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.
I did not understand why the windows on the bus were blacked out to Kitchener-Waterloo [on The Amazing Race Canada] but besides that, I really liked the last two episodes. They included tasks that challenged the mind instead of just testing physical ability allowing different teams or members of a team to take the lead and thrive. Gulp, the math challenge would have done me in, been too long since high school and do not use the term square root in adult life. Seeing the teams calculate the distance like that (snap!) was awesome. I do not mind Dave and Irina as a team on TARC actually. I do not agree with every decision they’ve made when it comes to their strategy or calling their fellow racers peasants but they are a team who support each other in their goal to win. Plus the way Dave cherishes his wife! Initially, I thought Aarthy was a spunky competitor but with each episode (is it just the editing??) she cannot control her temper, either hates or loves the race, appears to be a bit spoiled, and just brings negative energy. Yup, her outbursts make for good TV but I do feel bad for her partner and not just in the race. The phrase “that’s disrespectful†keeps coming to mind each time she loses her cool at him. Seeing how these teams would fare in a different country would be interesting! Nice to see Team SK almost come in first and win a leg. They are trying so hard. Cute how big sister fed little sister. —Tunie
I liked the questions in other languages so it wasn’t a total advantage for speaking French, though Irina needed time to overcome her fear kinda offset her multilingual skills. Dave just trying to Hulk-smash the Detour was funny too. A flaw in Anthony and James’ skill set, French. Find someone that looks at you the way Sam and Aarthy looked at Thinesh in that suit. Aarthy started strong but the last few episodes she’s flamed out letting him do all the work. The Blind Detour concept was interesting though “That†was clearly easier. Ontario-Quebec-Ontario again, on top of three B.C. legs. Flawed race course design at best. (Though I give them a bit of slack if the rumours of Waterloo and Revelstoke being replacement legs for Turkey and The Philippines are true.) Last week, what was the point of blacking out the bus when it was just another Canadian city? —DanAmazing
Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.
Link: Sean Baek talks Killjoys Season 5
“Ever since [Fancy] became cleansed, there was always this push and pull within the organization as a RAC member. He felt like he was a valued member despite [his reputation]. He got his job done. He was by the code and he was a professional.†Continue reading.Â
In association with Animiki See Digital Production, Nüman Films and Indios Productions, APTN announced today that it will premiere season two of the documentary-series, First Contact as a three-night television event on APTN starting September 17 at 8 p.m. ET/CT/MT.
The series will continue with episode two on Wednesday, September 18 and episode three on Thursday, September 19. Following the third episode on Thursday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET/CT/MT, the travelers and some of the Indigenous hosts and producers will sit down in an interactive panel, live on Facebook.
Following the success of season one, this brand-new season once again takes six Canadians, all with varied opinions about Indigenous Peoples, on a unique 28-day exploration of Indigenous communities. The three-part series, narrated by host and social justice activist George Stroumboulopoulos, has proven to be a compelling exploration into Indigenous culture in Canada.
The participants will have their lives turned upside down, their perceptions challenged and their prejudices confronted in this three-part series. This journey will change their lives forever.
The six travelers’ life-changing, 28-day journey into Indigenous communities starts in Kanesatake, QC. The participants are exposed to a new perspective about the Oka Siege and then in Natuashish, Labrador, time spent with the local Innu Peoples sheds new light on its residents and history.
In episode two, the six participants travel south to Thunder Bay, where a number of tragic incidents have exposed racist attitudes towards Indigenous people. Then, a meeting with residential school survivors in southern Ontario shocks the travelers.
In the final episode, the group travels to northern Saskatchewan and face their biggest test yet. There, they meet with people from communities deeply affected by the death and trial of Colten Boushie. Finally, the group travels to Yukon, where self-governance is helping a community flourish.
Indigenous educators and storytellers include:
Ian Campeau, formerly of a Tribe Called Red
Colleen Cardinal, Sixties Scoop survivor
Ellen Gabriel and Elder John Cree, Front line community members at the Oka Siege
Stephanie MacLaurin, community host in Fort William First Nation
Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, race relations coordinator in Saskatoon
Eleanore Sunchild, legal council for the Boushie family
Debbie Baptiste, Colten Boushie’s mother
Season 2 began filming in August 2018, prior to the release of season 1.
The following six participants will leave their everyday lives behind to visit Indigenous communities across Canada:
Brennen is outspoken, loyal, honest, and is known for being a jokester. Brennen straddles political lines; he feels strongly about LGBTQ+ rights, housing and health care, and believes in being fiscally conservative. He considers himself a person who is helpful and treats people with respect. As a first-generation, Croatian immigrant whose family has seen great success in Canada, he feels that Indigenous Peoples lack the necessary work ethic to succeed, and instead choose to blame others for their problems.
Jackson Way
Age: 19
Location: Midland, Ont.
Occupation: Student
An East Coast resident, Jackson Way has been attending school in Nova Scotia for the last year studying history. But this 19-year-old animal lover calls Ontario home. Jackson has a passion for history and politics and is a creative person. He loves poetry, playing guitar, songwriting and singing, and theatre. He has strong opinions about Indigenous Peoples and feels they receive special treatment. He loves to learn, feels strongly about social responsibility and is always up for a healthy debate.
LaurianneBencharski
Age: 45
Location: Prince Albert, Sask.
Occupation: Former Corrections Officer
Laurianne is a very active person and is interested in a variety of recreational activities. In her free time, she loves to ride on her ski doo or quad, curl, slow pitch, and spend time at her cabin. Living in Prince Albert, where 40% of the population is Indigenous, she has experienced many negative interactions and feels like a victim. This has led to her harbouring many negative feelings toward Indigenous Peoples.
Larry Harris
Age: 62
Location: Brantford, Ont.
Occupation: Shipping and Receiving
Outgoing and charming, Larry is an opinionated man with a fun-loving exterior. But he holds strong stereotypical views towards Indigenous Peoples and sees them as angry and greedy. Mostly, he feels they are to blame for any hardships they face, and the rest of society has to pay for it. In his free time, Larry loves to spend time at the cottage, fishing, hunting, and cycling.
When asked how others would describe her, Stephanie said they would call her a dreamer, someone who thinks unconventionally, is friendly and optimistic. Samantha grew up in a tight-knit family and describes her childhood as ‘quite perfect.’ Growing up in the suburbs, she has admittedly grown up in a very sheltered world. Not only does she know nothing about Indigenous Peoples or culture, she claims to have never even met an Indigenous person in her life.
Stephanie Pituley
Age: 36
Location: Tyndall, Man.
Occupation: Stay-at-home mother and co-owner of a trucking business
First Contact is produced by Animiki See Digital Production, Nüman Films and Indios Productions, with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund. Producers are Vanessa Loewen and Desiree Single from Animiki, Jeff Newman and Jocelyn Mitchell from Nüman Films, and Stephanie Scott from Indios Productions. This series is written and directed by Jeff Newman.
In the first season of How to Buy a Baby, viewers met Jane (Meghan Heffern) and Charlie (Marc Bendavid), a young couple struggling to get pregnant. From hormone injections to faulty testes and uterine walls, How to Buy a Baby opened the door to hilarity and much-needed openess about infertility.
Jane and Charlie are back for a second season—dropping on CBC Gem on August 23—tackling the next logical step in their journey: adoption.
“This is based on my own experiences and I wanted to portray things as authentically as I could,” says Wendy Litner, How to Buy a Baby‘s creator. “Because my husband and I moved on to adoption that seemed like the logical next step.” Litner—who has written for The Globe and Mail penned a blog for Today’s Parent about How to Buy a Baby.
“I really felt like I connected with Wendy and the subject matter,” Heffern says during a recent phone call. “And I really loved the idea of playing a normal woman. In some of the other roles I’ve had I’ve played sci-fi villains or very heightened versions of a normal person. It was exciting to play someone grounded in reality.”
In the first instalment of Season 2, Jane and Charlie are stressing over an upcoming visit from an adoption agency worker. But before that, Charlie runs through a questionaire they need to answer. Among the queries: will they accept a baby that was the result of a rape or incest? Once Stan (Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll) arrives things escalate. He has his own questions and suggestions about how Jane and Charlie can improve their chances at adopting a baby, namely ensuring Christmas happens despite Charlie being Jewish. Outrageous? Yes. But, they are exactly the questions Litner and her husband were asked during their adoption process.
“I was actually shocked by the questions when we were filling out the questionnaire,” Litner recalls. “How often did we have sex? I mean, what is the right answer to that?! It was so jarring and they delve so deep into every aspect of your life.
“Although, you are getting a child, so I can understand why they want to make sure your electrical outlets are up to code.”
CTV’s most buzzworthy daily lifestyle program THE SOCIAL returns for a seventh season this September with a new show opening and logo, brand-new set design, and another season of timely and unfiltered discussions on current events, lifestyle, and entertainment topics. Premiering live on Monday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. ET on CTV, THE SOCIAL co-hosts Melissa Grelo, Marci Ien, Cynthia Loyst, Lainey Lui, and correspondent Jess Allen are back with lifestyle experts, beauty regimens, red carpet recaps, fashion tips, and a wide array of eclectic guests. This season also sees the return of the popular All Talk episodes, now taking place twice monthly, where the hosts and special guests have an hour-long lively roundtable debate on the hottest trends and news topics of the day.
The multiple-Canadian Screen Award-nominated series is the most-watched Canadian lifestyle program among all key demos, garnering an average weekly reach of 3 million viewers on CTV, CTV Two, and E!, and continuing to grow in the key A18-34 demo.
THE SOCIAL is also set to unveil its new daily podcast Sept. 9, featuring top moments from each episode and extended interviews. The podcast will be available daily, following the live broadcast, on the iHeartRadio app, and everywhere podcasts are available.
Also announced today is a continued partnership with leading home furnishing retailer IKEA, with a new ad spot running now on all Bell Media broadcast and digital platforms. IKEA’s new catalogue is incorporated through an in-show integrated commercial spot featuring all of the hosts.
THE SOCIAL airs live weekdays at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. AT) on CTV. THE SOCIAL is also available on-demand across CTV’s digital platforms including CTV.ca, TheSocial.ca, and the CTV app.
THE SOCIAL is produced by Bell Media Studios, and Michelle Crespi and Laura Scarfo are Executive Producers.
