TORONTO - "Flashpoint," CTV's slick Toronto-set crime drama that airs on both sides of the border, heads into this year's Gemini Awards with a record 19 nominations, while the sexy period drama "The Tudors" follows with 11 nods and the rookie dramedy "Being Erica" has snagged nine.

The stellar haul for "Flashpoint" caps a remarkable first season for the ensemble series, which debuted on CTV and CBS last summer and helped usher in a string of high-profile Canadian dramas that subsequently found broadcast deals in the United States.

"Flashpoint"'s nominations include best drama, best direction and best writing, with stars Hugh Dillon, Enrico Colantoni and Amy Jo Johnson among those up for acting trophies.

Reached in cottage country north of Toronto, Dillon said he was proud to see the shows' writers also win some recognition.

"I'm so proud of the writers -- Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern -- and the producers Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos," said Dillon, also nominated for his supporting role in the CTV movie, "Of Murder and Memory."

"They do a lot of work and nobody ever notices it, you know."

"Flashpoint" battles for the best drama title with "ZOS: Zone of Separation," from The Movie Network and Movie Central, and the CBC shows "Being Erica," "The Border," and "The Tudors."

Other leading contenders include Citytv's dark comedy "Less Than Kind" and the CBC's "Being Erica," "Diamonds," and "The Border" which each received nine nominations.

"Being Erica" star Erin Karpluk said she was thrilled with the success of the quirky time-travelling show, and was looking forward to taking part in the awards bash so that she could root for friends who were also nominated.

"It's nice to be able to hang out with your peers and it's more about supporting the other professionals in the industry," Karpluk said of the honour, announced Tuesday at a downtown hotel.

Comedy nominees include "Less Than Kind," Showcase's "Testees," CMT's "Three Chords From the Truth," and the CBC's "Rick Mercer Report" and "This Hour Has 22 Minutes."

Competing for the title of best reality show are: MuchMusic's "DisBand," TVtropolis's "GoldMind," Global's "Project Runway Canada" and CBC's "The Week the Women Went" and "Dragons' Den."

Among the more unusual nominees is a nod for CTV's "Canadian Idol" winner Theo Tams, who is up for best performance or host in a variety program or series. He's up against Leah Miller from CTV's "So You Think You Can Dance Canada," Russell Peters from CTV's "The 2009 Juno Awards," and Jason Priestley of "The 23rd Annual Gemini Awards," which aired on Showcase.

Meanwhile, several categories pit performers from the same show against each other, with the best guest star in a drama series featuring four actors from "Flashpoint" -- Nicholas Campbell, Henry Czerny, Mpho Koaho and Ron Lea. The fifth nominee is Damir Andrei for "Being Erica."

The awards bash takes place Nov. 14 in Calgary and will air live on Global and Showcase.

Last year's ceremony was held in Toronto, where the big winners included the CBC miniseries "The Englishman's Boy" and the brooding series "Durham County."

Sara Morton of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, which runs the Geminis, said organizers were excited to be bringing the bash to Alberta for the first time.

She said details about the show, including the host, will be revealed in the coming weeks.

"We're still working out some of those details but whenever we take the show on the road we definitely try to have it reflect the host city," said Morton.

"We hope that there will be an opportunity for some members of the public to attend the show and that really adds a tremendous excitement and energy."

The following is a list of CTV 's 2009 Gemini Award Nominations (113)

CTV (55)


CANADIAN IDOL (3)

  • Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Fiction Program or Series
  • Best Sound in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
  • Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series

DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (3)

  • Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series (Eleanore Lindo for "Fight the Power)

  • Best Performance in a Childrens' or Youth Program or Series (2) 

FLASHPOINT (19)

  • Best Dramatic Series
  • Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
  • Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
  • Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series (2)
  • Best Sound in a Dramatic Series
  • Best Original Music Score for a Program or Series
  • Best Achievement in Main Title Design
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (2)
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series (4)
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series (3)

ROBSON ARMS (1)

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic

INSTANT STAR (2)

  • Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series
  • Best Direction in a Children's or youth Program or Series

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA - Season 1 (3)

  • Best Music, Variety Program or Series
  • Best Direction in a Variety Program or Series - Sandra Faire (Toronto Auditions)
  • Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series (Leah Miller/Finale)

CTV ORIGINAL MOVIES (16)

ELIJAH (4)

  • Best TV Movie
  • Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
  • Best Sound in a Dramatic Program
  • Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Program, Mini-Series or TV Movie

OF MURDER AND MEMORY (5)

  • Best TV Movie
  • Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
  • Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Program, Mini-Series or TV Movie
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series

THE TERRORIST NEXT DOOR (4)

  • Best TV Movie
  • Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: A NEW BEGINNING (3)

  • Best Costume Design
  • Best Achievement in Make-Up
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series

CTV SPECIALS AND DOCUMENTARIES (8)

2009 JUNO Awards (5)

  • Best Music, Variety Program or Series
  • Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
  • Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Fiction Program or Series
  • Best Sound in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
  • Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series

THE MUSICAL BRAIN (2)

  • Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
  • Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series

W-FIVE PRESENTS: Peace Warrior (1)

  • Best Biography Documentary Program

CTV SPECIALTY NETWORKS (58)

BRAVO! (17)


AT THE CONCERT HALL (1)

  • Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Art Program or Series

BALLET HIGH (1)

  • Best Direction in a Performing Arts Program or Series

bODY_rEMIX/gOLDBERG_vARIATIONS (1)

  • Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series

CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA (2)

  • Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety, or Performing Arts Program or Series
  • Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series

FLicKeR (2)

  • Best Original Music Score for a Documentary Program or Series
  • Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series

THE MAN WHO CROSSED THE SAHARA (2)

  • Best Biography Documentary Program
  • Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series

TOSCANINI: IN HIS OWN WORDS (2)

  • Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series
  • Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series

VIDA Y DANZA CUBA (2)

  • Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series
  • Best Direction in a Performing Arts Program or Series

THE YOUNG ROMANTIC (4)

  • Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series
  • Best Direction in a Performing Arts Program or Series
  • Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
  • Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series

DISCOVERY CHANNEL (16)


AUSTIN STEVENS ADVENTURES (3)

  • Best General/Human Interest Series
  • Best Host or Interviewer in a General/Human Interest or Talk Program or Series (In the Shadow of Armoured Giants)
  • Best Direction in a Lifestyle/Practical Information Program or Series (In the Shadow of Armoured Giants)

DAILY PLANET (3)

  • Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Segment (Sydney Tar Ponds)
  • Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Segment (Flatmobile)
  • Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Segment (Eyeborg)

THE BODY MACHINE (2)

  • Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
  • Best Original Music Score for a Documentary Program or Series

SECRETS OF THE DINOSAUR MUMMY (2)

  • Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
  • Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Series

MIGHTY SHIPS - Resolute (1)

  • Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program

MONSTER MOVES 3 (1)

  • Best General/Human Interest Series

MAYDAY 5 (1)

  • Best General/Human Interest Series

COMBAT SCHOOL - One Platoon (1)

  • Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program

WHO SANK THE TITANIC? (1)

  • Best History Documentary Program

SCI Q (1)

  • Best Children's or Youth's Non-Fiction Program or Series

TSN (14)


2008 GREY CUP ON TSN (4)

  • Best Live Sporting Event
  • Best Direction in a Live Sporting Event
  • Best Sports Analyst - Glen Suitor
  • Best Sports Play-by-Play Announcer - Chris Cuthbert

2008 GREY CUP ON TSN - PRE-GAME (3)

  • Best Sports Analysis or Commentary Program, Series or Segment
  • Best Sports Feature Segment
  • Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast - Brian Williams

2009 IIHG WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY GOLD MEDAL GAME ON TSN (3)

  • Best Live Sporting Event
  • Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast - James Duthie
  • Best Sports Play-by-Play Announcer - Gord Miller

SPORTSCENTRE (3)

  • Best Sportscast (National or Local)
  •  Best Sports Reporting - Darren Dreger
  • Best Sportscaster/Anchor - Darren Dutchyshen

NHL ON TSN TRADECENTRE 09 (1)

  • Best Sportscaster/Anchor - James Duthie

NHL NETWORK (1)


BRODEUR: A WINNER ABOVE ALL (1)

  • Best Sports Analysis or Commentary Program, Series or Segment

THE COMEDY NETWORK (5)


BEST OF THE FEST (1)

  • Best Music, Variety Program or Series

COMEDY NOW! SEASON 11 (1)

  • Best Individual Performance in a Comedy Program or Series

THE JON DORE TELEVISION SHOW (2)

  • Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
  • Best Individual Performance in a Comedy Program or Series

KEYS TO THE VIP (1)

  • Best Direction in a Reality Program or Series

MUCHMUSIC (3)


2008 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS (2)

  • Best Music, Variety Program or Series
  • Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Fiction Program or Series

disBAND - THE HOMECOMING (1)

  • Best Reality Program or Series

SPACE (1)


RABBIT FALL (1)

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role

MUCHMORE (1)


Matt Wells (1)

  • Best Host or Interviewer in a General/Human Interest or Talk Program or Series

MTV (1)


THE AFTER SHOW (1)

  • Best Talk Series