The Eleventh Hour, a program already cancelled by CTV, has won the 2005 Gemini Award as Canada's best dramatic series but the best drama-series actor and actress were Michael Riley and Cara Pifko of CBC's legal drama This Is Wonderland.
The results were announced Saturday night at a black-tie gala, the culmination of three successive nights of Gemini events and which was carried live this year by Global Television.
The show opened with a sketch that featured a wide variety of Canadian TV entertainers, from YTV child actor Daniel Cook to veteran Dave Broadfoot, who turns 80 in a few weeks.
Best dramatic miniseries was CBC's Sex Traffic, an intense story about the modern-day international slave market.
In comedy, CTV's runaway hit sitcom Corner Gas was voted the best, although the Brent Butt series was not nominated in other key categories. Conversely, that other popular comedy, Showcase's Trailer Park Boys, was not nominated in the best comedy series category but did win for best ensemble performance.
Best lead actor in a dramatic program or miniseries was Brendan Fletcher for his chilling performance as a psycho killer in The Death and Life of Nancy Eaton. Kristen Thomson won best actress in a drama or miniseries for I, Claudia.
"My mom is going to be so happy," said Fletcher, 23.
The Eleventh Hour, which dealt with life behind the scenes at a fictional TV newsmagazine show, went into the Gemini weekend with a leading 15 nominations. On Friday, it won four other awards, for best direction (David Wellington), writing (Semi Chellas and Tassie Cameron), makeup (Marilyn O'Quinn) and guest actor (Henry Czerny).
In a departure from tradition, Global's Kevin Newman won best news anchor, although Global News did not win in the best newscast category at Thursday's non-televised gala.
Prior the galas, Newman said that a win for his network's news operation would be really important.
"If Global News could win a Gemini I think it would be validation for a lot of the hard work that the underdog has put into it over the last few years. I would see it as a tip of the hat to the underdog."
Newman said Global has stepped up to the plate to finally put resources behind the news operation and that will show in its international coverage.
"That may not translate this year but hopefully in future years."
The veteran newsman joked that he had been calling the best anchor award the Peter Mansbridge Award because of the many times his CBC counterpart had won in the past.
Best writing in a comedy or variety show went to Ken Finkleman for The Newsroom on CBC. Best drama program or miniseries writing went to Alan DiFiore and Chris Haddock for The Life.
"The best thing about writing is you don't have to thank anyone," Finkleman said in accepting his award.
Best sports host or interviewer was Scott Russell of CBC Sports Saturday and the Gemini Viewers' Choice award went to Marilyn Denis of Cityline on CHUM's Toronto-based Citytv.
Lower-profile events were held Thursday and Friday when a mix of technical, information and performance awards were handed out.
In all, there were 86 categories covering all aspects of Canadian television. Like their film equivalent, the Genies, the awards are overseen by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, a national non-profit organization created to promote and celebrate exceptional achievements in domestic film and TV.
Created in 1979, it has more than 4,000 voting members, professionals in the industry from across the country.
This is the Geminis' 20th anniversary.