Dick Wolf’s ‘On Call’ takes a gritty look at Long Beach policing
Dick Wolf’s ‘On Call’ takes a gritty look at Long Beach policing
All eight episodes of the adrenaline-pumping series drop Thursday, Jan. 9 on Prime Video.
I have a soft spot for Long Beach. It’s just a short drive south of Los Angeles, and the beaches are often far less busy in the summer than LA’s. Now, I haven’t seen any serious police activity while sunning down there, but that’s about to change when the new police drama “On Call” debuts on Thursday, Jan. 9 with all eight episodes exclusively on Prime Video. The show follows a seasoned cop and her idealistic rookie partner as they navigate the gritty streets of Long Beach while marking the first scripted streaming project for executive producer Dick Wolf (“Law & Order”) and his company, Wolf Entertainment. Here’s everything you need to know about “On Call.”
Everything you need to know about ‘On Call’:
Watch a trailer of ‘On Call’
What is ‘On Call’ about?
“No fear. No hesitation. No doubt.” Those are the words officer Traci Harmon tells her rookie partner Alex Diaz at the end of the trailer for “On Call,” because in their line of work, the stakes are life and death. “On Call” takes viewers into the adrenaline-pumping world of policing in Long Beach, California, where every decision is scrutinized and every move is under a microscope. This half-hour drama on Prime Video explores the complex morality of law enforcement in a time when all eyes are on California police procedures.
The series follows Officer Harmon, a seasoned veteran with a strong moral compass, and her ambitious rookie partner Diaz, who is determined to make a difference but soon realizes how tough it’ll be to uphold his ideals in a world that doesn’t care. Together, they face the pressures of protecting a diverse community while grappling with the personal cost of being police officers.
What really sets “On Call” apart is its unique visual approach. The series employs a cinéma vérité style, using bodycam, dashcam, and cellphone footage to create an immersive and authentic ride-along. This technique puts the audience directly in the action, delivering a raw, unfiltered perspective on the day-to-day realities of police work. The result should be a show that feels visceral and immediate, pulling viewers into the unpredictable nature of the job.
Created by Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf, with Dick Wolf serving as executive producer, the show stars Troian Bellisario as Traci Harmon and Brandon Larracuente as Alex Diaz. Eriq La Salle, who also directs several episodes, plays Sergeant Lasman, a pragmatic leader navigating the fine line between departmental politics and his officers’ needs. The show also features Lori Loughlin as Lieutenant Bishop.
What time will episodes of ‘On Call’ come on Prime Video?
“On Call” will debut all eight episodes at once on Thursday, Jan. 9. It’s not totally clear what time Prime Video will drop eps of the series, but 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 9 is a good guess.
Who are the main characters of ‘On Call’?
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Officer Traci Harmon: Played by Troian Bellisario, Traci is a seasoned veteran training officer with a strong moral compass. She’s seen everything Diaz hasn’t.
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Officer Alex Diaz: Brandon Larracuente plays Alex - an ambitious rookie who struggles to maintain his optimistic outlook in the face of modern policing.
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Lieutenant Bishop: Played by Lori Loughlin. Lieutenant Bishop is a sharp leader, trying to keep her team in line.
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Sergeant Lasman: Eriq La Salle plays Sergeant Lasman, who must balance departmental politics with the needs of his officers.
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Sergeant Tyson Koyama: Played by Rich Ting. Sergeant Koyama is a dedicated officer to the force.
Who are the creators behind ‘On Call’?
The team behind “On Call” includes Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf who both bring a ton of experience in storytelling and TV. Tim Walsh has worked on hit shows like “Chicago P.D.,” where he mastered the art of creating intense, character-driven crime stories. Elliot Wolf, the son of TV legend Dick Wolf, has already made his mark with projects like the suspenseful podcast “Dark Woods” and the gripping series “Hunted.” With Dick Wolf, the mastermind behind “Law & Order” and “Chicago Fire,” as an executive producer, “On Call” is bound to uphold the quality his shows are known for.
How to watch Dick Wolf’s other current shows:
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Law & Order
September 13, 1990In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing the evidence and questioning the suspects until someone is taken into custody. The district attorney’s office then builds a case to convict the perpetrator by proving the person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Working together, these expert teams navigate all sides of the complex criminal justice system to make New York a safer place.
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
September 20, 1999In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.
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Chicago Fire
October 10, 2012An edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America’s noblest professions. For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating. These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death.
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Chicago P.D.
January 8, 2014A riveting police drama about the men and women of the Chicago Police Department’s District 21 who put it all on the line to serve and protect their community. District 21 is made up of two distinctly different groups: the uniformed cops who patrol the beat and go head-to-head with the city’s street crimes and the Intelligence Unit that combats the city’s major offenses - organized crime, drug trafficking, high profile murders and beyond.
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Chicago Med
November 17, 2015An emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city’s most explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors who hold it together. They will tackle unique new cases inspired by topical events, forging fiery relationships in the pulse-pounding pandemonium of the emergency room.
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FBI
September 25, 2018The New York office of the FBI brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep their city and the country safe.
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Law & Order: Organized Crime
April 1, 2021The detectives of the Organized Crime Control Bureau work to dismantle New York City’s most vicious and violent illegal enterprises.
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FBI: Most Wanted
January 7, 2020The Fugitive Task Force relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. Seasoned agents oversee the highly skilled team that functions as a mobile undercover unit that is always out in the field, pursuing those who are most desperate to elude justice.
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FBI: International
September 21, 2021Follows the elite agents of the FBI’s International Fly Team headquartered in Budapest as they travel the world with the mission of protecting Americans wherever they may be.
