Pretty Hard Cases

Pretty Hard Cases is a Canadian police procedural crime comedy-drama television series that premiered on CBC Television on February 3, 2021. Originally announced with the working title Lady Dicks, the series was created by Tassie Cameron and Sherry White. In March 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on January 5, 2022. IMDb TV became official co-producer for the series' second season, with the second season released on IMDb TV on April 22, 2022. In June 2022, at CBC's upfronts announcement event, the show was renewed for a third season, with Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) still committed and on board to co-fund, co-produce and broadcast in the United States. Season 3 premiered on January 4, 2023 on CBC and CBC Gem in Canada, and on November 29 on Freevee.

The CBC announced in February 2023 that the show will end at the conclusion of the third season on March 8.

Premise
The series follows two detectives in their early 40s: Sam, an uptight and by-the-book guns and gangs detective, and Kelly, a streetwise narcotics detective. Both are ambitious and accomplished in their own way, excelling at work while struggling with their personal lives. They drive one another crazy, but also appreciate each other's strengths, and somehow manage to work together.

Cast

 * Meredith MacNeill as Det. Sam Wazowski
 * Adrienne C. Moore as Det. Kelly Duff
 * Amanda Brugel as Det. Karina Duff
 * Karen Robinson as Unit Commander/Superintendent Edwina Shanks
 * Tara Strong as Tiggy Sullivan (season 1)
 * Dean McDermott as Det. Barry Hamm (season 1)
 * Al Mukadam as Det. Taai Nazeer
 * Percy Hynes White as Elliot Wazowski
 * Katie Douglas as Jackie Sullivan
 * Ronnie Rowe as Rick Gray (season 1)
 * Kim Coates as Bill Misiano (season 1)
 * Tricia Black as Det. Tara Swallows
 * Miguel Rivas as Det. Dustin Chase
 * Daren A. Herbert as DS Nathan Greene
 * Laura de Carteret as Marley Briggs
 * Ben Bass as DS Brad Michaels (season 2)
 * Charlotte Sullivan as Adeline French (season 2)
 * Brendan Beiser as Det. Watts (seasons 2–3)
 * Amanda Walsh as Ro Wells (season 3)
 * Wendy Crewson as Unit Commander Gloria Ballard (season 3)

Development
On February 11, 2020, CBC, along with NBCUniversal International Studios, announced that it had given the series, then titled Lady Dicks a series order. It was also revealed that Tassie Cameron and Sherry White would act as co-showrunners with David Wellington would direct the first episode. The launch of production was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada; during the summer, further, the racial protests associated with the murder of George Floyd in the United States and the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Canada led Cameron and White to rewrite some of their scripts.

Casting
On February 11, 2020, it was announced that the series would star Meredith MacNeill and Adrienne C. Moore. On September 8, 2020, CBC announced that Karen Robinson, Tara Strong, Dean McDermott, Al Mukadam, Percy Hynes White, Katie Douglas, and Ronnie Rowe would be joining the cast.

Filming
Filming was set to begin in early spring, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. In September 2020, filming was underway in the Toronto area.

International broadcast
In the United States, the series premiered on September 10, 2021, on IMDb TV. In the UK, the series premiered on 19 January 2022 on Alibi.