Episodes

1. The 50s on CBC

CBC-TV goes on the air; the coronation of Queen Elizabeth is the first CBC on-air event; Hockey Night in Canada; Front Page Challenge.

2. The 60s on CBC

Entertainment programming like The Tommy Hunter Show and Singalong Jubilee flourishes; television as a leading force for social change; first color broadcast.

3. The 70s on CBC

CBC's role in discovering the national identity; celebrities consider what it means to be Canadian; "The King of Kensington" and "The Beachcombers."

4. The 80s on CBC

Canadians search for new heroes behind the glitz and glamour of the big-hair decade.

5. The 90s and Beyond on CBC

The network tries to shore up its uniquely Canadian niche in the ever-expanding television market; This Hour Has 22 Minutes; blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

Overview

Taking a deliberately post-modern approach to the CBC and Canadian culture, the series raids the bulging vaults of the national broadcaster. Viewers will see images of Canada’s past five decades, ranging from the long-running celebrity quiz show Front Page Challenge through ’70s pop star Rene Simard to stirring footage of legendary hockey icons. Deliberately using a stylistic melange, the series will use contemporary footage shot in Betacam video and Super 8 with old kinescopes from the ’50s, black-and-white footage of the ’60s and the more standard color format from the ’70s through the ’90s.

Details

Cast

Rick Mercer