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E.N.G.

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E.N.G.
Created byBryce Zabel & Brad Markowitz
ComposersMicky Erbe and Maribeth Solomon
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes96
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkCTV
ReleaseOctober 31, 1989 (1989-10-31) –
March 17, 1994 (1994-03-17)

E.N.G. is a Canadian television drama, following the staff of a fictional Toronto television news station. The show aired on CTV from 1989 to 1994. The series ran for 96 episodes, produced by the Alliance Entertainment Corporation.

Plot

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"E.N.G." stands for electronic news-gathering. The show is led by Anne Hildebrandt (Sara Botsford), the senior executive producer of the news broadcasts on fictional Toronto television station, CTLS channel 10. Hildebrandt is bright, assertive and also having a clandestine affair with star cameraman Jake Antonelli (Mark Humphrey). Jake is younger and married to Martha with two children; after Jake and Martha divorce, son Jeff lives with Jake, while their daughter lives with her mother.

Mike Fennell (Art Hindle) is the station's newly-appointed news director, taking a position Anne had been expecting to receive. Mike aims to improve ratings of the newscasts and his coverage philosophy is in obvious conflict with Anne's. Anne and Mike find common ground and later become romantically involved. Mike has a troubled teenage daughter named Carrie from his previous marriage; Carrie lives in Vancouver.

Other members of the CTLS staff include Jane Oliver, the station's weathercaster; Seth Miller, who worries about being pushed into retirement due to his age; Kyle Copeland, the station's general manager who sometimes clashes with both Anne and Mike; Bobbi Katz, another camera person; J.C. Callahan, the station's alcoholic and cranky assignment editor, who later is left requiring a wheelchair by an accident; Marge Atherton, the station's video editor, who is very motherly and offers co-workers advice, and a compassionate shoulder to lean on; Dan Watson, a smarmy senior reporter who occasionally puts his foot in his mouth. Janice Roberts, a news researcher, joins channel 10 the same day Mike does. Janice later commits suicide after becoming too emotionally involved in a story. Bruce Foreman is a devious and scheming assistant assignment editor; Eric "Mac" MacFarlane is the newscast's openly-gay floor manager; Terri Morgan, a scheming reporter who tends to be very cut-throat. Victor Garber has a recurring role as tycoon Adam Hirsch, who owned CTLS during the final three seasons.

At the end of the series, Anne and Mike try to balance their personal and professional lives, when it is revealed that CTLS is going from a hard news format to a lifestyles format. Mike receives a new job offer in Japan, and invites Anne to go with him. After making peace with Jake, who urged her to have a life with Mike, Anne decides to accept his offer, although she would not be permitted to work, by Japanese law. In the final episode, "The Cutting Edge", Clarke Roberts (Janice's brother) dares Anne to get back in the trenches and help him with a hard news story. She does, finding how much she loves the excitement. She is offered a job at another news station, by the station owner (Simon MacCorkindale). After talking to Mike, they decide they want different things. Mike goes to Japan to begin his new job. Anne is last seen standing outside the building where her new job, as station manager will begin.

Episodes

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Season 1 (1989–90)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Pilot"Mario AzzopardiBryce Zabel & Brad MarkowitzOctober 31, 1989 (1989-10-31)
22
33"Special Segment"Steve DiMarcoR.B. Carney1989 (1989)
44"Forests of the Night"Martin LavutBrad Markowitz, Barbara Samuels1989 (1989)
55"Your Place or Mine"Steve DiMarcoWayne Grigsby1989 (1989)
66"Dirty Trick"Martin LavutIan Sutherland, William Kuhns1989 (1989)
77"The Chilling Effect"TBDBrad Markowitz1989 (1989)
88"Running with the Pack"Martin LavutDawn Ritchie1989 (1989)
99"Catch a Falling Star"Sturla GunnarssonPeter Lauterman, Angelo Stea1990 (1990)
1010"A Tangled Web"TBDBrad Markowitz1990 (1990)
1111"A Brief Madness"Ryszard BugajskiWayne Grigsby1990 (1990)
1212"Till Death Do Us Part"René BonnièreMarlene Matthews1990 (1990)
1313"Striking Out"Ken GirottiAvrum Jacobson1990 (1990)
1414"False Fire"Jerry CiccorittiIan Sutherland, William Kuhns1990 (1990)
1515"Otherwise Inflicted"Peter RoweRobert Forsyth1990 (1990)
1616"All Things Betray Thee"Donald ShebibWayne GrigsbyFebruary 15, 1990 (1990-02-15)
1717"Into Darkness"Peter RoweElliot L. SimsFebruary 22, 1990 (1990-02-22)
1818"The Souls of Our Heroes"George BloomfieldDon Truckey1990 (1990)
1919"Ghosts"Allan KroekerBrad Markowitz, Barbara Samuels1990 (1990)
2020"Fools Rush In"Jerry CiccorittiRenata Bright1990 (1990)
2121"Victims"Ken GirottiPeter Mohan1990 (1990)
2222"Division of Labour"René BonnièreR.B. Carney1990 (1990)
2323"Line of Fire"Randy BradshawWayne Grigsby1990 (1990)
2424"Crossroads"Don McBreartyBrad Markowitz, Barbara Samuels1990 (1990)
2525"In Love and War"Mario AzzopardiRick Shiomi1990 (1990)
2626"Traitors All"Steve DiMarcoRebecca Schechter1990 (1990)

Season 2 (1990–91)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
271"Word of Mouth"Don McBreartyWayne Grigsby1990 (1990)
282"Malicious Intent"Steve DiMarcoBrad Markowitz, Barbara Samuels1990 (1990)
293"The Dancer and the Dance"George BloomfieldPeter Lauterman, Angelo Stea1990 (1990)
304"Scratches on a Plaster Wall"Jerry CiccorittiRobert Forsyth1990 (1990)
315"Bones"Steve DiMarcoIan Sutherland1990 (1990)
326"Payment in Kind"George BloomfieldBrad Markowitz, Barbara Samuels1990 (1990)
337"Ripples in a Pond"Jerry CiccorittiWayne Grigsby1990 (1990)
348"All in the Game"Ken GirottiRick Shiomi1990 (1990)
359"Force of Reason"George BloomfieldWayne Grigsby1990 (1990)
3610"Duffy, Bok, & Flann"René BonnièreIan Sutherland1990 (1990)
3711"A Long Way from Hopeful"Don McBreartyRobert Forsyth1990 (1990)
3812"A Wing and a Prayer"George BloomfieldWayne Grigsby1990 (1990)
3913"In the Blood"Don McBreartyBruce Martin1991 (1991)
4014"Seeing is Believing"Peter RoweWayne Grigsby1991 (1991)
4115"Lest You Be Judged"Donald ShebibBrad Markowitz, Barbara Samuels1991 (1991)
4216"Tyger, Tyger"Jerry CiccorittiIan Sutherland, Rick Shiomi1991 (1991)
4317"Up on the Roof"René BonnièrePamela Soper1991 (1991)
4418"Lip Service"Eleanore LindoWayne Grigsby1991 (1991)
4519"Past Imperfect"Steve DiMarcoBrad Markowitz, Barbara Samuels1991 (1991)
4620"Suffer the Little Children"Art HindleIan Sutherland, Jean Brent Thomas1991 (1991)

Season 3 (1991–92)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
471"Ways and Means"Eleanore LindoWayne Grigsby, Barbara SamuelsOctober 31, 1991 (1991-10-31)
482"Picnic"Don McBreartyAnne ReiterNovember 7, 1991 (1991-11-07)
493"Illuminations"George BloomfieldDavid Young1991 (1991)
504"Secrets"René BonnièreBruce Martin1991 (1991)
515"Smoke and Mirrors"George BloomfieldPeter Lauterman, Angelo Stea1991 (1991)
526"Intruders"Jerry CiccorittiJeremy Hole1991 (1991)
537"Pirates"Steve DiMarcoDave Cole1991 (1991)
548"Two for the Show"Art HindleRobert Forsyth1992 (1992)
559"The Sleep of Reason"Steve DiMarcoIan Sutherland1992 (1992)
5610"Final Cut"Peter RowePeter Lauterman, Angelo Stea1992 (1992)
5711"Double Vision"George MendelukRick Shiomi1992 (1992)
5812"The Best Defence"Joanna McIntyreWayne Grigsby1992 (1992)
5913"Public Enemy"René BonnièreDave Cole, Laurie Pearson1992 (1992)
6014"True Patriot Love"Don McBreartyDavid YoungFebruary 27, 1992 (1992-02-27)
6115"Child's Play"Jerry CiccorittiPeter Lauterman, Angelo SteaMarch 5, 1992 (1992-03-05)
6216"Acid Test"Don McBreartyRobert Forsyth1992 (1992)
6317"Harvest"Donald ShebibStephen Alix1992 (1992)
6418"Pressure"Peter RowePeter Lauterman, Angelo Stea1992 (1992)

Season 4 (1992–93)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
651"After the Fire"George BloomfieldAngelo SteaSeptember 10, 1992 (1992-09-10)
662"Waves"Don McBreartyPeter Lauterman1992 (1992)
673"Another Pretty Face"Jerry CiccorittiDave Cole1992 (1992)
684"Heart of the Matter"René BonnièreJames Blacker1992 (1992)
695"The Big Squeeze"Steve DiMarcoDavid Young1992 (1992)
706"To Kill with Kindness"Steve DiMarcoJ.K.E. Rose1992 (1992)
717"Love and Duty"George BloomfieldAngelo Stea1992 (1992)
728"Baby It's You"Peter RoweDave ColeDecember 17, 1992 (1992-12-17)
739"Pandora's Box"Art HindleAnn MacNaughtonJanuary 14, 1993 (1993-01-14)
7410"The Good Samaritan"Stacey Stewart CurtisPeter Lauterman1993 (1993)
7511"Love and Marriage"René BonnièreDavid Young1993 (1993)
7612"Bail Out"Joanna McIntyreJames Blacker1993 (1993)
7713"The Big Sleepover"Eleanore LindoStephen Alix1993 (1993)
7814"One False Step"Bruce PittmanDave ColeMarch 18, 1993 (1993-03-18)
7915"Hero"George BloomfieldStephen Alix1993 (1993)
8016"Mirror, Mirror"Art HindleAnn MacNaughton1993 (1993)
8117"Honour or Wealth"Steve DiMarcoOleh Iwanyshyn, Carl Knutson1993 (1993)
8218"And the Winner is..."Timothy BondPeter Lauterman1993 (1993)

Season 5 (1993–94)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
831"Overload"Jerry CiccorittiRichard OleksiakOctober 28, 1993 (1993-10-28)
842"Within the Law"Timothy BondDeborah NathanNovember 4, 1993 (1993-11-04)
853"Full Disclosure"George BloomfieldAnn MacNaughtonNovember 11, 1993 (1993-11-11)
864"Suspicious Minds"René BonnièreBrad MarkowitzNovember 25, 1993 (1993-11-25)
875"Crime and Punishment"Stacey Stewart CurtisAngelo SteaDecember 2, 1993 (1993-12-02)
886"Legacy"Timothy BondPeter MitchellDecember 9, 1993 (1993-12-09)
897"Judgement of Solomon"Joanna McIntyreRebecca SchechterDecember 16, 1993 (1993-12-16)
908"Payback"Graeme LynchRichard OleksiakJanuary 13, 1991 (1991-01-13)
919"Power Politics"Jerry CiccorittiAnn MacNaughton, Richard OleksiakJanuary 27, 1994 (1994-01-27)
9210"The Play's the Thing"Steve DiMarcoRebecca SchechterFebruary 3, 1994 (1994-02-03)
9311"The Road Not Taken"Art HindleAnn MacNaughtonFebruary 10, 1994 (1994-02-10)
9412"Before the Axe"Art HindleRobert ForsythMarch 3, 1994 (1994-03-03)
9513"Memories"René BonnièreAnn MacNaughtonMarch 10, 1994 (1994-03-10)
9614"The Cutting Edge"Bruce PittmanDavid BarlowMarch 17, 1994 (1994-03-17)

Main cast

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Reception

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Jim Leach argues that E.N.G. attempted to "negotiate between the traditions of Canadian television and formulas of the popular American programs that dominate CITV's schedule."[1] He says that the series was often compared with the Canadian Broadcasting Company's Street Legal, covering the "personal and professional entanglements" of a law office". Both of these show were in turn compared to Hill Street Blues and LA Law. Unlike much of Canadian drama which had been produced by public networks, Leach reflects that "the success of E.N.G. raised hopes that the private networks would offer more support to Canadian producers."[1]

The show, according to Leach, followed a tradition of documentary realism and social responsibility. However, he argues, the formula owes more to "melodramatic structures" of daytime soap operas rather than the "Canadian suspicion of 'crisis structures'".[1]

The show won ten Gemini Awards, including best dramatic programming series. Broadcast historian Michael Nolan observes that the show was "critically acclaimed" yet "lost money every time it was aired, an illustration of how expensive the genre of Canadian dramatic programming was to produce in an increasingly fragmented television market."[2]

International broadcasts

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E.N.G. was also screened in the United Kingdom on Channel 4, which aired the first four seasons but chose not to present the fifth and final season. In the United States, the show aired in syndication. It also aired on Lifetime in the United States during the 1990-91 season, originally in the 7 PM (EST) slot, but due to poor ratings, was moved to late nights after only several[specify] weeks. In Spain the series aired on Antena 3TV dubbed into Spanish and with the title "E.N.G. Reporteros" in a weekday 530pm slot. The channel screened a great number[specify] of episodes but never completed the entire run. The series has never been repeated on Spanish TV. In Macedonia it aired on the national MRT. In South Africa it aired on the SABC2 channel.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Leach, Jim (2014). Horace Newcomb (ed.). Encyclopedia of Television. Taylor & Francis. pp. 806–7. ISBN 9781135194727.
  2. ^ Nolan, Michael (2001). CTV-The Network That Means Business. University of Alberta Press. p. 257. ISBN 0888643845.
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