Ken Finkleman
Encyclopedia
Ken Finkleman is a Canadian
television and film writer
, producer
and actor
.
In Canada, Finkleman is best known as the writer, creator and producer of the CBC Television
series The Newsroom
, in which he starred as television news producer George Findlay. He later produced a number of other series for Canadian television as well, including Married Life
, Foolish Heart, Foreign Objects, More Tears
and Good Dog
. Each of these series also included Findlay as a linking character; according to The Globe and Mail
Finkleman describes Findlay as his vehicle for exploring issues that both intrigue him and tick him off. His 2006 series At the Hotel
was his only television project to date not to include George Findlay as a character.
Finkleman also wrote the screenplays for a number of Hollywood films in the 1980s, including Grease 2
, Airplane II: The Sequel
and the Madonna
film Who's That Girl. His television productions are seen, in part, as a reaction to his experiences in the mainstream Hollywood studio system.
His brother, Danny Finkleman
, is a longtime radio personality on CBC Radio One
, who retired as host of Finkleman's 45s
in 2005.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television and film writer
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
In Canada, Finkleman is best known as the writer, creator and producer of the CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
series The Newsroom
The Newsroom
The Newsroom is a Canadian television comedy-drama series which ran on CBC Television in the 1996-97, 2003–04 and 2004-05 seasons. A two-hour television movie, Escape from the Newsroom, was broadcast in 2002....
, in which he starred as television news producer George Findlay. He later produced a number of other series for Canadian television as well, including Married Life
Married Life
Married Life was the first of a string of short run series Ken Finkleman made for CBC Television in the 1990s and 2000s. The show's four episodes were later edited into one two-hour TV movie....
, Foolish Heart, Foreign Objects, More Tears
More Tears
More Tears is a seriocomedy television series that was broadcast by CBC Television, as a short run programme; it was written and produced by Ken Finkleman following the success of The Newsroom , and was partly a remake of 8½ , by Federico Fellini.As in The Newsroom, George Findlay is the...
and Good Dog
Good Dog
Good Dog is a Canadian television comedy-drama series which runs on HBO Canada. The show follows the life of character George, a role that Ken Finkleman is reprising from The Newsroom.-Characters:...
. Each of these series also included Findlay as a linking character; according to The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
Finkleman describes Findlay as his vehicle for exploring issues that both intrigue him and tick him off. His 2006 series At the Hotel
At The Hotel
At the Hotel is a Canadian drama-comedy-musical mini-series concerning the goings-on at an illustrious Montreal hotel, known for its favourable treatment of struggling artists. Created by Ken Finkleman and produced by One Hundred Percent Television, the series aired on CBC Television in 2006. The...
was his only television project to date not to include George Findlay as a character.
Finkleman also wrote the screenplays for a number of Hollywood films in the 1980s, including Grease 2
Grease 2
Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical film and sequel to Grease, which is based upon the musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Grease 2 was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film...
, Airplane II: The Sequel
Airplane II: The Sequel
Airplane II: The Sequel is an American comedy sequel to the 1980 film Airplane!. First released on December 10, 1982, the film was written and directed by Ken Finkleman and stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Chad Everett, William Shatner, Rip Torn, and Sonny Bono.-Plot:In the near...
and the Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
film Who's That Girl. His television productions are seen, in part, as a reaction to his experiences in the mainstream Hollywood studio system.
His brother, Danny Finkleman
Danny Finkleman
Danny Finkleman is a Canadian journalist and radio host, best known for his work on CBC Radio. He was host of Finkleman's 45s from 1985 until 2005, when he retired from CBC....
, is a longtime radio personality on CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
, who retired as host of Finkleman's 45s
Finkleman's 45s
Finkleman's 45s was a Canadian radio show, which aired Saturday evenings from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. on CBC Radio One starting on October 5, 1985 and running until June 25, 2005. In the show Danny Finkleman played popular songs from the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, and talked about anything he felt...
in 2005.
Films
- Van Dyke and Company (1976) (TV)
- Grease 2Grease 2Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical film and sequel to Grease, which is based upon the musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Grease 2 was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film...
(1982) - Airplane II: The SequelAirplane II: The SequelAirplane II: The Sequel is an American comedy sequel to the 1980 film Airplane!. First released on December 10, 1982, the film was written and directed by Ken Finkleman and stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Chad Everett, William Shatner, Rip Torn, and Sonny Bono.-Plot:In the near...
(1982) - Head OfficeHead OfficeHead Office is a 1985 American comedy film, produced by HBO Pictures in association with Silver Screen Partners. It stars Judge Reinhold, Eddie Albert, Lori-Nan Engler, Jane Seymour, Richard Masur, Michael O'Donoghue, Ron Frazier, Merritt Butrick and was directed and written by Ken...
(1985) (also Director) - Who's That Girl (1987)
Television
- Married LifeMarried LifeMarried Life was the first of a string of short run series Ken Finkleman made for CBC Television in the 1990s and 2000s. The show's four episodes were later edited into one two-hour TV movie....
(1995) - The NewsroomThe NewsroomThe Newsroom is a Canadian television comedy-drama series which ran on CBC Television in the 1996-97, 2003–04 and 2004-05 seasons. A two-hour television movie, Escape from the Newsroom, was broadcast in 2002....
(1996–2005) - More TearsMore TearsMore Tears is a seriocomedy television series that was broadcast by CBC Television, as a short run programme; it was written and produced by Ken Finkleman following the success of The Newsroom , and was partly a remake of 8½ , by Federico Fellini.As in The Newsroom, George Findlay is the...
(1998) - Foolish Heart (1999)
- Foreign Objects (2001)
- At the HotelAt The HotelAt the Hotel is a Canadian drama-comedy-musical mini-series concerning the goings-on at an illustrious Montreal hotel, known for its favourable treatment of struggling artists. Created by Ken Finkleman and produced by One Hundred Percent Television, the series aired on CBC Television in 2006. The...
(2006) - Good DogGood DogGood Dog is a Canadian television comedy-drama series which runs on HBO Canada. The show follows the life of character George, a role that Ken Finkleman is reprising from The Newsroom.-Characters:...
(2011)