My Life as a Dog (TV series)

My Life as a Dog
Based on	My Life as a Dog by Reidar Jönsson
Developed by	Reidar Jönsson Donna Matson-Jönsson David Brandes Barbara O'Kelly
Starring	Michael Yarmush Callum Keith Rennie Jennifer Clement Joy Coghill
Composer	Randolph Peters
Country of origin	Canada
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	22
Production
Executive producers	Martin Katz Derek Mazur David Brandes
Running time	30 minutes
Production companies	Atlantis Films Credo
Original release
Network	Showtime
Release	September 8, 1996 (1996-09-08) – February 2, 1997 (1997-02-02)

My Life as a Dog is a contemporary, half-hour Canadian drama series that ran for 22 episodes from September 8, 1996 until February 2, 1997. It was based on the 1985 Swedish movie of the same name and was developed for Canadian television by, among others, Reidar Jönsson, author of the original autobiographical book.

It is the coming of age story of a young boy, brutally dragged away from his familiar universe into an unknown world. Though aimed at teens, it has been rated above the usual "infantile sitcoms".

The series was shot on location in Winnipeg and Gimli, Manitoba. It was directed by Neill Fearnley and produced by Atlantis Films Limited and Credo Entertainment Group.

Plot

After his mother's death and with his sailor father away at sea, imaginative 11-year-old Eric Johansson is sent to live in a small fishing village with his mother's twin brother, Johnny Johansson. Eric's adventures in Gimli will help him to feel at home with his new family and come to terms with some pre-adolescent uncertainties while Johnny, burdened with unexpected fatherly duties, has to make some choices he avoided to face before.

Cast

• Michael Yarmush - Eric Johansson
• Callum Keith Rennie - Johnny Johansson
• Marley Otto - Anastasia 'AJ' Burke
• Jennifer Clement - Zoë Johansson
• Joy Coghill - Astrid 'Auntie Auntie' Árnesson
• Bucky Hill - Sam LaFresne
• Yank Azman - Tom Shaughnessy

Awards

In 1997 Callum Keith Rennie won a Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series for his role as Johnny Johansson. Michael Yarmush won the 1998 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Leading Young Actor and was nominated for a YoungStar Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series the same year.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"The Arrival"	Michael Scott	Barbara O'Kelly	September 8, 1996 (1996-09-08)
2	"Stranded"	Michael Scott	Charles Lazer	September 15, 1996 (1996-09-15)
3	"Root of All Evil"	Unknown	Unknown	September 22, 1996 (1996-09-22)
4	"Smelly's Dark Secret"	Unknown	Unknown	September 29, 1996 (1996-09-29)
5	"Tribe"	Unknown	Unknown	October 6, 1996 (1996-10-06)
6	"A Day in the Life"	Michael Scott	Tony DiFranco	October 13, 1996 (1996-10-13)
7	"Great Expectations"	Unknown	Unknown	October 20, 1996 (1996-10-20)
8	"Profile of the Artist"	Unknown	Unknown	October 27, 1996 (1996-10-27)
9	"The Fugitive"	Unknown	Unknown	November 3, 1996 (1996-11-03)
10	"Widgeon"	Unknown	Unknown	November 10, 1996 (1996-11-10)
11	"Once They Get a Taste"	Unknown	Unknown	November 17, 1996 (1996-11-17)
12	"The Puck Stops Here"	Unknown	Unknown	November 24, 1996 (1996-11-24)
13	"Soap Gets in Your Eyes"	Unknown	Unknown	December 1, 1996 (1996-12-01)
14	"Gimli Marathon"	Unknown	Unknown	December 8, 1996 (1996-12-08)
15	"The Why? Files"	Unknown	Unknown	December 15, 1996 (1996-12-15)
16	"Beauty and the Zit"	Unknown	Unknown	December 22, 1996 (1996-12-22)
17	"Return of the Undead"	Unknown	Unknown	December 29, 1996 (1996-12-29)
18	"All in Your Head"	Unknown	Unknown	January 5, 1997 (1997-01-05)
19	"A Winter's Tale"	Unknown	Unknown	January 12, 1997 (1997-01-12)
20	"Obsession"	Unknown	Unknown	January 19, 1997 (1997-01-19)
21	"Blizzard"	Unknown	Unknown	January 26, 1997 (1997-01-26)
22	"Where the Wind Blows"	Unknown	Unknown	February 2, 1997 (1997-02-02)

External links

• My Life as a Dog at IMDb