The Listener (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Listener is a Canadian science fiction
drama set in Toronto
about a young paramedic named Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik
) with the ability to listen to people's minds
. The series premiered on Fox International Channels
beginning with the Arabic-speaking area
of northern Africa and south-western Asia on March 1, 2009. The Listeners Canadian debut was on June 3, 2009 on CTV
and in the U.S. one day later on NBC
. NBC removed the show from their broadcast schedule part way through the first season. It was announced on November 17, 2009 that The Listener had been renewed for a 13 episode second season. The second season started Tuesday, February 8, 2011 on CTV, but has since moved to Fridays, then to Saturdays.
The Listener was renewed for a third season on June 1, 2011, and is expected to premiere in 2012.
a secret and the only one he has shared it with is his old counsellor and confidant, Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore
), prior to the series' first episode. While he crosses the city of Toronto
in his ambulance with his partner Osman "Oz" Bey (Enis Esmer
), Toby helps people in crisis and on the way come to terms with his own past. With the help of Detective Charlie Marks (Lisa Marcos
) and his on-and-off girlfriend Olivia Fawcett (Mylène Dinh-Robic
), an E.R doctor, Toby realizes that his gift can serve to help other people.
). Despite her initial skepticism, she realizes that Toby's special abilities could be her team's secret weapon. So alongside his paramedic work Toby joins Michelle and other members of the IIB to help solve some of their most difficult and high profile cases ranging from suspicious homicides to cases of arms dealing. But the price to pay for having such a gift is the emotional and physical effects of delving into some of the most deranged criminal minds out there and it is his old flame Dr Olivia Fawcett who helps him deal with his problems.
in association with CTV
and Space and was created by Michael Amo. The pilot episode was directed by Clement Virgo
. Production began in spring 2008.
Production for the second season began in September 2010 and ended February 2011.
With the delayed second season came several production changes. Firstly, the entire writing staff has been replaced. The likes of Michael Amo and Dennis Heaton
have been replaced by writers like Jason Sherman
and Wil Zmak.
In terms of storylines and overall tone, star Craig Olejnik has said that "season two is more mature, stronger, smoother, and it really picks up... it really moves into a whole new world." Examples of this "new world" include the ways in which Toby finds himself in cases. In season one, the majority of cases in which Toby was involved were approached by Toby. That is, Toby, as a paramedic, was called to a location and found himself wrapped inside of a case. On the other hand, season two sees Toby approached by Sergeant McCluskey on most cases. In addition, season one had more of a mysterious, conspiracy sci-fi theme whereas season two has, as star Lauren Lee Smith states, "no real sci-fi aspect to it... It’s a guy who can read people’s minds and he helps the cops out with that." Season two nearly abandons Toby's search for his mother and an understanding of his powers. Colm Feore's character is gone, and the telepathic link is only through Toby solving crimes. Rather than try to discover what has happened to his mother and to learn more about his psychic sense, Toby "further embraces his telepathic powers to help solve criminal investigations."
Also Starring
Recurring Characters
NBC pulled the show off the air after the July 23rd airing of "Inside the Man" due to low ratings.
announced on February 1, 2008, a deal to pick up 13 episodes. The show is distributed through Program Partners, which owns the American rights with advertising sales by Sony Pictures Television
. The show began airing in the U.S. on Thursday evenings in June 2009, but was removed from the schedule after the ninth episode due to low ratings. The remaining four episodes, were available for screening online at no charge through the NBC.com and Hulu.com websites until 31 December 2009 for U.S. viewers.
The second season premièred February 8, 2011 in Canada on CTV and internationally in the UK on FX
on March 1, 2011.
Fantasy television
Fantasy television is a genre of television programming featuring elements of the fantastic, often including magic, supernatural forces, or exotic fantasy worlds. Fantasy television programs are often based on tales from mythology and folklore, or are adapted from fantasy stories in other media...
drama set in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
about a young paramedic named Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik
Craig Olejnik
Craig Olejnik is a Canadian actor. He is best known as the lead actor in the television series The Listener as Toby Logan, a paramedic with the power to read minds by hearing others' thoughts and seeing events that have happened to them from their point of view...
) with the ability to listen to people's minds
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
. The series premiered on Fox International Channels
Fox International Channels
Fox International Channels is a subsidiary of the Fox Entertainment Group, which is a part of Rupert Murdoch's global media conglomerate News Corporation...
beginning with the Arabic-speaking area
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
of northern Africa and south-western Asia on March 1, 2009. The Listeners Canadian debut was on June 3, 2009 on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
and in the U.S. one day later on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. NBC removed the show from their broadcast schedule part way through the first season. It was announced on November 17, 2009 that The Listener had been renewed for a 13 episode second season. The second season started Tuesday, February 8, 2011 on CTV, but has since moved to Fridays, then to Saturdays.
The Listener was renewed for a third season on June 1, 2011, and is expected to premiere in 2012.
Season One (2009)
Toby is a 28-year -old first year paramedic who's never known his father and grew up in foster homes. Until now, Toby has kept his ability to listen to people's surface thoughtsTelepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
a secret and the only one he has shared it with is his old counsellor and confidant, Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore
Colm Feore
Colm Feore is an American-born Canadian stage, film and television actor.-Early life:Feore was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Irish parents who lived in Ireland for several years during Feore's early life. The family subsequently moved to Windsor, Ontario, where Feore grew up.After graduating...
), prior to the series' first episode. While he crosses the city of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in his ambulance with his partner Osman "Oz" Bey (Enis Esmer
Enis Esmer
Ennis Esmer is a Canadian actor and comedian of Turkish descent. He first came to prominence as the host of Toronto 1's short-lived variety series The Toronto Show in 2003...
), Toby helps people in crisis and on the way come to terms with his own past. With the help of Detective Charlie Marks (Lisa Marcos
Lisa Marcos
Lisa Marcos is a Canadian actress. She began her career as a model at the age of 12 years old, but after 10 years as a model, she decided to pursue her passion for acting. She knocked on the door of a talent agent. Soon after her acting career began in 2002 with a guest role on Soul Food...
) and his on-and-off girlfriend Olivia Fawcett (Mylène Dinh-Robic
Mylène Dinh-Robic
-Personal life:Dinh-Robic was born and raised in Montréal, Canada, and speaks English and French. She graduated with Distinction from Concordia University’s Communications Studies program, studied acting with Gilles Plouffe at Montreal’s John Strasberg Ateliers and furthered her technique with...
), an E.R doctor, Toby realizes that his gift can serve to help other people.
Season Two (2011)
It's a year and a half later and Toby has finally come to terms with his telepathic powers and is still working with his paramedic partner Osman Bey. After assisting with an undercover case investigated by the Integrated Investigative Bureau (a special unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Toby reveals his gift to Sgt. Michelle McCluskey (Lauren Lee SmithLauren Lee Smith
-Early life:Lauren attended Henry James Cambie Secondary School. Smith was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The stepdaughter of a documentary filmmaker, Lauren travelled around the world with her family. When she was 14, her family moved to Los Angeles, California...
). Despite her initial skepticism, she realizes that Toby's special abilities could be her team's secret weapon. So alongside his paramedic work Toby joins Michelle and other members of the IIB to help solve some of their most difficult and high profile cases ranging from suspicious homicides to cases of arms dealing. But the price to pay for having such a gift is the emotional and physical effects of delving into some of the most deranged criminal minds out there and it is his old flame Dr Olivia Fawcett who helps him deal with his problems.
Production
The series is produced by Shaftesbury FilmsShaftesbury Films
Shaftesbury Films is a Canadian film and television production company founded by Christina Jennings and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1987, Shaftesbury is a leading creator and producer of original content for television and multiple platforms, with programming available in more than...
in association with CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
and Space and was created by Michael Amo. The pilot episode was directed by Clement Virgo
Clement Virgo
Clément Virgo is a Canadian filmmaker of international acclaim. His latest feature, the boxing drama Poor Boy's Game, stars Danny Glover and Rossif Sutherland...
. Production began in spring 2008.
Production for the second season began in September 2010 and ended February 2011.
With the delayed second season came several production changes. Firstly, the entire writing staff has been replaced. The likes of Michael Amo and Dennis Heaton
Dennis Heaton
Dennis Heaton is a well known screenwriter working in film and television. Recent credits include writer, co-executive producer of Call Me Fitz and writer/creator of the popular web series My Pal Satan-Television:-Film:-Awards and nominations:...
have been replaced by writers like Jason Sherman
Jason Sherman
Jason Sherman is a Canadian playwright and screenwriter.After graduating from the creative writing program at York University in 1985, Sherman co-founded What Publishing with Kevin Connolly, which produced what, a literary magazine that he edited from 1985 to 1990...
and Wil Zmak.
In terms of storylines and overall tone, star Craig Olejnik has said that "season two is more mature, stronger, smoother, and it really picks up... it really moves into a whole new world." Examples of this "new world" include the ways in which Toby finds himself in cases. In season one, the majority of cases in which Toby was involved were approached by Toby. That is, Toby, as a paramedic, was called to a location and found himself wrapped inside of a case. On the other hand, season two sees Toby approached by Sergeant McCluskey on most cases. In addition, season one had more of a mysterious, conspiracy sci-fi theme whereas season two has, as star Lauren Lee Smith states, "no real sci-fi aspect to it... It’s a guy who can read people’s minds and he helps the cops out with that." Season two nearly abandons Toby's search for his mother and an understanding of his powers. Colm Feore's character is gone, and the telepathic link is only through Toby solving crimes. Rather than try to discover what has happened to his mother and to learn more about his psychic sense, Toby "further embraces his telepathic powers to help solve criminal investigations."
Cast
Main Cast- Craig OlejnikCraig OlejnikCraig Olejnik is a Canadian actor. He is best known as the lead actor in the television series The Listener as Toby Logan, a paramedic with the power to read minds by hearing others' thoughts and seeing events that have happened to them from their point of view...
as Toby Logan - Ennis Esmer as Osman "Oz" Bey
- Mylène Dinh-RobicMylène Dinh-Robic-Personal life:Dinh-Robic was born and raised in Montréal, Canada, and speaks English and French. She graduated with Distinction from Concordia University’s Communications Studies program, studied acting with Gilles Plouffe at Montreal’s John Strasberg Ateliers and furthered her technique with...
as Dr. Olivia Fawcett - Lisa MarcosLisa MarcosLisa Marcos is a Canadian actress. She began her career as a model at the age of 12 years old, but after 10 years as a model, she decided to pursue her passion for acting. She knocked on the door of a talent agent. Soon after her acting career began in 2002 with a guest role on Soul Food...
as Det. Charlie Marks (Season 1) - Lauren Lee SmithLauren Lee Smith-Early life:Lauren attended Henry James Cambie Secondary School. Smith was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The stepdaughter of a documentary filmmaker, Lauren travelled around the world with her family. When she was 14, her family moved to Los Angeles, California...
as Sergeant Michelle McCluskey (Season 2 -) - Rainbow Sun FrancksRainbow Sun FrancksRainbow Sun Francks is an actor and songwriter. He is the son of actor/musician Don Francks and dancer Lili Francks, a member of the Plains Cree First Nation. He is also the brother of Cree Summer. For a brief time, he was an on-air personality at MuchMusic, a Canadian music video and variety...
as Corp. Dev Clark (Season 2 -) - Peter StebbingsPeter StebbingsPeter Stebbings is a Canadian veteran actor who started practicing his trade at the Vancouver Youth Theater when he was just 12 years old. He worked at various odd jobs growing up, including bus boy and bike courier, before making the serious move to acting...
as Alvin Klein (Season 2 -)
Also Starring
- Arnold Pinnock as George Ryder
- Anthony LemkeAnthony LemkeAnthony Lemke is a Canadian actor. Lemke is best known in the United States as "Capt. Grisham" from the short-lived television series Queen of Swords and in Quebec as "David Rothstein" from the hit, mulitple award-winning series Les Hauts et les bas de Sophie Paquin.-Biography:Anthony Lemke was...
as Det. Sgt. Brian Becker (Season 1) - Tara Spencer-NairnTara Spencer-NairnTara Spencer-Nairn is a Canadian actress best known for her work on the television series Corner Gas, in which she plays police officer Karen Pelly....
as Nurse Sandy (Season 2 -)
Recurring Characters
- Colm FeoreColm FeoreColm Feore is an American-born Canadian stage, film and television actor.-Early life:Feore was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Irish parents who lived in Ireland for several years during Feore's early life. The family subsequently moved to Windsor, Ontario, where Feore grew up.After graduating...
as Ray Mercer (Season 1) - Lara Jean Chorostecki as Toby's mother (Season 1)
- John Fleming as Young Toby (Season 1)
Reception
In Italy The Listener not only grew the timeslot average by 470%, according to research company Auditel/AGB, but it was the second-most watched show ever on Fox.NBC pulled the show off the air after the July 23rd airing of "Inside the Man" due to low ratings.
International airings
Fox International Channels premiered the series on the first week of March 2009, in 180 territories American television network NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
announced on February 1, 2008, a deal to pick up 13 episodes. The show is distributed through Program Partners, which owns the American rights with advertising sales by Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, Inc. is an American and global television production/distribution subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.-Background:...
. The show began airing in the U.S. on Thursday evenings in June 2009, but was removed from the schedule after the ninth episode due to low ratings. The remaining four episodes, were available for screening online at no charge through the NBC.com and Hulu.com websites until 31 December 2009 for U.S. viewers.
The second season premièred February 8, 2011 in Canada on CTV and internationally in the UK on FX
FX (UK)
FX is a television channel in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, owned by Fox, launched in 12 January 2004. It was originally branded as FX289 in reference to its Sky EPG number. It was rebranded to FX in May 2005 as the channel moved in the Sky EPG.FX targets a demographic between 25...
on March 1, 2011.
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Fox Series Fox Series The Fox Series Channel or simply Fox was a Middle Eastern version of the American Fox Channel. It launched in 2008. The channel was relaunched as Fox on March 1, 2011.-Reception:The channel gained a positive following at the start... |
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Fox Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the... |
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| Fox Life Greece Fox Life Greece Fox Life Greece is a television network, launched by the Fox International Channels, which launched on 1 December 2008 and is currently available to the subscribers of NOVA Greece, Conn-x TV and On TV.... |
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| RTL II RTL II RTL II is a privately owned, commercial, general-interest German television channel.It was founded as a second-generation commercial broadcaster in 1993. It quickly became infamous for its perceived "trash programming", comprising lots of soft porn as well as shows such as Peep and many... |
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| RTM's tv2 TV2 (Malaysia) RTM2, also known as TV2 is a television station in Malaysia owned and operated by the Radio Television Malaysia, a division of the Malaysian Government. RTM2 is now broadcasting for 24 hours a day effective January 2006.- History :... |
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| Antena 3 Antena 3 (Spain) Antena 3 is a Spanish terrestrial television channel owned by Antena 3 de Televisión. Some of the more popular programmes broadcast by Antena 3 include Aquí no hay quien viva, El Barco, Los Protegidos, Los Simpson and El Internado.... |
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FOX Italy Fox (Italy) Fox is an Italian Entertainment TV channel, owned and produced by Fox International Channels Italy and broadcast in Italy by Sky Italia on Channel 111. Timeshifts of the channel are available at channel 112 and 113... |
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| Cielo Cielo (TV channel) Cielo is an Italian television channel broadcast by News Corporation aimed to a young audiences, and available on digital terrestrial and satellite television through Sky Italia... |
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| Fox Life Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... |
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| Asia Asia Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population... |
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| Fox Life Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... |
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| FX FX (UK) FX is a television channel in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, owned by Fox, launched in 12 January 2004. It was originally branded as FX289 in reference to its Sky EPG number. It was rebranded to FX in May 2005 as the channel moved in the Sky EPG.FX targets a demographic between 25... |
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| FX FX (UK) FX is a television channel in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, owned by Fox, launched in 12 January 2004. It was originally branded as FX289 in reference to its Sky EPG number. It was rebranded to FX in May 2005 as the channel moved in the Sky EPG.FX targets a demographic between 25... |
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GO! Go! (Australian TV channel) GO! is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel launched by the Nine Network on Sunday 9 August 2009.-Origins:... |
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 Hungary HungaryHungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
RTL Klub RTL Klub RTL Klub is a television station owned by RTL Group and broadcast in Hungary. It was one of Hungary's first commercial TV channels and was only two days after the main rival TV2 to begin broadcasting.-About RTL Klub:... |
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 Norway NorwayNorway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
FEM FEM (TV channel) Fem is a Norwegian television channel targeting young women... |
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 Denmark DenmarkDenmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... |
Kanal 4 Kanal 4 Kanal 4 is a Danish subscription television channel operated by ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG.The station is broadcast to Denmark by satellite from London, showing mainly films, US and drama shows.Kanal 4 profile them self as Denmark's only "women's channel".... |
DVD release
Season one of The Listener was released on DVD in Region 2 in the UK on September 13, 2010. Release dates for other regions are yet to be announced.See also
- MediumMedium (TV series)Medium is an American television drama series that premiered on NBC on January 3, 2005, and ended on CBS on January 21, 2011. Themed on supernatural gifts, its lead character, Allison DuBois , is a medium employed as a consultant for the Phoenix, Arizona district attorney's office...
- Seeing Things
- Tru CallingTru CallingTru Calling is an American television supernatural drama series that premiered on Fox Network on October 30, 2003. It ran for two seasons before being canceled....
External links
- Official CTV site for The Listener
- Official Fox International Channels site for The Listener
- Official NBC site for the Listener
- The Listener at The TV IVThe TV IVThe TV IV is a MediaWiki-powered website that was launched in July 2005 as a response to TV Tome becoming TV.com. It is in the top thirty wikis on the web in both size and views...
- The Listener at Epguides.com