After Watching Prime Video’s On Call, I Love The Creators’ ‘Popcorn Entertainment’ Twist On Dick Wolf’s Usual Law And Order Format

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2025 saw Amazon’s Prime Video kick off its television lineup with a promising new addition: “On Call”, a crime drama from the Wolf Entertainment crew. Featuring Troian Bellisario, known for her role in “Pretty Little Liars”, as veteran Long Beach police officer Tracy Harmon, and Brandon Larracuente from “The Good Doctor” as her eager rookie trainee Alex Diaz, this series is a half-hour streaming production that released all eight episodes simultaneously on its debut day. This sets it apart from the nine-show TV universe created by Dick Wolf.

Before my chat with the cast and crew, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the entire first season in one go. The co-creators, Elliot Wolf and Tim Walsh, shared their insights on how they’ve innovatively deviated from the traditional Dick Wolf formula that’s been successful for series like “Law & Order: SVU,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “FBI.” They elaborated on what makes “On Call” a must-watch for Prime Video subscribers and why it marks the first half-hour streaming venture by Wolf Entertainment.

How Binge-Worthy Is On Call?

Few production companies can claim as many long-lasting television series as Wolf Entertainment, with five shows now in their double-digit seasons being aired on network television (such as NBC’s Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med). Unlike these weekly releases, the entire eighth season of On Call became accessible from January 9, thanks to its unique blend of body cam, dash cam, cellphone video, and conventional footage.

Speaking from a perspective of someone who relished the unspoiled binge-watching experience, I won’t delve into spoilers beyond what the thrilling trailer reveals and to build anticipation around the impressive performances of Eriq La Salle and Lori Loughlin. At Prime Video’s press event for the new series, I had the opportunity to chat with co-creators Elliot Wolf (known for Dark Woods and Law & Order: Criminal Justice System) and Tim Walsh (famous for Chicago P.D. and Hightown), having previously viewed all eight episodes of their Long Beach-set show.

How highly do they rate the show for binge-watching compared to other weekly released crime dramas? According to Walsh, it’s an exceptional “11 out of 10” in terms of binge-worthiness, and Wolf added…

As a film enthusiast, I found myself utterly captivated by that series. It’s not just the plot that hooks you; there’s an underlying current that propels you forward, almost like a secret bond between our main characters that remains implicit in their dynamic. The connection between these two characters is so intriguing that it leaves us craving for more than just eight episodes. We yearn to delve deeper into their lives, to uncover every aspect of them. The intention behind the creation of these characters is that they are so rich and engaging that you could spend hours upon hours watching them without exhaustion, as their stories seem boundless.

It’s uncertain whether there will be more episodes beyond the initial eight featuring Tracy Harmon and Alex Diaz, but surprisingly, this series doesn’t require a significant time investment compared to other dramas, given each episode is roughly 30 minutes long. I found myself easily drawn into watching it continuously. Tim Walsh concurred with his co-creator, expressing similar sentiments.

This was made by people who love popcorn entertainment, for people who love popcorn entertainment.

You’ll find that you can finish watching all eight episodes (currently accessible) in roughly four hours, which is significantly less time than a full season of shows like Law & Order or Chicago P.D.! Interestingly, since I’m used to watching Wolf Entertainment series on network TV, it was surprising when the credits rolled after just 30 minutes for On Call. The co-creators shared their reasoning behind opting for shorter episodes.

Why Half Hour Episodes?

After finishing my marathon viewing of the series “On Call”, I had the opportunity to chat with its creators and asked an intriguing question: why opt for a half-hour format when Wolf Entertainment has a rich 30+-year history of acclaimed episodic dramas lasting approximately 42 minutes, commercial-free? Interestingly enough, the response wasn’t as simple as you might think. Elliot Wolf elaborated:

In today’s era, attention is arguably more precious than ever. Compare this to the ’50s and ’60s prime time TV schedule, which was dominated by half-hour procedurals – they’re hardly seen today. This led us to believe that the series format we chose was both innovative and successful. Once we delved into the half-hour format and the procedural aspect, I feel we managed to put our unique spin on it.

Clearly, ‘On Call’ stands out among procedurals due to its half-hour format. I find it hard to envision how it would have thrived on a traditional broadcast platform in today’s era. At present, the show hasn’t been renewed for another season, but both co-creators are optimistic about the final product. Wolf further commented:

One thing we’re particularly proud of in this series is its lack of rigid structure or rules for each episode. Instead, the core focus is on the characters and their relationships. We began by reimagining something familiar and giving it a fresh twist, and over time, I believe we’ve made it uniquely ours.

As I type this, we’re still in limbo about whether “On Call” will return for another season. While no news can sometimes be a good sign, Wolf Entertainment is still actively marketing the series. Here’s a recent social media update on the show:

A post shared by Wolf Entertainment (@wolfentertainment)

A photo posted by on

The Instagram post’s comment section is overflowing with compliments from viewers, not just due to the adorable canine in the pictures. Frequently, comments request another season, indicating a dedicated fanbase eagerly awaiting more content. If you haven’t seen it yet, perhaps you should check it out!

If you’ve got a Prime Video subscription and around four hours to fill, I’ve got a suggestion for some entertaining viewing! I found the series “On Call” quite engaging, even for someone who watched eight hours of Wolf Entertainment on television this week, split between the FBIs, the two Law & Order series, and One Chicago. The half-hour format was different, but not in a bad way.

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2025-02-01 04:08