E.N.G.

Plot

The series centers on Anne Hildebrandt, senior executive producer of news broadcasts at fictional Toronto station CTLS channel 10. She is having a clandestine affair with star cameraman Jake Antonelli, who is married to Martha and has two children; after their divorce, son Jeff lives with Jake and their daughter with Martha. Mike Fennell is appointed news director, a position Anne had expected, and his ratings-driven philosophy conflicts with hers, though they later find common ground and become romantically involved.

Mike has a troubled teenage daughter, Carrie, living in Vancouver. Other staff include weathercaster Jane Oliver, aging Seth Miller, general manager Kyle Copeland, camera person Bobbi Katz, alcoholic assignment editor J.C. Callahan (later wheelchair-bound after an accident), motherly video editor Marge Atherton, smarmy senior reporter Dan Watson, news researcher Janice Roberts (who commits suicide after becoming too involved in a story), devious assistant assignment editor Bruce Foreman, openly-gay floor manager Eric MacFarlane, and cut-throat reporter Terri Morgan. Victor Garber appears as tycoon Adam Hirsch, who owns CTLS during the final three seasons.

Reception

Jim Leach argues that E.N.G. attempted to negotiate between Canadian television traditions and formulas of popular American programs dominating CITV's schedule. The series was often compared with the CBC's Street Legal, and both were compared to Hill Street Blues and LA Law. Leach reflects that the success of E.N.G. raised hopes that private networks would support more Canadian producers. The show followed a tradition of documentary realism and social responsibility, though Leach argues its formula owes more to melodramatic structures of daytime soap operas. The series won ten Gemini Awards, including best dramatic programming series. Broadcast historian Michael Nolan observes that the show was critically acclaimed yet lost money every time it aired, illustrating the expense of Canadian dramatic programming in a fragmented television market.

International broadcasts

In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 aired the first four seasons but chose not to present the fifth and final season. In the United States, the show aired in syndication and also on Lifetime during the 1990-91 season, originally at 7 PM (EST) but moved to late nights after several weeks due to poor ratings. In Macedonia, it aired on the national MRT, and in South Africa on SABC2.