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.
Featured, Frankie Drake

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries sprints into Episode 2

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Last Monday, we got our first look at Frankie Drake Mysteries on CBC. In a word: we loved it. It really is the perfect companion to Murdoch Mysteries though lighter in tone and featuring—count ’em—four kick-butt ladies doing the crime solving.

Last week’s “Mother of Pearl,” was spent giving us a bit of Frankie’s backstory, so we were hoping to get some info on Flo, Trudy and Mary in Monday’s new instalment. Here’s what the CBC has revealed about the storyline for “Ladies in Red,” written by Cal Coons and directed by Ruba Nadda:

Frankie and Trudy are hired by a factory owner to root out communists at his plant, but things soon take an explosive turn.

And here are some additional tidbits after watching a screener.

Flo is fabulous
We’re already in love with Sharron Matthews’ portrayal of Flo. She’s saucy, smart and unapologetic and is a hit with the menfolk. When Frankie and Trudy catch up with her on Monday, she’s in the middle of chatting up a passing fellow and has some laugh-out-loud evidence on Frankie and Trudy’s latest case.

It’s the 1920s so…
… Frankie and Trudy carry guns. That’s a major change from fellow Monday night partner Det. William Murdoch, though at least the coppers at Station No. 4 get to carry billy clubs. Good thing too, because Frankie’s major case involves the Bolsheviks, going undercover and a truly explosive scene. As for Mary, she’s very interested in science and has an inquisitive mind; perhaps she’s inherited that from her father, whom we have yet to meet. Any guesses as to who he may be?

Frankie rides a motorbike
Reason No. 25 why we’re enamoured in this show already.

Paul Amos and Karen Robinson guest star
Amos, who starred on Lost Girl and appeared on Murdoch Mysteries, drops by as Mr. Richard Scanlon, a factory manager. Robinson, who is so great as Ronnie on Schitt’s Creek, plays Trudy’s mother Mildred Clarke.

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

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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Featured

Comments and queries for the week of November 10

[1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus] interests me a ton. I will say that I learned quite a lot about First Nations history in school growing up. In the 90s it was a big part of the social studies curriculum. The topic interested me considerably and I took some courses in university about it. At Brandon University, where I attended, their department of Anthropology had several archaeology courses emphasizing First Nations archaeology and I wish I could have taken more but I lacked any additional room for electives. Now I wish I had just taken something for fun for a degree because my rural development degree got me absolutely nowhere. —Alicia

Living in the U.S. I don’t get access to APTN. Would really love to see this. Loved the book. —Roxanne

How could someone overseas see this? —Ara

Unfortunately, at this point 1491 isn’t available outside of Canada.

We need APTN because it is our only access to our own peoples and what is going in our community and around the world. The shows are educational and fun at the same time. —Christine

We totally agree! Help ensure APTN stays in your cable lineup by supporting their licence renewal!

 

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

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Corner Gas

Link: Sneak peek at Corner Gas’ upcoming ‘toon up

From Bill Brioux of Brioux.tv:

Link: Sneak peek at Corner Gas’ upcoming ‘toon up
Ran into some characters Tuesday night in Toronto: the Corner Gas cast, to be specific.

Brent Butt, Nancy Robertson, Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Lorne Cardinal and Tara Spencer-Naim joined animators and producers at the Art Gallery of Ontario’s comfy Hugh Jackman theatre to screen an episode of Butt’s latest passion project: Corner Gas Animated. Continue reading. 

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Featured, Heartland

Preview: Friendly faces and weird art on Heartland

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I have some catching up to do! I thought I knew all of the main players on Heartland, but Sunday’s new episode brings back faces fans haven’t seen in years.

Here’s what the CBC says about this week’s instalment, “Our Sons and Daughters,” written by Mark Haroun and directed by Chris Potter:

When some old friends return to Hudson on vacation, Amy tries to teach them about the life-changing power of connecting to a horse, in order to help them cope with parenting struggles. Meanwhile, Georgie gets invited on a road trip, but it might not be everything she hoped for. And with Lou back in New York, Peter takes care of Katie, but worries when she doesn’t come home from a trail ride. Then, Jack and Lisa receive an unexpected housewarming gift.

And here are some non-spoilery bits we can reveal after watching a sneak preview.

Peter, Jack and a strange work of art
I love it when Jack is allowed to show his sarcastic, comedic side and he gets to do that alongside Peter this week. Speaking of Peter, he has his hands full taking care of Katie while Lou is away and is crushed when he overhears a conversation between his ex-wife and daughter.

Cara Pifko returns
I haven’t seen Cara Pifko since she co-starred on CBC’s excellent This is Wonderland and had no clue she’d previously appeared on Heartland as Mackenzie Hutton. Well, she’s back—alongside hubby Ian (Gord Rand)—and has some key news to share with Amy and the rest of the family.

Wyatt + Georgie
Dempsey Bryk has been a welcome addition to Heartland and his Wyatt looks cute as a button next to Georgie. After singing her that sweet song last week things can only get better for the pair, right?

Drones rock
Drones with cameras mounted on them have become all the rage in television production and Sunday’s episode begins with a sweeping overhead shot of the dude ranch that is simply breathtaking. Drones also help with a key piece of storytelling later in the episode.

Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.

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Acceptable Risk

Link: Acceptable Risk is a first-rate, fine Scandinavian-style thriller

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

Link: Acceptable Risk is a first-rate, fine Scandinavian-style thriller
There’s a reason why big pharmaceutical companies regularly turn up as villainous corporate monsters in thrillers. They keep doing terrible things and while some are found out and fined tens of millions of dollars, others continue with their nefarious practices. We are alert to being suspicious.

A big international pharma company is at the centre of the new and first-rate thriller Acceptable Risk (Thursday, SuperChannel, 9 p.m. and streaming on Acorn TV), a six-part mini-series. It’s a conspiracy thriller, a co-production between companies in Canada and Ireland, and set in Montreal and Dublin. Continue reading.

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