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, Fubar

FUBAR heads to the small screen for stoner fun on Viceland

I once dismissed the mockumentary FUBAR as a ripoff of the Trailer Park Boys. The first FUBAR movie came out in 2002, a year after TPB debuted on Showcase, so the timing seemed apt. And, with buddies Terry (David Lawrence) and Dean (Paul Spence) getting drunk and shouting expletives at one another and folks in their community, I couldn’t help but assume they were the same as Bubbles, Ricky and Julian. There are definitely similarities, but Lawrence, Spence and Michael Dowse created their own brand of Canadian hosers via two feature films.

Now the trio has reunited for FUBAR: Age of Computer, an eight-episode adventure—created by Dowse, Lawrence, Spence, North Darling and Immanuela Lawrence—debuting Friday at 10 p.m. ET on Viceland. When we catch up with Dean and Terry, they’re down on their luck, have no jobs (“Jobs aren’t even jobs anymore,” Terry laments as he mocks millennials. “I’m at home in my man-bun on the computer.”) and off to do the most Canadian of things: blowing off some steam camping in Alberta. Who hasn’t gone into the wilderness, gotten drunk, put WAY too much wood on the fire and shot fireworks at one another? Except that, in the case of Terry and Dean, it’s hinted their antics may have caused the legendary fire in Fort McMurray. (The producers make a point of noting the joke in the disclaimer ahead of Episode 1 lest anyone get upset.)

The pair flees to Calgary to meet up with Terry’s cousin, Shank (Darling), after hearing that those displaced by the fire would receive $1,800 from the federal government. Aiming to get a new start, Terry applies for the credit … and then spends most of it on frivolous items (a lifesized cardboard cutout of AC/DC guitarist Angus Young is just one). Meanwhile, Dean’s King Diamond-esque falsetto could land him a singing career.

The homer genre is hot right now thanks to Letterkenny (creator Jared Keeso was inspired by FUBAR), the Canadianity podcast from Jonathan Torrens and Jeremy Taggart and even Team Give’r from this summer’s exploits on The Amazing Race Canada. As a result, FUBAR: Age of Computer fits right in with its well-timed laughs and memorable characters.

FUBAR: Age of Computer airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Viceland.

Image courtesy of Rogers.

 

 

 

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The Nature of Things

Link: Into The Fire Burns With Intensity

From James Bawden:

Link: Into The Fire Burns With Intensity
“I’d started the research and then the B.C. wildfires raged. There had been Fort McMurray –an entire city of 90,000 ravaged –the human tragedies were huge. I also wanted to hook into the people who spend their lives studying fires. And there are a lot of them out there. The fires are getting bigger. It’s important to understand the science. I was told each rise in temperature of just 1 degree means a 12 fold increase in lightning.” Continue reading.

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Slasher

Link: Slasher: Guilty Party showrunner Aaron Martin on what’s really scary

From Captain John K. Kirk of Pop Mythology:

Link: Slasher: Guilty Party showrunner Aaron Martin on what’s really scary
“The moments that are more graphic and horrifying are less terrible for me, personally. While I love them because they’re shocking and fun to pull off, it’s the moments that seem wholly real that are the most disturbing to me.” Continue reading.

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Featured, The Disappearance

TV Eh B Cs podcast 72 — The Appearance of Camille Sullivan

Camille Sullivan was nominated for a Gemini Award for best actress in a television series for her work on Shattered, opposite Callum Keith Rennie. Camille was also nominated for a Gemini for her portrayal of Francine Reardon, the volatile cocaine and alcohol addicted wife of a west coast crime boss, in the critically acclaimed Intelligence, a series from DaVinci’s Inquest creator Chris Haddock.

She recurred on Rookie Blue and Hellcats, both times as the ex who has come back to haunt you. She recently played a large recurring role on The Man in the High Castle for Amazon and can be seen currently in the indie films; The Birdwatcher and The Unseen.

Camille’s latest project is the limited series The Disappearance for CTV/NBC Universal.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

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Industry News

Link: Canadian film, TV leaders to meet about industry’s ‘prevalent’ sexual harassment

From Victoria Ahearn of The Canadian Press:

Link: Canadian film, TV leaders to meet about industry’s ‘prevalent’ sexual harassment
Canadian film and TV leaders are acknowledging that sexual harassment has also been a “prevalent” part of the entertainment industry north of the border and have planned a meeting to discuss how to tackle it.

In the wake of the flood of allegations against fallen Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, writer-director James Toback and others, the union representing Canadian actors, ACTRA, has had preliminary meetings with industry groups and is preparing for a broader meeting of stakeholders on Nov. 23 in Toronto. Continue reading.

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