MY LIFE AS A DOG
Episode Guide
by Elyse Dickenson

My Life as a Dog is a delightful half-hour television series derived from the novel 'Mitt Liv som Hund' (My Life as a Dog) by Reidar Jönsson, which had been turned into a film of the same name in 1985. This Canadian-made series is a quirky comedy-drama about a young boy growing up under difficult circumstances. The series was awarded three stars by New York Daily News critic David Bianculli, who likened it to a "Northern Exposure for the 8-to-12-year old set."

This show has the distinction of being the first series shot in the province of Manitoba, and was shot on location in Gimli and Winnipeg. The location shots might appear desolate to city dwellers, but it is a lovely location of windswept open vistas, small town societies, and even the gorgeous Auora Borealis. Snow is a predominant factor in this Canadian series.

Produced by Atlantis Films and Credo Entertainment Corporation
Executive Producers: Martin Katz, Derek Mazur and David Brandes.
Producers: Kim Todd and Michael Scott
Executive Story Editors: Barbara O'Kelly and Ann MacNaughton
Developed for television by Reidar Jonsson, Donna Matson Jonsson, David Brandes, and Barbara O'Kelly. 22 half-hour episodes.
Shown 1996-1997 in Canada.
Shown 1997-98 on the Showtime cable network in the U.S.A.

Eric Johansson (portrayed by Michael Yarmush) is an 11-year-old boy who finds his life turned upside down as he begins his journey into adulthood. When his mother dies and, with his sailor-father absent, Eric finds himself sent to Gimli to live with his uncle Johnny. At first he treats Gimli as an exile, albeit a temporary one he hopes, but soon he develops friends and a growing love for his uncle and aunt. His best friends are A.J. and Sam. Other tidbits: born on November 3rd; wears reading glasses; knows how to weld; his mother didn't like Gimli and left town when she was 16; his father is Max Ortega; and he formed his own rock band, Caboose.

Johnny Johansson (portrayed by Callum Keith Rennie) is Eric's uncle. Eric's mother was Johnny's twin sister, who left Gimli when she was 16 years old because she didn't like the town. Johnny is perhaps the most famous resident of Gimli: he spent a decade in professional hockey, and was known as J.J. 'Slipstream' Johannson when he played with the Hartford (Connecticut) Whalers. Alas, a knee injury ended his career and he returned to Gimli. It's not really explained what his means of employment are in this tiny town, but he appears to be a handyman or carpenter. He's married to Zoe. He's sometimes irresponsible, and at times like a child himself, but when Eric joins the household, he soons learns responsibility and what it means to have a family. Other tidbits: he performed with friend Louis Reil LaFresne in a high school band called 'Dog Weed'; can play the drums; eats ice cream when he's anxious; and owns an old blue convertible.

A.J. Burke (Marley Otto) is the only daughter of the Burkes, owners of the Seaside Hotel (the only hotel in town, actually). She fights boredom by being different, which includes dressing in what her parents deem to be radical apparel: sunglasses and black clothing. She does what she pleases, which oftentimes gets her into trouble. She befriended Eric upon his arrival to Gimli, and the two have become fast friends. Tidbits: she's a good singer.

Zoe Johansson (portrayed by Jennifer Clement) is Johnny's wife and Eric's aunt. She does her best to rear a child suddenly thrust into her household. Blonde and vivacious, she occasionally finds herself contending with her husband's influence on Eric, and visa versa. At one time both she and Johnny broke up (he lived in the caboose out back) but they fortunately resolved their differences and now live together again as a married couple. She tried out her own business in aromatherapy, which Johnny was unable to tolerate (the smells put him to sleep!)

Auntie Auntie (Joy Coghill) is Johnny's aunt and the mayor in town. She's a no-nonsense lady who doesn't take any guff, even from Johnny. She's frequently seen on her boat.

Other pivotal characters include Sam, Louis LaFresne's son and Eric's fellow schoolmate, who occasionally gets mixed up into trouble with Eric. Louis Reil LaFresne, Johnny's old school chum who has remained his friend. Louis appears to own a local automobile/body shop. George is hopefully behind the times when it comes to fashion. This young boy slicks back his red hair and has allergies. It doesn't help his social standing at school that his father is the local undertaker. Jack is a big German Shepherd dog whom Eric at first fears is a bad luck dog, but soon learns is just a friendly dog who's lived in Gimli all his life. Mr. and Mrs. Burke, A.J.'s social-status-consciencious parents, are forever worrying over their rebellious daughter. Smedley is a fusspot type assistant manager of the Seaside Hotel, which the Burkes own. He doesn't tolerate children very well.

#1 - THE ARRIVAL
Written by Barbara O'Kelley
Directed by Michael Scott

Eric is sent to live in Gimli with his uncle Johnny, whom he's never met before. Eric is convinced a 'bad luck' dog, Jack, is pursuing him across country, and that the bad luck is plaguing him. It seems to the case when he runs away after he thinks he accidentally killed his aunt Zoey. But Johnny and Zoey, who have no experience with children, are instead beset with worry at his disappearance.

Guest Cast: Joy Coghill (Auntie Aunt), Dave Brown (Louis Riel Lafresne), Mariam Bernstein (Maggie Tergeson), Paul Anthony (Metalhead), David Gillies (Bill Fargey), ED Goodman (Fisherman 1), George Biruie (Juggler), Teaseann (Jack the Dog),

Eric, Sam, and A.J. take a home-made raft out for a spin and get into a heap of trouble when they maroon on a tiny island.

Guest Cast: None listed.

While Johnny and Zoey wait for news from Eric's dad, Eric develops a toothache and refuses to go to the dentist. With too much free time on their hands -- and access to the internet -- A.J. and Eric suspect that 'Smelly' (Rupert Smedley, the assistant manager of the Seaside Hotel) might be a murderer!

Guest Cast: Jay Brazeau (Smedley), Donna Lewis (Ms. Jones), Daniel Mann (Charlie Woo), Brian Otto (Cookware Salesman), Patti Grayson (Mrs. Navarra), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

A.J. has her eyes on a pair of neat black biker boots at the local store. When she and Eric take on part-time jobs at the Gimli Theatre, they discovers a hidden box of cash which she uses to buy those boots. Eric must struggle with his conscience and do what's right.

Guest Cast: Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), Maggie Nagle (Candice Burke), Mariam Bernstein (Maggie Tergeson), Dorothy Monpetit (Mrs. Thurkelson), Tom Schioler (Jimmy Heinz), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

When Johnny has car trouble, Eric volunteers to help fix it but is shuffled off to play with the other kids. So Eric ends up on the beach where he runs into his second cousin Chris Johannson, and learns of a peculiar 'rite of passage' which only the hardiest in Gimli have tackled -- climbing the water tower.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Robin Dunne, Diana Jusil (Paula), Dave Brown (Louis Riel Lafresne), Maggie Nagle (Candice Burke), Jeff Madden (Andrew Burke), Danial Sprintz (Teen 1), David Gillies (Bill Fargey), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

Auntie Auntie has a date with Rasputin, a pickeral who has escaped her fish hook for years. She's determined to win the 24-hour Pickeral Contest and Eric is invited along. However, when she leaves Eric alone on the boat, things go awry when Johnny shows up. When some young women challenge Johnny to a boat race, Johnny takes them up on the offer -- and promptly damage the boat. Johnny and Eric must fix the boat before Auntie Auntie comes back and they incur her wrath. Meanwhile, on their journey to replace the propeller, they run across an odd pair of bird watchers who challenge Johnny to a game of bowling -- for money.

Guest Cast: Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), Alicia Johnston (Kristin Jinkin), Pauline Bruderick (Blue Lady), Peter Jordan (Blue Man), Harry Nelken (Joe),

Eric joins school, but worries that he might not cut the grade as he was home-schooled. A.J. decides to rectify the situation and hacks into the school computers, making Eric a genius. Now he must live up to that reputation!

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Yank Azman, Robin Dunne, R. Mogan Slade (George), Honoure McIlwain-Collard (Tiffany), Tyler Traeger (Slammer Sampson), Blake Taylor (Mr. Topiko), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

Both Eric and George decide to a career profile on the same local artist for a school project, and the teacher decides to team them up. However, Eric finds the work to be a trial, what with George's allergies and the artist's reluctance to talk with them after a critical difference of opinion. Meanwhile, Johnny has his own problems: he's got to give a speech for the mayor of the town -- his aunt!

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Yank Azmasn, Rick McNair, Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), R. Mogan Slade (George), Honoure McIlwain-Collard (Tiffany), Maggie Nagle (Candice Burke), Jeff Madden (Andrew Burke), Tyler Traeger (Slammer Sampson)

A.J. causes enough trouble at the hotel that her parents decide to send her off to a private boarding school. Meanwhile, Zoe finds her own brand of trouble when Johnny brings home an actual caboose to stick in the backyard. Eric turns it into his own brand of 'tree house' and when A.J. runs away from school, she takes it over as her own private sanctuary.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Jay Brazeau, R. Mogan Slade (George), Honoure McIlwain-Collard (Tiffany), Dave Brown (Louis Riel Lafresne), Maggie Nagle (Candice Burke), Jeff Madden (Andrew Burke), David Gillies (Bill Fargey), John Menther (?), Joyce Krenz (2nd Woman), Princess Theodora as herself

Eric spots a rare Eurasian Widgeon and is worried that local hunters might shoot it. Meanwhile, Johnny must deal with his own emotions as he struggles on how to tell Eric that his mother's ashes have arrived. One of the best episodes of the series.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), R. Mogan Slate (George), Chris Sigurdson (George Sr.), Wayne Nicklas (Hunter Ed), Stan Lesk (Hunter Frank)

When Jack the dog is accused of murdering chickens, Eric decides to defend the canine from certain death when all the evidence points toward the dog.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), David Gillies (Bill Fargey), Stan Lesk (Hank), Victor Cowie (Svend), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

Johnny is sucked into coaching the pee-wee hockey team (the Gimli Ghosts) and soon Eric, who doesn't know how to skate, is made the goalie! Callum Keith Rennie won a Gemini Award (Best Performance by an Actor) for this episode.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Dave Brown (Louis Reil LaFresne), R. Morgan Slade (George), Chris Sigurdson (George Sr.), Hockey Team: Regan Walford, Scott Budgeon, Kyle R. McNaughton, Michael Turnopolski, Kyle Braun, Richard Barnes, David Reid, Chad Ricard, Charlie Ross, Scott Johnson, Tyler Ross, Martin Roeleveld, Kyle Mattison, Ryan Macdonald, Rhett Walford, Keith Winnicky, Joshua Outhwaite, Mathew Creighton, Tyrone Walford, Steven Pulz

Eric is all agog when his favorite soap actress, Courtney Vine, comes to her hometown of Gimli. Johnny knew her as little Cathy Hicks, who dumped him for an 'older man' (a 13-year-old) when they were kids. However, Courtney's career is waning and she decides to spice up her ratings by creating gossip where there is none -- and threatens Johnny's marriage.

Guest Cast: Natalie Radford (Courtney Vine), Honoure McIlwain-Collard (Tiffany), Dave Brown (Louis Riel Lafresne), Maggie Nagle (Candice Burke), Kim McCaw (Kato), Brian Drader (Doctor), Kelly Daniels (Blonde), Jennifer Pudavick (Cheerleader 1), Alana Cole (Cheerleader 2), Michaelin Scott (Cheerleader 3)

Marital problems hit the Johansson household, and soon Johnny and Zoey aren't talking to each other. Eric is concerned when Johnny movies into the caboose. He figures the only way to get the couple back together is to enroll them in the annual "Anything-Goes-Gimli Marathon," which Johnny and Zoe have wons for years.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Joyce Coghill (Auntie Auntie). R. Morgon Slade (George), Mariam Bernstein (Maggie Tergesen), Gary Filmon (Official), Neil Rempel (Juggler), George Birnie (Stiltwalker), Wendy Williamson (Gymnast), Han Duerbrouck (Unicyclist), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

Eric, Sam and AJ discover a meteorite that appears to have strange effects on whoever is exposed to it. When a pair of mysterious figures in white begin pursuing them for that meteorite, the kids figure they're being pursued by aliens. Meanwhile, Eric thinks he can use the meteorite's strange properties to patch up the differences between Johnny and Zoe.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Jay Brazeau, Brian Richardson (Mr. Thorklesson), Heidi Hunter (Mukluk 1), Jan Skene (Mukluk 2), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

Eric faces a disaster! The big school dance is just around the corner and in the worst nightmare of an adolescent, he develops a pimple on his face. Meanwhile, A.J. is pressured by her mother into having a 'makeover' done.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), Maggie Nagle (Candice Burke), Jeff Madden (Andrew Burke), Mariam Bernstein (Maggie Tergesen), Eric Walker (Kimberley A), Dawn Lavand (Kimberley B), Tom Anniko (Mr. Jerome), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)

The Gimli Theatre is hosting a horrorfest, which gets imaginations soaring. Soon Eric believes the theatre is haunted when he's trapped inside a closet and strange things happen. It doesn't help that his Aunt Zoe fuels his fears by telling him tales of ghosts.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), R. Mogan Slade (George), Honoure McIlwain-Collard (Tiffany), Ghoul (James Hait)

Eric's team is chosen to represent the school on a quiz -- which will televised on national television! Trouble develops when one of the teammates, William, discovers the answers ahead of time and decides to cheat.

Guest Cast: Yank Azman, Dov Tiefenbach, Tiffany (Honoure McIlwain-Collard), Brad Bentley (Robb Paterson), Opponent 1 (Blair Scott), Opponent 2 (Theresa Fawcell), Opponent 3 (Katelynd Johnston)

It's the 100th year of Gimli's existance, and everybody decides to do something to celebrate. Zoe and others work on a time capsule, while Eric and his ambitious friends decide to make a home movie documenting about the townspeople

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Joy Coghill (Auntie Auntie), Dave Brown (Louis Riel LaFresne), Dawn Lavand (Kimberly B)

Eric has his hopes up high when a postcard from his father leads him to believe his father will buy a Caribbean hotel and Eric can get out of Gimli. But those plans are waylaid when he gets sucked into building birdhouses for a charity drive, and Sam might leave Gimli for the big city to play hockey.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Frank Adamsom (Hawkeye Kramer), Dave Brown (Louis Riel LaFresne), Dawn Lavand (Kimberley B)

Sam, Eric and A.J. form their own rock band, which they set up in the caboose when a blizzard blows in. A.J. gets saddled with her mother's dog, whom she puts outside in the snow -- and forgets about. Zoe decides to deliver some aromatherapy stuff to a friend, and Johnny, worried abou ther safety, decides to accompany her on the hazardous trek.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Dave Brown (Louis Reil LaFresne), Maggie Nagle (Candice Burke), Treaseann (Jack the Dog), Cassie (Princess Theodora)

Johnny is offered a hockey coaching job -- but in the city, and he doesn't know how to tell Zoey. Meanwhile, Eric's dad arrives in town. Eric is ecstatic that he'll join his dad in his travels, while Johnny and Zoe worry that they'll lose Johnny, whom they've grown to love.

Guest Cast: Bucky Hill, Lawrence Bayne (Max Ortega), Mariam Bernstein (Maggie Tergesen), Teaseann (Jack the Dog)