Person of Interest

Producer: NSA revelations vindicate CBS drama

'Person of Interest' producer says NSA surveillance revelations vindicate show's premise

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Producers of CBS' "Person Of Interest" said revelations about government surveillance have proved early critics of the TV drama wrong.

Jonathan Nolan recalled that the show about an all-seeing machine used to prevent crime was labeled far-fetched by some observers when it debuted in 2011.

But after former National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden's disclosures about secret government surveillance programs, there was a brief period of gloating at "Person of Interest," Nolan said.

"It validated our decision to wear tinfoil hats for the last two years," he said Wednesday.

Concern about "our nation's descent into an Orwellian nightmare" aside, Nolan said, comparisons between the show and the NSA disclosures have given "Person of Interest" a third-season boost of attention.

The show has had a "pervasive sense of paranoia" from the start, said his fellow producer, Greg Plageman.

"We've always said, if we do our job, at the end of every episode you should be looking at your cell phone a little bit differently on the table," Plageman said.

"Person of Interest," which airs Tuesday on CBS, stars Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel.

Plageman and Nolan made their comments as part of a Q&A session between CBS drama producers and members of the Television Critics Association.
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Susan
 
Thanks for that article. Doesn't sound so crazy now that there could actually be some type of machine doing the very thing The Machine does on POI. :hugegrin:
 
REESE RETURNS TO NEW YORK, BUT A DARING PLAN COULD MAKE HIS FIRST MISSION BACK THE TEAM'S LAST, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, FEB. 4

"Provenance" – Reese rejoins Finch in New York, but when the team receives the number of a highly skilled antiquities thief, a surprising turn of events finds them planning a heist which could land them all in jail, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, Feb. 4 (10:01 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: Catch them if you can! The team plans a high stakes heist on a new #PersonOfInterest 2/4 10:01pm http://bit.ly/1ehvQfH


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (Reese)
Michael Emerson (Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

GUEST CAST:
Elaine Tan (Kelli 'Jiao' Lin)
Henri Lubatti (Agent Alain Bouchard)
Gene Farber (Cyril)
Chris Jackson (Farrow)
Stelio Savante (Aris)
Chloe Cheng (Kai Lin)
James Hindman (Museum Director)
Alexander Salamat (Uni)
Megan Byrne (Museum Staffer)
Nick Dillenburg (Armed Guard)
Curt Bouril (Guard)

WRITTEN BY: Sean Hennen
DIRECTED BY: Jeffrey Hunt
 
FINCH GOES UNDERCOVER WHEN A 911 OPERATOR IS IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, FEB. 25

Editor's note: The air date for this episode has been changed.

"Last Call" – Finch goes undercover in an emergency call center to protect a 911 operator, but it soon becomes clear that the threat reaches further than the team could have anticipated, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, Feb. 25 (10:01 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: "Team Machine, what's your emergency?" Finch goes undercover as a 911 operator on a new #PersonOfInterest 2/25 10pm http://bit.ly/MB5kYC


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (Reese)
Michael Emerson (Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

GUEST CAST:
Melissa Sagemiller (Sandra Nicholson)
Andrew Dolan (Forensic Specialist)
Barrett Doss (Trainee)
Tyler Evans (Detective Macintyre)
Gavin Stenhouse (Detective Jake Harrison)
Anthony Mangano (Detective Kane)
Julian Shatkin (Aaron Hollenberg)
Robbie Collier Sublett (Brent Holm)
Kathleen McNenny (Gina Kincaid)
David Andrew MacDonald (Ron Kincaid)
Nikiya Mathis (Operator A)
Jesse Jensen (Operator B)
John Eric Parker (Security Officer)
Omar Gonzalez (Solano)
Carson Elrod (Todd)
Adam Pagdon (Man)
Tommy Walker (Limo Driver)

WRITTEN BY: Dan Dietz
DIRECTED BY: Jeff T. Thomas
 
HOW DID FINCH OPERATE BEFORE THE MAN IN THE SUIT? "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, MARCH 4

"RAM" – The secrets of Finch's operation before he enlisted Reese are revealed, including shocking ties to present-day events, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, March 4 (10:01 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: How did Finch operate without The Man in the Suit? Secrets will be revealed #PersonOfInterest 3/4 10:01pm http://bit.ly/NfkylM


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (Reese)
Michael Emerson (Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
Annie Parisse (Kara Stanton)
Camryn Manheim (Control)
Jay O. Sanders (Special Counsel)
John Nolan (Greer)

GUEST CAST:
Neil Jackson (Rick Dillinger)
Joseph Mazzello (Daniel Casey)
Casey Siemaszko (Lester Strickland)
Julian Ovenden (Lambert)
Dillan Arrick (Haley McNabb)

WRITTEN BY: Nic Van Zeebroeck and Michael Sopczynski
DIRECTED BY: Stephen Surjik
 
FINCH AND ROOT CLASH WHEN THE MACHINE SENDS THEM AFTER THE SAME PERSON, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, MARCH 18

" / " – The Machine assigns Root to seek out a janitor with a mysterious past, but when her very presence puts his life in danger, Finch also receives his number, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, March 18 (10:01 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: When The Machine sends Root & Finch after the same person, whose goals come first? #PersonOfInterest 3/18 10:01pm http://bit.ly/1kPzEK4


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (John Reese)
Michael Emerson (Harold Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
John Nolan (Greer)
Leslie Odom (Pete Collier)

GUEST CAST:
Yul Vasquez (Cyrus Wells)
Colin Donnell (Billy Parsons)
Peter Rini (Dr. Carr)
Steve Lord (Skinhead)
Matthew Stocke (Courier)
Danielle Di Vecchio (Capt. Divecchio)
Alex Shimizu (Daizo)
Joe Gately (Guard)
Rose Sias (Uni)

WRITTEN BY: David Slack
DIRECTED BY: Jeff Gibson
 
FINCH AND REESE MUST PLAY POLITICS WHEN THE LATEST POI IS HUNTING A UNITED NATIONS DIPLOMAT, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, MARCH 25

"Allegiance" – Finch and Reese must delve into the murky waters of international politics when they are given the number of a former government contractor who is stalking a UN diplomat. Also, an enemy attempts to gain an upper hand on Root, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, March 25 (10:01 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: There's no diplomatic immunity from Team Machine when a POI starts stalking a UN member #PersonOfInterest #CBS 3/25 10:01pm http://bit.ly/1n8Gufa


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (John Reese)
Michael Emerson (Harold Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
John Nolan (Greer)

GUEST CAST:
Nazneen Contractor (Maria)
Haaz Sleiman (Omar)
Michael Gill (LaPointe)
William Aradie (Sevon)
Casey Biggs (Davis)
Usman Ally (Jamal)
Nicholas Kohn (Detention Guard #1)
Amr El-Bayoumi (Legionnaire #3)
Robert L. Gorman (Annoyed Man)
Malachy Cleary (Attorney)
Maceo Oliver (NYPD Patrolman)
Alec Beard (UN Guard #1)

WRITTEN BY: Tony Camerino
DIRECTED BY: Jeffrey Hunt
Photos are available at: http://cbspressexpress.com
Official CBS Website: http://www.cbs.com/PersonOfInterest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PersonOfInterestCBS
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PersonInterest
Instagram: POI_CBS
CBS Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CBSTweet

Cast on Twitter:
Taraji P. Henson @TherealTaraji
Kevin Chapman @POIFusco
Sarah Shahi @onlysarahshahi
Amy Acker @AmyAcker
Bear the Dog @BearDeHond
POI Writers' Office @POIWritersRoom
 
REESE AND SHAW INFILTRATE THEIR MOST DANGEROUS LOCATION YET – A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, APRIL 1

Nestor Carbonell Guest Stars as Matthew Reed, the POI Reese and Shaw are Monitoring

"Most Likely To..." – Reese and Shaw pose as alumni at a high school reunion in order to keep eyes on the latest POI. Meanwhile, Finch and Fusco travel to Washington, D.C., to investigate the motivations behind Vigilance's latest attack, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, April 1 (10:01 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: Warzones are no match for Reese & Shaw's latest op: infiltrate a high school reunion! #PersonOfInterest #CBS 4/1 10:01pm http://bit.ly/OpTPnw


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (John Reese)
Michael Emerson (Harold Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
Camryn Manheim (Control)
Leslie Odom (Collier)

GUEST CAST:
Nestor Carbonell (Matthew Reed)
John Doman (Garrison)
Sandy Rosenberg (Leona)
Rosa Arredondo (Alice)
Kelly McCormick (Slapper #1)
Joseph Daniel Coots (Officer Tanner)
Jared Johnston (Cabbie)
Rob McClure (Doug)
James McMenamin (Toke)
Elisa Van Duyne (Slapper #2)
Ryan Garbayo (Male Receptionist)
Jaiden Kaine (Federal Agent)
Lipica Shah (Secretary’s Assistant)
Crystal Kellogg (Slapper #3)
Timothy Devlin (Phil)
Mark Light Orr (FBI Guard)
Jim Watkins (Reporter #1)
Chagmion Atoine (Reporter #2)

WRITTEN BY: Melissa Scrivner Love and Denise Thé
DIRECTED BY: Kevin Hooks
 
REESE POSES AS A SECRET SERVICE AGENT TO PROTECT A CONGRESSMAN WHO MAY HOLD THE KEY TO STOPPING DECIMA'S PLANS, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, APRIL 15

"Death Benefit" – Reese poses as a Secret Service agent to get close to the latest POI, a U.S. congressman who may hold the key to derailing Decima's plans to bring a second Machine online, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, April 15 (10:01-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: Does this POI hold the key to stop Decima's plans to bring a 2nd Machine online? #PersonOfInterest #CBS 4/15 10:01pm http://bit.ly/OSNQY5


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (John Reese)
Michael Emerson (Harold Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
John Nolan (Greer)
John Doman (Garrison)

GUEST CAST:
John Heard (McCourt)
Morocco Omari (Carlson)
Tracy Howe (Duran)
Stephanie Gibson (Leslie)
Luis Bordoy (Ray)
Murphy Guyer (Dunphy)
Cortez Nance, Jr. (Disheveled Man)
Daniel J. Osipowich (SWAT Leader)
Marcus Lorenzo (Julio)
David Adams (Another SWAT)
Kate Sullivan (Anchor #1)
Maurice DuBois (Anchor #2)

WRITTEN BY: Lucas O'Connor and Erik Mountain
DIRECTED BY: Richard J. Lewis
 
CBS announced today the storylines for its 2013-1014 series’ season finales, which include exciting cliffhangers, big reveals and dramatic conclusions.

TUESDAY, MAY 13

PERSON OF INTEREST (10:01-11:00 PM)

The team takes desperate action in its race to prevent the malevolent AI program Samaritan from coming online and making them its first targets. Meanwhile, the months-long battle with the anti-surveillance terrorist group Vigilance comes to a shocking conclusion.
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FINCH'S GREATEST FEARS ARE REALIZED AS DECIMA THREATENS THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE IN ORDER TO LURE HIM OUT OF HIDING, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, APRIL 29

"Beta" – As Decima uses Samaritan's feeds to hunt Reese and Shaw, Greer exploits Finch's greatest weakness in an attempt to lure him out of hiding: his love for his former fiancée, Grace Hendricks, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, April 29 (10:01-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: Will Finch's love become a casualty in Decima's hunt 4 Team Machine? @ Carrie_Preston returns! New #PersonOfInterest 4/29 @ 10:01pm http://bit.ly/1iCqgGS


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (John Reese)
Michael Emerson (Harold Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
Carrie Preston (Grace Hendricks)
John Nolan (Greer)
John Doman (Garrison)

GUEST CAST:
John Herrera (Bodega Owner)
Rayniel Rufino (Bodega Gunman)
John Horton (Priest)
Daniel K. Kim (Virgil)
Matt Walton (Maybank)
Joey Sorge (Uniform)
David Michael Garry (Dock Worker)
Robert Manning, Jr. (Zachary)
Tyler Bunch (Homeless Guy)
Kristoffer Cusick (Terry)
Ross Ruben (Umarov)

WRITTEN BY: Dan Dietz and Sean Hennen
DIRECTED BY: Fred Toye
 
THE MACHINE NEEDS THE TEAM'S HELP TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, ON "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, MAY 6

"A House Divided" – When an unknown entity prevents The Machine from seeing the full picture of an impending catastrophic event, it sends the team five separate numbers to help them piece together the bigger picture. Meanwhile, Root's team of hackers arrives in New York, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, May 6 (10:01-11:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: Who or what is keeping The Machine from seeing all pieces of an impending catastrophe? #PersonOfInterest 5/6 10:01pm http://bit.ly/1fbAt1n


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (John Reese)
Michael Emerson (Harold Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
John Nolan (Greer)
John Doman (Garrison)

GUEST CAST:
Joseph Melendez (Rivera)
Diane Davis (Jefferson)
Marc Damon Johnson (Jesse Brandt)
Robbie Tann (Niall Jacobs)
Lisa Kron (Janet Wirth)
Sebastian Maynard-Palmer (Frankie Brandt)
Kelly Aucoin (AUSA Langdon)
Adi Hanash (Aziz Al-Ibrahim)
De'Adre Aziza (Shari)
John Wernke (Agent One)

WRITTEN BY: Amanda Segel
DIRECTED BY: Chris Fisher
 
DESPERATE ACTIONS ARE TAKEN AND STARTLING REVELATIONS ARE UNCOVERED AS THE BATTLE TO PREVENT THE AI PROGRAM SAMARITAN FROM COMING ONLINE REACHES ITS CONCLUSION, ON THE THIRD SEASON FINALE OF "PERSON OF INTEREST," TUESDAY, MAY 13

"Deus Ex Machina" – The team takes desperate actions in its race to prevent the malevolent AI program Samaritan from coming online and making them its first targets. Meanwhile, the months-long battle with the anti-surveillance terrorist group Vigilance comes to a shocking conclusion, on the third season finale of PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, May 13 (10:01-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: #PersonOfInterest season finale! Team Machine, Decima & Vigilance are headed 4 a final showdown 5/13 10:01pm http://bit.ly/PM7Bkl


SERIES REGULARS:
Jim Caviezel (John Reese)
Michael Emerson (Harold Finch)
Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco)
Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Amy Acker (Root)

RECURRING CAST:
Boris McGiver (Hersh)
Camryn Manheim (Control)
John Nolan (Greer)
Leslie Odom (Collier)
John Doman (Garrison)
Joseph Melendez (Rivera)
Julian Ovenden (Lambert)

GUEST CAST:
Diane Davis (Judge Madison)
Ari Butler (Vigilance Tech)
Peter Scanavino (Adams)
Tom Coiner (Decima Tech)
Joel Perez (Mask)

WRITTEN BY: Greg Plageman and David Slack
DIRECTED BY: Chris Fisher
 
Matt's Inside Line:

I need something on Person of Interest — this hiatus is killing me! –Bradley

The season premiere – which airs Sept. 23 and picks up about six weeks after the finale – is titled “Panopticon.” (I’ll sit here while you Google that….) OK, are you back? Exec producer Greg Plageman also told us that viewers will be “pleasantly surprised” by who Mad Men’s Cara Buono is playing, only adding that her character does not work for Decima.
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