television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...
, which aired on
CBC Television
CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French- ...
from 1966 to 1968. It was arguably the first successful drama series on English Canadian television.
Plot
Steve Wojeck is a crusading big city
coroner
A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death, and to investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within the coroner's jur ...
who regularly fights moral injustices raised by the deaths he investigated. He often tackles tough and controversial issues. The first episode of the series examines the role of
racism
Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagoni ...
in the suicide of a young
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains.
According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
Ted Follows
Edward James Follows (November 30, 1926 – October 21, 2016) was a Canadian film, television and stage actor. He was best known for playing the role of Macduff in ''Macbeth'' at the Stratford Festival and the 1961 CBC Television film adaptati ...
as Crown Attorney Arnold (Arnie) Bateman
* Carl Banas as Sgt. Bryon James
* Jennifer Dale played Wojeck's daughter in the 1992 TV movie.
Production
The show was inspired by the career of Dr. Morton Shulman.
Although it was one of the highest-rated shows on Canadian television in its time, only 20 episodes of the series were made, because Vernon was lured to
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywoo ...
by the promise of more money than the CBC could offer. He only returned to the role once, for a TV movie ''Wojeck: Out of the Fire'' (1992). The first season (1966-67) was filmed in black and white, while season two (1967–68) was shot in colour.
Forensic pathology theme
''Wojeck'' was the first TV series to feature forensic pathology in the investigation of crime and has been the central theme of several other TV mystery-suspense dramas, beginning with the BBC's '' The Expert'' in 1968. Other programs include:
* '' Quincy, M.E.'', USA, 1976
* ''
Silent Witness
''Silent Witness'' is a British crime drama television series produced by the BBC, which focuses on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in 1996, the series was created by Nigel ...
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', also referred to as ''CSI'' and ''CSI: Las Vegas'', is an American procedural forensics crime drama television series that ran on CBS from October 6, 2000, to September 27, 2015, spanning 15 seasons. This wa ...
'', U.S. (CBS), 2000; and its spinoffs, including:
** ''
CSI: Miami
''CSI: Miami'' (''Crime Scene Investigation: Miami'') is an American police procedural drama television series that ran from September 23, 2002 until April 8, 2012 on CBS. Featuring David Caruso as Lieutenant Horatio Caine, Emily Procter as Detec ...
'', U.S. (CBS), 2002
** ''
CSI: NY
''CSI: NY'' (''Crime Scene Investigation: New York'', stylized as ''CSI: NY/Crime Scene Investigation'') is an American police procedural television series that ran on CBS from September 22, 2004, to February 22, 2013, for a total of nine season ...
Post Mortem
An autopsy (post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death or to evaluate any d ...
Rizzoli & Isles
''Rizzoli & Isles'' is an American crime drama television series starring Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Maura Isles. Based on the series of ''Rizzoli & Isles'' novels by Tess Gerritsen, the plot follows Boston Homicide po ...
'', U.S. (TNT), 2010
* ''
Body of Proof
''Body of Proof'' is an American medical/ crime comedy-drama television series that ran on ABC from March 29, 2011, to May 28, 2013, and starred Dana Delany as medical examiner Dr. Megan Hunt. The series was created by Christopher Murphey an ...
# "The Last Man in the World": Wojeck tries to find out who assisted the suicide of an
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains.
According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
Indian who was locked up in jail. The episode has flashbacks that show the racism between First Nations people and white people.
# "Tell Them the Streets Are Dancing": This episode guest starred Bruno Gerussi (later of CBC's '' The Beachcombers'') as a construction worker whose crew were forced to work in tunnels where some of them contracted caisson disease. This episode would be seen in the United States as an episode of NBC's '' Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' and is listed in indexes as the show's pilot.
# "Another Wonderful Day"
# "After All, Who's Art Morrison?" This episode featured Margot Kidder (later of the 1978 film ''
Superman
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book '' Action Comics'' #1 ( cover-dated June 1938 and pu ...
'' as Lois Lane)
# "Listen, An Old Man Is Speaking"
# "Fair Egypt"
# "Thy Mother A Lady, Lovely and Bright"
# "Does Anybody Remember the Victim's Name?"
# "A Dime Harry Doesn't Need"
# "Pick A Time...Any Time"
# "All Aboard For Candyland"
# "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (Two-parter, guest starring Michael Learned, later of '' The Waltons'')
# "You've Been Very Kind"
# "Another Dawn, Another Sunrise, Another Day"
# "Give Until It Hurts...And Then Some"
# "The Cold Smile of Friends" (Two-Parter)
# "Name of the Games People Play"
# "Chocolate Fudge With Walnuts"
Awards
In 2002, ''Wojeck'' became a MasterWorks honouree by the