Network: ABC
Episodes: 42 (hour)
Seasons: Three
TV show dates: March 29, 2011 — May 28, 2013
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Dana Delany, Jeri Ryan, Nicholas Bishop, Geoffrey Arend, Windell D. Middlebrooks, John Carroll Lynch, and Sonja Sohn.
TV show description:
Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) was in a class of her own, a brilliant neurosurgeon at the top of her game. Her world was turned upside down after a devastating car accident put an end to her time in the operating room. She eventually reinvented herself as a Philadelphia medical examiner, determined to solve the puzzle of who or what killed the victims. She uses her vast medical knowledge and investigative instincts to solve the medical mysteries of the dead and bring those responsible for their deaths to justice. Megan’s instincts are sharp, but she’s developed a reputation for graying the lines of where her job ends and where the police department’s begins.
Unfortunately, she isn’t so good at balancing her professional and personal lives. A bitter divorce ended with Megan’s ex-husband gaining sole custody of their daughter. As an advocate for the dead, Megan is unequaled. As a mother, she has a lot to learn.
Equal parts pathologist and politician, Dr. Kate Murphy (Jeri Ryan) must balance relationships with the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Philadelphia Police Department, and City Hall. It’s no easy task — especially when she has to rein in Megan. Fortunately, Kate and Megan find common ground because they both want to help grieving families get closure and find out what happened to their loved ones.
A former cop, Peter Dunlop (Nicholas Bishop) is the Medicolegal Investigator for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office. After a gunshot ripped through his shoulder during a convenience store robbery, Peter found himself off the streets and inside a rehab facility. Three months of physical therapy later, he had found his true calling: medicine. He works side-by-side with Megan as they investigate mysterious cases.
Dr. Ethan Gross (Geoffrey Arend) gave up pediatrics for forensic pathology on the day that he saw his first autopsy. He’s now the youngest and most enthusiastic person working in the Medical Examiner’s Office. He tries to model himself after Megan and her medical skills but still has a lot to learn when it comes to easing the pain of victims’ grieving families.
As the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Curtis Brumfield (Windell D. Middlebrooks) is technically Megan’s boss but he quickly realizes that that’s easier said than done. He’s capable and intelligent as a medical examiner. However, when he’s not busy trying to rein in Megan, you can find him in the dirt, studying his true love — insects.
Making sure that Megan doesn’t overstep her bounds is Detective Bud Morris (John Carroll Lynch); a hardheaded, straight-shooting veteran of the Philadelphia Homicide Division. He’s no stranger to death and violent crimes. He fights for justice on Philly streets while fighting to mend the troubled relationship with his wife.
Bud’s new partner is Detective Samantha Baker (Sonja Sohn), a recent transfer from vice. While Bud doesn’t like Megan’s methods, Sam identifies with her take-no-prisoners approach and feels right at home working alongside those in the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Episode #42 — Daddy Issues
Megan gets the go-ahead for the exhumation of her father’s body. She’s shocked to discover that his coffin is empty. Her mom, Joan, is equally stunned. She feels guilty for standing in her daughter’s way all these years. The records regarding Megan’s dad old medical cases are also missing.
Chief Angela Martin gets wind of the formerly covert investigation and asks Tommy to keep her in the loop. Trent Marsh, the slightly-psycho psychotherapist that Megan met in “Eye for an Eye,” approaches her in the street. He offers his assistance. Megan says she’ll deal with her “daddy issues” her way.
Megan finds a key hidden in her father’s old lighter. It unlocks a secret area in his old study. One of the missing medical files is hidden there. Megan believes this case is probably what got her dad killed. The file is for a young woman named Lindsay Pratt who was murdered the day before her father died by a serial killer named Earl Brown. Megan and Tommy pay a visit to the guy in prison. He denies killing Lindsay Pratt. Brown is already serving life for killing many others, so he has no reason to lie.
Megan and Tommy pay a visit to the retired detective, Glenn Fitz, who investigated the Earl Brown murders. He’s positive the jury got it right when they convicted Brown for Lindsay Pride’s murder. Megan isn’t so sure. She finds a discrepancy with how Lindsay was asphyxiated. Her murder shows signs that she was killed by a police chokehold method. Megan believes Glenn Fitz may have killed the girl.
Tommy gets permission from Chief Martin to question the retired cop. Megan bursts into the interrogation room to flat-out accuse Fitz of killing Lindsay Pride as well as her father.
Megan fears Fitz is going to get away with murder. Trent Marsh, again, offers to avenge her father’s death his way. Once again, Megan declines. In other news, Kate has Ethan give her the breakdown on a body that was found in the woods. She reconstructs the John Doe’s facial features.
Curtis can see how much she digs doing this type of work. She loves it way more than politics. The sketch of her victim’s face looks familiar to Megan. It’s Glenn Fitz’s former partner, Arthur Wilcox. Two gunshots strike Glenn Fitz as he’s stepping out of his car in his home driveway. Now both of the cops who worked the Earl Brown case are dead.
Megan rushes to tell Tommy the news, but finds Chief Martin instead. She fills her in on the details of what she learned. Martin agrees to accompany Megan back to the office. She pulls out a gun during the drive. She tells Megan that she’s the one who killed Lindsay Pratt in a jealous rage. Arthur Wilcox helped her cover it up. Martin forced Megan’s dad to write his own suicide note before killing him. He was a loose end. She’s the one who dug him up out of the ground to cover her tracks. Martin also killed Fitz and now she needs to kill Megan. BANG! Chief Angela Martin falls to the ground. She’s been shot dead by Trent Marsh.
A stunned Megan tells Tommy that Marsh is the man who saved her life. The cops storm the therapist’s office, but it’s been cleaned out. The only thing left is a copy of a book titled Silent Anguish: Survivors of Suicide. Megan pockets the note inside that simply reads “You’re Welcome.” She heads home to grieve with her mom.
Later, Megan shows up at Tommy’s place. She thanks him for everything he did. Megan lets Tommy know that she’s held the past against him for far too long. She doesn’t know why he puts up with her. For Tommy Sullivan, the answer is simple. He knows Megan Hunt is worth it. The two of them share a kiss that’s been a long time in the making.
Courtesy ABC.
First aired: May 28, 2013
What do you think? Do you like the Body of Proof TV series? Do you think it should have been be cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?
Image courtesy ABC.
I hate ABC. A great show and they cancel it. They probably are going to replace it with some stupid reality show.
I am upset that Body of Proof was cancelled. It is a great show. Some other shows are terrible, and you cancel a good show. Please reconsider and keep it on the air.
I agree with everyone else who hopes to see another network pick up Body of Proof. Makes no sense with good ratings to cancel in the first place. IF it wasn’t a good show, then why is it the network is currently playing reruns???
Great plot and great cast, really hope the rumors are true. TNT and USA are fast becoming my favorite networks!!!!
I connot support a show when the main star runs around in spike heels. It offends my intelligence. I can only enjoy a show that has
some semblance of reality
Shocked and sad – love this show!
Loved this show. Hope another network picks it up soon. Dana Delaney has always been a favorite of mine and deserves a prime time spot.
Why cut another good shoe. Work harder to keep it.
I would have gladly watched Body of Proof on USA TNT or Fox. Why don’t one of you pick it up?
I think it’s silly for you to have cancelled this show. It’s amazing. You should definitely renew it.
Well written and extremely well acted this series deserved to be extended for a number of years. ABC continues to lower itself in continuing mind numbing, non thinking programs.
My wife and I will be moving onto other networks who may wish to send ABC their thanks.
Love the show. Actors are fine as are the writers. Sorry to see it cancelled.
Definately should have been renewed. I looked forward to this every week. Mark Valley is an awesome actor and should actually be considered for some action movie roles. Think that would take his career to the top, where he needs to be. Very interesting story lines and informative to those of us CSI hopefuls.
I really like Body Of Proof, and look forward to viewing it every Tuesday, except I think Megan’s character needs to be toned down a bit, and be more amiable
Hate to see a quality program with well-developed characters, a terrific cast, and intelligent writing canceled.
This show should not be cancelled! Great characters and great storyline!!