Pray for Me, Paul Henderson
GenreTeen comedy-drama
Written byMalcolm MacRury
Directed byBrad Turner
StarringYannick Bisson
Torquil Campbell
Richard Chevolleau
Samantha Follows
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerKim Todd
Running time45 minutes
Production companyAtlantis Films
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
Release
  • November 5, 1989 (1989-11-05)

Pray for Me, Paul Henderson is a Canadian television comedy-drama film, directed by Brad Turner and broadcast by CBC Television in 1989.[1] Set in 1972 against the backdrop of the Canada-USSR Summit Series, the film centres on four high school students — nerdy overachiever Cameron Alexander (Torquil Campbell), his best friend Russell (Richard Chevolleau), poetry-loving hippie Cynthia Maclean (Samantha Follows) and football jock Michael Starnoulis (Yannick Bisson) — who come together to compete as the school team in Reach for the Top and become heroes of their school as they reach the national finals against all odds.[2]

CBC journalist Jan Tennant, who had been an announcer for the real Reach for the Top in the early 1970s, reprised her role in the film.[3]

The film aired on November 5, 1989 as an episode of CBC's Magic Hour anthology of youth and family television films.[4]

Hester Riches of the Vancouver Sun praised the film, opining that CBC should consider turning it into a series and concluding that "we might have a Canadian Wonder Years on our hands".[5]

Awards

Award Date of Ceremony Category Nominees Result Reference
Gemini Awards December 4, 1990 Best Short Dramatic Program Nominated [6]
Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Brad Turner Nominated
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Malcolm MacRury Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Bob Blakey, "Twice it's nice on CBC". Calgary Herald, November 1, 1989.
  2. ↑ Greg Burliuk, "Networks offering up the good, the funny and the ugly this week". Kingston Whig-Standard, November 3, 1989.
  3. ↑ Bob Remington, "From Dickens to Degrassi, a full week". Edmonton Journal, November 3, 1989.
  4. ↑ Tony Atherton, "The Family Hour: gentle TV". Ottawa Citizen, September 23, 1989.
  5. ↑ Hester Riches, "It's prime time for young TV viewers". Vancouver Sun, November 2, 1989.
  6. ↑ Christopher Harris, "E.N.G., Avonlea top Gemini nominees Awards in 54 categories will be handed out Dec. 2-4". The Globe and Mail, October 24, 1990.


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