(This page is focusing on both The Collaborators and Sidestreet)
THE COLLABORATORS
In 1973 CBC decided to enter the copshow
world with The Collaborators. In the first season they aired 8 episodes. The
program starred Michael Kane as Det. Sgt. Jim Brewer,
Donald Pilon as Det. Sgt. Richard Tremblay, Paul Harding as Dr. Charles Erickson
and Toby Tarnow as Liz Roman, Dr. Erickson's assisant. Also on the show were
Lawrence Benedict as Detective David Quinn and Leslie Carlson as Detective George
Kaminski.
(Taken from http://www.angelfire.com/retro/cta/Can/Collaborators.htm)
For its crime-related series, CBC drama has continually tried to find an angle
in the professions of its investigators. "The Collaborators"
were the forensic scientists who worked with the police. Richard Gilbert created
this program, in which Michael Kane played the gruff and
instinctive Detective Sergeant Jim Brewer, and Paul Harding and Toby Tarnow
played the scientists, Dr. Charles Erickson and his assistant
Liz Roman. The program attempted to deal with the investigative process in an
egalitarian way, from the scene of the crime to the police station
to the lab. However, the producers and viewers soon found that there was more
drama in fires in the streets than in bunsen burners.
Paul Harding left the series after the first season of ten one-hour shows, and
noted that Kane had dominated the show as the principal crime solver.
Kane himself appeared in only three episodes in the second
season, and left the show because of health reasons. His replacement, Quebec
actor
Donald Pilon, played Detective Sergeant Richard Tremblay, a police officer of
a different personality. Brewer, with his rugged looks, seemed more
harassed and emotional, well within the accepted type of the television cop
or detective, while Tremblay was relaxed, even stoic, and rational.
Supporting actors included Lawrence Benedict as Detective Quinn and Leslie Carlson
as Detective Kaminski.
Executive producers Richard Gilbert (l974) and Brian
Walker (l975) drew on many of English Canada's distinguished writers and directors
for the show. Directors included Peter Carter, Rene Bonniere ("All The
King's Men," "A Touch of Madness"), Don Haldane ("Beyond
All
Reasonable Doubt"), Graham Parker. Allan King, Don Shebib ("Deedee,"
"Once Upon A Time In Genarro"), and Stan Olson. Grahame Woods,
George Robertson, Lyal Brown, Tony Sheer, Claude Harz, and Carol Bolt, among
others, wrote for the show.
ong others, wrote for the show.
Here are some show screen caps:
(The main actors)
Images from an episode:
The Collaborators aired at the following times:
Season 1:
Sun 9:00-10:00 p.m., 16 Dec 1973-17 Feb 1974 (Original Run)
Fri 10:00-11:00 p.m., 26 Apr-28 Jun 1974 (Re-run)
Season 2:
Sun 9:00-10:00 p.m., 29 Sep-1 Dec 1974 (Original Run)
Sat 9:00-10:00 p.m., 23 Aug-30 Aug 1975 (Re-run)
Here is an parital episode guide:
A MATTER OF FACT (Pilot)
LUCK ... WITHOUT IT, YOU'RE NOWHERE
The story of this debut series involves the killing of a police officer, interwoven
with the murder of an illegal Portuguese
immigrant. Brewer and Erickson clash as the police press for results from the
forensic lab. From seemingly impossible dead
ends, Erickson and Liz Roman make the breakthrough that enables Brewer to trap
the killer.
FOUR INTO THREE WON'T GO
A group of men arrive in town to plan a jewelry store
robbery. After the successful robbery, the plan starts to disintegrate,
resulting in the murder of two of the thiefs. Brewer carries out the investigation
and with the help of the forensic lab group
solves the crime.
TELL THEM WHAT YOU KNOW
A country western singing star is discovered dead in a car crash. Brewer interviews
his widow and finds that all is not well with
the marriage and that the man lived with his mistress. Erickson performs the
autopsy and his findings set in motion a series of inquiries.
ALL MY LOVE JENNIE
Dr. Erikson and Detective Brewer are called in to investigate a skeleton discovered
at a construction site that turns out to be
that of a male, killed 50 years previously. The story looks at the events leading
up to the murder. A subpolt is also developed
(which becomes the basis of the next episode), one of the victims of a plane
crash is discovered to have traces of poison in his body.
WINNER LOSE ALL
A sequel to "All My Love, Jennie". This episode deals with intrigue
in the business world. In tracking down the suspected
murder of Grant Adams, who died in a plane crash, Detective Brewer becomes involved
with Adam's scheming wife and his business
associates. During this episode, a sub plot develops which becomes the basis
for the following episode.
BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT
A boy stands accused of murdering a young girl in a small town. When the defense
refutes the pathologists findings,
Erikson and Liz find themselves in the witness box.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CANDY
Brewer and Erickson becomes involved with Voodooism when they search for a missing
woman in the West Indian community. The
combination of police work and scientific methods bring the story to its conclusion.
Episode 1.08 (episode title
not known)
Brewer and Erickson become involved in an adventure which includes a shoot-out
at a hotel, a mysterious execution in the woods and
a bomb explosion. The plot becomes more complex when a visiting scientific salesman
and a young woman enter the mystery.
THE CONTRACT
A model is kidnapped for ransom just after she has signs an exclusive contract.
Brewer and Erickson investigate the crime;
the action builds to a shoot-out and a tear gas attack at a farmhouse in the
country.
NIGHT INTO MOURNING
In the last episode of season one, Brewer is called in to investigate a murder
in an auto wrecking yard. He is faced with
a self-confessed murderer whose confession is not credible. Brewer attempts
to reconstruct the crime, but forcing the guilty party to
expose himself. This creates problems for both the police and the forensic lab.
KISS THE WORLD GOODBYE
In the season two debut of the series a bank robbery masterminded by a dangerous
psycopath involves Brewer in a harzadous situation,
with the lives of hostages at stake. Brewer arranges to trade himself for some
of the hostages, and finds himself being escorted
out of town in a truck full of explosives.
(A LITTLE) SOMETHING FOR THE OLD AGE
Eddie MacAlvenny, an ex-convict, becomes involved with a Montreal crime syndicate.
His efforts in a safe-cracking inceident lead to
a murder; the program ends with a chase through the streets of Toronto.
FIFTEEN BELOW AND FALLING
Brewer finds a man lying unconscious in a ditch and the frozen body of his wife
nearby when he is called to the scene of a
traffic accident. Later, he establishes a friendly relationship with the man
and discovers that the "accident" is more complicated
than it first appeared.
WHEN A MAN IS DOWN
An ex-police officer, who was fired for drinking, and his friends do private
detective work for shady agency. They plan a robbery
and sell the idea to crime syndicate, but when they try to execute it, everything
starts to go wrong.
DREAMS AND THINGS
The unsuccessful suicide attempt of a pregnant girl leads Tremblay, the new
Detective-Sergeant for the series, to the
10 year-old case of the girl's missing mother.
DARK CHILDREN
Tremblay investigates two rival gangs when a police officer is killed by one
of them. He discovers that the Dark Children is
run by a psychotic Nazi sympathizer when Liz, whom he has planted in the gang,
becomes involved in a monstous death plan.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GENARRO
Tremblay's liking for Italian food places him in the vicinity of a fatal explosion
which the forensic lab proves to be an act of
murder. the investigation, in Toronto's "Little Italy", uncovers sone
unworthy actions on the part of people whom Tremblay had
previously respected and reveals that a vendetta is in progress.
A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU
Tremblay's investigation into a double murder reveals the presence of blackmail
and prostitution as well.
DEE DEE
Sergeant Tremblay investigates the case of Jackie, a drug addict and prostitute,
who is in the hospital following a severe beating.
UNDERCOVER (final episode)
With double-cross after double-cross, Tremblay gets first hand knowledge of
what it means to be outside the law.
Education Research
Careers
in Criminal Justice
Police
Administration Degree
Online
Criminal Justice Degree
Criminal Justice
Education Forum
SIDESTREET
Sidestreet was a police drama that aired on CBC from September 1975 until the Summer of 1978
The first season had Sean McCann (Inspector Alec Woodward) and Stephen Markle (Sergeant Johnny Dias) as the two man leads. IN an effort to give the show less-gruff and more likeable cops, they were replaced by Donnelly Rhodes (Nick Raitt) and Jonathan Welsh (Glenn Olsen). John Swindells (Inspector Ted Bowman) appeared during the series entire run.
Sidestreet succeeded the CBC program "The Collaborators" http://www.rickstv.com/sidestreet/ as their main series drama. Program developers John Saxton and Geoffrey Gilbert aimed to move Sidestreet away from the violence of the typical police show with protagonists who were community service officers instead of ordinary detectives. No attempt was made to hide the fact that the show took place in Toronto. Naturally there was even one episode that dramatically concluded at the newly opened CN Tower. Episodes dealt infrequently with murder (as per the typical crime TV show), but more with other types of crimes - issues such as blockbusting, strikebreaking, rape, poverty, and the problems of the elderly in the city.
The first season of eight episodes were gritty, hard-edged dramas in the Wojeck mold, with McCann and Markle convincing as the protagonists who often supported the story. In the second season the show tried for a more American look, bringing in the prettier but less effective Rhodes and Welsh as replacements and trying to focus more on the leads as stars...some feel that the show lost its edge and that the seams began to show and that it never managed to be slick enough to make up for it.
Writers included Tony Sheer, Grahame Woods and Ty Haller. David Helwig was the story editor. Directors included Richard Gilbert, Don Haldane, Gerald Mayer, John Wright and Denis Hroux. The producer of the first two programs was G. Chalmers Adams, who was followed by Brian Walker. The executive producers were John T. Ross and, later on, Stanley Colbert.
Sidestreet aired at the following times:
September 14, 1975 to November 9, 1975 Sundays from 9
to 10 (8 episodes)
April 10, 1976 to June 5, 1976 Saturdays from 10 to 11 (These were repeats)
October 3, 1976 to November 21, 1976 Sundays from 9 to 10 (8 episodes)
October 9, 1977 to December 18, 1977 Sundays from 9 to 10 (11 episodes)
September 24, 1978 to November 12, 1978 Sundays from 9 to 10 (8 episodes)
September 13, 1979 to November 1, 1979 Thursdays from 11:45 to 12:45 (These
were repeats)
Here are some screencaps from the episode 18 Hours to Kill:
35 Episodes in all. Here is a partial episode listing (in no particular order):
WIFE BEATER guest starring Nick Mancuso as Mr. West
RAPE guest starring Nick Mancuso as Bob Williams
ONCE A HERO guest starring Al Waxman and Geraint Wyn Davies as Gary (credited as Gary Davies)
Unknown episode guest starring Christopher Maher
Unknown Episode guest starring Don Francks as Don Shebib
ABOVE THE LAW
ANOTHER DAY
THE HOLDOUT - A widow is terrorized by a developer for refusing to sell her property
THE REBELLION OF BERTHA MacKENZIE - A conflict begins when a women's welfare cheque is stopped because she has a man living with her.
RIGHT TO DEFEND - A man shots a teenager attempting to rob his house
BETWEEN FRIENDS - A cop faces old loyaities when his friend, a criminal on the run, returns for a visit
EIGHTEEN HOURS TO KILL (air
date October 10, 1977)
Synopsis: When the Canada Post mail box is blown up, the duo track down the
culprit as a long time Quebec Separtist looking to avenge years of oppresion.
The CN Tower factors in considerably in this episode
WITH THIS RING starring Barry Morse
STAKEOUT Cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, John Swindells, Antony Parr, Gay Rowan, Tom Hauff, and
John Evans.
Guest Star: Leslie Nielsen
Synopsis:
An over-zealous Emergency Task Force Leader (Leslie Nielsen) is sent in to back-up
Raitt and Olsen during a tension filled hostage taking
incident during which the hostage and her captor develope a warm relationship.
A CASE IN POINT Cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, John Swindells, Antony Parr, Robin Ward, Philip Craig,
and Charmion King.
Guest Star:Jack Duffy
Synopsis:
In this episode, comedian Jack Duffy makes his dramatic debut as a hired killer
who mistakenly assassinates a community lawyer and leads Raitt
and Olsen to a series of fraudulent transactions in upper-crust society.
JUST ANOTHER DAY Cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, Maury Chaykin, John Swindells, Hugh Webster, Dave Hughes
and Trudy Weiss.
Synopsis:
In this episode, an ordinary day for Sgts. Nick Raitt and Glenn Olsen turns
into one of fear and confusion when with dynamite
strapped to his body, a crazed man named Ferris holds a terrorizedInspector
Bowen at gunpoint. He demands that Raitt and Olsen
bring his estranged wife to the police station. Fearing he wants to kill her,
Raitt and Olsen find someone to inpersonate his frightened wife.
HOLIDAY WITH HOMICIDE Cast:
Donnelly Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, John Swindells and Antony Parr.
Synopsis:
In this episode, to prevent an unwanted horse from being destroyed, Sgts. Raitt
and Olsen claim, and enter him in Quarter Horse Competition.
At the Quarter Horse Show, Raitt and Olsen run up against a con artist and a
pretty young woman who has double-crossed. Filmed on location at
Quarterama '78 will reflect the fun and excitement of Quarter Horse Competition.
BIG BROTHER Cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, and John Swindells.
Synopsis:
In this episode, Saul Rubinek is the special guest star. He portays Frank, who
is forced into hiding from a loan shark enforcer until
he can raise the cash he owes. His hiding place is discovered and with no indication
that the money will be forecoming, Frank
is forced to accept the enforcers job offer - transporting drugs across Canadian
- US border. Meanwhile, Frank's young brother is
living with Raitt.
LES GENDARMES Cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, Jacques Thisdale, Gilles Savard and Ron Ulrich.
Synopsis:
In this episode, Raitt and Olsen assist Andre Bergeron and MarcRoy, two Montreal
police officers, track a courier for a well know crime
syndicate. The courier, Bill Godfrey is also being hunted by a syndicate hit
man because he knows too much about the organization's
operations. Roy is shot and killed, and his partner Bergeron, the only witness,
accuses Godfrey. Raitt becomes suspicious when he
hears conflicting stories of the events that lead to Roy's death.
SCORPIO RISING Cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, Sean Sullivan, and Ron Harman.
Synopsis:
In this episode, the German head of a multinational corporation comes to visit
the head of a Canadian multinational corporation to discuss
financial matters. However, the primary reason for his visit is to discuss Project
Scorpio, a world-wide security force for wealthy
businesspeople. Posing as a private body guard, Olsen infultrates the Canadian
corporation.
THE MONEYLENDERS Cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, Susan Hogan, David Eisner, Jeannie Elias and Lisa Langlois.
Synopsis:
In this episode, a ruthless loan shark preys on teenagers at a big city high
school. When they are unable to repay their loans with high interest,
he forces the girls into prostitution and turns enforcers loose on the boys.
When a boy is beaten to death, Raitt and Olsen work with a woman
undercover cop to find the killer.
REVENGE Regular cast: Donnelly
Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, John Swindells and Antony Parr.
Guest cast: Nicholas Cortland, Nicholas Campbell, Linda Mason-Greene, Dorothy
Poste, Henry Beckman, David Bolt, and Judy Lee-Johnson.
Synopsis: In this episode, a convict is released from prison.
VANCOUVER CONNECTION (final
episode)
Cast: Donnelly Rhodes, Jonathan Welsh, John Swindells, Antony Parr and Pia Shandell.
Synopsis:
In this episode, narcotics trafficking on the West Coast, Glenn Olsen is forced
to go undercover to trace a drug shipment that is contaminated
with a deadly disease. Filmed on location in Vancouver.
(Always looking for episodes you may have on VHS, DVD, Video, Videos)