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.
Industry News

CBC’s Heather Conway announces her departure

From a media release:

Heather Conway, Executive Vice President of CBC, has announced her departure from the public broadcaster to pursue other opportunities. She will remain in her role until December 7, 2018.

“Heather has been instrumental in spearheading CBC’s digital transformation on all of our platforms and across all genres, helping us meet our goal of doubling our digital reach, two years ahead of schedule,” said Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada. “She has been passionate about reflecting Canadian diversity in our content, ensuring that it is more distinctly and identifiably Canadian.

“It has been a privilege to serve Canadians and Canadian creators and to lead the incredible public broadcasters who work at CBC.  The experience and the CBC will be with me always, as the CBC always has been and should always be for all of us,” said Heather Conway.

“I am thinking about next steps in terms of how I will go about filling this very important position. In the meantime I look forward to continuing to work with Heather and her team over the next month to ensure a smooth transition,” concluded Tait.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

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Anne with an E

Link: Interview: Anne with an E’s Cory Gruter-Andrew

From Leora Heilbronn of Brief Take:

Link: Interview: Anne with an E’s Cory Gruter-Andrew
“People seem to relate to Cole in so many ways. It’s just great to see that there’s a whole group of people who can find themselves in Cole and it’s an honour that I get to represent such a group of people. It’s just really nice. I love it.” Continue reading. 

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Featured, Still Standing

Jonny Harris takes flight in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on Still Standing

For a quartet of seasons on Still Standing, host Jonny Harris has been crisscrossing Canada visiting small communities of people eking out a living despite tough times. Some towns are reeling over the loss of a key industry that left town. Other burgs are finding their footing thanks to budding tourism. Many of the communities Harris has visited are First Nations territories.

The latest is featured in Tuesday’s episode when he drops by Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, down the road a piece from Toronto. It’s a part of the province I’ve driven by many times on the way to and from Ottawa and Montreal—there are signs marking the area on Highway 401—but I’ve never made the turnoff to do some exploring.

Now I plan to, especially after watching Harris’ latest episode, which celebrates not only the tradition of the people in the area but the future too. I had no clue there was an aviation school there as part of the First Nations Technical Institute.

“We’re always interested in visiting First Nations communities,” Harris says over the phone. “The flight school was definitely something that caught our interest. A flight school that is, first and foremost, for Aboriginal kids. That was pretty neat.” It sure is. To see Harris behind the controls of a Cessna for just a few minutes is a sight to behold, as is his chat with the instructors and students at the school. Harris has made a career out of the gift of gab and it’s the high point for me during episodes of Still Standing, especially when he’s chatting and listening to stories told in Tyendinaga by Turtle Clan Mother Janice Hill, tanner Randy Brant or learning the intricacies of floorball from goalie Madison Brinklow.

Aside from celebrating Canadians eking out a living outside of the large cities, Still Standing revels in inclusivity: what connects us and what makes us different. That can be reflected in geography, livelihood and culture. And, as always, a shared laugh through Harris’ wry observations and teasing during his standup performance.

“It’s got to be a little bit saucy and cheeky,” he says. “But it also has to be respectful. I’m not there to make anyone feel uncomfortable.”

Still Standing airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Frankie Drake Mysteries

Preview: A deep dive into Detective Greyson on Frankie Drake Mysteries

Up until now, Frankie Drake Mysteries fans have only gotten a glimpse of the man Detective Greyson may be. We know he’s a law-abiding man—a good trait to have when you are a cop—and that he has a bit of a soft spot for Mary and Frankie.

We get a better picture of Greyson on Monday during the newest episode, the cheekily-titled “Fifty Shades of Greyson,” written by Jessie Gabe and directed by Cal Coons. Here’s what we have for an official storyline from the CBC:

Mary’s (Rebecca Liddiard) job is threatened when she accuses Detective Greyson (Anthony Lemke) of hiding evidence. Has she overstepped her bounds, or is Greyson a dirty cop?

And, as always, a few more tidbits from me of the non-spoilery kind.

Titillating in the 1920s
Franke Drake begins downright saucily, with a burlesque dancer finishing her feathered fan routine in front of a rowdy crowd. That dancer is CiCi Storm. The sassy, self-proclaimed Baroness of Burlesque, played by Sidney Leeder, is accused of a crime and it’s up to Mary and the girls to collar the correct culprit. Aside from Leeder, look for Matthew MacFadzean and Elise Bauman in guest roles. Bauman is Muriel, a fellow morality officer from another precinct who has a taste for the macabre.

Bessie Starkman returns
I was hoping we’d see the cutthroat character played by Natalie Brown again. And boom, she appears on Monday in all her sarcastic glory.

Frankie’s motorbike is back
I was wondering last week where Frankie’s motorcycle had gotten to. Had she sold it? Crashed it? Had the writers decided she didn’t need it anymore? Nope, she uses it to get around on Monday.

Frankie and Greyson go toe to toe
It was hinted in the Season 2 press release that Frankie and Greyson would butt heads. There have been minor nods so far this season but “Fifty Shades of Greyson” turns into the kerfuffle we’ve been teased about.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Detective Watts is a suspect on Murdoch Mysteries

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We Murdoch Mysteries fans have got it pretty good. While many, many television series are cancelled after just weeks or months, we’ve gotten 12 seasons of William Murdoch and his adventures. Over that time we’ve fallen in love with the main characters. We’ve cheered for the good guys and jeered at the bad guys. It’s been a lot of fun seeing the lads and ladies inside and outside of Station House No. 4 in a variety of serious, deadly, hilarious and offbeat scenarios. And Monday’s standalone instalment was certainly offbeat.

I was appalled at the emails and comments on social media denouncing last week’s Halloween episode, “Sir. Sir? Sir!!” Everyone is allowed to have an opinion, but heading online to spew insults at those involved in the show is out of line. To all of those people who have, in the last week, threatened to stop watching: go ahead. I won’t miss you. And learn some manners.

To the cast, crew and writing staff of Murdoch Mysteries: bravo for challenging the status quo and creating interesting tales for these characters to run around in. I appreciate it, and millions of other viewers do too.

As for Monday’s new instalment, “Brother’s Keeper,” here’s what the CBC has said officially:

When Watts (Daniel Maslany) kills a man in self-defence and Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) uncovers the victim’s criminal past, questions surround Watts’ story.

And here is some additional info I gleaned from watching a preview of the episode, written by Paul Aitken and directed by Craig David Wallace.

Detective Watts in the bomb
He showed up in our lives slightly dishevelled and a little scatterbrained, but Watts has shambled his way into my heart. I’m so glad Daniel Maslany has gotten increased airtime on Murdoch because Watts brings a lot to the table. He’s a little off-kilter at times, but he’s as brilliant as William. On Monday, we’re treated to a completely different side of Watts, with Aitken’s script giving Maslany the opportunity to really show off his acting talent. (Speaking of different sides, check out Maslany’s other CBC program, Four in the Morning. It’s weird and wonderful.)

Miss Hart is put out
A cop killing someone is huge, so William asks Julia to oversee the morgue, leaving Miss Hart less than thrilled. Understandable, of course.

Higgins is still married…
And the Higgins-Newsomes are adjusting to life without the finer things. Higgins is suffering from a serious lack of sleep, which may explain what he does to Murdoch just 11 minutes into “Brothers Keeper.”

John Brackenreid returns
Fans have been asking, and Aitken comes through. Turns out John has a real nose for investigations.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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