Little Men (TV series)

Little Men
Genre Drama
Starring Michelle Rene Thomas
Spencer Rochfort
Composer(s) Milan Kymlicka
Country of origin Canada
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 26
Production
Executive producer(s) Carl Binder
Meyer Shwarzstein
Producer(s) Greg Copeland
John Ryan
Location(s) Pickering, Ontario
Running time 60 min
Release
Original network CTV (Canada)
PAX TV (U.S.)
Original release November 7, 1998 – December 17, 1999 (1999-12-17)

Little Men is a Canadian television show that first aired on November 7, 1998 on the PAX TV network and was shown in Canada on CTV beginning January 1, 1999. The show is set as a continuation from the Louisa May Alcott novel Little Men (1871) as a follow-up to Little Women. Due to low ratings, the show was cancelled after 2 seasons, with the final episode aired on December 17, 1999.

Synopsis

The show opens in Concord, Massachusetts, one month after the death of Jo's husband, Fritz Bhaer. Josephine Bhaer (Michelle Rene Thomas) must take over the Plumfield School, a school in the barn on the Bhaer property, once taught by her husband. As she tries to adjust to the pressures to find a new teacher, a merchant marine Nick Riley (Spencer Rochfort) enters the scene to act as a caretaker of the school. Franz (Robin Dunne), Jo's nephew, must take over teaching the class of young teens, notably Dan (Corey Sevier), Nat (Trevor Blumas), Emil (Alex Cambell), Nan (Brittney Irvin) and Bess (Rachel Skarsten). The show follows the children's adventures at Plumfield, as well as the blossoming relationship between Jo and Nick. Appearances by the other living March sisters, Meg (Jennifer Wigmore) and Amy (Amy Price-Francis) ground the plot as another chapter in the continuing saga of the March girls of Little Women. Jo's young son, Rob Bhaer, is portrayed by Munro Chambers and his brother Thomas.

Production

The series was filmed in Pickering, Ontario at the Claremont Conservation Area. The series was a joint production between Alliance Atlantis Communications and Paxson Communications. Filming of the first season took place between August 1998 and January 1999.[1] The second season was filmed from April through October 1999.[2]

Home video releases

The series has a total of 26 episodes. Region 1 DVDs of the series distributed by BFS Entertainment in 4 episode installments. BFS has only released the first eight episodes from season one.[3][4] Episodes 1-4 were also released on VHS by BFS.[5] There is also a Region 4 DVD release from Madmen Entertainment.[6][7]

International distribution

While being a Canadian production, Little Men premiered in the United States on PAX in November 1998. The show's domestic premiere was January 1, 1999 on CTV. The series was also shown in Switzerland, starting July 31, 2000, where it was known as "L'école du bonheur", in France, starting December 25, 2001, and in India, where it ran on Hallmark Channel.

Episode list

Season 1

# # Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Changes"Don McBreartyCarl BinderNovember 7, 1998 (1998-11-07)
Jo's husband, Friedrich Bhaer, has died, and everyone expects Jo to close the school. When she hires sailor Nick Riley as caretaker for the grounds, things begin to change.
22"Quarantine"Rob MalenfantEric TuchmanNovember 14, 1998 (1998-11-14)
A student brings a case of the measles back to Plumfield, so the doctor quarantines the school.
33"Thanksgiving"Eleanore LindoMelissa R. Byer & Treena HancockNovember 21, 1998 (1998-11-21)
Amy reluctantly agrees to send her daughter to Plumfield after Jo enrolls the school's first girl, and Nick plans on returning to the sea.
44"Tough Choices"Rob MalenfantMichael TevershamNovember 28, 1998 (1998-11-28)
Dan is overjoyed when a friend from Boston shows up at Plumfield, but Nat is none too thrilled.
55"Emancipation"Graeme LynchMark Evan SchwartzDecember 5, 1998 (1998-12-05)
When Nat discovers a poor black family camping within the Plumfield grounds, everyone learns that prejudice can take many forms.
66"The Christmas Angel"Eleanore LindoMelissa R. Byer & Treena HancockDecember 21, 1998 (1998-12-21)
While out looking for the perfect Christmas tree, Nick and the boys come upon a severely injured woman. Everyone pitches in to help her, but also struggle with their first Christmas without Mr. Bhaer and certain loved ones.
77"Philanthropy"Don McCutcheonD.A. NathanJanuary 2, 1999 (1999-01-02)
Laurie donates a library's-worth of books to Plumfield, which inspires Franz to assign a project on philanthropy and reveals Nick's illiteracy. In the meantime, Jo's beloved horse falls ill, and chances of recovery look grim.
88"Bluffing"Rob MalenfantEric TuchmanJanuary 16, 1999 (1999-01-16)
Laurie takes a fancy to poker and Nan steals ideas from Nat for their creative writing assignment.
99"Coming Attractions"Don McCutcheonMelissa R. Byer & Treena HancockJanuary 30, 1999 (1999-01-30)
Meg is taken with an associate of Laurie's while Dan and Bess are at each other's throats as they're paired up for a science project.
1010"Blame"Richard J. LewisCarl BinderFebruary 6, 1999 (1999-02-06)
Jo's carriage breaks down, stranding her in an upcoming storm. Nick goes out in search of her, leaving Franz in charge of the children.
1111"The Living Years"Giles WalkerEric TuchmanFebruary 13, 1999 (1999-02-13)
Asia's father arrives in Concord for an unbidden reunion while Nick takes a temporary job at the Mr. Gerson's general store, where he finds some unbidden attention of his own.
1212"Father Figure"Don McCutcheonMichael TevershamFebruary 20, 1999 (1999-02-20)
Nat asks Nick to enter a father-son ski tournament with him, so Jo must teach Nick how to ski. Laurie offers to be Dan's father for the day, which gives Nan an interesting idea.
1313"Looking Forward"Rob MalenfantBarbara CovingtonMarch 6, 1999 (1999-03-06)
Amy commandeers Plumfield for an evening in order to impress a high society lady while Dan goes on a vision-quest to find his identity.

Season 2

# # Title Directed by Written by Original air date
141"Civil Disobedience"Don McCutcheonCarl BinderAugust 27, 1999 (1999-08-27)
The students of Plumfield apply their knowledge of civil disobedience when a slanderous lawsuit threatens to close their school.
152"Stepping Out"Rob MalenfantMelissa R. Byer & Treena HancockSeptember 3, 1999 (1999-09-03)
When Amy heads the committee for Concord's annual dance, Jo and Nick send each other mixed signals on whether or not they will attend. Meanwhile, thirteen-year-old Bess lies about her age to impress a "college man".
163"Dangerous Lessons"Rob MalenfantBarbara CovingtonSeptember 10, 1999 (1999-09-10)
Nat takes his violin skills to a new level while Dan joins Nick in tracking an escaped lion.
174"Opposites Attract"Michael KennedyEric TuchmanSeptember 17, 1999 (1999-09-17)
Franz falls head-over-heels for a boarding-house maid named Isabelle while Amy and Laurie hit a lull in their marriage.
185"Family Business"Rob MalenfantGuy MullallySeptember 24, 1999 (1999-09-24)
When Asia receives a letter from an aunt in Philadelphia, Meg offers to move to Plumfield in order to help out.
196"Leap of Faith"Don McCutcheonCarl BinderOctober 1, 1999 (1999-10-01)
Jo becomes reclusive after she's held up at gun-point. Franz becomes distressed when Isabelle receives a letter from her brother.
207"Brothers and Sisters"Don McBreartyEric TuchmanOctober 15, 1999 (1999-10-15)
Nick's younger brother, Ben, arrives at Plumfield to hide from a gambling debt. Bess sets her heart on becoming a professional singer, and no one has the heart to tell her that she's tone-deaf.
218"The Lantern Man"Rob MalenfantCarl BinderOctober 29, 1999 (1999-10-29)
It's Halloween and the ghost stories are flying. Despite her pragmatism, these stories pique the wild side of Jo's imagination when she receives a book offer from a mysterious stranger.
229"The Weaker Sex"Bruce McDonaldMelissa R. Byer & Treena HancockNovember 5, 1999 (1999-11-05)
Jo joins the women's suffrage movement while Nan tries to prove that she has what it takes to become a doctor.
2310"For Love or Money"Guy MullallyDon McBreartyNovember 12, 1999 (1999-11-12)
A crack in the bathroom door leads to a series of misunderstandings between Jo and Nick. While searching for fossils, Nat and Nan find a large sum of money.
2411"Three Angry Women"Bruce PitmanMelissa R. Byer & Treena HancockNovember 19, 1999 (1999-11-19)
Meg, Jo, and Amy don't realize how their quarrel is affecting the children.
2512"The Sign"Don McCutcheonBarbara CovingtonDecember 2, 1999 (1999-12-02)
Jo is feeling the strain of being a teacher, writer, parent, and curator of Plumfield and searches for a sign on what to do about it.
2613"Home for Christmas"Rob MalenfantGuy MullallayDecember 17, 1999 (1999-12-17)
Nick is accused of murder, and the residents of Plumfield think his brother Ben is behind the crime.

References

  1. ↑ "Shot In Ontario 1998". Ontario Media Development Corporation. September 17, 1999. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Shot In Ontario 1999". Ontario Media Development Corporation. March 14, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Little Men". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  4. ↑ "Little Men, Set 2". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "LittleMen The next chapter in Louisa May Alcott's classic tale!" (PDF). bfsent.com. January 3, 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  6. ↑ "LITTLE MEN - THE TV SERIES (4 DISC SET) - DVD". fbo.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  7. ↑ "Louisa May Alcott's - Little Men - TV Series 1 DVD". dvdorchard.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
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