Northern Explosion 

While stranded in a small Canadian town, Jessica helps the Mounties solve two local murders.

Director:

Anthony Pullen Shaw (as Anthony Shaw)

Writers:

Peter S. Fischer (created by), Richard Levinson (created by)

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Ana Alicia, Brian Frejo

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Ana Alicia	...	Sgt. Hilda Dupont
Brian Frejo	...	George Quill
Alan Fudge	...	Brian Wade
Graham Greene	...	Peter Henderson
Jerry Hardin	...	Hamish McPherson
Marilyn Jones	...	Marie Comouche
Ernie Lively	...	Richard 'Rick' Shipley
Scott Plank	...	Buzz Berkeley
Ned Romero	...	Joe Quill
Matt McKenzie	...	Cpl. Desmond O'Gara
Shawn Michael Perry	...	Bill Nahanee

Storyline

Jessica flies to Indian territory in British Columbia, Canada and gets stuck because of plane trouble in Dominion, a town near Hobart Creek, where the Aurora Hills Mining Company is denied passage by armed natives, despite a contract signed by the territorial government, till old Joe Quill convinces them to wait a few days for legal action, which comes in the person of Jessica's locally born co-passenger Peter Henderson, a cynical realist, who warns Joe's grandson, nature-drawing artist George Quill, to stop using arms. Mine executive Rick Shipley and another miner rough up George till they notice Jessica approaching. George tells her to forget about it as the police never believe an Indian. Meanwhile, Henderson goes out with police Sgt. Hilda Dupont. Shipley warns Joe to call off George before it gets really dangerous, but is blackmailed, himself, by retired RCMP cop Hamish McPherson, also flown in with Jessica, who recognized him as escaped Mountie-killing bank robber Nicholas ...

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Plot Keywords:

fistfight | fight | explosion | beating | abuse | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 January 1994 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 29, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Corymore Productions, Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although set in Canada, no filming actually took place there.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Sgt. Hilda Dupont: You think you can pull that off from a high-rise in Toronto?
Peter Henderson: Actually, I was thinking it might be better if I stayed on here for a while. For my client, of course.
Sgt. Hilda Dupont: Of course.
Peter Henderson: Plus, there is some old business I need to wrap up.
Sgt. Hilda Dupont: Really? Well, just keep in mind, this is my home.
Peter Henderson: Hey, it's mine, too. Well, one of them, anyway.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA

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Connections

References Northern Exposure (1990)

User Reviews

Preparing for a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight

Guest star Ned Romero has back-to-back acting credits with "Northern Explosion" and "Northern Exposure," a (1990-1995) television Drama series, upon which guest star Graham Greene has made five appearances, the program which provides this "MSW" parody title.

Buzz Berkeley (Scott Plank) serves in multiple capacities in the transportation industry, as he firstly pilots an amphibian aircraft from the airfield in Edmonton, Alberta, toward the rugged Canadian settlement of Dominion, British Columbia, where altercations erupt between a native tribe and a mining company, in nearby Hobart Creek.

Three passengers board the airplane to the remote community, each for a different reason....

Hamish McPherson (Jerry Hardin) has retired from the Ottawa Police Department, but continues to pursue a suspect in an eleven-year-old case involving a bank robbery, in which a police officer was slain, while the suspect has evaded authorities and is believed to have relocated to the area around Dominion.

Peter Henderson (Graham Greene), a native of the self-proclaimed Indian First Nation, has become a successful attorney in Toronto, Ontario, and now returns to serve a court injunction against Aurora Hills Mining Company to cease development in favor of retaining the area's natural beauty.

Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), the remaining passenger, plans to fly farther than Dominion, into Dawson Falls, to attend the wedding of dear friends.

But after landing in Dominion, Buzz Berkeley discovers engine difficulties, and so he secondly chauffeurs his passengers in a transport vehicle to Empress Victoria Hotel, this operated by the accommodating and efficient Marie Comouche (Marilyn Jones).

In nearby Hobart Creek, Natives George Quill (Brian Frejo) and Billie Nahanee (Shawn Michael Perry) initiate a standoff against the mining company, blocking vehicles from trespassing across their territory.

Richard 'Rick' Shipley (Ernie Lively), along with his Assistant, Brian Wade (Alan Fudge), presents a copy of the treaty signed by both parties to insure the legality of Aurora Hills Mining Company's maneuvers.

Joe Quill (Ned Romero), the sagacious grandfather of the rebellious George, parks his pickup truck between the enemy lines, to settle the current revolt, as he announces that his attorney plans to arrive soon, presenting the court injunction.

Sergeant Hilda Dupont (Ana Alicia) soon arrives and apologizes to Joe Quill for running too late to settle the differences. Sometimes Corporal Desmond O'Gara (Matt McKenzie) appears on hand to assist with various uprisings and altercations, as well as a couple of murders once bodies begin to appear.

As Peter Henderson assists Jessica in her efforts to avoid Hamish McPherson's company, she befriends Joe Quill, who operates the local market, and witnesses an altercation among George Quill, Rick Shipley and Brian Wade, for which Sergeant Dupont detains her in Dominion after Buzz announces that the airplane is ready for take-off.

Rick Shipley then discovers the first body as someone crosses a foot-bridge, which is dynamited one night, and he believes himself the intended victim, while Brian Wade discovers the second body while answering a telephone call from Jessica.

Jessica now realizes that she must remain absent from the wedding of her dear friends, but she would have enough time to visit with them before they leave upon their honeymoon, as she searches for clues as to the identity of the perpetrator of the "Northern Explosion."

This episode marks the most recent acting appearance to date by Marilyn Jones, who began her film and television acting career in 1968, through this, her third of three "MSW" guest performances.

This also represents the second of two "MSW's" for Graham Greene, the first of three for Jerry Hardin, the third of five for Alan Fudge, and the fourth of five "MSW" guest spots for Ernie Lively.

Scott Plank, acting since 1984, has unfortunately since passed, at the young age of 43.