''Emily of New Moon'' is a Canadian television series, which aired on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French- ...

from 1998 to 2000. The series originally aired in the United States on the Cookie Jar Toons block on

This TV This TV (also known as This TV Network and alternately stylized as thisTV) is an American free-to-air television network owned by Allen Media Broadcast Networks, LLC, part of the Allen Media Group division of Entertainment Studios. Originally f ...

and it is currently broadcast in Canada on the

Viva Viva may refer to: Companies and organisations * Viva (network operator), a Dominican mobile network operator * Viva Air, a Spanish airline taken over by flag carrier Iberia * Viva Air Dominicana * VIVA Bahrain, a telecommunication company * V ...

Bravo! CTV Drama Channel (formerly known as Bravo) is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel was founded as the Canadian version of the U.S. channel Bravo (which is now owned by NBCUniversal) on January 1, 1995 ...

and

Vision TV VisionTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts multi-faith, multicultural, and general entertainment programming aimed at the 45 and over demographic. VisionTV is currently owned by ZoomerMedia, a company ...

cable channels. The series, produced by Salter Street Films, was based on the ''

Emily of New Moon ''Emily of New Moon'' is the first in a series of novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery about an orphan girl growing up on Prince Edward Island. Montgomery is also the author of ''Anne of Green Gables'' series. It was first published in 1923. Plot sum ...

'' series of novels by

Lucy Maud Montgomery Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a collection of novels, essays, short stories, and poetry beginning in 1908 with ''Anne of Green Gables''. She ...

. The series consisted of three seasons of thirteen episodes and one season of seven episodes, for a total of forty-six episodes produced. The executive producers were

Micheline Charest Micheline Charest (16 March 1953 – 14 April 2004) was a British-born Canadian television producer and founder and former co-chairman of CINAR (later Cookie Jar Entertainment). In 1997, Charest was ranked 19th in ''The Hollywood Reporters lis ...

Michael Donovan Michael Donovan is a Canadian voice actor and director known for his roles as Suikotsu in ''Inuyasha'' and Zoken Mato in ''Fate/stay night''. He has also directed many animated series and feature films. Roles Animation * ''3-2-1 Penguins!''K ...

, and Ronald Weinberg.

Series overview

The series starred Martha MacIsaac as the titular

orphan An orphan (from the el, ορφανός, orphanós) is a child whose parents have died. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents due to death is called an orphan. When referring to animals, only the mother's condition is usuall ...

Emily Starr. Susan Clark and

Sheila McCarthy Sheila McCarthy (born January 1, 1956) is a Canadian actress and singer. She has worked in film, television, and on stage. McCarthy is one of Canada's most honoured actors, having won two Genie Awards (film), two Gemini Awards (television), an A ...

played Emily's aunts Elizabeth and Laura, who had taken on the responsibility of raising Emily following her father's death, and

Stephen McHattie Stephen McHattie Smith (born February 3, 1946)Other sources cite 1945, 1947, and 1948. is a Canadian actor. Since beginning his professional career in 1970, he has amassed over 200 film and television credits. He won the Genie Award for Best Sup ...

played her cousin Jimmy. Susan Clark left the series after the first season when her character, Elizabeth, was killed off. Recurring cast included Chip Chuipka as Mr. Carpenter, Peter Donaldson as Ian Bowles, Richard Donat as Dr. Burnley, Kris Lemche as Perry Miller, John Neville as Uncle Malcolm, Jessica Pellerin as Ilse Burnley, Shawn Roberts as Teddy Kent, and Linda Thorson as Cousin Isabel. Guest stars included Janet Wright,

Phyllis Diller Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand-up comedian, actress, author, musician, and visual artist, best known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes, and ...

, Martha Burns, Maury Chaykin,

Martha Henry Martha Kathleen Henry (née Buhs; February 17, 1938October 21, 2021) was an American-born Canadian stage, film, and television actress. She was noted for her work at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario. Early life and training Martha ...

, Lisa Houle, William Hutt,

Michael Moriarty Michael Moriarty (born April 5, 1941) is an American-Canadian actor and jazz musician. He received an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for his first acting role on American television as a Nazi SS officer in the 1978 mini-series ''Holocaust'' ...

, Barbara Feldon,

Macha Grenon Macha Grenon (born June 7, 1968) is a Canadian film and television actress.Claire Rankin Claire Rankin is a Canadian actress. She was raised in Prince Edward Island. Career In the 1990s, Rankin performed in Shakespeare's plays ''Love's Labour's Lost'', ''Romeo and Juliet'' and '' The Tempest''. Rankin has appeared in over 50 films ...

Plot

This is the story of a young

girl named Emily Starr who is sent to live at New Moon Farm on

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...

with her aunts Elizabeth and Laura Murray and her Cousin Jimmy after her father dies of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, ...

. She makes friends with Ilse Burnley, Teddy Kent, and Perry Miller, the hired boy, who Aunt Elizabeth looks down upon because he was born in 'Stovepipe Town', a poorer district. Each of the children has a special gift. Emily was born to be a writer, Teddy is a gifted artist, Ilse is a talented

elocutionist Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. It stems from the idea that while communication is symbolic, sounds are final and compelli ...

, and Perry has the makings of a great politician. They also each have a few problems with their families. Emily has a hard time getting along with Aunt Elizabeth, who does not understand her need to write. Ilse's father, Dr. Burnley, ignores Ilse most of the time because of a dreadful secret concerning Ilse's mother. Teddy's mother is jealous of her son's talents and friends, fearing that his love for them will eclipse his love for her; as a result, she hates Emily, Teddy's drawings, and even his pets. Perry is not as well off as the other three, so his Aunt Tom once tries to make Emily promise to marry Perry when they grow up, threatening that unless Emily does so, she will not pay for Perry's schooling. Other unforgettable characters are Dean "Jarback" Priest, a quiet, mysterious cynic who wants something he fears is ever unattainable; fiery Mr Carpenter, the crusty old schoolteacher who is Emily's mentor and honest critic when it comes to evaluating her stories and poems; "simple" Cousin Jimmy, who recites his poetry when the spirit moves him; Aunt Laura, who is the kind aunt; and strict, suspicious Aunt Elizabeth who yet proves to be an unexpected ally in times of trouble.

Cast

Main Cast

* Martha MacIsaac as Emily Byrd Starr *

as Cousin Jimmy Murray *

as Aunt Laura Murray * Susan Clark as Aunt Elizabeth Murray (main season 1; guest star seasons 2-3) * Linda Thorson as Cousin Isabel Murray (season 2-3) * John Neville as Uncle Malcolm Murray (season 2-3) * Jessica Pellerin as Ilse Burnley (main season 4; recurring seasons 1-3)

Recurring Cast

* Shawn Roberts as Teddy Kent * Kris Lemche as Perry Miller * Chip Chuipka as Mr. Francis Carpenter * Peter Donaldson as Ian Bowles * Richard Donat as Dr. Allan Burnley * Marlene O'Brien as Mrs. Velma Stuart * Emily Cara Cook as Rhoda Stuart * Carroll Godsman as Mildred Kent * Aaron Ashmore as Harrison Bowles

Guest Cast

as Douglas Starr * Janet Wright as Aunt Thom *

as Great Aunt Nancy Priest * Martha Burns as Eve Kinch * Maury Chaykin as Lofty John *

as Megan Moore * Lisa Houle as Eve Kinch/Dr. Iris Campbell/Iris Burnley * William Hutt as Reverend Pitch/Satan * Barbara Feldon as Madame Marlena *

as Juliet Starr * Ken Leckey as Officer Finchley * Sarah Briand as Young Emily * Peter Levi as Wowkiss * William Greenblatt as Duncan McHugh

Production

The series was developed by Marlene Matthews, who also wrote or co-wrote nineteen episodes of the series and served as one of the producers for the first three years. Additional writers include Nobu Adilman, Leila Basen, Chris Bould, Heather Conkie, Edwina Follows,

Dennis Foon Dennis Foon (born 18 November 1951) is a Canadian playwright, producer, screenwriter and novelist. He was co-founder and artistic director for 12 years of Green Thumb Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia. There he wrote and produced a body of ...

, Rob Forsyth, Jeremy Hole, Janet MacLean, Peter Meech, David Preston, Lynn Turner, and Joe Wiesenfeld. Episodes were directed by George Bloomfield, Randy Bradshaw,

Richard Ciupka Richard Ciupka is a Canadian cinematographer and film director. He is perhaps best known for his work on the 1983 horror film '' Curtains'', as well as his collaborations with Louis Malle on the 1980 film ''Atlantic City'', Alexandre Arcady on the ...

, Phil Comeau, Steve Danyluk, Douglas Jackson, Jimmy Kaufman, Michael Kennedy, Gordon Langevin, Lorette Leblanc, Eleanore Lindo, Don McBrearty,

, Matthew Nodella,

Gabriel Pelletier Gabriel Pelletier (born 1958 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian film and television director. He is best known for his 1996 film ''Karmina'', for which he was a Genie Award nominee for Best Screenplay and Best Director at the 18th Genie Awards i ...

Jean-François Pouliot Jean-François Pouliot (born 1957) is a Canadian film director from Quebec. He was born in Montreal and studied at Concordia University. He worked as an assistant cameraman, while also writing and directing short animated films for the National ...

, Stefan Scaini, Mark Sobel, and

Giles Walker Giles Walker (January 17, 1946 - March 23, 2020) was a Scottish-born Canadian film director. Biography Giles Walker, born in 1946 in Dundee, Scotland, received a B.A. from the University of New Brunswick and an M.A. from Stanford University Fi ...

Episodes

Season 1 (1998)

# "Eye of Heaven" (January 4, 1998) # "Storms of the Heart" (January 11, 1998) # "The Book of Yesterday" (January 18, 1998) # "The Disappointed House" (January 25, 1998) # "Paradise Lost" (February 1, 1998) # 'The Enchanted Doll" (March 8, 1998) # "Falling Angels" (March 15, 1998) # "The Tale of Duncan McHugh" (March 22, 1998) # "The Wild Rover" (March 29, 1998) # "The Ghost of Whyther Grange" (April 5, 1998) # "A Child Shall Lead Them" (April 12, 1998) # "A Winter's Tale" (April 12, 1998) # "The Sound of Silence" (April 19, 1998)

Season 2 (1998–99)

# "Summer of Sorrows" (October 4, 1998) # "And So They Shall Reap" (October 11, 1998) # "A Shadow in His Dream" (October 18, 1998) # "Where Angels Fear to Tread" (October 25, 1998) # "The Curse of the Poppet" (November 8, 1998) # "By the Rivers of Babylon" (November 15, 1998) # "A Time to Heal" (November 29, 1998) # "The Devil's Punchbowl" (December 6, 1998) # "Pins and Needles, Needles and Pins, When a Man Gets Married, His Trouble Begins" (December 13, 1998) # "Crown of Thorns" (December 20, 1998) # "When the Bough Breaks" (December 27, 1998) # "Love Knots" (January 3, 1999) # "The Book of Hours" (January 10, 1999)

Season 3 (1999)

# "Ask Me Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies" (September 28, 1999) # "The Return of Maida Flynn" (September 29, 1999) # "Under the Wishing Moon" (September 30, 1999) # "Bridge of Dreams" (October 1, 1999) # "Bred to the Bone" (October 4, 1999) # "The Return of Malcolm Murray" (October 5, 1999) # "In the Valley of the Shadow of Death" (October 6, 1999) # "The Plague" (October 6, 1999) # "Had a Wife and Couldn't Keep Her" (October 7, 1999) # "A Fall from Grace" (October 8, 1999) # "The Bequest" (October 11, 1999) # "Command Performance" (October 12, 1999) # "A Man May Work from Sun to Sun, But a Woman's Work is Never Done" (October 13, 1999) # "A Weaver of Dreams" (October 14, 1999)

Season 4 (2000)

# "Rites of Passage" (May 29, 2000) # "The Taming of Isle Burnley" (May 30, 2000) # "A Bill of Divorcement" (May 31, 2000) # "Too Close to the Sun" (June 1, 2000) # "Weight of the World" (June 4, 2000) # "Away" (June 5, 2000) # "A Seller of Dreams" (June 6, 2000)

Home Media releases

United States

Echo Bridge Home Entertainment Echo Bridge Entertainment is an American independent distribution company. It acquires and distributes feature films, scripted and non-scripted series, documentaries, and children’s programming for home video, digital and television in the United ...

has released all four seasons on DVD in the United States, as well as a complete series DVD set.

Canada

Alliance Home Entertainment has released all four seasons on DVD in Canada for the very first time.

Streaming

As of 2017, the show has begun streaming for free on Canada Media Fund's Encore+ YouTube page.

References

External links

L.M. Montgomery Online
This scholarly site includes a blog, a bibliography of reference materials, and a complete filmography of all adaptations of Montgomery texts. See, in particular, the page fo
''Emily of New Moon''
* {{IMDb title, id=0135727, title=Emily of New Moon *
The Official Emily of New Moon Fan Site
Includes a synopsis of the series and information on the cast and crew behind the Emily of New Moon television series. CBC Television original programming 1990s Canadian drama television series 1998 Canadian television series debuts 2000s Canadian drama television series 2000 Canadian television series endings Television series by Cookie Jar Entertainment Television shows set in Prince Edward Island Television shows filmed in Prince Edward Island Culture of Charlottetown Summerside, Prince Edward Island Period family drama television series English-language television shows Canadian fantasy television series