Nothing but Blue Skies

Gen X, May 14th, It should be called Twitter

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

Why would anybody in NYC punch Steve Buscemi when the Dursts all
live there, starting with Deborah Charatan

#TheJinx
#theworstdurst
@HBO

[Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx @CraigBaird]

On Dec. 1 and 2, 1985, Anne of Green Gables aired on CBC.

It became one of the highest rated programs to ever air on a Canadian television network and a landmark miniseries that is still studied in film schools.

So...let's learn all about it!

Since Anne of Green Gables was first published by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1908, it has been adapted to film, radio and television many times.

In 1984, Kevin Sullivan purchased the rights to Anne of Green Gables. Working with Joe Wiesenfeld, he adapted the novel into a screenplay. The miniseries script did diverge from the novel in order to tell the story to a contemporary audience.

With the script done, both CBC and PBS came on to produce the miniseries.
The most important task with things moving forward was to cast the lead of Anne Shirley.

Katharine Hepburn came forward to recommend her great-niece Schuyler Grant. Sullivan liked Grant's audition and wanted to give her the role.
CBC stepped in though and said Anne had to be played by a Canadian, not an American. Grant was instead given the part of Diana, the best friend of Anne.

The role of Anne went to Megan Follows, who was born in Toronto and was the daughter of theatre actor and director Ted Follows and actress Dawn Greenhalgh. Megan had appeared in shows such as The Baxters and The Littlest Hobo.

When she was cast as Anne, she beat out 3,000 other girls who auditioned for the role.

The rest of the cast was absolutely stacked with talented Canadians, many of whom went on to act in other Sullivan projects including Road to Avonlea.

Jonathan Crombie, son of David Crombie, a former Mayor of Toronto and Member of Parliament, got the role of Gilbert Blythe. He had no previous acting experience and simply took a photo of himself at a kiosk at Union Station.
He became so identified as Gilbert he often answered to the nickname of Gil throughout his life.

Colleen Dewhurst, a two-time Tony and four-time Emmy Award winner played Marilla Cuthbert, while future Oscar nominee Richard Farnsworth played Matthew Cuthbert.

Stratford Festival veteran Patricia Hamilton played Rachel Lynde.

Several actors in the miniseries including Dewhurst went on to act as regulars on Road to Avonlea including Jackie Burroughs (Aunt Hetty), Cedric Smith (Alec King) and Mag Ruffman (Olivia King).

Jennifer Irwin, who was born in Toronto, had a small role as a student. She went on to a steady TV career in Still Standing, The Goldbergs and Superstore. She is a Gemini and Canadian Screen Award nominee.

Zack Ward, who had just appeared as Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story, also had a role in the miniseries.

Costing $3.2 million to film, it was filmed in PEI, various communities in Ontario and at Westfield Heritage Village.

When the miniseries aired, it was a massive success. It brought in 5.6 million viewers in Canada, 20% of the Canadian population at the time. It remains the highest rated drama program to ever air on CBC.

At the Gemini Awards, it won a record 10 Geminis out of 12 nominations. It also won an Emmy Award, a Peabody and a slew of other awards.

Its success spawned a sequel in 1987, Road to Avonlea and an animated series. In all, the miniseries spawned 130 hours of movies and episodes relating to the world of Anne of Green Gables.

The miniseries was so successful that it was broadcast worldwide. In Japan, it aired in theatres for five years straight. It has also been studied in US film schools as the model for a TV Drama that can appeal to a wide variety of viewers.

It remains a landmark miniseries to this day.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at https://t.co/ori5TwxQs3

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

@kenjeong Have a great day and year!

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

@AMAZlNGNATURE Bon Jovi

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

I really hope these children won’t have to spend another day with this terrible father- get help Allen Kassenoff, you’re the problem

[Nick @itsNICKSNIDER]

I wish nothing but the worst for Allen Kassenoff…RIP Catherine.

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

@Dalbodog Tom

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Am I the only person who thinks @longlegs looks like this is a mockumentary about a serial killer

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

Xtremely late to the Gossip Girl party @NetflixTudum

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

@Dalbodog Buster

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

@TheAcademy Like maybe give him a port mortem Oscar for Rain Man and while you’re at it one for Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

@Matt_Pinner Morpheus

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

I really don’t like Chris’s singing but fk me this song is so well written & luv luv luv Michael J. Fox

[Coldplay Access @coldplayaccess]

MICHAEL J FOX joins Coldplay on stage at Glastonbury! ❤️🔺🌙

#ColdplayGlastonbury #Glastonbury

[Toronto Police Operations @TPSOperations]

POLICE INVESTIGATION:
Ossington Ave and Bloor St W
8:55 am
-Male found deceased in a vehicle
-police o/s
-Parking lot closed off to traffic and pedestrians
-No road closures at this time
-anyone with info call police 416-808-2222
#GO1399822
^lm

[Nothing but Blue Skies @FunMugford]

@PostsOfCats Murray

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@jverona77 Askhim

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@ShouldHaveCat Crepe

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@Netflix_CA make Hit Man available on Netflix in Canada muthrfkkrs

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@PuppiesIover Batrick

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@pop_archives

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@ATRightMovies The Ring

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Maya Hawke should collab with Lisa Loeb

#fullcircle