Top Canadian TV show also viewed in USA

One of my favourite TV shows is Flashpoint, which is shown here in Canada on CTV. It is also shown in the United States on CBS TV. During the recent Gemini Awards, which celebrates the best Canadian television shows, Flashpoint took home top honours. I remember another Canadian television show, “Due South,” which also was shown both on CTV and CBS during the 1990’s. It is nice to have Canadian TV shows gain acceptance across the border. Based on the popularity of the show, more episodes have been ordered and both Canadian and American audiences will be able to continue enjoying the show. I came across the following article which outlines the honours given to Flashpoint, along with other top notch Canadian television shows:

By Shannon Montgomery, The Canadian Press

CALGARY – The cross-border hit cop drama “Flashpoint” was the big winner at Saturday’s Gemini Awards as it snagged three of the night’s top honours in Canadian television, including best drama.

CBC’s “Rick Mercer Report” took the award for best comedy.

“Flashpoint,” which airs on CTV, had already started off with a bang when it scored a record 19 nominations overall. It headed into the gala with three wins from pre-show ceremonies.

The drama, which was the only repeat winner of the night, also nabbed the best director trophy for Kelly Makin and best actor award for Enrico Colantoni.

The series lured the Toronto-born Colantoni back from a quarter century working in the United States on series such as “Just Shoot Me” and “Veronica Mars.” He called the win “a wonderful way to come home.”

He said the show, which follows a S.W.A.T. team working in Toronto, gives Canadians something to be proud of in a country where television is often disregarded.

“This show represents a nation in a way, we’re representing in the United States and the world,” Caolantoni said. “It’s like, ‘this is what we can do.’ ”

The show’s trophy haul underscores a stellar first season which was shown simultaneously on both sides of the border and helped usher in a string of high-profile Canadian dramas that subsequently found broadcast deals in the United States.

“I think ‘Flashpoint’ has moved things into a new direction and now American networks are looking across the border and seeing that there is actually tremendous talent in (Canada), where quality shows are being made,” said executive producer Bill Mustos.

“That’s an exciting kind of new sea change for our country.”

He added that Flashpoint has moved the police drama in the distinctly Canadian direction of trying to get inside the minds of characters on both sides of each hostage situation and trying to find a peaceful resolution as much as possible.

Another award had a “Flashpoint” connection – co-star Hugh Dillon lost out on the best actor award to his colleague Colantoni but scored the best supporting actor trophy for the TV movie “Of Murder and Mystery.”

After his win, he mused about “Flashpoint’s” runaway success.

“I think because great stories are great stories, and ‘Flashpoint’ has an incredible emotional core, but it has this action element, and I think that’s why it appeals to so many people.”

Citytv’s dark comedy “Less Than Kind” was left without a single trophy despite leading the sitcom nominations with nine nods.

The sexy period drama “The Tudors” was also shut out at Saturday’s broadcast awards after earning 11 nominations overall. It had already won four trophies in separate ceremonies held last month in Toronto, but lost out in three major categories during the Saturday night gala, which was held in Calgary.

CBC funnyman Ron James was host of the awards, which celebrate the best in Canadian English-language television.

After traditionally being held in Toronto, the awards have moved about the country in recent years. The gala in Calgary marked the first time the awards were handed out in Alberta.

The location no doubt made it special for Albertan Erin Karpluk, who took home the trophy for best dramatic actress for her lead role in the time-travelling show “Being Erica,” which was also nominated for best drama and best direction.

It was also a homecoming for presenter Cory Monteith, who stars in the runaway hit U.S. musical comedy “Glee,” and was born in Calgary.

“What better way to have a homecoming than this? This is incredible,” he gushed while walking the red carpet.

Monteith, who plays the singing football jock Finn on the Global TV series, later moved to B.C. but now lives in Los Angeles for filming of the show, which he called his “big break.”

“It’s a lot of work, but you don’t mind working hard when you’re this involved, personally, in a show and you love a show this much.”

The quirky country-music show “Three Chords from the Truth” won for best comedy ensemble performance despite being cancelled after only 10 episodes.

After the award, the cast joked about handing out resumes, but then turned sober about what Canadian TV means to the country.

“Canada’s greatest export is comedy. It is, that’s just a fact,” said actor Paul Snepsts.

“Celebrate it, keep supporting it.”

“Flashpoint” faced off for best drama with “ZOS: Zone of Separation” from the Movie Network and Movie Central, and “Being Erica,” “The Border” and “The Tudors” – all on CBC.

Other comedy nominees included “Less Than Kind,” CBC’s “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” CMT’s “Three Chords” and Showcase’s “Testees.”

“Corner Gas,” dubbed by some as the most popular Canadian television show ever, failed to score a single nomination for the final season of its six-year run, something creator Brent Butt has called “kinda goofy.” The Saskatchewan-based show had been nominated for best comedy every other year it aired and took home the award in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

“Corner Gas” was one of three shows saluted during the Gemini broadcast, along with “Royal Canadian Air Farce” and “Trailer Park Boys.” All three shows have recently wrapped their final seasons and were honoured with a retrospective of funny on-air moments.

On the red carpet before the show, comedian Mercer said he’s sure other Canadian comedies will rush in to take their places.

“When ‘Corner Gas’ came along, people didn’t say, ‘Wow, here it is, it was just a show that came along and then it became what ‘Corner Gas’ is, and that’s just the nature of the beast,” he said.

“There will be new shows, shows can’t stay on forever.”

The CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos was honoured as best talk show host for a second year running, while Diana Swain of “CBC News at Six” was crowned the best news anchor.

The CBC show Dragons’ Den, in which inventors try to pitch their wares to a panel of wary investors, scored the trophy for best reality program.

Early on in the night, Christine Ghawi won the best actress award in a mini-series for playing the role of iconic Canadian singer Celine Dion.

She seemed stunned by the win, but quickly took advantage of the moment.

“I haven’t had a job in two years since I shot Celine, so somebody please hire me!” she laughed.

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A list of the Gemini Awards handed out Saturday at a gala in Calgary:

Best dramatic series: “Flashpoint”

Best comedy program or series: “Rick Mercer Report”

Best dramatic miniseries: “Burn Up”

Best reality program or series: “Dragons’ Den”

Best performance by an actor in a continuing lead dramatic role: Enrico Colantoni, “Flashpoint” (episode “Who’s George?”)

Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a drama or miniseries: David Suchet, “Diverted”

Best performance by an actress in a continuing lead dramatic role: Erin Karpluk, “Being Erica” (episode “Dr. Tom”)

Best performance by an actress in a lead role in a drama or miniseries: Christine Ghawi, “Celine”

Best ensemble performance in a comedy program or series: Steve Cochrane, Kevin Ellis, Phyllis Ellis, George Komorowski, Adriana Maggs, Jordan McCloskey, Steven Morana, Paul Snepsts, Joel Stewart in “Three Chords from the Truth” (episode “Tommy’s Label Showcase”)

Best host or interviewer in a general/human interest or talk program or series: George Stroumboulopoulos, “The Hour With George Stroumboulopoulos”

Best news anchor: Diana Swain, “CBC News at Six”

Best writing in a comedy or variety program or series: Adam Reid, Max Reid, “Billable Hours” (episode “A Manson for All Seasons”)

Best direction in a dramatic series: Kelly Makin, “Flashpoint” (episode “Planets Aligned”)

Best performance by an actor in a featured supporting role in a dramatic program or miniseries: Hugh Dillon, “Of Murder and Memory”

Best performance by an actress in a featured supporting role in a dramatic program or miniseries: Barbara Hershey, “Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning”

Best performance or host in a variety program or series: Leah Miller, “So You Think You Can Dance Canada: Season 1″ (episode “Finale”)

Donald Brittain award for best social/political documentary program: “Tiger Spirit”