...no doubt sparked by 7Up, CBC made a version in the late 1960's called "Five Years In the Life"...they only made one follow-up....would be interesting to see in re-run...something to do during the current labour dispute...

www.film.queensu.ca/CBC/Fab.html

Five Years In The Life


Fri 8:30-9:00 p.m., 28 Jun-30 Aug 1968

Mon 8:30-9:00 p.m., 30 Jun-1 Sep 1969

Mon 8:30-9:00 p.m., 6 Jul-7 Sep 1970

Thu 10:00-10:30 p.m., 1 Jul-9 Sep 1971

Mon 7:30-8:00 p.m., 3 Jul-4 Sep 1972


The original plan for Five Years In the Life was to produce a series of half-hour documentary films on ten families from different areas of Canada, and then return five years later for a second look. The first series was popular enough that the network modified the plan and produced further profiles of Canadian families, while periodically looking back at families that had been profiled earlier in the series's history. (The first show of the second season, for example, was a review of the changes in the families seen in the first ten programs.) As the program evolved, it also concentrated on individuals as well as families, with profiles of Eskimo artist Kabluitok, Jamaican immigrant John Whylie, architect Ralph Blakstad, Winnipeg Rhodes scholar Dan Selchen, and Newfoundland lighthouse keeper Frank Cantwell. The filmmakers minimized commentary (although the films did include some narration by Allan McFee), and tended to use direct cinema techniques. Directors included Elie Savoie, David Pears, Jack Emack, Rene Bonniere, Elsa Franklin, Michael Rothery, Bill Harper, Jack O'Neil, Jack Long, Hugh Edmunds, Bill Bolt, Peter Kelly, and Paul Lynch. The series was produced by Michael Rothery (l968-7l), and by Nick Bakyta, with executive producer Peter Kelly (l97l-72). Music for the series was by Ben McPeek, with a theme song by singer/songwriter Bob Ruzicka.