Due South

Due South is a Canadian crime series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, Gordon Pinsent, Beau Starr, Catherine Bruhier, Camilla Scott, Ramona Milano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie. It ran for 67 episodes over four seasons, from 1994 to 1999. Set in Chicago, the show follows the adventures of Constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross), an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who is attached to the Canadian consulate but works with Detective Raymond Vecchio (David Marciano) of the Chicago Police Department to solve crimes, assisted by Fraser's companion Diefenbaker, a deaf white wolf. From season three, Fraser works with a Detective Stanley Kowalski (Callum Keith Rennie), who is placed in the department to impersonate Detective Vecchio, who goes on an undercover assignment. The premise of such a working relationship is established in the pilot episode when Fraser requests to be posted to Chicago, to ensure that the Chicago Police follow his leads in the investigation of the murder of Fraser's father while there is still a higher probability of catching the killer. He meets Detective Vecchio, the officer assigned to the case, who had initially dismissed said case until he meets Fraser. In the process of their investigation, Fraser also exposes an environmental corruption scandal involving some members of the RCMP, causing much embarrassment and loss of jobs in his native Northwest Territories, which leaves him persona non grata in Canada and within the RCMP, and posted permanently to Chicago.A police comedy-drama, Due South plays on the stereotypical differences between Canadian and American culture; in particular, Fraser's extremely polite persona and exceptional tracking and detection abilities, contrasted against Detective Vecchio's lack of manners and corner-cutting methods.