Foreign Objects (TV series)

Foreign Objects
GenreDrama
Directed byKen Finkleman
StarringColm Feore
Karen Hines
Tom McCamus
Arsinée Khanjian
Rebecca Jenkins
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes5
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
Release24 September (2001-09-24) –
26 September 2001 (2001-09-26)

Foreign Objects is a Canadian television series which aired on CBC Television in 2001.[1] A short-run dramatic anthology series, the series was written and produced by Ken Finkleman.[2]

Finkleman stars as documentary producer George Findlay, the same character he plays in his earlier series The Newsroom, More Tears and Foolish Heart.[3] Apart from Findlay, each episode focuses on a different set of characters and tells a self-contained story based on themes of human frailty and obsession.[2] The show's other main recurring character is Tibor (Colm Feore), a European acquaintance of Findlay's who is involved in drawing Findlay to the various settings in which the show's events take place.[2] The cast also includes Karen Hines, Tom McCamus, Arsinée Khanjian, Larissa Laskin, Kim Huffman and Rebecca Jenkins.[2]

Episodes include "Evil", in which Findlay goes to Kosovo to make a documentary on the Kosovo War but strives to sensationalize it for ratings, and "Celebrity", in which a group of public relations consultants are tasked with publicizing the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.[4]

The series received a Gemini Award nomination for Best Dramatic Series at the 17th Gemini Awards in 2002.[5]

Finkleman's next project for the CBC was the television movie Escape from the Newsroom.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Body"Ken FinklemanKen FinklemanSeptember 24, 2001 (2001-09-24)
A woman (Khanjian) swimming at a seaside resort in Italy unexpectedly loses her bikini bottom, but due to her shame about her body she cannot leave the water. Based in part on a short story by Italo Calvino.[2]
2"Evil"Ken FinklemanKen FinklemanSeptember 24, 2001 (2001-09-24)
George heads to Kosovo to make a documentary about the war.[2]
3"Celebrity"Ken FinklemanKen FinklemanSeptember 25, 2001 (2001-09-25)
The return of Jesus Christ collides with contemporary celebrity culture.[2]
4"Chaos and Order"Ken FinklemanKen FinklemanSeptember 25, 2001 (2001-09-25)
A farce about marital infidelity.[2]
5"Disasters"Ken FinklemanKen FinklemanSeptember 26, 2001 (2001-09-26)
Tibor recounts his childhood experiences witnessing disasters in the Bosporus. Based in part on a short story by Orhan Pamuk.[2]
6"The Awards"Ken FinklemanKen FinklemanSeptember 26, 2001 (2001-09-26)
George is confronted by several women he has betrayed in the past while attending an awards ceremony.[2]

References

  1. ^ Liane Faulder, "Too smart for the room: Acclaimed cutting-edge filmmaker Ken Finkleman returns with another challenging CBC series". Edmonton Journal, September 24, 2001.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j John Doyle, "The sharp truths among uneven Foreign Objects". The Globe and Mail, September 24, 2001.
  3. ^ Ted Shaw, "Lecherous opportunist returns via Finkleman; Character hasn't improved since The Newsroom". Windsor Star, September 22, 2001.
  4. ^ Dana Gee, "Finkleman's new challenge: Actor-writer-director catches everything from the ravages of war to the cult of celebrity in Foreign Objects". The Province, September 24, 2001.
  5. ^ John McKay, "Gemini Awards: Honours for a wide range of Canadian TV performers". Welland Tribune, October 31, 2002.