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Person of Interest (TV series)

Person of Interest is an American science fiction crime drama television series created by Jonathan Nolan and broadcast on CBS from 2011 to 2016.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Person of Interest is an American science fiction crime drama television series created by Jonathan Nolan and broadcast on CBS from 2011 to 2016. It follows Harold Finch and John Reese as they use a predictive computer system called "the Machine" to prevent violent crimes before they happen. The series aired in Canada on television, and the term "person of interest" is also used in Canadian law-enforcement contexts.

Premise

The series follows a covert effort to stop violent crimes using intelligence generated by "the Machine," a surveillance and prediction system created by Finch. Episodes typically focus on people identified by the system before a crime occurs.

Production

Person of Interest was created by Jonathan Nolan and produced with J. J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Greg Plageman, Denise Thé, and Chris Fisher. It premiered on CBS in September 2011 and ended in June 2016.

Cast and characters

Michael Emerson plays Harold Finch, while Jim Caviezel plays John Reese. The series also features supporting characters who become central to later storylines, including Sameen Shaw.

Reception and themes

The series is commonly associated with themes of surveillance, privacy, artificial intelligence, and crime prevention. Its premise has been widely discussed as a mix of procedural crime drama and speculative technology fiction.

Key facts

  • The series aired on CBS for five seasons from 2011 to 2016.
  • It was created by Jonathan Nolan, with J. J. Abrams among the executive producers.
  • The plot centres on Harold Finch, a reclusive billionaire programmer, and John Reese, a former CIA operative and special forces soldier.
  • The show’s central device is "the Machine," a government computer program that predicts violent crimes.
  • The title phrase "person of interest" is also a real-world law-enforcement term for someone believed to be involved in a crime but not formally charged.
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Canadian context

The series aired in Canada on television and the term "person of interest" is also used in Canadian law-enforcement contexts.[10][16]

Frequently asked questions

What is Person of Interest?
An American science fiction crime drama TV series that aired on CBS from 2011 to 2016.
Who created Person of Interest?
Jonathan Nolan created the series.
How many seasons and episodes does it have?
It has 5 seasons and 103 episodes.
What is "the Machine" in the series?
It is a computer program that predicts violent crimes by processing large amounts of information.
Who are the main characters?
Harold Finch, played by Michael Emerson, and John Reese, played by Jim Caviezel, are the central characters.
What does "person of interest" mean in law enforcement?
It usually refers to someone believed to be involved in a crime but who has not been charged or arrested.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_Interest_(TV_series)
    Supports: Original run, creator, premise, cast, seasons, episodes
  2. Merriam-Websterhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/person%20of%20interest
    Supports: Definition of 'person of interest'
  3. Cambridge Dictionaryhttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/person-of-interest
    Supports: Definition of 'person of interest'
  4. Wikipediahttps://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_Interest
    Supports: Canadian broadcast information and series details
  5. Fandomhttps://personofinterest.fandom.com/wiki/Persons_of_Interest
    Supports: Law-enforcement usage note and in-universe explanation
  6. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt1839578/
    Supports: Themes and general series description