Canada’s Handyman Challenge names competitors

From a media release:

CANADA’S HANDYMAN CHALLENGE NAILS DOWN ITS TOP 15 COMPETITORS

  • HGTV Canada’s All-Stars Reveal Top Picks from Auditions in Halifax, Vancouver and Toronto
  • Celebrity Contractor Mike Holmes Joins Judges in Final Episode to Award $25,000 Prize

The nationwide search for Canada’s Best Handyman has honed in on 15 exceptional competitors who will move on to vie for the coveted title and $25,000. After auditions across Canada, HGTV Canada’s all-star judges Scott McGillivray (Income Property), Bryan Baeumler (Leave It To Bryan) and Paul Lafrance (Decked Out) have selected the country’s top handyman talent, and they’ll be joined by Mike Holmes (Holmes Makes It Right) in the finale episode to choose the winner. The Top 15 will begin their battle in next week’s episode of Canada’s Handyman Challenge, airing on Tuesday February 12 at 10pm ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

The Top 15 were chosen after presenting the judges with their most creative plywood projects, from wooden salmon to full working bicycles, and competing in skill-testing timed challenges that stretched their minds and hands to the limit.   Guy Belair, 52, Coquitlam BC·        

  • David Fitzgerald, 28, Lawrencetown NS    
  • Kris Granneman, 31, Burnaby BC   
  • Wayne Huston, 44, Westmontrose ON
  • Kyle Jackson, 52, Halifax NS
  • Michael Kmeth, 42, Hamilton ON
  • Brian Lee, 66, Rockwood ON
  • David MacCallum, 43, Halifax NS
  • Marc Martin, 40, Moncton NB
  • Maria Nestoras, 29, Hamilton ON
  • Chris Palmer, 30, Oshawa ON
  • Shannon Parker, 38, Berwick NS
  • Ken Ross, 39, Burnaby BC
  • John Rousseau, 29, Summerland BC
  • Mark Ulinder, 40, Kamloops BC

Canada’s Handyman Challenge will follow these 15 contestants as they move on to bigger, more complicated projects. They will compete in challenges such as hanging wallpaper, building a swinging seat, and correctly wiring a three-way switch. In the final episode airing Tuesday, March 19 at 10pm ET/PT, Canada’s most trusted contractor Mike Holmes (Holmes Makes It Right) joins the judges panel to weigh in on the finalists’ ultimate challenge – creating an extravagant and detailed outdoor living space. Through wins and losses, personal triumphs and upsetting mistakes, the competitors are prepared to put it all on the line to impress the judges, win the title of Canada’s Best Handyman and bring home the $25,000 prize. For more information on the top 15 competitors, full episodes after they air, and exclusive on-set interviews with Canada’s Handyman Challenge all-stars, visit www.hgtv.ca.

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TV, eh? podcast episode 121 – “To Tea Or Not To Tea”

Motive

Diane schools Anthony on rooibos versus tea and they chat about Canadian TV, too, including Motive’s stellar debut, the sad ratings of Seed’s premiere and Mr. D and The Ron James Show flip-flop, the special Screenies, Michael Buble as Juno host, SCTV as the greatest, and Canadian comedies eying the US market.

Episode 121: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed.

Your hosts

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Copper season two in production

Copper

From a media release:

SEASON TWO PRODUCTION OF COPPER IS UNDERWAY

  • DONAL LOGUE (SONS OF ANARCHY) JOINS THE CAST
  • THOMAS KELLY (BLUE BLOODS) SIGNS ON AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Cineflix Studios, in association with BBC AMERICA and Shaw Media, announced today that production has started for Season two of the 1860s New York City drama, COPPER. Created by three-time Emmy® Award-winner Tom Fontana, Academy Award®-nominee Will Rokos, and executive produced by Barry Levinson, BBC AMERICA’s highest-rated original drama series was re-commissioned ahead of the season one finale with an increased order of 13 one-hour episodes. Accomplished writer/novelist, Thomas Kelly (Blue Bloods), also joins COPPER as executive producer alongside Fontana and Levinson.  COPPER is filming in Toronto, Ontario through July 2013.

Veteran actor Donal Logue (Sons of Anarchy, Max Payne) joins the COPPER cast this season as Brendan Donovan, a General who has recently returned from the battlefields of the Civil War to his station in Five Points. The political boss of the Sixth Ward is reasserting himself as one of the most influential and powerful men in the city’s political machine.  

Set on the hard streets of New York City in 1865, Tom Weston-Jones returns as Detective Kevin Corcoran, an Irish-American cop who seeks justice for the powerless in the notorious immigrant neighborhood of Five Points.  Following the upheaval during the finale of last season, Corcoran struggles to keep the untamed, post-war city in line while dealing with the horrible truth about what happened to his wife and child – and his best friend’s betrayal. As he attempts to rebuild his life, those around him strive to find their place in the American saga – be it for good or evil.

“Season two is driven by flawed and haunted characters living in explosive times,” says Tom Fontana. “Each of them is looking for renewal in the wake of last season’s revelations and violent upheaval. The on-going storylines follow Detective Corcoran and company on their paths to redemption or ruin.”

Joining Weston-Jones (World Without End, MI-5) are multiple returning cast members. Kyle Schmid (Arrow, Being Human) plays Robert Morehouse, the unruly son of a Manhattan aristocrat who is reeling from the consequence of his father’s deceit and disgrace. Anastasia Griffith (Once Upon a Time, Damages) is the sophisticated Elizabeth Haverford, now threatened by exposure and ruin as a result of her double life. Franka Potente (American Horror Story, The Bourne Supremacy) portrays Eva Heissen, the shrewd businesswoman who presides over Eva’s Paradise, a brothel at the center of Five Points. Ato Essandoh (Django Unchained, Elementary) is back as Doctor Matthew Freeman, now considering an expansion of his practice that means a return to Five Points. Also returning are Kevin Ryan (Tripping Tommy, RAW) as Francis Maguire; Dylan Taylor (Covert Affairs, Charlie Bartlett) as Detective Andrew O’Brien; ACTRA Award-nominee Kiara Glasco (Haven, I’ll Follow You Down) as Annie Reilly, and Tessa Thompson (For Colored Girls, Heroes) as Sara Freeman.

COPPER, Cineflix Studios’ inaugural project, was ordered straight to series and went on to become BBC AMERICA’s highest-rated series premiere and highest-rated drama series ever.  Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media, said: “We are pleased to once again join BBC AMERICA as a broadcast partner and collaborate with this award-winning team of creative minds to continue Corcoran’s journey to justice.” COPPER is a Cineflix (Copper 2) Inc. production in association with BBC AMERICA and Shaw Media. Season two executive producers include: Levinson, Fontana, Rokos, Kelly, Cineflix Studios President, Christina Wayne, Sherri Rufh, Sam Berliner, and Katherine Buck.  Larysa Kondracki is Co-Executive Producer/Director.

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Wednesday: Bomb Girls, Mr. D, Ron James, Arctic Air

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Bomb Girls, Global – “Where There’s Smoke”
When Gladys discovers who has been paying her hotel bills, she decides to make some bold choices. Meanwhile, Lorna finally admits that her son’s bravado might have darker roots; Betty meets a soldier named Teresa – who offers her new possibilities; and Marco sources the cavalcade fireworks from Frank, a former childhood friend, who hints he could also help Marco in other ways.

Mr. D, CBC – “The Crush”
Gerry develops a crush on the mother of one of his most
annoying students. Leung gives driving lessons to Simon. Trudy and Robert take over the morning announcements and they become incomprehensible.

Ron James Show, CBC – “Power”
Ron gets fired up about ‘Power and Energy’. When the Chinese government tries to make up for a multitude of sins with cuddly two-toned bears, the result is Panda-monium. With special guests Colin Mochrie & Ennis Esmer.

Arctic Air, CBC – “Old Wounds”
Bobby backs Jim McAllister in a tough-guy boxing tournament as part of a last-ditch bid to save his diamond claim; and Arctic Air falls into crisis when Blake’s friend joins the crew.

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