Not My Department

Template:Infobox television Not My Department is a Canadian television sitcom, which aired on CBC Television in 1987.<ref name=tvarchive>Not My Department. TVarchive.ca.</ref> The show lasted only a single season. Based on Charles Gordon's comedic novel The Governor General's Bunny Hop,<ref name=shelley>"Shelley Peterson says new sitcom won't embarrass hubby David". The Gazette, September 26, 1987.</ref> the show was essentially an attempt to create a Canadian version of the British sitcom Yes Minister.<ref>"Shelley Peterson in the spotlight". Windsor Star, October 3, 1987.</ref> Prior to its premiere, its original working title was Welcome to Ottawa.<ref>"Networks try big-budget series for new season". The Globe and Mail, May 30, 1987.</ref>

The series starred Harry Ditson as Gerald Angstrum and Shelley Peterson as Margaret Simmons, civil servants in Ottawa working for the Department of Regional Incentive Targets, a government ministry whose sole job was to inherit files that other government ministries did not want to deal with.<ref name=tvarchive /> Robbie O'Neill appeared as Robert, a junior assistant whose distinguishing trait was that he had learned French from watching Bleu Nuit, resulting in him saying things like "You must be hot in all those clothes" in bilingual meetings;<ref name=wrong>"CBC comedy show filed under wrong department". Vancouver Sun, October 2, 1987.</ref> Alpha Boucher appeared as Henri, the blunt-talking operator of the chip stand outside the department office.<ref name=unfunny>"Just whose department of unfunny affairs is this?". Toronto Star, October 2, 1987.</ref> The cast also included Barry Stevens, Pierre Chagnon, Chris Wiggins, Robert Benson, Bonnie Brooks, James Edmond and Suzanne Coy.<ref name=tvarchive />

Peterson was the wife of then-Premier of Ontario David Peterson.<ref name=shelley /> (Long after the series ended, a few media references mistakenly claimed that David Peterson made a bit part appearance on the series in the role of a janitor, although in reality this occurred on Shelley Peterson's later series Dog House.)<ref>"Peterson in Doghouse". The Gazette, October 13, 1990.</ref>

The series premiered on October 2, 1987 on CBC Television's owned-and-operated stations,<ref>"Shelley juggles politics, sitcom like a trouper". Toronto Star, September 17, 1987.</ref> although some private affiliates aired it in an alternate time slot or failed to carry it at all.<ref>"Comedy series should be cancelled". Toronto Star, October 14, 1987.</ref> Its debut episode attracted 743,000 viewers,<ref name=pleased>"CBC 'pleased' with ratings for TV comedy". Toronto Star, October 28, 1987.</ref> but critical reviews were highly unfavourable<ref name=wrong /><ref name=unfunny /> and the show almost immediately dropped fully a third of its initial audience, with just 498,000 viewers in the second week.<ref>"Peterson show should be killed now". Toronto Star, November 4, 1987.</ref> The CBC cancelled the series on November 14, 1987, after just six episodes had aired.<ref>"CBC suspends production of Not My Department". Ottawa Citizen, November 14, 1987.</ref>

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0217947

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