Saying Goodbye (TV series)

Saying Goodbye is a Canadian television drama anthology series, which aired on TVOntario in 1990.[1] The series consisted of five half-hour short drama films about people grappling with death, either dealing with grief after the death of a loved one or confronting their own mortality. Each episode was paired with a half-hour studio panel discussion on bereavement moderated by Roy Bonisteel.[2]

Saying Goodbye
Country of originCanada
No. of episodes5
Production
ProducerLinda Rainsberry
Release
Original networkTVOntario
Original releaseOctober 23 (1990-10-23) –
November 19, 1990 (1990-11-19)

The series was also sold on videotape for use in palliative care and grief counselling education programs.[3]

Episodes
# Title Director Writer Original air date Production code
1"Thunder in My Head"Eleanore LindoEdwina FollowsOctober 23, 1990 (1990-10-23)101
A mother of young children (Jennifer Dale) copes with the sudden death of her husband in an accident.
2"A Grief Shared"Anthony PerrisEdwina FollowsOctober 30, 1990 (1990-10-30)102
A couple (Stewart Arnott and Brenda Bazinet) try to help their daughter come to terms with the death of their newborn baby.
3"A Home Alone"Michael FranksEdwina Follows, Mark Allan Kaplan, Evan LiebermanNovember 5, 1990 (1990-11-05)103
An elderly widower (Bernard Behrens) has to learn how to live alone following the death of his wife.
4"A Promise Broken"Richard BugajskiEdwina FollowsNovember 12, 1990 (1990-11-12)104
A high school student's (Greg Spottiswood) best friend (David Matheson) commits suicide.
5"The First Snowfall"Eric TillJim OsborneNovember 19, 1990 (1990-11-19)105
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, a woman (Kate Reid) decides to live out her remaining days at home rather than in the hospital.

Critical response

John Haslett Cuff of The Globe and Mail praised the series as evidence that Canadians "can produce powerful, polished drama that doesn't ape American TV and actually has something interesting and important to communicate", and lamented that the series wasn't running on CBC Television so that the entire country could watch it.[1]

Awards

As the series run crossed over the eligibility cutoff dates for the Gemini Awards, the series was eligible for both the 5th Gemini Awards in 1990 and the 6th Gemini Awards in 1992.

Award Date of Ceremony Category Nominees Result Reference
Gemini Awards December 4, 1990 Best Short Dramatic Program "The First Snowfall" Won [4]
Best Actress in a Television Film or Miniseries Jennifer Dale, "Thunder in My Head" Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Shawn Lawrence, "The First Snowfall" Nominated
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries Edwina Follows, "Thunder in My Head" Nominated
March 8, 1992 Best Actor in a Television Film or Miniseries Bernard Behrens, "A Home Alone" Won [5]
Best Actress in a Television Film or Miniseries Brenda Bazinet, "A Grief Shared" Won

References
  1. John Haslett Cuff, "Intimate, focussed drama: Saying Goodbye, a Canadian series about death and grieving, confirms that Canadians can produce polished drama that doesn't ape American TV". The Globe and Mail, October 23, 1990.
  2. Antonia Zerbisias, "What do you say to a friend who has lost a loved one?". Toronto Star, October 23, 1990.
  3. Ted Shaw, "Five-part series deals with death". Windsor Star, October 23, 1990.
  4. Christopher Harris, "CBC's Love and Hate, Road to Avonlea win five Geminis each: Awards liberally distributed this year, with no one show grabbing the lion's share". The Globe and Mail, December 5, 1990.
  5. "Here are just some of the Gemini winners". Vancouver Sun, March 9, 1992.
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