Ken Finkleman (born 1946) is a Canadian television and film writer, producer and actor.Finkleman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 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, Good Dog, and Good God. 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 and the Madonna film Who's That Girl. He both wrote and directed Airplane II: The Sequel. 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.
[his mission statement for 'Good God',his satirical look at right-wing broadcasting] The struggle for truth through the celebration of ignorance continues.
2
If you're going to do bad, do it with flair. It's like professional wrestling. If you're going to do it, do it with all the pyrotechnics.
3
If you're lucky enough to develop genuine characters, then they start writing themselves. You are able to hear their voices in the back of your head. The writing gets easier.
4
[on his troubles developing female characters] I can see only how they react to me. I can describe how they look, how they sit, how they dress, tons of things. But only on the surface. My perception stops there. I've decided my whole life long I don't understand them. I think they're all crazy. I know they're not.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
An American Dream: The Education of William Bowman
2016
Good God
TV Series creator - 10 episodes, 2012 written by - 10 episodes, 2012
Good Dog
TV Series 3 episodes, 2012 creator - 13 episodes, 2011 written by - 13 episodes, 2011
At the Hotel
2006
TV Series written by - 6 episodes
The Newsroom
TV Series creator - 19 episodes, 2004 - 2005 written by - 19 episodes, 2004 - 2005
Escape from the Newsroom
2002
TV Movie
Foreign Objects
2000
TV Series
Foolish Heart
1999
TV Series writer
More Tears
1998
TV Series writer
The Newsroom
TV Series creator - 13 episodes, 1996 - 1997 written by - 13 episodes, 1996 - 1997
Who's That Girl
1987
screenplay
Head Office
1985
written by
Callahan
1982
TV Movie creator
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
written by
Grease 2
1982
Van Dyke and Company
TV Series 1 episode, 1976 written by - 1 episode, 1976
The Frankie Howerd Show
1976
TV Series
Y'a un os dans la moulinette
1974
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Married Life
1995
TV Series
Head Office
1985
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
An American Dream: The Education of William Bowman
2016
Good God
2012
TV Series 10 episodes
Good Dog
2011-2012
TV Series 16 episodes
At the Hotel
2006
TV Series 6 episodes
The Newsroom
2004-2005
TV Series 18 episodes
Escape from the Newsroom
2002
TV Movie
Foreign Objects
2000
TV Series
Foolish Heart
1999
TV Series
More Tears
1998
TV Series
The Newsroom
1996-1997
TV Series 13 episodes
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Good God
2012
TV Series executive producer - 10 episodes
Good Dog
2011
TV Series executive producer - 13 episodes
At the Hotel
2006
TV Series executive producer - 6 episodes
The Newsroom
2004-2005
TV Series executive producer - 19 episodes
Foreign Objects
2000
TV Series producer
Foolish Heart
1999
TV Series producer
More Tears
1998
TV Series producer
The Newsroom
1996-1997
TV Series executive producer - 13 episodes
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Good God
2012
TV Series
George Findlay
Good Dog
2011
TV Series
George
The Newsroom
2004-2005
TV Series
George Findlay
Escape from the Newsroom
2002
TV Movie
George Findlay
Foreign Objects
2000
TV Series
George Findlay
Foolish Heart
1999
TV Series
Peter / George Findlay
More Tears
1998
TV Series
George Findlay
The Newsroom
1996-1997
TV Series
George Findlay
Married Life
1995
TV Series
George
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
Voice of ROK, the main computer on Lunar Flight (uncredited)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
At the Hotel
2006
TV Series lyrics - 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Man Who Saved Geometry
2009
TV Movie documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Hour
2012
TV Series
Himself
The 12th Annual Canadian Comedy Awards
2011
TV Special
Himself - Winner: TV Writing
Comedy Gold
2005
TV Short documentary
Himself
The Joke's on Us: 50 Years of CBC Satire
2002
TV Movie
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
DGC Craft Award
Directors Guild of Canada
Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Television Series
The Newsroom (2004)
2005
DGC Team Award
Directors Guild of Canada
Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Series - Comedy
The Newsroom (2004)
2005
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series
The Newsroom (2004)
2002
WGC Award
Writers Guild of Canada
Foreign Objects (2000)
2000
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
Foolish Heart (1999)
2000
WGC Award
Writers Guild of Canada
Foolish Heart (1999)
1999
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
Foolish Heart (1999)
1999
WGC Award
Writers Guild of Canada
More Tears (1998)
1998
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble)
The Newsroom (1996)
1998
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Direction in a Variety, Comedy or Performing Arts Program or Series
The Newsroom (1996)
1998
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series
The Newsroom (1996)
1998
WGC Award
Writers Guild of Canada
The Newsroom (1996)
1997
Silver Spire
San Francisco International Film Festival
Television - Comedy
The Newsroom (1996)
1997
WGC Award
Writers Guild of Canada
The Newsroom (1996)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2013
Canadian Screen Award
Canadian Screen Awards, CA
Best Comedy Program or Series
Good God (2012)
2013
Canadian Screen Award
Canadian Screen Awards, CA
Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series
Good God (2012)
2011
Canadian Comedy Award
Canadian Comedy Awards
Best Writing - Television Program or Series
Good Dog (2011)
2011
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Comedy Program or Series
Good Dog (2011)
2006
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
At the Hotel (2006)
2006
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
At the Hotel (2006)
2005
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Comedy Program or Series
The Newsroom (2004)
2005
WGC Award
Writers Guild of Canada
Comedy & Variety
The Newsroom (2004)
2005
WGC Award
Writers Guild of Canada
Comedy & Variety
The Newsroom (2004)
2004
DGC Team Award
Directors Guild of Canada
Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Series - Comedy
The Newsroom (2004)
2004
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Comedy Program or Series
The Newsroom (2004)
2003
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Escape from the Newsroom (2002)
2002
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Dramatic Series
Foreign Objects (2000)
1999
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Dramatic Series
Foolish Heart (1999)
1999
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
Foolish Heart (1999)
1998
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Comedy Program or Series
The Newsroom (1996)
1996
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble)
Married Life (1995)
1996
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Direction in a Dramatic or Comedy Series
Married Life (1995)
1996
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series
Married Life (1995)
1995
CableACE
CableACE Awards
Directing a Comedy Special
Married Life (1995)
1988
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Screenplay
Who's That Girl (1987)
1977
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series