Cold Case (season 1)

Cold Case (season 1)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	23
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	September 28, 2003 – May 23, 2004

Season one of Cold Case, an American television series, began airing on September 28, 2003. Cold Case is a drama about Lilly Rush, an enigmatic and highly effective detective on the Philadelphia Homicide Squad. Rush's instinctive understanding of the criminal mind and her singular passion for uncovering the truth makes her the perfect fit for investigating cold cases, yester-crimes that have remained unsolved – some only a few months old, others going back decades. Rush and her team use their wits to take on aging evidence and witnesses with buried secrets, uncovering fresh clues, digging into old wounds and doggedly pursuing the truth. Joining Rush on her mission are a team of talented detectives: Scotty Valens, Rush's confident and street-smart partner; Nick Vera, rough around the edges but a sharp investigator; Will Jeffries, an experienced veteran who's been around the block; Kat Miller, no-nonsense and resourceful; and Lieutenant John Stillman, Rush's mentor and sometime father figure. With their assistance, Rush is able to take on the toughest cases, giving voice to victims unable to speak for themselves – making sure none is ever forgotten. Season one regular cast members include Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, John Finn, Thom Barry and Jeremy Ratchford. In 3 episodes, Justin Chambers had played Chris Lassing, Lilly's partner on the Philadelphia Homicide Squad, but left the show to star as Alex Karev in ABC's hit drama show Grey's Anatomy.

Characters

Actor	Character	Main cast	Recurring cast
Kathryn Morris	Det. Lilly Rush	entire season	N/A
Danny Pino	Det. Scotty Valens	episodes 6-23	absent in episode 9
John Finn	Lt. John Stillman	entire season	N/A
Thom Barry	Det. Will Jeffries	entire season	N/A
Jeremy Ratchford	Det. Nick Vera	entire season	N/A
Justin Chambers	Det. Chris Lassing	episodes 1-4	absent in episode 3
Doug Spinuzza	Louie Amante	N/A	episodes 2, 16
Josh Hopkins	ADA Jason Kite	N/A	episodes 6, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 23
Ameenah Kaplan	Leticia Castillo	N/A	episode 15
Susan Chuang	Dr. Frannie Ching	N/A	episode 21
Kevin McCorkle	Det. Gil Sherman	N/A	episode 4, 6, 18

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	1	"Look Again"	Mark Pellington	Meredith Stiehm	September 28, 2003	15.55[1]
Detective Lilly Rush from Philadelphia Homicide force is transferred to the Cold Case Unit, where she reopens a 1976 murder case involving two wealthy families when the former housekeeper, who is now old and dying of cancer, comes forward claiming to have witnessed the murder of a young teenage girl who was found dead near a slumber party hosted by her two wealthy brothers. Song featured in the intro: "More Than a Feeling", by Boston Song featured in the finale: "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?", by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Loosely based upon the Martha Moxley case. A homicide featured in an early scene in the episode is later investigated in the episode The Badlands, which occurs one year later. First appearance of Kathryn Morris, Justin Chambers, John Finn, Jeremy Ratchford and Thom Barry.
2	2	"Gleen"	Paris Barclay	Jan Oxenberg	October 5, 2003	13.96[2]
The team reinvestigates a 1983 murder in which a young mother was killed in an explosion in her own house, shortly before she was to testify in court against a man who indecently exposed himself to her in public. Song featured in intro: "Owner of a Lonely Heart", by Yes Song featured in the finale: "Straight from the Heart", by Bryan Adams.
3	3	"Our Boy Is Back"	Bryan Spicer	Stacy Kravetz	October 12, 2003	12.82[3]
When a serial rapist sends a intimidating letter to the Cold Case squad announcing his return to Philadelphia after five years of absence, the team reinvestigates the 1998 murder of a college student who was believed to be one of his former victims. Song featured in the intro: "How's It Going to Be", by Third Eye Blind Song featured in the finale: "Heroes", by The Wallflowers. Loosely based upon the real-life Philadelphia case of Troy Graves, the Center City Rapist. Lassing does not appear in this episode. Alternatively titled "Useless Cats".
4	4	"Churchgoing People"	Mark Pellington	Meredith Stiehm	October 19, 2003	11.62[4]
The team reinvestigates the 1990 case of a murdered church organist, when his Alzheimer's-stricken widow begins having constant flashbacks of the night when he was murdered. Song featured in the intro: "Faith", by George Michael Song featured in the finale: "Live to Tell", by Madonna. Final appearance of Justin Chambers as Det. Chris Lassing.
5	5	"The Runner"	David Straiton	Veena Cabreros Sud	October 26, 2003	14.08[5]
After a drug addict brings in an audio tape in which a fatal shooting is heard, the team reopens a 1973 case involving the unsolved death of a young police officer murdered after responding to a call at a drug-infested housing project. Song featured in the intro: "Midnight Train to Georgia", by Gladys Knight & the Pips Song featured in the finale: "Lean on Me", by Bill Withers. Loosely inspired by Daniel Faulkner's murder by Mumia Abu-Jamal.
6	6	"Love Conquers Al"	Greg Yaitanes	Kim Newton	November 9, 2003	14.39[6]
A petty thief hoping to get a reduced sentence comes forward claiming to have seen a young man washing blood out of his car on the same night in 1981 that a high school track runner was murdered. Song featured in the intro: "Keep On Loving You”, by REO Speedwagon Song featured in the finale: "She's Got a Way", by Billy Joel. Loosely based upon the 1995 murder of Adrianne Jones by Diane Zamora and David Graham. First appearance of Danny Pino as Scotty Valens and Josh Hopkins as ADA Jason Kite
7	7	"A Time to Hate"	Deran Sarafian	Jan Oxenberg	November 16, 2003	13.95[7]
A 75-year-old woman asks Lilly to reinvestigate the unsolved murder of her son, a former college baseball player, who was beaten to death outside of a flamboyant bar in 1964 after it was discovered that he was homosexual. Song features in the intro: "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", by Betty Everett Song featured in the finale: "Turn! Turn! Turn!", by The Byrds.
8	8	"Fly Away"	James Whitmore, Jr.	Veena Cabreros Sud	November 30, 2003	16.46[8]
After a young woman suddenly wakes up from a 2-year coma and doesn't remember anything about her daughter's death back in 2001, Lilly and the squad must determine if the girl's mother was the killer, or someone else was involved. Song featured in the intro: "Sleep", by Azure Ray Song featured in the finale: "Heaven (Candlelight Mix)", by DJ Sammy.
9	9	"Sherry Darlin'"	Rachel Talalay	Sean Whitesell	December 7, 2003	16.11[9]
When Lily gets an anonymous phone call from a man who claims to have killed an elderly woman in 1989 and buried her body in the basement of a house, the team investigates the murder of a grandmother who lived with her grandson, an orphan, and disliked his lifestyle. Song featured in the intro: "Lovesong", by The Cure Song featured in the finale: "The End of the Innocence", by Don Henley feat. Bruce Hornsby. Valens does not appear in this episode.
10	10	"The Hitchhiker"	Marita Grabiak	Sean Whitesell	December 21, 2003	13.95[10]
When new evidence is uncovered that links a current case to an unsolved murder from 1997, the team reopens the case of a hitchhiker who was killed on his way back to Philadelphia after winning a large sum of money at a casino in Atlantic City. Song featured in the intro: "Walkin' on the Sun", by Smash Mouth Song featured in the finale: "I Believe", by Blessid Union of Souls.
11	11	"Hubris"	Agnieszka Holland	Stacy Kravetz & Kim Newton	January 11, 2004	15.20[11]
A college professor, whose career ended in disgrace after being suspected of murdering one of his female students in 1995, asks the detectives to reopen the case, hoping to clear his name when another young woman is killed in an identical fashion as the first victim. Song featured in the intro: "Wonderful", by Adam Ant Song featured in the finale: "Don't Look Back in Anger", by Oasis.
12	12	"Glued"	Peter Markle	Tyler Bensinger	January 18, 2004	12.80[12]
Det. Stillman asks Lilly to reinvestigate one of his first cases as a homicide detective, the unsolved murder of an 8-year-old boy who was knocked out and left for dead in a snow drift in 1980, after his jacket is found in a hollow tree. Song featured in the intro: "Running on Empty", by Jackson Browne Song featured in the finale: "Follow You Follow Me", by Genesis.
13	13	"The Letter"	Tim Hunter	Veena Cabreros Sud	January 25, 2004	15.75[13]
After a young woman comes forward with new information about the death of her grandmother, Lilly and the squad reopen the unsolved murder of the 25-year-old woman in 1939 and discover racial tensions and a secret romance connected to the woman. Song featured in the intro: "Stars Fell on Alabama", by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Song featured in the finale: "Blue Moon", by Ella Fitzgerald. The killer confesses to accidentally killing her.
14	14	"The Boy in the Box"	Karen Gaviola	Meredith Stiehm	February 15, 2004	17.33[14]
The team reopens the case of an unidentified six-year-old boy, whose body was found in a cardboard box in a field outside Philadelphia in 1958 and discover that he may have been part of U.S Government approved radiation experiments on orphans. Song featured in the intro: "You're The Nearest Thing To Heaven", by Johnny Cash Song featured in the finale: "Sweeter Than You", by Ricky Nelson. No arrest as it's proven the death was accidental. This was based on the real-life case of "The Boy in the Box", a still-unsolved Philadelphia case. Loosely inspired by the radiation experiments conducted at the Walter E. Fernald State School.
15	15	"Disco Inferno"	James Whitmore, Jr.	Tyler Bensinger	February 22, 2004	15.33[15]
The team reinvestigates the circumstances of a fire that killed 22 people and destroyed a disco nightclub in 1978 when a new set of remains with a bullet hole in the skull is discovered by construction workers redeveloping the site, suggesting the fire may have been set to cover a murder. Song featured in the intro: "Disco Inferno", by The Trammps Song featured in the finale: "Last Dance", by Donna Summer. This episode features 23 homicides, the most in the series. Loosely based on both The Station nightclub fire and the Happy Land fire.
16	16	"Volunteers"	Allison Anders	Jan Oxenberg	March 7, 2004	15.98[16]
Human remains found during a building demolition lead the team to investigate the unsolved deaths of two hippies, a white woman and a black man, who disappeared in 1969, who were a part of a group that performs secret abortions on pregnant girls. Song featured in the intro: "Volunteers", by Jefferson Airplane Song featured in the finale: "Get Together", by The Youngbloods.
17	17	"The Lost Soul of Herman Lester"	Tim Matheson	Sean Whitesell	March 14, 2004	15.92[17]
When a high school basketball phenom receives death threats over the phone, the team reopens the 1987 murder of his father, another star player, who was found stabbed to death hours after leading his team to win the State Championship. Song featured in the intro: "Walk This Way", by Run DMC and Aerosmith. Song featured in the finale: "Walk Like a Man", by Bruce Springsteen.
18	18	"Resolutions"	Alex Zakrzewski	Kim Newton	March 28, 2004	14.26[18]
The team reinvestigates a 1999 case involving the death of a man who was killed in a hit-and-run accident on New Year's Eve after a recovering alcoholic comes forward as the possible culprit, but the investigation reveals that the victim may have been poisoned before he was run over. Song featured in the intro: "Save Tonight", by Eagle Eye Cherry. Song featured in the finale: "Hands", by Jewel.
19	19	"Late Returns"	David Straiton	Jay Beattie & Dan Dworkin	April 4, 2004	14.25[19]
Suspicious evidence found at the scene of a current murder leads the team to reopen the case of a young, politically-involved woman who was killed on the night of the 1992 presidential election. Loosely based on the Chandra Levy case. Song featured in the intro: "Don't Stop", by Fleetwood Mac Song featured in the finale: "Ordinary World", by Duran Duran.
20	20	"Greed"	Karen Gaviola	Stacy Kravetz	April 18, 2004	12.93[20]
The team reopens the 1985 murder of a wealthy stockbroker killed during an apparent carjacking gone wrong, and uncover evidence that the victim may have been cheating his cilents. Song featured in the intro: "Karma Chameleon", by Culture Club Song featured in the finale: "All Through the Night", by Cyndi Lauper. Loosely inspired by the movie Wall Street.
21	21	"Maternal Instincts"	Kevin Hooks	Laurie Arent	April 25, 2004	14.83[21]
When a juvenile delinquent claims to remember witnessing his mother's death, the team reinvestigates the 1989 murder of the young single mother, who turns out not to be who everyone thought she was. Based loosely on the Cathleen Krauseneck case. Song featured in the intro: "Closer To Fine", by Indigo Girls Song featured in the finale: "Eternal Flame", by The Bangles. First appearance of Susan Chuang as Dr. Frannie Ching
22	22	"The Plan"	Agnieszka Holland	Veena Cabreros Sud	May 2, 2004	14.39[22]
The 1999 drowning death of a military academy's strict swim coach is reopened after the homicide division receives a note that suggests he was murdered, and eventually learn that the victim was a pedophile who preyed upon his weaker students. Song featured in the intro: "Machinehead", by Bush Song featured in the finale: "Wise Up", by Aimee Mann.
23	23	"Lover's Lane"	Nelson McCormick	Meredith Stiehm	May 23, 2004	14.53[23]
When DNA evidence reveals a man was wrongfully convicted of murder, the team reopens the 1986 case of a teenybopper 15-year-old girl who was raped and killed during a date at a popular lover's lane. Song featured in the intro: "And We Danced", by The Hooters. Song featured in the finale: "Leather and Lace", by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. Loosely based upon the 1999 murder of Krystal Dawn Steadman at the hands of Thomas Soria Sr. and Jr. The location of the attack was based on the early attacks of the Zodiac Killer.

References

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