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The City (1999 TV series)

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The City
Created byPierre Sarrazin
Suzette Couture
StarringTorri Higginson
John Ralston
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes33
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkCTV
ReleaseMarch 7, 1999 –
2000

The City, also known as Deep in the City, is a Canadian television drama series, created by Pierre Sarrazin and Suzette Couture, which aired on CTV from 1999 to 2000.[1]

Set in Toronto, the series starred Torri Higginson as Katharine Strachan Berg, a society wife who gave up her career in law after marrying wealthy real estate developer Jack Berg (John Ralston).[1] When her son Strachan (Matthew Lemche) is injured in a shooting in the debut episode, she becomes motivated to return to public life by running for a seat on Toronto City Council, thus drawing her into contact with a diverse ensemble of characters representing many different aspects of the big city beyond the confines of her affluent Rosedale life.[1] In the show's second season, she has been successfully elected to a council seat, and must navigate the internal workings of Toronto City Hall to advocate for change.[2]

The series was essentially a prime time soap opera, although Sarrazin rejected that label because of its association with unrealistic and melodramatic plots, and instead compared the show's intentions to socially realistic antecedents such as The Bonfire of the Vanities, Upstairs, Downstairs and the novels of Victor Hugo.[1]

The shooting of Strachan in the pilot was based on the real Just Desserts shooting of 1994.[3] Mel Lastman, the real-life Mayor of Toronto at the time the series aired, made a cameo appearance in the second season as himself,[4] and Toronto radio host "Humble" Howard Glassman was heard in numerous episodes as a radio personality voicing public commentary on events.[5]

The series premiered in March 1999 with a 13-episode first season,[6] and then returned in November 1999 with a 20-episode second season.[7] It was not renewed for a third season.

Awards

The show received three Gemini Award nominations at the 14th Gemini Awards in 1999, for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Shawn Doyle, Michael Sarrazin) and Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Jan Rubeš).[8] It won three awards at the 15th Gemini Awards in 2000, for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Higginson), Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Shannon Lawson) and Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Geordie Johnson);[9] it was also nominated, but did not win, for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Sheila McCarthy) and Best Direction in a Drama Series (Jerry Ciccoritti).[10]

Cast

Episodes

Season one

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Joy Ride, Part 1"Richard J. LewisSuzette Couture, Pierre SarrazinMarch 7, 1999 (1999-03-07)
2"Joy Ride, Part 2"Richard J. LewisSuzette Couture, Pierre SarrazinMarch 7, 1999 (1999-03-07)
3"Fire in the Garden"Randy BradshawDavid YoungMarch 9, 1999 (1999-03-09)
4"Confessions"Randy BradshawMaureen McKeonMarch 16, 1999 (1999-03-16)
5"Haunted"Stephen WilliamsDeborah NathanMarch 23, 1999 (1999-03-23)
6"Departures"Allan KingDavid YoungMarch 30, 1999 (1999-03-30)
7"Surviving"Allan KingKaren WaltonApril 6, 1999 (1999-04-06)
8"Obsessions"John L'EcuyerJeremy HoleApril 13, 1999 (1999-04-13)
9"Shadows"John L'EcuyerDeborah NathanApril 20, 1999 (1999-04-20)
10"Blood Sports"Bruce PittmanKaren WaltonApril 27, 1999 (1999-04-27)
11"Thicker Than Water"Bruce PittmanDavid YoungMay 4, 1999 (1999-05-04)
12"Deranged Marriages"Stephen WilliamsKaren WaltonMay 11, 1999 (1999-05-11)
13"It's Cold Out There"Stephen WilliamsSuzette CoutureMay 18, 1999 (1999-05-18)

Season two

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
14TBATBATBATBA
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References

  1. ^ a b c d Tony Atherton, "The City: just don't call it a soap opera: Sprawling series breaks rules for TV drama". Ottawa Citizen, March 6, 1999.
  2. ^ Dana Gee, "There are too many stories in The City". The Province, November 26, 1999.
  3. ^ John McKay, "Toronto co-stars in new TV drama". Canadian Press, March 4, 1999.
  4. ^ Sean Fitz-Gerald, "Lastman makes acting debut". Ottawa Citizen, February 5, 2000.
  5. ^ "Take a fun ride through The City". Toronto Star, March 5, 1999.
  6. ^ David Barber, "City folks: Torri Higginson has been dying for the chance to star in a series". The Globe and Mail, March 6, 1999.
  7. ^ "The City returns for second season". Welland Tribune, November 26, 1999.
  8. ^ "Major Gemini Awards nominations". Toronto Star, September 22, 1999.
  9. ^ "Da Vinci wins 'biggest award'". Peterborough Examiner, October 31, 2000.
  10. ^ "Gemini nominations". Toronto Star, October 29, 2000.
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