Emily of New Moon (TV series) facts for kids

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.

Cast

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

Episodes

Season 1 (1998)

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

Season 2 (1998–99)

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

Season 3 (1999)

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

Season 4 (2000)

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

Streaming

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