the forgotten
Thursdays from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET
In the United States, the remains of 40,000 people have yet to be identified. When police investigations reach a dead end, civilian volunteers across the country work to name -- the forgotten.
From executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, "the forgotten" is a drama series in which a team of dedicated amateurs - The Forgotten Network-work on murder cases involving unidentified victims. After the police have given up, this group, led by Alex Donovan (Christian Slater), must first solve the puzzle of the victim's identity in order to then help catch the killer. These are citizen volunteers solving extraordinary crimes. Their persistence and compassion for the cases put them on a personal and emotional journey that focuses on giving names back to the deceased.
The Forgotten Network gathers in coffee shops and living rooms to discuss leads, clues and tips, each bringing his or her own motivations and skills to the table, each driven by a deep sense of purpose. Donovan is a former detective who left the force after the disappearance of his own young daughter. Using his investigative skills, he can help piece together each victim's story, retracing their footsteps and finding out why they died by learning how they lived. Working against the clock to give each victim a name before they're buried as a John or Jane Doe, these amateur detectives are in it to bring closure... and win justice.
Also volunteering in The Forgotten Network are Candace Butler (Michelle Borth), a confident, headstrong young woman who avoids the crushing boredom of her mundane job by helping the Network identify victims; Lindsey Drake (Heather Stephens), a resilient high school science teacher who works with the Network as a form of penance for a crime committed by her husband; Walter Bailey (Bob Stephenson), a well-intentioned phone company employee and true-crime enthusiast whose zealousness can sometimes complicate investigations; Tyler Davies (Anthony Carrigan), a street-smart medical school dropout and aspiring artist who is court-ordered to join the Network to satisfy his community service; and Grace Russell (Rochelle Aytes), a resourceful homicide detective with the Chicago Police, who is Alex's former protégé and now his main link to the department.
The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Mark Friedman ("Home of the Brave") is creator/executive producer. Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Lukas Reiter ("Law & Order") and Danny Cannon, who directed the pilot, are executive producers.