On the Spot (Canadian TV series)
Encyclopedia
On the Spot was the first television series made specifically for TV by the National Film Board of Canada
, which aired on CBC Television
for two seasons from 1953 to 1954. Each episode reported on a different aspect of life in Canada. The series was originated by Bernard Devlin
.
Series segments were produced with a three-person crew: a director, cameraman and on-screen host, usually Fred Davis
.The series debuted on October 6, 1953, at 7:45 pm and ran until June 30, 1954 for a total of 39 episodes. Episodes were initially 15 minutes in length. However, the NFB asked the CBC to increase the time slot to 30 minutes for the second season. The series changed time slots frequently, playing as late as 11:45 pm on Monday nights before going to Sundays at 4:30 pm. The second season aired on Sundays at 10 pm. Cancelled after the 26 episodes of the second season, On the Spot was replaced by Perspective, a 30-minute show that mixed documentary reports and dramatizations on contemporary Canadian issues.
One episode that was cancelled was a segment on the workings of the Canadian Parliament, with a mock session with actual members of Parliament. When the film was shown to the Prime Minister’s Office
, there were complaints about showing a session of Parliament without including the PM and the NFB was forced to shelve the episode.
from October 1954.
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
, which aired on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
for two seasons from 1953 to 1954. Each episode reported on a different aspect of life in Canada. The series was originated by Bernard Devlin
Bernard Devlin (director)
Bernard Devlin was a Canadian film producer, script writer and director, who played an important role in the development of the National Film Board....
.
Series segments were produced with a three-person crew: a director, cameraman and on-screen host, usually Fred Davis
Fred Davis (broadcaster)
Fred Davis was a Canadian broadcaster, best known as host of the CBC Television programme Front Page Challenge for nearly all of its 38-year run....
.The series debuted on October 6, 1953, at 7:45 pm and ran until June 30, 1954 for a total of 39 episodes. Episodes were initially 15 minutes in length. However, the NFB asked the CBC to increase the time slot to 30 minutes for the second season. The series changed time slots frequently, playing as late as 11:45 pm on Monday nights before going to Sundays at 4:30 pm. The second season aired on Sundays at 10 pm. Cancelled after the 26 episodes of the second season, On the Spot was replaced by Perspective, a 30-minute show that mixed documentary reports and dramatizations on contemporary Canadian issues.
Episodes
Episodes included Survival in the Bush, with producer Robert Anderson, acting as host, apparently dropped off in the Quebec north armed with just an axe; The Dresden Story, looking at racism in a small Ontario town, where the town’s white and black populations insisted on being filmed separately; and Artist in Montreal, looking at the Automatistes movement.One episode that was cancelled was a segment on the workings of the Canadian Parliament, with a mock session with actual members of Parliament. When the film was shown to the Prime Minister’s Office
Office of the Prime Minister (Canada)
In Canada, the Office of the Prime Minister , located in the Langevin Block, on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, is one of the most powerful parts of the government. It is made up of the prime minister and his or her top political staff, who are charged with advising the prime minister on decisions,...
, there were complaints about showing a session of Parliament without including the PM and the NFB was forced to shelve the episode.
Sur le vif
Devlin and the NFB also produced a similar French series, Sur le vif. Twenty-six 15-minute episodes of Sur le vif aired on Radio-CanadaTélévision de Radio-Canada
Télévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language television network. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known in French as Société Radio-Canada. Headquarters are at Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, which is also home to the network's flagship station, CBFT-DT...
from October 1954.