Production Notes

From the MCA-TV Promotional kit:

"Since its summer debut on CBS-TV in July of 1990, NORTHERN EXPOSURE has garnered over 35 Emmy Award nominations, receiving an unequaled 16 nominations this year, with six Emmy wins including the award for Outstanding Drama Series for the 1991-1992 season. With its third consecutive nomination for Outstanding Drama Series this year, NORTHERN EXPOSURE is bestowed with the honor of having been nominated in this category in every eligible year.

For the 1993-94 season, NORTHERN EXPOSURE remains in its proven time slot, Mondays at 10 P.M. (ET), with the series' premiere airing September 20. The one-hour drama/ comedy is set in the fictitious town of Cicely, Alaska, where life borders on the eccentric and basic comforts are scarce.

The quirky series originally focused on the trials and tribulations of Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), an inveterate New Yorker who was reluctantly transplanted to a remote Alaskan town. After making a deal with the state of Alaska to finance his Columbia University Medical School education, Fleischman owned up upon graduation and relocated to the isolated town of Cicely for four years of medical practice.

After having survived for several years, barely, Fleischman reluctantly is becoming increasingly comfortable in his surroundings but continues to be mystified by the small town's wacky inhabitants. It is on these very inhabitants and their mores that the series gears its attention, with the many different backgrounds meshing together in a small-scale melting pot.

In the third season, Fleischman encountered a stranger who recounted Cicely's strange and colorful history that led to the town's founding. In the early 1900's, what was to become Cicely was a foul and uncivilized place of squalor...that is, until Roslyn and Cicely arrived. The lesbian couple came with a grand purpose in mind -- to create a utopian community of free-thinkers and artists. Although they initially met with resistance, Roslyn's immense wisdom and strength combined with Cicely's ethereal grace and beauty won the townsfolk over. Thus, Cicely, Alaska became the "Paris of the North," attracting the like of Franz Kafka. When the unreformed town bully mortally shot Cicely, her death had a profound effect on everyone and a town that continues to welcome all kinds was born. [3.23 Cicely]

The new season brings the last trimester of Shelly's (Cynthia Geary) pregnancy, climaxing with the actual birth of the baby and the first experiences of Holling (John Cullum) and Shelly as parents. In a similar birth/ rebirth vein, Ed is conflicted about his future as a filmmaker as he considers a more spiritual path for his life.

Responsible for over 50 Emmy Award nominations, NORTHERN EXPOSURE's creators Joshua Brand and John Falsey have created and produced some of television's most critically-acclaimed series. Their work includes "St. Elsewhere," "A Year in the Life" and NBC's prestigious "I'll Fly Away."

Continuing their efforts to bring viewers an original combination of warmth, quirkiness and humor, David Chase, Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov take the reins this year as the show's new executive producers. David Chase is an Emmy Award-winning writer/ director/ producer who most recently served as the executive producer on the prestigious "I'll Fly Away." Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov are the Emmy Award-winning writing team that has served on NORTHERN EXPOSURE since its inception.

The inspiration for NORTHERN EXPOSURE came in part from a friend of the creators who was practicing medicine in rural upstate New York and also by stories the two read about arrangements made with students who would accept inner-city or rural posts in exchange for payment of their medical education. With this novel idea in hand, they chose the exotic location of the Alaskan wilds, feeling that "it represented a place where people could express their individual," says Brand.

Filmed outside of Seattle, Washington, in the towns of Redmond and Roslyn (est. pop. 850), NORTHERN EXPOSURE creates its own remote Alaskan town of Cicely (est. pop. 839). Deep in the snow-filled mountain terrain, the small town milieu of Roslyn effectively captures the idiosyncrasies of Cicely.

The local area townsfolk also add to the texture of the series. Benefiting from contacts established by a local casting agency, NORTHERN EXPOSURE employs a high concentration of NativeAmericans and other locals to uniquely represent the personalities found in the fictional Alaskan town.

To celebrate the popularity of the series'unique use of music, a soundtrack from the show was recently released through MCA Records, which captured select tunes from the format-less KBHR and the limitless jukebox at Holling's bar. The album, which is as offbeat as the series, allows NORTHERN EXPOSURE audiences to feel a touch of Cicely throughout the week.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE's eccentrically warm cast of characters include:

ROB MORROW portrays Dr. Joel Fleischman, a quintessential New York yuppie who experienced severe culture shock when he was transplanted to Cicely, Alaska. As the perfect "man you love to hate," Joel often surprises the people around him with glimpses of kindness and good will.

JANINE TURNER portrays Maggie O'Connell, the beautiful, independent aircraft pilot and Joel's (Rob Morrow) landlady. Finding it hard to hide her disdain for Joel's whiny ways, she also has trouble hiding her reluctant attraction to him.

BARRY CORBIN portrays Maurice Minnifield, a burly ex-astronaut, gung-ho president of the Cicely Chamber of Commerce and owner of Minnifield Communications -- KBHR radio station. He sees Cicely as a haven of limitless economic potential, soon to be the new "Alaskan Riviera."

DARREN E. BURROWS portrays Ed Chigliak, a backwoods yet worldly Native American who spouts Woody Allen-influenced observations and Indian foLklore in the same breath. Ed's clear-seeing-innocence-yet-alreadyjaded- life view is a constant wonder for Joel (Rob Morrow).

JOHN CULLUM portrays Holling Vincoeur, a 64-year-old naturalist/ adventurer who has given up his big game hunting days to settle down in soon-to-be parental bliss with his 20-year-old wife, Shelly (Cynthia Geary), and run the local tavern.

CYNTHIA GEARY portrays Shelly Tambo, Holling's pregnant and extremely devoted young wife and former Miss Northwest Passage. Shelly consistently brings a smile of wonderment to Cicely's inhabitants with her youthful energy, adolescent slang and small town naivete.

JOHN CORBETT portrays Chris Stevens, Cicely's resident radio station disc jockey for KBHR. A reformed and introspective ex-con, Chris provides a running commentary on the peculiar goings-on in Cicely while also serving as the town's "minister" with his divinity degree from an ad in Rolling Stone.

ELAINE MILES portrays Marilyn Whirlwind, Joel's quietly sage assistant. With her calm manner, she provides a solid foundation for Joel's medical dispensations, bridging the gap between her neurotic big-city boss and the unassuming, independent townsfolk.

PEG PHILLIPS portrays the 75-year-old Ruth-Anne Miller, owner of Cicely's General Store. Proprietor of the one-stop shop which serves as everything from the grocery store to the local post office, Ruth-Anne's quiet strength guides the town through its many predicaments." (4)


Production Notes

From the old A&E Northern Exposure web site:

Since its summer debut on CBS-TV in July of 1990, Northern Exposure has garnered over nineteen Emmy Award nominations, receiving an unprecedented sixteen nominations in 1992, resulting in six Emmy wins, including the award for Outstanding Drama Series for the 1991-1992 season. In addition,the Electronic Media Critics Poll and the Television Critics Association named Northern Exposure Best Drama Series (two years in a row) and Program of the Year, respectively.

The prestigious Peabody Award was also won by the show's creators and executive producers, Joshua Brand and John Falsey, for their work on both Northern Exposure and I'll Fly Away. Its run of six seasons ended in 1995, but the show is still a favorite of millions around the world. Northern Exposure is in syndication in several countries and can presently be seen on A&E twice a day.

The one hour drama/comedy is set in the fictitious town of Cicely, Alaska, where life borders on the eccentric and basic comforts are scarce. The quirky series focuses on the trials and tribulations of Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), an inveterate New Yorker who has been reluctantly transplanted to a remote Alaskan town. After making a deal with the state of Alaska to finance his Columbia University Medical School education, Fleischman owns up upon graduation and relocates to the isolated town of Cicely for four years of medical practice. Once there, this "fish-out-of-water" is in constant anguish trying to adjust to his new rustic environment. After having survived his first year, barely, Fleischman remains constantly mystified about his surroundings and its wacky inhabitants.

The inspiration for Northern Exposure came in part from a friend of the producers who was practicing medicine in rural upstate New York and also from stories the two read about arrangements made with students who would accept inner-city or rural posts in exchange for payment of their medical education. With this novel idea in hand, they chose the exotic location of the Alaskan wilds, feeling that "it represented a place where people could express their individuality. People could go there to create themselves."

In fictitious Cicely, Alaska, "there's more than meets the eye to almost everyone," says Brand. Filmed outside of Seattle, Washington, in the towns of Redmond and Roslyn (est. population 850), Northern Exposure creates its own remote Alaskan town of Cicely (est. population 839). Deep in the snow-filled mountain terrain, the small-town milieu of Roslyn effectively captured the idiosyncrasies of Cicely. The local area townsfolk also add to the texture of the series. Benefiting from contacts established by a local casting agency, Northern Exposure employed a high concentration of Native Americans and other locals to uniquely represent the personalities found in the fictional Alaskan town.

Creators/Executive Producers: Joshua Brand and John Falsey
Co-executive Producers: Andrew Schneider and Rob Thompson
Supervising Producers: Diane Frolov, Robin Green, and Jeff Melvoin
Consulting Producer: Cheryl Bloch
Co-Producers: Martin Bruestle and Geoff Neigher
Production Company: Finnegan Pinchuk Company in association with Brand/Falsey Production, distributed by MCA-TV
Original Publicity: Mahoney Communications, a division of Burson-Marsteller Trisha Cardoso/Melissa Harold (6)


References:
1. The Northern Exposure Book, 1st Ed. (1993) by Louis Chunovic
2. The Revised and Updated Northern Exposure Book, 2nd Ed. by Louis Chunovic (1995)
3. Revised NE Bible: New and Improved fro 94-95 season! Memo from: Ursula Wendel and Cynthia Cohen- Gugisch
4. MCA TV Promotional Notebook for Northern Exposure Syndication dated Sept. 27, 1995
5. Geoff's Miscellany
6. now defunct A&E Northern Exposure site
7. Internet Movie Database

Created 12/22/01 • Updated 1/30/02
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