All posts by Diane Wild

Diane is the founder of TV, eh? She loves books, movies, TV, science, space, traveling, theatre, art, cats, and drinking multiple beverages at the same time.
Baroness von Sketch Show

Link: Can Baroness von Sketch Show bring CBC back to its comedy glory days?

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From Marsha Lederman of the Globe and Mail:

Can Baroness von Sketch Show bring CBC back to its comedy glory days?
A woman approaches an “admissions office” desk and begins speaking to the receptionist. “I cheated on my taxes, I slept with my sister’s boyfriend, I killed a dog …” The receptionist interrupts her. “This is university admissions.” “Oh, my gosh,” the woman responds, embarrassed. “I plagiarized my essay, I slept with my calculus professor, I defaulted on my student loans …” Continue reading.

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Featured

Comments and queries for the week of June 10

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From our mailbag this week:

Super Channel

Wondering if you have any idea how or why Super Channel lost rights to so many shows last month. Rizzoli and Isles, Major Crimes, Fortitude, the Code, etc are all missing from their website. People are pretty steamed, since they were the first-run Canadian home of Rizzoli and Major Crimes. Part 2 – any idea where the rights went? Not sure how long it has been this way, but the Super Channel development fund is not accepting submissions, either.

Super Channel’s parent company Allarco is now in bankruptcy protection so they’ve terminated some licensing contracts — their acquisitions and original programming are both at risk. I haven’t heard about other networks picking up the shows they’ve dropped yet. This is a guess but since Canadian networks just did their US shopping sprees for new US shows — Canadian upfronts were this past week — they may not be eager to pick up Super Channel’s leftovers in addition to their recent purchases. I wonder if a streaming service like Netflix, Crave or Shomi might be more likely to get them.

Nirvanna The Band The Show

Huh? No mention that this was a popular web series already?

Vice’s first scripted series, commissioned by Rogers, was announced as Nirvanna The Band The Show, launching this fall according to Now. Reading the media release offers no clue about its web series origins and it looks like the web version has been removed from official channels.

Now has more information on the source material versus TV version: “But even though much of the plot and dynamic remains from the original series, the trailer reveals that it’s wider in scope and has higher production value. Expect a trip to Sundance Film Festival and celebrity cameos from people like Kevin Smith and Strombo.”

Vikings

I wonder when Vikings returns. It’s now my second favourite show on tv behind Orphan Black.

The Corus media release says “Season four continues later this year on HISTORY with a gripping new season coming in 2017.” Past history (yes, I worked for that pun, sorry) suggests it could premiere around February 2017 since past seasons have aired on History in that month. But don’t place any bets based on that speculation.

Canada AM

After 40 years we get told the day before it’s very last show?

Yup. Last Thursday, CTV sent a release saying the following day would be the last Canada AM after 43 years on the air. Whether you believe it was time to rethink the network’s mornings or not, that’s a cold way to treat the audience. On Monday the replacement was announced as Your Morning with hosts Ben Mulroney and Anne-Marie Mediwake, to launch this summer … leading Globe and Mail columnist John Doyle to ponder another question: “How much Ben Mulroney can Canada take?”

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Bachelorette Canada

Jasmine Lorimer announced as Canada’s first Bachelorette 

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From a media release:

Kenora, Ontario-native Jasmine Lorimer is putting her heart on the line this fall on W Network’s The Bachelorette Canada. Lorimer, a hairstylist currently based out of Pemberton, British Columbia, will search for the man of her dreams when 20 eligible bachelors do whatever it takes to win her heart. By her side throughout the journey will be host Noah Cappe, who is best known for his roles on Food Network Canada’s Carnival Eats, The Great Canadian Cookbook and W Network’s top-rated series Good Witch. The smash-hit reality series premieres this fall on W Network.

A small-town girl at heart, 27 year-old Lorimer’s artistic nature and adventurous spirit drew her to the beauty industry and the West Coast. Her free spirited, down-to-earth approach to life, coupled with a warm and radiant disposition, make Jasmine the perfect choice for this romantic adventure of a lifetime. Refreshingly open, honest and not afraid to laugh at herself, Canadians nationwide will fall in love with Jasmine as she risks it all to find “the one.”

In the Canadian version of this widely successful reality series, Jasmine Lorimer is in search of her soul mate – and hopefully her groom-to-be. The male suitors compete for the Bachelorette’s affection on individual and group dates involving local and far-flung romantic encounters and adventures in exotic locations around the world. As Lorimer narrows the field and the number of men dwindles, romance and tensions rise. Ultimately, she will choose the one man with whom she wants to spend the rest of her life.

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Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Production begins on Michael: Every Day

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From a media release:

PRODUCTION BEGINS IN OTTAWA ON THE RETURN OF
MICHAEL: TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS

  • SEASON 2 TITLED MICHAEL: EVERY DAY

Rhombus Media is pleased to announce that production has commenced in Ottawa, Ontario for the long anticipated return of the Canadian Screen Award nominated comedy series, Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays. Picking up five years after the first season, Season 2 will be titled Michael: Every Day.

Directed by Genie and Tony Award® winner Don McKellar (Sensitive Skin, The Grand Seduction), the series began shooting its second season for the CBC last week. Returning to the series are Canadian Screen Award nominee Matt Watts (The Grand Seduction) as Michael and multiple Gemini Award winner and Tony Award® winner Bob Martin (Sensitive Skin, Slings & Arrows) as Dr. David Storper. The second season is set to air in Canada on CBC in early 2017.

The new season picks up five years after the first, with Michael (Matt Watts) well established in his new city, and David (Bob Martin) struggling to continue his practice without the comfort of his twice weekly sessions with Michael. When Michael suffers a surprising and devastating panic attack at the airport on his departure for a business trip, he returns to Ottawa for help, only to find that David is in worse shape than he is. Michael depends on David to help him get over his fear of flying and David depends on Michael to help him get his mojo back.

“I’m excited to return to Ottawa,” explains Don McKellar. “We have excellent scripts, funny and complex. This season is more of a psychiatric detective story, replete with mysteries, revelations and a whole new spate of diverting and perplexing dysfunctionalities. Very much looking forward to getting Michael and David into treatment.”

“It’s wonderful to be able to revisit Dr. David Storper and his patient Michael after five years have passed,” says Bob Martin. “Both have changed, for better and worse, but they still remain dependent on each other. Season 2 is hilarious and touching and even shocking at times. And Ottawa has never looked better!”

Also returning to the series are Gemini and Canadian Screen Award nominee Jennifer Irwin (Eastbound & Down) as Sammy, Canadian Screen Award and Canadian Comedy Award nominee Tommie-Amber Pirie (Bitten) as Claire, and Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award winner Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Dr. Wasserman. The series was created by Bob Martin and based on the real life neuroses of Matt Watts. Michael: Every Day is produced by Niv Fichman and Sari Friedland and executive produced by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. The series is directed by Don McKellar, and written by Bob Martin, Matt Watts and Lynn Coady. Michael: Every Day is produced by Rhombus Media, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund (CMF). The series is distributed by Tricon Films & Television.

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