fraser, "Letting Go"
"Mental note. Send Fraser north for a little R&R. I think he's been spending too much time with that Chicago policeman."
Inspector Moffat, "An Invitation to Romance"
"God, I hate tourists!"
Ray Vecchio, "Manhunt"
"Mother nature ate my shoe!"
Ray Vecchio, "The Man Who Knew Too Little"
"You can't have a criminal investigation on a theory developed from the casting of a television series."
Benton Fraser, "They Eat Horses Don't They?"
"Nice shot, shooting the gun out of his hand." "You liked that, did you? I thought that'd impress you." "You were aiming for..." "His chest."
Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio, "Chinatown"
"You know, we just took out seven guys. One more and you qualify for US citizenship..."
Ray Vecchio, due SOUTH, the Pilot
"You take the big one, I'll take the bigger one." "There's three of them - can't I just shoot them?"
Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio, "A Cop, a Mountie and a Baby"
"All right! Stand back and watch how we do things here in America! No neighborhood watches, no caring for your fellow man, just good old-fashioned intimidation!"
Ray Vecchio, the pilot?
"Cliffs are for climbing Lenny. That's why God gave us grappling hooks."
Benton Fraser, "Pizza and Promises
"You know what hockey is, Fraser? It's figure-skating with clubs."
Ray Vecchio, "The Blue Line"
"We had a schoolyard bully in Tuktoyaktuk once. Sometimes at night I can still remember him coming into the classroom, swinging that otter over his head. There was just no reasoning with him."
Benton Fraser, "The Deal"
"It was a otter, I was ten, it was dead, can we move on?"
Benton Fraser, "Letting Go"
"Make the puffin face, Ray"
"Oh, come on, Fraser, don't give me that big eyed Mountie look..."
Benton Fraser, "A Cop, a Mountie and a Baby"
"Guys like him don't marry girls like you, that's a fairy tale. And girls like you get hurt and guys like him don't even notice and that's life"
Ray Vecchio, "Heaven and Earth"
"And if we should happen to feel that he has stolen something from us?" "Then you can come along, too"
Buck Frobisher, "Manhunt"
"You idiot, I said bring me ELVES!"
Detective Gardino, "Gift of the Wheelmen"
"What were you running away from?" "It was a very tortured scenario - it involved a gold mine, a boomerang and a tank full of gasoline."
Christina Nichols, Benton Fraser, "Chicago Holiday," part 1
"What does my hair say?" "Oh, that's not hair, Fraser, that's a pelt."
Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio, "A Cop, a Mountie and a Baby"
"You see, Horatio was--" "Hamlet's best friend. I know. I saw the movie."
Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio, "Letting Go"
"I had one of your hunches, Ray. It felt good."
Benton Fraser, due SOUTH: The Pilot
A discussion of due SOUTH would be incomplete without some explanation of the role of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The R.C.M.P. is a federal police force established in 1873 as the Northwest Mounted Police to serve the northwest. In 1920 it became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and acts as the police force for all provinces except Ontario and Quebec, who have their own provincial police. The motto of the R.C.M.P. is "Maintiens le droit" (Uphold the Right), not "We always get our man" as is commonly thought.
The R.C.M.P. serves some role in all provinces, even Ontario and Quebec. In Ontario and Quebec they serve VIP protection roles, as well as being called in by other forces for assistance. The R.C.M.P. also get involved in major crimes such as money laundering and counterfeiting, organized crime, drug offenses, etc. They are also involved with crimes that cross provincial boundaries. In essence, their role in Ontario and Quebec is similar to that of the FBI -- dealing with "serious" or "federal" crimes for the most part. Rarely will they be involved in Ontario and Quebec with local or provincial enforcement of laws. R.C.M.P. jurisdiction also includes federal areas, such as Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
The R.C.M.P. also has their own official web site. Please see 6.4 World Wide Web Sites.
10.6 OTHER NOTES
Milk Duds. A round candy composed of chocolate and caramel, a favorite for movie theater patrons. These candies stick to the roof of your mouth, your teeth, and your shoes if someone drops one on the floor. Fraser went to jail (albeit intentionally) for shoplifting a box of these in the episode "Witness."
Diefenbaker is well known for scarfing down junk food, thus references to donuts, Snickers bars, and the like.
Thank you kindly. This is what Fraser says instead of 'thank you' or 'thanks.' It could be a regional expression, as it is heard in Canada and some parts of the northeast U.S. Whatever… it seems to melt the hearts of various females.
This FAQ would not have been possible without the help of many people interested and involved with due SOUTH, the production company and the DSOUTH-L discussion group. In particular, much of the information contained in this FAQ originated as posts to the DSOUTH-L mailing list.
I would like to specifically thank the following people:
Scott Cooper, due SOUTH Story Department Coordinator, an invaluable source of information from the due SOUTH production company who kept us on the list informed of all official pronouncements from the head office.
Missy and Tara, the DSOUTH-L moderators or 'list moms', without whom there would have been no discussion list, and no due SOUTH 'community' to gather and discuss the show.
The SysOps at Trearn, the host system in Turkey, who generously provide the system on which the DSOUTH-L list resides.
All the folks on the internet who offer insights into the references made on the show and who make the show and subsequent discussions all the more interesting.
And last but not least, grateful thanks to the producers, cast and crew of dueSOUTH for providing all of us with many hours of enjoyment.
cmcc@charm.net
July 1995
ADDENDUM – 16 January 1997
I'd like to thank Colleen for undertaking the immense project of creating the original FAQ; all the fans who have shared information to benefit their fellow fans; Alliance, for producing this fantastic TV program; and the entire cast/crew of due SOUTH for creating such wonderful characters.
Special thanks go out to William Rydbom for his fantastic HTML assistance and tutoring, as well as for putting up with my multiple 'It's only 'one more change' posts… and for being such a swell 'little brother' for my rearranging his own site for him! And to Judy Stouffer, an invaluable friend and a great 'beta tester' who helped proofread this FAQ.
Second season revision and other updates written by Elyse Dickenson JRD 203@aol.com. Please send any updates/corrections to this address until further notice.