Durham County (TV series)
| Durham County | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Janis Lundman Adrienne Mitchell Laurie Finstad Knizhnik |
| Starring | Hugh Dillon Michelle Forbes Michael Nardone Hélène Joy Laurence Leboeuf Greyston Holt Cicely Austin Justin Louis Sonya Salomaa Kathleen Munroe Patrick Labbé Joel Keller Claudia Fern Jean-Nicolas Verreault |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 18 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 1 hour |
| Production companies | Back Alley Durham Films Back Alley Film Productions Durham Productions Muse Entertainment Enterprises |
| Original release | |
| Network | The Movie Network Movie Central Ion Television |
| Release | May 7, 2007 – November 29, 2010 |
Durham County is a one-hour Canadian dramatic television series produced by Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. and Muse Entertainment Enterprises. It starred Hugh Dillon as Mike Sweeney, a homicide detective who finds that moving back home comes with trouble and danger. Dillon appeared in this series at the same time he appeared in an ongoing role in another series, Flashpoint.
Premise
The series stars Hugh Dillon, as Mike Sweeney, a homicide detective from Toronto who moves his family to suburban Durham County,[1] to start over after his partner was killed and his wife Audrey (Hélène Joy) diagnosed with breast cancer. However, he soon discovers that his neighbour, and childhood nemesis Ray Prager (Justin Louis), may be a serial killer.
Set amidst the landscape of a newer suburban development, the mise-en-scène conveys a palpable sense of alienation, like being cut off from the rest of the world. With shiny hydro towers looming on the skyline, everything appears without history, and homogeneity pervades the neighbourhoods. In this setting, we deal with the aftermath of a serial killer’s impact on his family, his surviving victims and their families. The question is how do the families move on after being so traumatized by the heinous acts of a killer.
Airings
The series premiered on The Movie Network and Movie Central in May 2007. After more than a year, the second season aired in the fall of 2009. The third and final season aired in the fall of 2010. The first season subsequently aired on Global in the 2007-2008 television season. In Canada, the first season came out on DVD on September 9, 2008; and, the second season was released on July 27, 2010.
On September 7, 2009, the series began airing on ION Television, which reaches more than 94 million U.S. television households.[2] The network has secured all U.S. television, digital media rights, internet streaming and video-on-demand rights for the program.[3] It will be the first original series to air on the network since 2004.
Cast
Main cast
- Mike Sweeney (Hugh Dillon) - Mike Sweeney, a veteran homicide detective having difficulty coming to terms with his past, tries starting afresh by quitting his old position after the murder of his professional partner, and relocating his family back to his hometown. However, he soon realizes he cannot escape his past demons. In trying to cope with his wife's recent cancer diagnosis, he seeks solace with a grieving teacher he meets in a support group.
- Audrey Sweeney (Hélène Joy) - Audrey Sweeney is the emotionally starved wife of Mike Sweeney, trying to cope with her recent diagnosis of breast cancer.
- Ray Prager Jr. (Greyston Holt) - Ray Prager Jr. is the self-conscious teenage son of Ray Prager Sr., struggling to find his place despite his overbearing parents, and feeling caught in the middle of his parents' disintegrating relationship. He seems oblivious to his father's shady interests and is often silent about his personal aspirations.
Season 1
- Hugh Dillon as Mike Sweeney
- Justin Louis as Ray Prager
- Hélène Joy as Audrey Sweeney
- Laurence Leboeuf as Sadie Sweeney
- Cicely Austin as Maddie Sweeney
- Greyston Holt as Ray Prager Jr
- Sonya Salomaa as Traci Prager
- Patrick Labbé as Tom Bykovski
- Kathleen Munroe as Nathalie Lacroix
- Joel Keller as Jake Sharpe
- Claudia Ferri as Roxy Calvert
- Jean-Nicolas Verreault as Jayson Graves Big Guy
- Danny Blanco-Hall as Caleb
Season 2
- Hugh Dillon as Mike Sweeney
- Michelle Forbes as Penelope Verrity
- Hélène Joy as Audrey Sweeney
- Laurence Leboeuf as Sadie Sweeney
- Greyston Holt as Ray Prager Jr
- Cicely Austin as Maddie Sweeney
- Patrick Labbé as Tom Bykovski
- Romano Orzari as Ray Prager
- Geordie Johnson as Jonathan Verrity
- Alex Cardillo as Mark Verrity
- Mike Dopud as Glenn Stuckey
Season 3
- Hugh Dillon as Mike Sweeney
- Michael Nardone as Ivan Sujic
- Hélène Joy as Audrey Sweeney
- Laurence Leboeuf as Sadie Sweeney
- Greyston Holt as Ray Prager Jr
- Krista Bridges as Sabina Leung
- Bénédicte Décary as Eva Arcady
- Andreas Aspergis as Miro Çercu
- Cicely Austin as Maddie Sweeney
- Shannon Kook as David Cho
Episode list
Distribution
All three seasons of Durham County are distributed in Canada by Muse Distribution International and internationally by ITV Global.
All three seasons were filmed in and around Montreal, Quebec.
DVD releases
Anchor Bay Entertainment has released the first two seasons on DVD in Canada only.[4][5] The third season will be released on February 21, 2012.[6]
In addition to the DVD releases, all 3 seasons of Durham County became available in Canada on iTunes on August 1, 2011.
Well Go USA has released the first season on DVD in the US.[7] Season 2 was released on November 23, 2010.[8]
| DVD Name | Ep# | Release Date (CAN) | Release Date (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 6 | September 9, 2008 | January 19, 2010 |
| Season 2 | 6 | July 27, 2010 | November 23, 2010 |
Awards and nominations
Durham County - Season 3
- Gemini Award Wins
- Best Achievement in Casting - Marissa Richmond, Libby Goldstein, Andrea Kenyon, Suzanne Smith, Randi Wells
- Gemini Award Nominations
- Best Direction in a Dramatic Series - Charles Biname
- Best Sound in a Dramatic Series - Steve Moore, Alex Bullick, Yann Cleary, Christian Cooke, Andrea Higgins, Jill Purdy, Marilee Yorston
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Lead Dramatic Role - Hugh Dillon
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series - Michael Nardone
- Best Performance by an Actress in Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series - Benedicte Decary
- Director's Guild of Canada Award Nominations
- Best Direction - Television Series - Adrienne Mitchell
- Best Sound Editing - Television Series - Jill Purdy, Alex Bullick, Rose Gregoris
- 2011 EMPixx Awards
- Platinum Award - Entertainment Category - Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell, Michael Prupas and Laurie Finstad Knizhnik
- Platinum Award - Writing - Laurie Finstad Knizhnik
- Platinum Award - Art Direction and Set Design - Donna Noonan
- Platinum Award - Cinematography - Eric Cayla
- Platinum Award - Editing - Teresa De Luca
- Platinum Award - Editing - Michele Conroy
- Platinum Award - Directing - Adrienne Mitchell
- Platinum Award - Music Composition - Peter Chapman
- 2011 WorldFest-Houston Remi Awards
- Winner of a Gold 2011 Worldfest Remi Award in the category of TV Series - Dramatic.
- 'WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival 2011
- Nominated for 5 awards including: Outstanding International Producers (Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell, Michael Prupas), Outstanding Actor (Hugh Dillon, Michael Nardone) and Outstanding Actress (Hélène Joy, Laurence Leboeuf).
- Remi Award Nominations
- Nominated for a 2011 Worldfest Remi Award in the category of TV Series - Dramatic.
- Interactive Media 2010 Award
- Best in Class - Television in recognition of Durham County - Season 3 Website www.durhamcounty.ca
- WGC Screenwriting Award
- Script for "Distance, Hunting and Home", written by Laurie Finstad Knizhnik, was chosen as a finalist
Durham County – Season 2
- Gemini Awards
- Best Achievement in Main Title Design - Kevin Chandoo
- Best Achievement in Make-Up - Eva Coudouloux and Adrien Morot
- Gemini Nominations
- Best Dramatic Series
- Best Direction in a Dramatic Series - Adrienne Mitchell
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role - Helene Joy
- Best Achievement in Casting - Andrea Kenyon, Wendy O'Brien, Marissa Richmond, and Randi Wells
- Monte-Carlo Television Festival
- Winner of 2010 Golden Nymph Award
- Outstanding Actress- Michelle Forbes (Drama TV Series)
- Monte-Carlo Television Festival Nominations
- Outstanding Actor – Hugh Dillon (Drama TV Series)
- Outstanding International Producer – Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell, Laurie Finstad Knizhnik and Michael Prupas (Drama TV Series)
- Directors Guild of Canada Award Winners
- Best Direction- TV Series - Adrienne Mitchell
- Best Production Design- TV Series - Donna Noonan
- Directors Guild of Canada Award Nominee
- Best Picture Editing- TV Series
- EMPixx Awards
- Platinum Award for Best National Cable Program in the Entertainment Category
- WorldFest – Houston International Film Festival
- Winner of the Platinum Award - Best TV Series – Drama
Durham County – Season 1
- Gemini Awards
- Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
- Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
- Best Sound in a Dramatic Series
- Gemini Nominations
- Best Dramatic Series
- Best Photography in a Dramatic Program
- Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program
- Best Costume Design
- Best Achievement in Casting
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Series
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Role
- Directors Guild of Canada
- Nominations
- Best Editing – Dramatic Series
- Best Direction – Television Series
- Nominations
- Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA)
- Indie Award - Best Dramatic Series
- 2008 WorldFest – Houston International Film Festival
- Winner of Gold Award
- Best TV Series - Dramatic
- Directors Guild of Canada Award Nominations
- Team Television Series – Drama
- Production Design – Television Series
- Writers Guild of Canada Award Nomination
- Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
- Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists
- Montreal Awards Nominations
- Outstanding Female Performance
- Outstanding Male Performance
- Leo Awards Nomination
- Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
- Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
References
- ^ To be accurate, "Durham County" is the name of an historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario that was dissolved in 1974 and generally replaced by the creation in the same year of the Regional Municipality of Durham, called Durham Region for short.
- ^ ION Television Acquires the Award-Winning Original TV Series Durham County, January 6, 2009.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B001CQS7B0
- ^ http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003OCJL7Y
- ^ http://www.amazon.ca/Durham-County-Season-Hugh-Dillon/dp/B006K1PNIM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328653356&sr=8-1
- ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Durham-County-Season-1/13087
- ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Durham-County-Season-2/14512
External links
- 2000s Canadian television series
- 2010s Canadian television series
- Canadian drama television series
- 2007 Canadian television series debuts
- 2010 Canadian television series endings
- The Movie Network original programs
- Movie Central network shows
- Television series about cancer
- Television series by Muse Entertainment
- Television shows set in Ontario