Pray for Me, Paul Henderson is a Canadian television comedy-drama film, directed by Brad Turner and broadcast by CBC Television in 1989.Bob Blakey, "Twice it's nice on CBC". Calgary Herald, November 1, 1989. Set in 1972 against the backdrop of the Canada-USSR Summit Series, the film centres on four high school students — nerdy overachiever Cameron Alexander (Torquil Campbell), his best friend Russell (Richard Chevolleau), poetry-loving hippie Cynthia Maclean (Samantha Follows) and football jock Michael Starnoulis (Yannick Bisson) — who come together to compete as the school team in Reach for the Top and become heroes of their school as they reach the national finals against all odds.Greg Burliuk, "Networks offering up the good, the funny and the ugly this week". Kingston Whig-Standard, November 3, 1989.
CBC journalist Jan Tennant, who had been an announcer for the real Reach for the Top in the early 1970s, reprised her role in the film.Bob Remington, "From Dickens to Degrassi, a full week". Edmonton Journal, November 3, 1989.
The film aired on November 5, 1989 as an episode of CBC's Magic Hour anthology of youth and family television films.Tony Atherton, "The Family Hour: gentle TV". Ottawa Citizen, September 23, 1989.
Hester Riches of the Vancouver Sun praised the film, opining that CBC should consider turning it into a series and concluding that "we might have a Canadian Wonder Years on our hands".Hester Riches, "It's prime time for young TV viewers". Vancouver Sun, November 2, 1989.
Awards +AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultReferenceGemini AwardsDecember 4, 1990 Best Short Dramatic Program Kim Todd, Michael MacMillan, Seaton McLean, Peter Sussman Christopher Harris, "E.N.G., Avonlea top Gemini nominees Awards in 54 categories will be handed out Dec. 2-4". The Globe and Mail, October 24, 1990. Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Brad Turner Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Malcolm MacRury
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