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.
Cardinal, Featured

Comments and queries for the week of February 16

I liked this season [of Cardinal] way more than Season 1, partly from the change of season but also because I thought the villain was way better this time. Like a lot of white people in Canada, I’ve been learning what racial appropriation is this year. It’s interesting to see it turn into a serial killer’s pathology. —Wim

Great series, really enjoy the characters of Cardinal and Delorme. I hope there is a fourth series commissioned to complete the books. Looking forward to Season 3, which is hopefully not 12 months away. —Toni

After Season 1 I started looking for Giles Blunt’s John Cardinal novels. The first one I found (and read) was No. 4 in the six-book series, By The Time You Read This which was so gripping! So when Season 2 started, and the “Catherine and John” thread started revealing itself, I knew right away what was coming! At times, it was a little too distracting to watch, seeing actors I’m more familiar with on 19-2 and Orphan Black (is Kevin Hanchard always going to play a cop?). However, you can also look at it from the opposite perspective, e.g. Kris Holden-Ried, who played LaSalle the biker bar owner, but also appeared as a priest consoling a troubled Frankie Drake (Frankie Drake Mysteries). I’ve admired Krist as an actor since I first saw him in Showcase’s Paradise Falls. I think he’s got range! —Stephen

I thought the opening credits for this show were the most beautiful I have ever seen. Anyone who thinks Northern Canada can’t be beautiful needs to view the first two or three minutes of the show. Aside from that, as a fan of Giles Blunt’s books, I was disappointed by the changes made, especially taking out Ray Northwind’s heritage as a Cuban. It makes the whole mysticism much more believable than the way the TV series showed him as coming from Sudbury. —Wendy

Pure quality and totally absorbing. —AnnH

U.S. fan, blew my mind the ending. Loved this season! Great sophomore to a brilliant first season. Characters phenomenal! Landscape gorgeous. There certainly is beauty in pain. Cannot wait for Season 3. —Kim

 

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

 

 

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Industry News

NFB and APTN enter into partnership to strengthen role of Indigenous Peoples and creators in the Canadian audiovisual industry

From a media release:

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and APTN announced today the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will pool the organizations’ efforts and expertise in implementing protocols, programs, training and other initiatives aimed at strengthening relations with Indigenous Peoples and creators. The MOU will have a lasting and positive impact on the Canadian production and distribution landscape and ensure these initiatives are more rapidly implemented. The agreement is the result of actions recently taken by each organization, particularly a three-year plan released by the NFB last June, entitled Redefining the NFB’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples (2017–2020), and the implementation of the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

“The NFB and APTN have a long history of working together. This MOU reflects our shared desire to build on what has already been achieved and ensures that the voices of Indigenous Peoples and creators can be heard in communities across the country. In doing so, we hope to help build a lasting legacy to hand down to current and future generations.” – Claude Joli-Coeur, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB

“APTN is proud to partner with the NFB by being part of a series of initiatives aimed at increasing the contribution and recognition of Indigenous Peoples and cultures to the Canadian film and television industry, in alignment with Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations. As the world’s first national Indigenous broadcaster promoting Indigenous talent for almost two decades, we look forward to sharing our journeys, our cultures and our stories with one of the key players in the Canadian media-production landscape.” – Jean La Rose, Chief Executive Officer, APTN

“The Government of Canada is delighted that the National Film Board of Canada is once again working together with APTN. This partnership, which is essential to reconciliation, will help diversify Indigenous productions and make the works of these artists even more accessible to Canadians.” – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

The partnership will primarily allow the organizations to:

  • pool their expertise to develop protocols regarding the access and use of archival materials in the NFB’s Indigenous collection and find ways to make this material more accessible to media artists;
  • develop production projects that make use of NFB documentary archival materials (stock footage, film clips and complete films) in new works that contextualize the content from an Indigenous viewpoint, thus taking a new critical and historical perspective;
  • help make the NFB’s Indigenous collections accessible through distribution, and work jointly through screenings similar to NFB’s Aabiziingwashi (Wide Awake) tour;
  • jointly develop internal protocols and best practices for the production and distribution of documentaries, animation and interactive/immersive works by Indigenous creators;
  • develop and implement hiring strategies grounded in best practices for onboarding, integrating, retaining and providing professional training to Indigenous employees;
  • develop and implement cultural competency training for NFB staff regarding Indigenous issues;
  • share audience-data analysis and research on reaching audiences.

 

Image of Jean La Rose (left) and Claude Joli-Cœur (right) courtesy of Doug Little.

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Crawford, Featured

Crank it up! CBC Music releases Crawford’s playlist

Music is a huge part of television. The right orchestral piece can add incredible drama and the correct bit of rock can add pop to a scene. Crawford definitely uses music to that advantage.

Available for streaming via CBC.ca and the CBC TV app, Crawford centres on a dysfunctional family headed by Cynthia (Jill Hennessy), an award-winning cereal executive trying to juggle work, her husband Owen, and her lover; and Owen (John Carroll Lynch), a former police chief who suffered a bullet wound on the job and communicates via an app on his smartphone. Adding to the nuttiness are siblings Don (Kyle Mac), a musician who returns home following an emotional breakdown; Wendy (Alice Moran), Brian (Daniel Davis Yang) and a family of raccoons. Yes, you read that right. Raccoons.

Now CBC Music has teamed with Crawford co-creators Mike Clattenburg and Mike O’Neill for the ultimate playlist. The series’ original soundtrack, along with additional songs from TUNS, The Weeknd, The Tragically Hip, A Tribe Called Quest, Tracy Chapman, Prince, Holy Fuck and Rush make up a list of 92 curated tracks. Check them out below.

“It’s what would happen if some of the of the people who worked on Crawford, including me, took turns playing music at a party. Some of it is thematic some of it is personal,” O’Neill says. Clattenburg, O’Neill and executive producer Laura Michalchyshyn, and cast—Jill Hennessy, John Carroll Lynch, Kyle Mac, Alice Moran, Daniel Davis Yang—share some of the music that served as inspiration while writing and filming the series.

In the below video, O’Neill and Clattenburg discuss how they scored Crawford‘s original soundtrack.

 

Crawford‘s first season is available for streaming via CBC.ca and the CBC TV app. It will be broadcast on CBC later this year.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Photo gallery: Rocky Mountain Railroad; plus sizzle reel

I grew up being fascinated with trains. Some of my most treasured memories as a child are of bombing along country roads outside of Brantford, Ont., with my dad (he was behind the wheel) as we chased trains to railroad crossings. That feeling has never changed. I still get a thrill out of watching—and riding in—trains.

I know I’m not the only one. Heck, Discovery already celebrates that mode of transportation with Mighty Trains—Season 2 is currently in production—proving lovers of these rail riders is an international affection.

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Now Discovery focuses solely on the country of Canada with Rocky Mountain Railroad. Debuting Monday, March 5, at 10 p.m. ET, the series features the folks and machinery of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Ontario Northland Railway. Cameras capture how the elite crews assembled keep the nation’s critical freight and passenger trains rolling during the winter months by battling deadly avalanches, monster icicles, steep rockslides and dangerous wildlife.

Take a peek at some of the trains featured in Rocky Mountain Railroad above and check out the teaser trailer for what to expect on March 5.

Rocky Mountain Railroad airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET beginning on March 5.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

 

 

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Crawford

Link: Open relationships, improv, edibles & raccoons: a chat with Alice Moran about CBC’s new comedy, Crawford

From She Does the City:

Link: Open relationships, improv, edibles & raccoons: a chat with Alice Moran about CBC’s new comedy, Crawford
“Wendy is the probably the most normal one in the family, but she acts as if her problems are the biggest and most insane. I feel like she’s always 8 out of 10 on the annoying scale. Playing her is like indulging your own worst self.” Continue reading.

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