This Was Wonderland

I firmly believe in Canadian TV drama like playwright George F. Walker's This Is Wonderland, but broadcasting powers here continue to ignore these shows or cancel them.

Canadian dramas have become critical darlings outside of Canada. These include theatre industry parody Slings and Arrows and the cancelled series written by George F. Walker and Dani Roman, and now in world -wide syndication This is Wonderland. It was an unusual hybrid of theatre and television that swept Canada's Gemini Awards in 2005, and led the nominees with 12 Gemini nods for 2006.

It was no surprise to me at all that Wonderland (fighting to stay on the air after its second season) was completely shut out at this past weekend's Gemini Awards. I believe it had something to do with the furor caused by the public when a petition (started by viewer Mark Cayer) with over 4,000 names including Canada’s top actors, directors, writers, lawyers, people in social services, and viewers across the country demanded the CBC NOT cancel the show. I was the second person to sign it. It was a grassroots movement that made Canadian viewer history, but it fell on deaf network ears. Even George Walker, (who had ironically just received The Order of Canada) was amazed by the response.

Fear not, meethinks Walker and Romain will return to the small screen – likely to the much more supportive Movie Network who was responsible for the big Gemini winner this year. If This is Wonderland had to lose to anyone, I am glad it was Slings and Arrows. Walker and Romain lost to writer/actors Susan Coyne and Mark McKinney, plus Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). Cara Pifko, who was at the event presenting an award, lost to Slings and Arrows leading lady Martha Burns.

God knows what Pifko was thinking when the writer's category was announced as Dani Romain and George F. Waker! This faux pas for Canada’s most prolific playwright was NOT corrected. On behalf of Walker fans everywhere - Sorry George.