Bliss III (Galafilm Productions, Back Alley Film Productions – Showcase)

The third season may mark the end of the line for Bliss, the erotic anthology series that has exposed some of the most explicit female sexual fantasies over the course of its run. But while broadcaster Showcase has not opted to renew the 8 x 30 series, Montreal-based executive producer Arnie Gelbart remains confident the show still has some legs internationally. After all, sex does sell.

The series has aired on The Movie Network, Movie Central, Showcase, Series+ and Super Ecran in Canada, as well as on Oxygen in the U.S. But it cannot continue without Showcase’s support, says Gelbart, who is currently working on a Showcase docusoap that follows a group of people who make a living selling sex online.

Meantime, the series has garnered three Gemini noms this year despite its cancellation.

Da Vinci’s Inquest (Haddock Entertainment, Barna-Alper Productions – CBC)

‘Since returning from the U.S., I have a reinvigorated gratitude for the CBC,’ says Chris Haddock, referring to the new perspective he brings back from his experience writing and producing CBS’ defunct The Handler. ‘They have allowed me and Da Vinci’s Inquest to tackle social issues without censorship or interference.’

With this artistic control, the Da Vinci’s cocreator and exec producer admits, there comes a heightened sense of responsibility. ‘I have to take advantage of this freedom and write for it, and for as many actors as possible.’

Last year, Da Vinci’s, the Gemini winner for best dramatic series four years running, was usurped by The Eleventh Hour, which is looking to repeat. For its part, Da Vinci’s is up for 10 Geminis this time around. Nonetheless, the Vancouver coroner series continues to evolve, developing fresh characters to voice topical issues.

The Eleventh Hour (Alliance Atlantis Communications – CTV)

The Eleventh Hour creator and producer Semi Chellas says she is ‘so excited to see the caliber of nominees in the drama category,’ given the doom and gloom that has plagued the genre in recent times. After snagging the best drama prize in its rookie season last year, the behind-the-scenes look at TV reportage returns to the Geminis with a dozen noms.

Chellas thinks the show has only improved. ‘We’ve really focused in on the characters and gotten deeper into the stories… We’ve sexed it up,’ she says.

Currently in production on season three, slated to air on CTV in January 2005, the 13 x 60 series will introduce Ben Bass (The Love Crimes of Gillian Guess) as a reporter returning from the conflict in Afghanistan. Bass replaces nominated lead actor Sean Doyle, who’s gone off to work on a project for HBO. Chellas promises that through the new character, the upcoming season will get even more topical and political.

The Shields Stories (Shaftesbury Films, Original Pictures – W Network)

When it comes to adapting female Canadian literary giants, Toronto’s Shaftesbury Films and Winnipeg’s Original Pictures are on top of the game.

Nominated on the heels of last year’s best dramatic series contender The Atwood Stories from the same producers, The Shields Stories is a limited-run series based on six short stories by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Carol Shields, who passed away last winter when the project was still in development.

‘Because of the timing of Carol’s death, we all felt we were doing it for her,’ says Shaftesbury executive producer Christina Jennings, who looks forward to adding the short stories of Alice Munro, Mavis Gallant and Jane Urquhart to the company’s growing list of anthology series.

The Shields Stories has garnered five Gemini noms and interest from U.S. buyers.

Slings & Arrows (Rhombus Media – The Movie Network/Movie Central/Showcase)

With a strong international reputation for its performing arts productions, it’s no surprise that Rhombus Media’s first turn at episodic television, Slings & Arrows, is set behind the scenes in a town that puts on a Shakespeare festival. What is surprising is that it isn’t Bravo! or CBC that airs the freshman series, nominated for nine Geminis, but rather The Movie Network, Movie Central and Showcase.

In fact, the 6 x 60 series, directed by Peter Wellington (Luck) and starring some of the country’s top talent, was originally developed for the Ceeb, which ultimately passed, explains producer Niv Fichman. But finding a home on the pay and specialty channels, ‘allows us to stretch the adult perspective of the show, which offers lots of sizzle,’ he adds.

Season one airs in its second window on Showcase in February 2005, while shooting begins on season two in mid-November for a summer ’05 debut on TMN. The next installment promises to continue season one’s witty, comedic story lines and have viewers reconnect with show leads Paul Gross, Don McKellar, Mark McKinney, Martha Burns and Sean Cullen as well as some yet-to-be-announced newcomers.

Snakes & Ladders (Big Motion Pictures – CBC)

If anyone is surprised to see the comical Snakes & Ladders nominated in the dramatic series category, creator and producer Wayne Grigsby says, ‘Blame us – we applied for the category.’

And yet, it wouldn’t make sense for such a stylized program, broken down into six one-hours, to vie in the comedy category with the likes of Trailer Park Boys and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. With Slings & Arrows also in the running, dramatic comedies are making quite a splash.

Snakes & Ladders is up for four awards, including a best writing nod for Grigsby, all of which he says ‘is a terrific signal to the CBC to order some more.’

Grigsby produces Snakes & Ladders with partner David MacLeod at Halifax’s Big Motion Pictures. The series follows the tumultuous path of a young woman who lands a job as special assistant to the indomitable minister of human resources and government services. ‘It’s the best writing I’ve ever done,’ says Grigsby, also the creative force behind the miniseries Trudeau.

But he attributes the series’ success to lead actors Amy Price-Francis and Catherine Disher (nominated for actress), and director Sturla Gunnarsson, who helmed three episodes. Says Grigsby: ‘That’s who really set the style!’

Playback predicts:
– Da Vinci’s Inquest MD, MH
– The Eleventh Hour IE, PV
– The Shields Stories LB, SD