All posts by Greg David

Prior to becoming a television critic and owner of TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for TV news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks from hundreds of television series from Canada, the U.S. and internationally. He is a podcaster, public speaker, weekly radio guest and educator, and past member of the Television Critics Association.
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Makeful TV launches Landscape Artist of the Year Canada, a new competition series hosted by Sook-Yin Lee

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From a media release:

Following Sky Arts UK’s best-performing, non-scripted series of all time, Landscape Artist of the Year, the highly-anticipated Canadian adaptation, brings together 18 of the country’s best professional and amateur artists alongside 50 wildcard hopefuls to compete for a chance to be crowned Landscape Artist of the Year Canada (4 x 60’). Hosted by Sook-Yin Lee, the all new original series sees the artists have just four hours to create a landscape masterpiece. The winning artist will not only be crowned Landscape Artist of the Year Canada, but will also walk away with a $10,000 cash prize and will have their artwork on display at the prestigious McMichael Canadian Art Collection – home to some of Canada’s most iconic landscape art. The world broadcast premiere of Landscape Artist of the Year Canada airs Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT, starting February 16, exclusively on Makeful during the channel’s eight-week free preview event running from Feb. 3 to April 5 across Canada.

Each episode of Landscape Artist of the Year Canada travels to breathtaking and truly Canadian backdrops, from Muskoka’s picturesque Lake Rousseau to a rural country farm in Barrie. Two winners from each location will go on to compete in the final. However, these artists aren’t the only ones trying to impress the judges. The competition also sees 50 more artists descend onto each location to try their luck as wildcards, and if any catch the judges’ eye, they too have a chance to compete in the final.

Alongside the host Sook-Yin Lee, the four-part series sees expert judges Marc Mayer, former Director of the National Gallery of Canada, and award-winning artist and educator, Joanne Tod, determine the winners of each location until only one artist remains.

Using their own material and style, the artists have just four hours to create their own rendition of the landscape before them.  From oil paint to acrylic, collage work to mixed media, the artwork is as diverse as the artists themselves.

Landscape Artist of the Year Canada is produced by marblemedia in association with Blue Ant Media and CBC.  Based on the UK format, it is distributed by Banijay Rights, and was originally produced by Storyvault Films. Following the world premiere on Makeful this February, CBC will also air the series later this year.

Meet the 18 chosen artists competing for the title of Canada’s Best Landscape Artist.

Episode 1 – Airing Sunday, Feb. 16 at 9pm ET/PT
Denise Antaya, Kingsville, ON
Laura Zerebeski, Vancouver, BC
Marissa Sweet, Oshawa, ON
Megan Hazen, Toronto, ON
Phil Irish, Elora, ON
Tosh Jeffrey, Toronto, ON

Episode 2 – Airing Sunday, Feb. 23 at 9pm ET/PT
Andrew Cheddie Sookrah, Toronto, ON
Anna Kutishcheva, Oakville, ON
Beckett Pura, York, ON
Colin Davis, North Bay, ON
Deborah Danelley, Winnipeg, MB
Ian McLean, Bright’s Grove, ON

Episode 3 – Airing Sunday, March 1 at 9pm ET/PT
Elzbieta Krawecka, Toronto, ON
Jeff Wilson, Vancouver, BC
Kylee Turunen, Port Alberni, BC
Mackenzie Brown, Edmonton, AB
Nadine Prada, Toronto, ON
Ron Kuwahara, Halifax, NS

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Awards

The 18th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto Nominees

From a media release:

ACTRA Toronto is proud to announce the nominees for the 18th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto. The ACTRA Awards in Toronto will take place at The Carlu on Saturday, February 22, 2020.

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Female:
Jessica Greco as Jessica the A.D. in Tokens, “Whitewashing” (Tokens on Call Productions)
Krista Morin as Judith in Spooning (Human Cutlery Films)
Anastasia Phillips as Catherine MacDonald in Tammy’s Always Dying (JA Productions)
Cara Ricketts as Mary Handford-Lacroix in Anne with an E, “What Can Stop the Determined Heart” (Northwood Entertainment)
Karen Robinson as Gladdy in Forgive Me, “Worthy of All Love” (Emotion Pictures)

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Male:
Aaron Abrams as Daniel in Nose to Tail (Motion Offense Productions)
Dalmar Abuzeid as Sebastian ‘Bash’ Lacroix in Anne with an E, “What Can Stop the Determined Heart” (Northwood Entertainment)
Salvatore Antonio as Steven” in Nose to Tail (Motion Offense Productions)
Daniel Fathers as Perry Bulmer in Project Ithaca (Wild Media Entertainment)
Araya Mengesha as Elijah Handford in Anne with an E, “There Is Something at Work in My Soul Which I Do Not Understand” (Northwood Entertainment)

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Female Voice:
Tajja Isen as Juniper in Norman Picklestripes, “The Forest Next Door” (Universal Kids)
Julie Lemieux as Margo Monkey in Top Wing, “Big Banana Break-In” (9 Story Media Group)
Julie Lemieux as Amelia in Binky: Pets of the Universe, “Happy PURSTgiving” (Corus Entertainment)
Bryn McAuley as Mavis in Hotel Transylvania: The Series, “Portrait of Mavis as a Young Vampire” (Corus Entertainment)
Samantha Weinstein as Sloane Plunderman in D.N. Ace, “Pure Clownage” (Nelvana)

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Male Voice:
Taylor Abrahamse as Huxley in D.N.Ace, “The New Guy” (Nelvana)
Juan Chioran as Mendel in D.N.Ace, “Any Given Clashday” (Nelvana)
Carter Hayden as Klaus in Hotel Transylvania: The Series, “Freakerheads” (Corus Entertainment)
Lyon Smith as Ace Ripley in D.N.Ace, “Any Given Clashday” (Nelvana)
Jacob Soley as Charlie in Charlie’s Colorforms, “Treasure Hunter Charlie” (DHX Media)

Nominees for the Members’ Choice Series Ensemble award:
Anne with an E (Northwood Entertainment)
Baroness Von Sketch (Frantic Films)
Kim’s Convenience (Thunderbird Entertainment)
Schitt’s Creek (Not a Real Company)
Tokens (Tokens on Call Productions)

During the ceremony, Michaela Washburn will present Jean Yoon with ACTRA Toronto’s 2020 Award of Excellence.

ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing over 15,000 of Canada’s 25,000 professional performers working in recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven union that continues to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers.

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Nurses

Links: Nurses’ Natasha Calis on what Ashley may be hiding under that rough exterior

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Nurses’ Natasha Calis on what Ashley may be hiding under that rough exterior
“There are a lot of medical dramas out there, but I think ours is special because we’re specifically putting nurses in the spotlight. We’re giving them the long overdue credit that they deserve. All of the medical dramas that you see out there are focused on the doctors, and I think it’s about time that nurses get to tell their stories too.” Continue reading.

From Charles Trapunski of Brief Take:

Link: Interview: Nurses’ Natasha Calis
“There’s this really interesting physicality with her that I’ve never gotten a chance to experiment with for a character because I think that she’s the most different from me than any other character that I’ve played. ” Continue reading.

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Schitt's Creek

Link: Schitt’s Creek creator Daniel Levy is open to doing a movie based on the hit show

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: Schitt’s Creek creator Daniel Levy is open to doing a movie based on the hit show
For “Schitt’s Creek” fans already dreading the end of the series, which began its sixth and final season on Jan. 7 on CBC, there is a glimmer of hope.

Series creator Daniel Levy says he would consider doing a “Schitt’s Creek” movie. Continue reading.

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