Emily of New Moon (TV series)

Emily of New Moon is a Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2000. The series originally aired in the United States on the Cookie Jar Toons block on This TV and it is currently broadcast in Canada on the Viva, Bravo! and Vision TV cable channels. The series, produced by Salter Street Films, was based on the Emily of New Moon series of novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery. 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, Michael Donovan, and Ronald Weinberg.

Series overview
The series starred Martha MacIsaac as the titular orphan Emily Starr. Susan Clark and Sheila McCarthy played Emily's aunts Elizabeth and Laura, who had taken on the responsibility of raising Emily following her father's death, and Stephen McHattie 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, Martha Burns, Maury Chaykin, Martha Henry, Lisa Houle, William Hutt, Michael Moriarty, Barbara Feldon, Macha Grenon and Claire Rankin.

Plot
This is the story of a young orphan girl named Emily Starr who is sent to live at New Moon Farm on Prince Edward Island with her aunts Elizabeth and Laura Murray and her Cousin Jimmy after her father dies of tuberculosis. 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, 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.

Main cast

 * Martha MacIsaac as Emily Byrd Starr
 * Stephen McHattie as Cousin Jimmy Murray
 * Sheila McCarthy 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

 * Michael Moriarty as Douglas Starr
 * Janet Wright as Aunt Thom
 * Phyllis Diller as Great Aunt Nancy Priest
 * Martha Burns as Eve Kinch
 * Maury Chaykin as Lofty John
 * Martha Henry as Megan Moore
 * Lisa Houle as Eve Kinch/Dr. Iris Campbell/Iris Burnley
 * William Hutt as Reverend Pitch/Satan
 * Barbara Feldon as Madame Marlena
 * Macha Grenon as Nadine
 * Claire Rankin 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, 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, Phil Comeau, Steve Danyluk, Douglas Jackson, Jimmy Kaufman, Michael Kennedy, Gordon Langevin, Lorette Leblanc, Eleanore Lindo, Don McBrearty, Stephen McHattie, Matthew Nodella, Gabriel Pelletier, Jean-François Pouliot, Stefan Scaini, Mark Sobel, and Giles Walker.

United States
Echo Bridge Home Entertainment 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. Unfortunately Encore+ YouTube channel was discontinued in November 2022.