Monthly Archives: March 2012

Saving Hope

Saving Hope premieres June 7 on CTV

From a media release:

New CTV Original Drama SAVING HOPE (Working Title) To Premiere June 7

  • Starring Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE), Michael Shanks (STARGATE ATLANTIS) and Daniel Gillies (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES) 
  • Series is from award-winning producers Ilana Frank and David Wellington

CTV announced today that its new original drama series SAVING HOPE (working title) will air Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning June 7. The series will anchor CTV’s summer schedule. Additional CTV summer programming will be announced at a later date.

In SAVING HOPE, currently shooting in Toronto, Charlie Harris (Shanks), the charismatic Chief of Surgery of Toronto’s Hope-Zion Hospital ends up in a coma, leaving the hospital in chaos – and his fiancée and fellow surgeon, Alex Reid (Durance), in a state of shock. Along with newly-arrived star surgeon, Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Alex races to save Harris’ life. As the action unfolds, comatose Dr. Harris explores the hospital halls in “spirit” form, not sure if he’s a ghost or a figment of his own imagination. Reid, along with her fellow doctors, press on to save his life and those of their other patients, as they deal with the complicated and courageous decisions that are made in their daily struggle to keep hope alive.

Starring Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE), Michael Shanks (STARGATE ATLANTIS), (Daniel Gillies, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Huse Madhavji (COMBAT HOSPITAL, STAR! DAILY), Julia Taylor-Ross (ROOKIE BLUE), and Kristopher Turner (ROOKIE BLUE, THE LISTENER), the series is from acclaimed Gemini award-winning producers Ilana Frank and David Wellington (THE ELEVENTH HOUR, WOULD BE KINGS, ROOKIE BLUE).

SAVING HOPE is produced by Ilana C Frank Films (“ICFF”) with Entertainment One, in association with CTV and NBC. The series is executive produced by Ilana Frank and David Wellington for ICFF, John Morayniss (THE FIRM, HAVEN) for Entertainment One and Lesley Harrison. Executive Producers and Showrunners are Morwyn Brebner (ROOKIE BLUE) and Aaron Martin (BEING ERICA). The series was created by Malcolm MacRury (CRASH AND BURN, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) and Morwyn Brebner. David Wellington directed the pilot. For Bell Media, Trish Williams is Director, Drama, Independent Production; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production; Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming & Sports.

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Awards, Featured, Flashpoint

WGC Nominee Larry Bambrick on Flashpoint’s “Shockwave”

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Leading up to the Writers Guild of Canada awards on April 23, TV, eh? will be posting a series of interviews with some of nominees. Larry Bambrick was nominated in the TV Drama category for the “Shockwave” episode of Flashpoint (one of four Flashpoint nominations in the category … and his first drama script).

Can you describe the episode and how it fit into the Flashpoint season?

In “Shockwave”, a routine call takes a horrible turn and most of Team One gets trapped underground with a powerful bomb. While Spike Scarlatti (the team’s tech expert) struggles to defuse the bomb, he gets news that his sick father won’t survive the night. Spike has to find a way to connect with an emotionally raw bomber, defuse the device and race to his father’s side. It’s the final chapter in a long arc about Spike and his often rocky relationship with his dad.

What about this episode are you particularly proud of?

I’m particularly proud of how quickly the entire writing team responded to last-minute production notes. Just days before shooting, it became obvious that the original script was simply too big. A couple of long days and late nights later — where we re-broke the last three acts — we turned around a new draft. The other happy surprise is that “Shockwave” is the first drama script I’ve ever written. To get a WGC nomination for it is simply overwhelming.

What does this recognition mean to you?

Two years ago, I took a chance moving into drama. I’d been working in news and documentaries for my entire career before deciding to see if I could make a living in the “non-factual” world. This nomination is just so humbling. This script — and my two years on Flashpoint — couldn’t be a better introduction to dramatic writing.

And finally (imagine my best Joan Rivers impression): what will you be wearing to the ceremony?

I’ll be wearing a black t-shirt and a lovely jacket my wife gave me. Likely shoes and socks too. Although if Michael MacLennan decides not to wear the patchwork pants he bought in Paris, I might borrow those.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New tonight: The Nature of Things, Doc Zone, Battle Castle

runner

The Nature of Things, CBC – “The Perfect Runner”
When our ancestors descended from the trees how did they survive? Scientists always thought the answer lay in our powerful brain. But new research into the origins of the human body shows there is something else about humans that make us special. Research into the physiology of early hominids is now revealing that critical adaptations occurred to produce modern Homo sapiens. Anthropologist and runner Niobe Thompson explores our evolutionary past as a species defined by its ability to run long distances.

Doc Zone, CBC – “The Age of Anxiety”
Anxiety is being called the disease of the 21st century. Everybody seems to be either afflicted – or knows someone who is. According to the World Health Organization, disorders related to “dread” are the most prevalent mental illness on the globe at the moment. THE AGE OF ANXIETY, a new film from Emmy Award-winning producer Ric Esther Bienstock and Associated Producers, looks at the explosive growth in the diagnosis and treatment of this affliction. Its World Premiere will be on CBC Television’s Doc Zone on Thursday, March 15 at 9 pm (9:30 NT).

Battle Castle, History Television – “Conwy Castle (Wales)”
King Edward’s Iron Ring of castles must deny a powerful group of rebels determined to end English rule in Wales.

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Featured, Industry News

TV, Eh? Industry Roundup – Corus Quay, Shaw Media/Vikings, CRTC/music, Sea to Sky Entertainment

Corus Quay flipped twice in one day

On March 12, 2012, the Corus Quay was bought by Corus 25 Dockside Property Inc., a Corus Entertainment subsidiary, for $186 million. Corus Quay was, until this move, owned by the Toronto Port Lands Company.

The original agreement saw Corus Entertainment lease the Corus Quay until 2029. In exchange for maintenance of the original lease, plus an optional twenty-year extension, H&R Real Estate Investment Trust is Corus Quay’s new owner. H&R REIT covered the cost of the Corus 25 Dockside Property Inc. sale.

The Corus Quay was completed in the fall of 2010. It is the central programming hub for twenty-four television services, and three Toronto radio stations. Around 1100 employees currently work at the Corus Quay.

Continue reading TV, Eh? Industry Roundup – Corus Quay, Shaw Media/Vikings, CRTC/music, Sea to Sky Entertainment →

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Just for Laughs specials return next week

From a media release:

 Just For Laughs, the comedy experts, have compiled the best performances of the 2011 Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and created three hilarious CBC Television specials, featuring international comedy stars John Oliver, Russell Peters, and Eric Stonestreet.

The laughs start with John Oliver’s comedic take on the future, or lack thereof, of the USA with The Decline of the American Empire. The following week Eric Stonestreet will reflect on relationships alongside a hysterical line-up of comedians in the special Modern Love. Concluding the series is Canada’s own Russell Peters, who hosts “the best night ever” with a personally selected line-up of his favourite and funniest comedian friends.

Continue reading Just for Laughs specials return next week →

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