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.
Carter, Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Carter: How Kristian Bruun’s unemployment beard landed him the role of Dave

We’re loving Carter.

The light tone, humour and chemistry between the three main characters—actor Harley Carter (Jerry O’Connell), cop Sam Shaw (Sydney Poitier-Heartsong) and coffee truck owner Dave Leigh (Kristian Bruun)—is a big part of that. The trio is the heart and soul of the mystery series, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, and we couldn’t imagine anyone else in those roles.

Ironically, if it hadn’t been for his Murdoch Mysteries character, Constable “Slugger” Jackson being killed off, Bruun likely never would have scored Dave. We spoke to Bruun, who will also be seen in the excellent space web series Deep Six in the coming months, about landing the role.

What was it like working on Carter?
Kristian Bruun: It’s funny how this world works because I wouldn’t have gotten that job if I was back on Murdoch Mysteries, I think. And, like Peter Mitchell said back then about not being worried about me, he was kind of right. When I didn’t get to come back to Murdoch for Season 11, I was like, ‘Well, I guess I don’t have to be clean-shaven anymore.’ So I grew this hipster beard to fit in in my neighbourhood in L.A. I called it my unemployment beard. [Laughs.] I was looking a little more rugged and then an audition came along for this role, playing a dude from up north. I thought the beard could work and I booked the role.

Tell me about Dave.
He’s a very different character that I’m very lucky to play. We had a blast shooting it. Jerry O’Connell, Sydney Poitier and I are up north solving crimes. I kind of describe it as Magnum, P.I. meets Murder, She Wrote. It’s a small town, there are too many murders and we’re running around solving capers and getting into too much trouble. It’s a really fun role. We had a blast shooting it. It was like summer vacation. We were there from July to October in North Bay, Ont., a beautiful place to be shooting and every week friends of mine were coming up to film guest-starring roles on this. It was like, ‘Hey, come up and hang out with us for a week on this crazy TV show.’ It has a lot of humour, a lot of heart.

Carter airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.

Image courtesy of Bell Media. 

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Industry News

Corus Entertainment provides update on sale of Historia and Séries+ to Bell Media

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) (“Corus Entertainment”) today announced that the Commissioner of Competition has not approved the sale by Corus Entertainment of French-language specialty channels Historia and Séries+ to Bell Media Inc. (“Bell Media”).

At this time, Corus Entertainment and Bell Media are reviewing the Commissioner’s decision, and considering the appropriate course of action.  Corus Entertainment will provide further updates in due course.

In addition to Competition Act approval, completion of the sale remains subject to the approval of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the “CRTC”) and other customary closing conditions. The application is currently before the CRTC.

Corus Entertainment also remains an active contributor to the Quebec broadcast and production community with Global Montreal, Télétoon and La chaîne Disney, as well as Toon Boom, its animation software company.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that creates and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. The company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses 44 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a global content business, digital assets, live events, children’s book publishing, animation software, technology and media services. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Canada, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, National Geographic Channel, Q107, CKNW, Fresh Radio, Disney Channel Canada, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada.

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Awards

Link: Behind-the-scenes superstars get their moment in the spotlight at 2018 Leo Awards

From Sabrina Furminger of YVR Screen Scene:

Link: Behind-the-scenes superstars get their moment in the spotlight at 2018 Leo Awards
The big winner of the night was Dead Shack. Peter Ricq’s horror film took home three awards in the Motion Picture category, including Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Make-Up.

Multiple productions received two awards apiece, among them: Ghost Wars (Best Sound and Best Costume Design); the short film, Mental (Best Sound and Best Production Design); Marie Clements’ inventive musical documentary The Road Forward (Best Cinematography and Best Picture Editing); and Indian Horse (Best Sound and Best Visual Effects). Continue reading.

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Industry News

Link: CBC-TV is fighting back

From James Bawden:

Link: CBC-TV is fighting back
Let’s see –the first CBC-TV fall preview I attended (as the summer student at The Globe And Mail) was in 1970 when the public network was riding high. In those dear dead days there was a 10 channel TV universe and that was it.

Thirty-five print TV critics from across Canada flew in for several days of interviews with such CBC stars as Juliette, Friendly Giant and Knowlton Nash and CBC redesigned its cavernous studio up Yonge Street (the home of Front Page Challenge) for a gala party that drew thousands of advertisers and hangers on.

That was then. This is now. Continue reading.

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Featured, Private Eyes

Preview: George Chuvalo delivers knockout punch in Private Eyes’ return

When we last left Shade and Angie, things had gotten a little weird with their personal relationship. As a matter of fact, Angie realized she had feelings for her partner and drove over to Shade’s house to tell him that. Unfortunately, just before she knocked on his front door, she spotted Mel and Shade getting intimate. Angie turned to Ken for solace.

After waiting close to a year for Private Eyes to return with new episodes on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global, where are Shade and Angie? Solving crimes of course! Here’s what Global’s episode synopsis says regarding “Kissing the Canvas.”

After being hired by a boxer to prove a fight was fixed, Shade’s sucker-punched when he meets the boxer’s manager: none other than his ex-manager who made off with all of Shade’s money! Angie brings in her mother Nora as a gambling advisor to help crack the case, hopefully before their client gets the knockout of her life.

And we’ve got more tidbits after watching a screener, written by James Thorpe and directed by James Genn:

Who is back for the second half of Season 2?
Zoe (Samantha Wan) and Detective Mazhari (Ennis Esmer) return, along with Jules (Jordyn Negri), Don (Barry Flatman), Becca (Nicole DeBoer), Mel (Bree Williamson) and Dr. Ken (Mark Ghanimé).

George Chuvalo guest-stars in Sunday’s instalment
The five-time Canadian heavyweight boxing champ who took Muhammad Ali the distance twice in the ring appears as himself.

A former Call Me Fitz co-star stops by
Peter MacNeill, a.k.a. Ken Fitzpatrick, shows up to play Shade’s old manager Murray Clavin. And Shade isn’t happy to see him. Also appearing in guest roles this week are Conrad Coates and Tony Nappo. Workin’ Moms Mimi Kuzyk reprises her gig as Angie’s mom, Nora.

Zoe and Maz are back at it …
… and quickly threatening for cutest/most awkward couple on primetime TV.

Private Eyes airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

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