From a media release:
Super Channel, Canada’s only national English pay television network, is pleased to announce that the Super Channel original series,Forgive Me, from writer and director Thom Fitzgerald, will return for a second season on Sunday, October 11 at 8 p.m. ET (SC1) and will also be available on Super Channel On Demand the following day.
Forgive Me is an emotionally powerful dramatic series that breaks the seal of the Catholic confessional. It follows a young priest straining under the ever-growing weight of his congregants’ confessions while trying to protect a secret of his own that could put his calling in peril.
Season one was nominated for five Canadian Screen Awards including Best Writing in a Dramatic Series by Thom Fitzgerald; Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series by Mike McLeod, Best Supporting Actor by Hugh Thompson; Best Supporting Actress by Jane Alexander; and Best Performance in a Guest Role by Brenda Fricker. The series also received an impressive six ACTRA Award nominations, with Mike McLeod winning for Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role in a drama series, and Jane Alexander and John Dunsworth receiving wins for Outstanding Performance – Female and Outstanding Performance – Male, respectively.
Halifax based rising star, Mike McLeod, reprises his award winning role as the Priest in the 12 episode second season of Forgive Me. Returning cast from the first season also includes acting legend and Oscar® winner Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck, Steel Magnolias) as the Priest’s grandmother; ACTRA Award nominee and Gemini winner, Hugh Thompson (Blessed Stranger: After Flight 111) as Smith-O’Leary; Gemini and ACTRA Award winner, John Dunsworth (Trailer Park Boys) as the Prelate, Jeremy Akerman (Hobo With A Shotgun) as Father Gene, Rob Joseph Leonard (Sex and Violence) as Father Phil, and Lauren Liem (Sex & Violence) as Noelle.
Season two also sees seven-time Emmy® winner Ed Asner (Up), multiple Gemini Award winner Wendy Crewson (Slasher, Saving Grace) and Daniel Fanaberia (Sex & Violence) join the cast in supporting roles. Also making a returning guest appearance is Oscar®winner Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot) in her role as Mrs. Smith.
In season two, the Priest hears confessions from a fallen politician (Wendy Crewson), a reluctant soldier (Daniel Fanaberia), and a parishioner recovering from abuse (Hugh Thompson). The Priest’s personal life with his secret love child is threatening his position in the church, making him vulnerable to punishment from the Bishop (Ed Asner). The first episode finds the young Priest (McLeod) facing his toughest challenge yet. Beset with visions and dreams of martyrs and spectres, the Priest has to choose between medical treatments to try to save his life, or embrace his ghostly visions as visitations from the saints.
Forgive Me is produced by Doug Pettigrew and Thom Fitzgerald of Halifax-based Emotion Pictures, in association with Super Channel, with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund.
