Saying Goodbye (TV series)


Saying Goodbye is a Canadian television drama anthology series, which aired on TVOntario in 1990. The series consisted of five half-hour short drama films about people grappling with death, either dealing with grief after the death of a loved one or confronting their own mortality. Each episode was paired with a half-hour studio panel discussion on bereavement moderated by Roy Bonisteel.
The series was also sold on videotape for use in palliative care and grief counselling education programs.

Critical response

John Haslett Cuff of The Globe and Mail praised the series as evidence that Canadians "can produce powerful, polished drama that doesn't ape American TV and actually has something interesting and important to communicate", and lamented that the series wasn't running on CBC Television so that the entire country could watch it.

Awards

As the series run crossed over the eligibility cutoff dates for the Gemini Awards, the series was eligible for both the 5th Gemini Awards in 1990 and the 6th Gemini Awards in 1992.
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultReference
Gemini AwardsDecember 4, 1990Best Short Dramatic Program"The First Snowfall"Won
Gemini AwardsDecember 4, 1990Best Actress in a Television Film or MiniseriesJennifer Dale, "Thunder in My Head"Nomitated
Gemini AwardsDecember 4, 1990Best Supporting ActorShawn Lawrence, "The First Snowfall"Nomitated
Gemini AwardsDecember 4, 1990Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or MiniseriesEdwina Follows, "Thunder in My Head"Nomitated
Gemini AwardsMarch 8, 1992Best Actor in a Television Film or MiniseriesBernard Behrens, "A Home Alone"Won
Gemini AwardsMarch 8, 1992Best Actress in a Television Film or MiniseriesBrenda Bazinet, "A Grief Shared"Won