The Agency

7.3IMDb3K votes2001 – Ended2 SeasonsDrama

7.3IMDb3K votes

6.9TMDB

The Agency is a CBS television drama that delves into the inner workings of the CIA. Created by Michael Frost Beckner, the series was executive produced by Michael Frost Beckner, Shaun Cassidy Productions, and Radiant Productions in association with Universal Network Television and CBS Productions. It aired from September 27, 2001, to May 17, 2003, spanning two seasons. It featured unprecedented filming from the actual CIA headquarters. The show sparked controversy for its exploration of current international affairs and its handling of the ethical dilemmas inherent in intelligence work. Beckner's pilot script, written in March 2001, envisioned a re-invented CIA tasked with a "War on Terror" following a lethal attack plotted by Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist organization against the west. The pilot was scheduled to premiere at CIA Headquarters on September 18, 2001, and air on CBS on September 21, 2001; however, the actual 9/11 attacks led the network to postpone the pilot and instead air a later episode. That first episode was eventually aired as the third episode of the first season. The September 11, 2001 terrorist events transformed how Americans perceived topical entertainment, and at that time, "The Agency" was one of the most relevant offerings on network television. The producers of the series quickly adapted to this new American perspective on global affairs, but CBS opted to cancel the show shortly after the final episode of the second season.