Yearly Archives: 2015

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Nora Roberts’ trilogy being adapted into Blood Magick TV series

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Blood_Magick_CoverFrom a media release:

Omnifilm Entertainment and Emily Andras adapting Nora Roberts’ latest book trilogy

Omnifilm Entertainment has secured the rights to bestselling author Nora Robertsʼ latest trilogy from Berkley Books, The Cousins OʼDwyer. Lost Girl Executive Producer Emily Andras will write the television series adaptation, entitled “Blood Magick”, the title of the final book in the trilogy.

Blood Magick is a contemporary genre continuing series set in Ireland, featuring sorcerer cousins Iona, Branna and Connor OʼDwyer as they face off against the ancient evil of the dark sorcerer Cabhan.

The series begins as American-born Iona Sheehan arrives in Ireland, where her ancestorsʼ blood and magic have flowed through generations – and where her destiny awaits. She tracks down her cousins, Branna and Connor OʼDwyer, and since family is family, they invite her into their home and soon she joins their mission to defeat Cabhan.

“We at Omnifilm Entertainment are delighted to be in business with Emily Andras, the very talented Executive Producer of Lost Girl, as she adapts Nora Robertsʼ thrilling Blood Magick trilogy for television,” said Paulo de Oliveira, Omnifilm SVP Scripted Programming and Executive Producer. “Nora Roberts is an author of unparalleled popularity, and we look forward to seeing her wonderful work realized for the screen.”

All three books in the Cousins OʼDwyer trilogy – Dark Witch, Shadow Spell, and Blood Magick - debuted at #1 in both paperback and e-book categories on the New York Times bestseller list. Nora Roberts is the bestselling author of more than 200 novels with more than 500 million copies of her books in print worldwide. Every Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb title released in 2014 hit the New York Times bestseller list, keeping up a streak started in 1999.

“Iʼm very excited to bring Blood Magick to series television,” said Andras. “These characters are so passionate in their fight to protect their home and each other, itʼs easy to be drawn into their dangerous quest. Set in Ireland’s enchanting County Mayo, the books detail a haunting and sensual world. With Noraʼs stories guiding us, we look forward to bringing Branna, Connor and Iona to life for the millions of Nora Roberts fans throughout the world.”

The project is being structured as a Canada/Irish co-production and will be pitched in the coming weeks.

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Ratings, Schitt's Creek

1.4 million tune in to Schitt’s Creek debut

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schitts_creek

From CBC:

CBC’s original series SCHITT’S CREEK premiered with 1.36 and 1.37 million viewers respectively tuning in to watch the back-to-back broadcast of episodes one and two last night. The half-hour single-camera comedy created by Eugene and Daniel Levy beat out American newcomer, Marvel’s Agent Carter. SCHITT’S CREEK’s second episode was the most highly rated comedy and the most highly rated half-hour series of the night.

Canadians took to Twitter as the #SchittsCreek hashtag trended throughout the night and into the morning.

The series centres around a wealthy family who suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt’s Creek, a small, depressing town they once bought as a joke. With their pampered lives now abandoned, they must confront their new-found poverty and discover what it means to be a family, all within the confines of their new home.

SCHITT’S CREEK is commissioned by CBC, produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc. and created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy.  The executive producers are Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Andrew Barnsley, Fred Levy and Ben Feigin.  SCHITT’S CREEK is distributed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

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Book of Negroes, Dragons' Den, Saving Hope

Tonight: Saving Hope, Dragons’ Den, Book of Negroes, Say Yes to the Dress Canada

Saving Hope, CTV – “Narrow Margin”
Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) steps away from the hospital for a hike in the woods, but can’t get away from medicine when she finds a trapped teenager in a dire situation. Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) needs Dr. Joel Goran’s (Daniel Gillies) help when a woman from the clinic won’t be seen by anyone else, and Dr. Zach Miller (Ben Ayres) has his hands full when an exotic dancer comes into the ER.

Dragons’ Den, CBC
A sporty entrepreneur thinks a friendly game of catch will get the Dragons playing hardball for a deal; a hero swoops into the Den aiming to leave with a fairy tale ending; and one entrepreneur hopes the fruits of her labour is ripe for a deal. Plus, a team of entrepreneurs look to construct the perfect pitch in the Den after their first business failed to break new ground.

The Book of Negroes, CBC
Aminata, forced to deflect the affections of the two men who own her, adjusts to plantation life in the Carolinas.

Say Yes To The Dress Canada, W Network
“Fashion Forward” – Fashion forward entourage members hit the sofa to help the brides in their lives find the perfect dress. Lily brings her godmother and fashion icon Jeanne Beker to weigh in on her dress possibilities, while Qwyn takes advice from her mom, a fashion stylist, who lives in Milan.
“Kids at Play” – Bringing kids to a bridal appointment makes wedding dress shopping a family affair. Janie has traveled across the country with her fiancée and their two children to find her dream dress. Alyssa needs to find a wedding dress that suits her and her two-year-old daughter.

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Featured, Podcast, Sunnyside

TV eh B Cs podcast 11 – Gary Pearson’s Sunnyside Up

CrackBioPhotoFINALEstablished writer, actor, and show runner Gary Pearson ran the award-winning hit youth sketch comedy show That’s So Weird. His writing credits include Corner Gas, The Ron James Show, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Just For Laughs All Access, starring Jay Baruchel, Jack McBrayer, Kristin Chenoweth, and Jason Jones. Pearson has also written for US projects such as Fox’s MAD TV.

Formerly of Toronto’s legendary Second City Mainstage, Pearson is known for his early work with his comedy troupe The Chumps. He has also appeared on camera in History Bites, The Kids In The Hall, The Newsroom, and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Pearson has six Gemini nominations for writing and producing, and three Canadian Comedy Award nominations and one win. He has three Writer’s Guild Screenwriting nominations and one win. He also has three Canadian Screen Award nominations and one win for comedy writing.

Pearson’s romantic comedy novel Slapshot of Love is available all over the world on Amazon.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

Want to become a Patron of the Podcast? We’ve got a Patreon page where you can donate a small amount per podcast and get a sneak peek of each release.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Featured

Orphan Black, 19-2 and Spun Out topline TV Canadian Screen Award nominees

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The stars and series Orphan Black, 19-2 and Spun Out were among the top nominees for the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards, announced in dual press conferences in Toronto and Montreal.

Space’s Orphan Black was the big winner, grabbing a total of 13 nominees on Tuesday morning (including nods for co-stars Tatiana Maslany and Jordan Garvaris), with Global’s Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy and City’s Seed nabbing five, Sensitive Skin with six, Motive with eight and 19-2, Call Me Fitz and Mr. D garnering 10.

Among the snubs for this year’s major TV awards? Kim Cattrall for Sensitive Skin, Rookie Blue, The Listener, Murdoch Mysteries, Heartland, Bitten and Republic of Doyle.

Kicked off by Academy CEO Helga Stephenson, part of the presentation was highlighted by a reel spotlighting the series and films created in Canada; it will be shown in Cineplex theatres (check out the trailer below). Canadian Screen Awards host Andrea Martin was on hand to not only accept a nomination for her role on Working the Engels but to express her excitement at hosting.

“This is a really strong year for Canadian television and film and I’m thrilled to be hosting the awards,” she said, while making a nod to attending the packed world premiere event for CBC’s Schitt’s Creek on Monday night.

Announced by Strange Empire actress Cara Gee and 19-2‘s Jared Keeso (who was nominated), here are the key television nominations:

Best Dramatic Series
19-2
Continuum
Motive
Orphan Black
Remedy

Best Comedy Series
Call Me Fitz
Mr. D
Seed
Spun Out
Tiny Plastic Men

Best Reality/Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada
Big Brother Canada
MasterChef Canada
The Ultimate Fighter Nations – Canada vs. Australia
Unusually Thicke

Best Children’s or youth Fiction Program or Series
Degrassi
The Next Step
Total Drama All-Stars

Best Dramatic Mini-Series or TV Movie
Babysellers
The Best Laid Plans
Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy
Bunks

Best Factual Program or Series
Cold Water Cowboys
Ice Pilots NWT
Emergency Room: Life and Death at VGH
Scam City
Tessa and Scott

Best International Drama
Vikings
The Great Martian War

Best Variety of Sketch Comedy Program or Series
Rick Mercer Report
Funny as Hell
Seth Rogen: Hilarity for Charity
This Hour Has 22 Minutes

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Gerry Dee, Mr. D
Adam Korson, Seed
Don McKellar, Sensitive Skin
Dave Foley, Spun Out
Mark Meer, Tiny Plastic Men

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Joanna Cassidy, Call Me Fitz
Julia Voth, Package Deal
Carrie-Lynn Neales, Seed
Kacey Rohl, Working the Engels
Andrea Martin, Working the Engels

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Adam Beach, Arctic Air
David Sutcliffe, Cracked
Jared Keeso, 19-2
Michael McLeod, Forgive Me
Dillon Casey, Remedy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Meaghan Rath, Being Human
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Megan Follows, Reign
Jennie Raymond, Sex & Violence
Jackie Torrens, Sex & Violence

The complete list can be found here.

What do you think of the nominations? Who do you think will win? Comment below or via @tv_eh.

Hosted by Andrea Martin, two-hour Canadian Screen Awards air Sunday, March 1, at 8 p.m. on CBC.

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