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. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Body" | Ken Finkleman | Ken Finkleman | September 24, 2001 | |
|
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 Finkleman | Ken Finkleman | September 24, 2001 | |
|
George heads to Kosovo to make a documentary about the war.[2] | |||||
| 3 | "Celebrity" | Ken Finkleman | Ken Finkleman | September 25, 2001 | |
|
The return of Jesus Christ collides with contemporary celebrity culture.[2] | |||||
| 4 | "Chaos and Order" | Ken Finkleman | Ken Finkleman | September 25, 2001 | |
|
A farce about marital infidelity.[2] | |||||
| 5 | "Disasters" | Ken Finkleman | Ken Finkleman | September 26, 2001 | |
|
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 Finkleman | Ken Finkleman | September 26, 2001 | |
|
George is confronted by several women he has betrayed in the past while attending an awards ceremony.[2] | |||||
References
- ^ Liane Faulder, "Too smart for the room: Acclaimed cutting-edge filmmaker Ken Finkleman returns with another challenging CBC series". Edmonton Journal, September 24, 2001.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "Lecherous opportunist returns via Finkleman; Character hasn't improved since The Newsroom". Windsor Star, September 22, 2001.
- ^ 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.
- ^ John McKay, "Gemini Awards: Honours for a wide range of Canadian TV performers". Welland Tribune, October 31, 2002.
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