‘Murdoch Mysteries’ leads Gemini noms
TORONTO – A pair of detective shows – one set in the 19th century and another that takes place in present-day suburbia – are this year’s leading Gemini Award nominees.
“Murdoch Mysteries,” which airs on Citytv and stars Yannick Bisson as a sleuth who solves crimes in Toronto in the late 1800s, is up for 14 of the prizes, which recognize excellence in Canadian television.
The show received nods for best dramatic series, writing, visual effects, photography, score and make-up. A host of guest stars who appeared on the program are also vying for awards.
“We’re really, really excited…we’re ordering quite a few bottles of champagne,” said Christina Jennings, executive producer of ‘Murdoch Mysteries.’
“Who would have thought a mystery series set in 1895 would capture both Canadian audiences and international audiences?”
“Durham County,” in which Hugh Dillon plays a homicide detective who moves his family from Toronto to the suburbs only to discover that his neighbour may be a serial killer, nabbed 13 Gemini nominations.
Dillon is up for an acting prize, as are co-stars Helene Joy and Justin Louis. The program, which airs on The Movie Network and Movie Central, is also up for best dramatic series as well as for writing, directing, editing, sound and photography.
Jennings said that while TV audiences are well-versed in the crime genre these days, “Murdoch Mysteries” gives them some historical perspective.
“I think we all know about ‘CSI,’ and we’ve all seen these cop procedurals before,” she said.
“This (show) is the beginnings of where forensics started, things that we take for granted like lie detectors…or infrared. I think the audience is interested in where all of that comes from.”
In the best drama category, “Murdoch Mysteries” and “Durham County” will square off against the sexy Henry VIII drama “The Tudors,” cop thriller “The Border and organized crime drama “Intelligence.”
“The Tudors” received 12 nominations overall, as did “The Englishman’s Boy,” a miniseries based on a Guy Vanderhaeghe novel.
“The Fifth Estate” picked up 11 nods, while “The Border” and “CBC News: The National” tied with nine apiece.
The TV miniseries “Would Be Kings” picked up eight nominations and “Across the River to Motor City” and “Mayerthorpe” each collected seven.
“Marketplace,” “ReGenesis,” “Rent-A-Goalie” and “Cowboy Junkies – Trinity Revisited” amassed six.
Competing for best comedy will be: “Cock’d Gunns”; “Corner Gas”; “Kenny vs. Spenny”; “Odd Job Jack”; “Rent-A-Goalie”; and “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.”
And, the reality show contenders are: “Canada’s Next Top Model”; “Dragons’ Den”; “Project Runway Canada”; “Triple Sensation”; and “The Week the Women Went.”
Three nights of Gemini galas will be held on Oct. 20, 21 and 22 to hand out hardware for various categories including news, sports, documentaries and children’s shows.
The main Gemini Awards show will take place in Toronto on Nov. 28.
The awards are administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
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