The Gemini Awards, Canada's equivalent to the Emmys, were broadcast last night and the hit drama "Flashpoint", with its record-setting 19 nominations, walked away with three major wins: Best Dramatic Series, Best Direction and Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for Enrico Colantoni.   In the non-broadcast ceremonies, it scored another three awards for Best Achievement in Main Title Design, Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series (Henry Czerny) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series (Tatiana Maslany).

East Coast funny man Ron James, who has his new "The Ron James Show" airing on CBC in the old "Air Farce" slot, hosted the award show from Calgary, AB and kept the audience well entertained.  Among the presenters was Calgary native Cory Monteith, who is enjoying his role as Finn on the hit musical comedy Glee.

First year drama "Being Erica" scooped a Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for Erin Karpluk. 

Epic historical drama "The Tudors" did not score on any of its major category nominations but did receive 4 Geminis during the non-broadcast ceremonies that were held in October, including Best Photography in a Dramatic Series, Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Series, Best Production Design and Best Sound.

The comedy award nominations were surprising with "Corner Gas", which ended its six year run this year,  not even being nominated despite back to back wins in 2005, 2006 and 2007.   Winner "The Rick Mercer Report" took home the Best Comedy Series and the cancelled "Three Chords from Truth" the Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy. 

 Best Comedy Writing went to "Billable Hours" while Best Dramatic Writing went to the now defunct "Stargate: Atlantis."

The ground-breaking, mostly green screen, sci-fi drama Sanctuary won for Best Visual Effects but did not take home any awards for its three acting nominations.

In the reality corner, Dragon's Den won for Best Reality Program or Series.  In an odd turn, Dragon's Den is holding onto its popularity and ratings while the American Version "Shark Tank" is struggling.

The full list of Gemini nominees and winners can be found here.

"Flashpoint", "The Tudors" multiple winners at 2009 Gemini Awards

CTV's "Flashpoint" returned for its third season with a bang. Technically, with a small bang, a disarmament, and then a very big bang and they did it all really, really well.

Unabashedly set in Toronto, "Flashpoint" is the story of the SRU - Strategic Response Unit, the high-risk team that get called in for the high-octane situations.  Led by Sgt. Greg Parker and his second in command Ed Lane,   these men and women respond to the threats that make the news.

Season three starts with a phone call to the SRU.  It is a recorded message stating that a bomb is on a construction site of a known non-green corporation.  They manage to get the site evacuated and begin their investigation into which eco-terrorist group is responsible.  (For international viewers, eco-terrorism in Canada hit a new high with the Encana pipeline bombings over the last year.)  Their initial investigation leads them to activists responsible for a bombing almost 30 years earlier, but the husband-and-wife team left that life after the birth of their daughter.  They do, however, give the name of a former associate.

A second bomb is called in at the offices of a known environmental polluter.  While demo-man Spike Scarlatti works to disarm the device, a third bomb threat is called in from university campus. 

With the team now split three ways - disarming the second bomb, finding the third bomb, and tracking the bomber - things get tense.  The bomber is found but kills himself before telling the team how to undo his handiwork.  Lewis Young steps up at the third bomb site to try to disarm the device. 

Spike successfully deactivates the office bomb at the same time the rest of the team identifies the bomber's accomplice - the original suspects grown daughter.  However, the third site has an added complication which is discovered when Young steps on a landmine.  Although he manages to disarm the big bomb, Young realizes that there is no way to safely get out of the situation; the best he can do is minimize the number of people hurt.  When Spike leaves him to look for materials to neutralize the landmine, Young makes the final, unavoidable decision.

Kudos to Taylor for his performance of a man making the ultimate sacrifice for his team and his uniform.   I was concerned that Hugh Dillon would have a lesser role after doing double duty - the second season of the noir-drama Durham County just aired - but he was fine.  In addition to the acting, which is always phenomenal, Flashpoint's amazing results have been recognized by receiving a record 19 Gemini Awards (the Geminis will be announced on November 14th) including Best Dramatic Series and Best Writing in a Dramatic Series among its technical nominations, and three Best Performance in a Leading Role nods.

I don't know why this quality show is not at the top of my list.  I have never been disappointed by an episode.  "Flashpoint" airs on Fridays at 9pm on CTV.

Review: Flashpoint 3.01 One Wrong Move