9B is a Canadian television drama series which aired on CBC Television in 1989. The series was adapted from the 1986 CBC television film of the same name and was based on writer and former teacher Don Hunter's experiences teaching in northern British Columbia.

The series stars Robert Wisden as Bob Dawson, a British immigrant teaching in the fictional northern British Columbia community of Fort Hamilton. Dawson works with a class of students facing a variety of educational, family and social problems. The series was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, and on location in Fort Nelson, British Columbia.

9B was positively reviewed by several Canadian television critics but was not renewed by CBC after its short initial run. Despite its cancellation, the program subsequently received significant industry recognition, including selection for competition at the Banff Television Festival and eight nominations at the 1989 Gemini Awards, including Best Dramatic Series.

Background

9B originated as a CBC television film broadcast in 1986. Writer Don Hunter drew the story from his own experience teaching high school in northern British Columbia. Hunter later became a journalist with The Province.

The television film starred Robert Wisden as Bob Dawson, a young teacher working with a group of difficult high-school students. The film received a Gemini Award nomination and subsequently provided the basis for the television series.

Hunter's Bob Dawson character was autobiographical in origin. Like Dawson, Hunter was born in Britain and later taught in British Columbia. Hunter based the stories on his experience during a year teaching at a high school in Fort Nelson.

Premise

The series follows Bob Dawson (Wisden), a British immigrant who takes a teaching position in the fictional northern British Columbia town of Fort Hamilton. He is assigned students with a range of academic, behavioural and personal difficulties.

Dawson's colleagues include Australian teacher Blue Bradman (John Bayliss) and conservative vice-principal Hugo Palmer-Jones (Thomas Hauff).

Storylines dealt with subjects including teenage pregnancy, illiteracy, family instability, school discipline and relationships between students and teachers. Contemporary critics frequently compared the series with CBC's Degrassi Junior High, although 9B placed greater emphasis on teachers and other adults working with the students.

Cast

Robert Wisden as Bob Dawson John Bayliss as Blue Bradman Melanie Miller as Beth Matthews Thomas Hauff as Hugo Palmer-Jones Graham Greene as Dan Jackson Rachael Crawford as Jenny Wevers Chris Owens as Steve Lapiere Joanne Vannicola as Mary Neissbrkor Vincent Murray as Ken Larsen Nicole de Boer as Erin Jones Mishu Vellani as Mirehma Khan Vivian Palermo as Melody Blanc Laura Taler as Carly Dolan Michelle St. John as Emma Kostynuik Tre Smith as Joey Kostynuik Karen Chow Adam Kositsky Tory Cassis

Production

Following the success of the 1986 television film, CBC developed 9B as a dramatic series. Production was scheduled to begin in October 1988, but filming was temporarily delayed because of problems with the scripts. Executive producer Nada Harcourt said that script rewriting would delay the start of shooting by approximately one week.

A contemporary production listing in Cinema Canada described 9B as a dramatic series based on the CBC television movie and stated that production took place on location in Toronto and Fort Nelson, British Columbia.

The production listing credited Jim Swan as executive producer, Harris Verge as producer, Kevin Townshend as post-production producer and Grahame Woods as writer and story editor. It also identified Helen Kampfmuller as script coordinator and Bing Kwan as production manager.

The series was filmed during 1988. CBC subsequently scheduled the program as part of the second half of its 1988–89 television season.

Broadcast

CBC scheduled 9B for Sunday evenings as part of its 1988–89 prime-time lineup. The series premiered on January 29, 1989, at 8 p.m., preceding the documentary series The Struggle for Democracy.

Five one-hour episodes were produced and broadcast during January and February 1989.

Reception

The series received generally favourable reviews from Canadian television critics.

Bob Blakey of the Calgary Herald praised the credibility of the series, writing that its students, teachers and parents were believable and that their problems and behaviour were recognizable to viewers.

Tony Atherton of the Ottawa Citizen described the premiere as uneven but generally good, praising its cast and prospects. He noted that the series entered television during a period in which school-based dramas such as Degrassi Junior High, TV 101, Head of the Class and The Wonder Years were already prominent. Atherton distinguished 9B from Degrassi by observing that Degrassi primarily focused on students while 9B concentrated more heavily on the adults working with them.

Atherton also praised the program's use of its northern setting, noting that the snow and landscape were presented as ordinary elements of the characters' lives rather than being emphasized as attractions in themselves.

Cancellation

CBC did not renew 9B following its short run. In April 1989, the Vancouver Sun reported that CBC had cancelled the series while renewing several other Canadian programs, including Degrassi Junior High, Street Legal, CODCO, Danger Bay and The Beachcombers.

The cancellation occurred despite favourable critical notices. Later that year, an Edmonton Journal account of the Banff Television Festival reported that members of the festival's selection panel had been impressed by 9B and selected the cancelled series for competition.

Awards and nominations

9B received substantial recognition at the 1989 Gemini Awards. Contemporary reports initially gave differing totals because incorrect nomination figures had been released by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. A subsequent correction reported that 9B received eight nominations, tying Friday the 13th — The Series for the second-highest number of nominations that year.

The nominations included:

Best Dramatic Series Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Role — Robert Wisden Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Role — Joanne Vannicola Best Performance by a Supporting Actor — John Bayliss Best Performance by a Supporting Actress — Robyn Stevan

The series was also selected for competition at the 1989 Banff Television Festival following its cancellation by CBC.

Legacy

Although 9B had only a brief network run, it attracted significant critical and industry recognition. Its eight Gemini Award nominations placed it among the most-nominated Canadian television productions of the year.

The series also represents an early television role for several Canadian performers who subsequently established longer careers in film and television, including Graham Greene, Rachael Crawford, Joanne Vannicola and Nicole de Boer.

References

External links

Don Hunter biography at TouchWood Editions