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.
Children's Programming

New preschool comedy Opie’s Home debuts June 20 on TVO

From a media release:

When you’re 4 and a half and three quarters, there are no friends like the ones next door.  There is no playground like your backyard, and no one quite like your family.  There’s no place like home.

Opie’s Home, premiering on TVO on June 20, 2017, is a new preschool comedy series about life, family and the wonderful place we call home.  The series invites viewers to follow the adventures of 4yo Opie as the viewers and Opie both head home from school for the summer.

From resisting bedtime, to making a special meal for Mommy and Daddy or getting into his first argument with his best friend, Opie’s Home celebrates the important relationships, milestones and day-to-day interactions that mark what it means to be a preschooler, full of all the funny moments and life lessons that preschoolers and parents can relate to. The series brings the lessons from the classroom home into Opie’s world.

Opie’s Home is a spin-off of the award-winning series, Hi Opie!, which follows Opie as he ventures to kindergarten for the first time.

Cast includes award-winning puppeteer Jordan Lockhart as Opie, Aisha Alfa as Mom, Jim Annan as Dad, and Oscar-nominated actor Graham Greene as Opie’s much loved next door neighbour Mr. Kabashio.

A TVOKids Original, Opie’s Home was created and produced by Toronto-based marblemedia in association with TVO Kids and The Jim Henson Company.  The series will premiere later this fall across Canada on Knowledge Kids and City TV Saskatchewan.

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Murdoch Mysteries

Production begins on Season 11 of Murdoch Mysteries

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From a media release:

Number-one Canadian drama Murdoch Mysteries has begun production on Season 11. After celebrating the long-running series’ 150th episode in the season 10 finale, filming is now underway on 18 new one-hour episodes. The most-watched Canadian scripted television series in Canada with an average of 1.3 million viewers per week* on CBC, the ever-popular homegrown hit series will continue to delve into murder, mystery, and Canadian history in a powerhouse eleventh season. The series will film on location in Ontario until December 2017 and premiere on CBC this fall, followed by international rollout in early 2018.

The twist-filled season 10 finale saw the futures of Detective Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and the heroes of Station House No. 4 in jeopardy amidst a corruption investigation gone awry. Season 11 will pick up with the aftermath of the finale’s events that left the lives of Murdoch’s beloved Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy), Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) and Constables George Crabtree (Jonny Harris), Henry Higgins (Lachlan Murdoch), and Slugger Jackson (Kristian Bruun) at stake and their fates unknown. Can Murdoch rely on Rebecca James (Mouna Traoré) or Detective Watts (Daniel Maslany) to help crack the case? Will Brackenreid make it out alive and home to his wife Margaret (Arwen Humphreys)? Season 11 storylines will feature a number of Canadian and international historical figures including physician William Osler and Helen Keller, the return of artist Tom Thomson, President Theodore Roosevelt, and Alexander Graham Bell and feature a roster of new guest stars including Tamzin Outhwaite (Eastenders, New Tricks), Colin Mochrie (Whose Line is it Anyway?), and Elise Bauman (Carmilla, Below Her Mouth), as well as returning guest stars including Peter Keleghan (Workin’ Moms) and David Hewlett (Incorporated, Stargate: Atlantis).

“We’re proud to continue bringing the adventures of Detective Murdoch to viewers at home and around the world week after week. Coming off of a formidable tenth season during which we celebrated big award wins, 150 episodes and the expansion of the brand into new realms including an escape room game in Toronto, we are now looking ahead to a thrilling season 11 and beyond,” said Christina Jennings, Executive Producer, Murdoch Mysteries / Chairman & CEO, Shaftesbury.

Season 11 episodes will be directed by showrunner Peter Mitchell, Megan Follows, Leslie Hope, Gary Harvey, Sherren Lee, Eleanor Lindo, Laurie Lynd, Don McCutcheon, and Alison Reid. Mitchell also writes episodes this season, along with Paul Aitken, Graham Clegg, Noelle Girard, Natalia Guled, Simon McNabb, Mary Pedersen, Robert Rotenberg, Lori Spring, Dan Trotta, and Maureen Jennings, author of the Detective Murdoch series of novels

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Featured, Saving Hope

Saving Hope: A poltergeist wreaks havoc in Hope Zion

Last week’s episode of Saving Hope was one heck of a ride, from the drama in the operating room to the incredibly sweet moment when Alex and Dougie celebrated Martha’s life before sending her ashes off into the lake.

This Thursday’s new episode “Nightmares and Dreamscapes,” written by Ley Lukins, is equally engaging. Here’s what CTV has officially revealed:

Following a car accident involving three brothers, in which only one survives, Dr. Charlie Harris is faced with two spirits who beg him to do everything he can save their brother’s life. As Charlie and the team operate, he’s haunted by a mischievous ghost (Steve Arbuckle), who is determined to move on from the spirit world. Meanwhile, Dr. Sydney Katz and Dr. Shahir Hamza treat Trudy Stein (Teresa Pavlinek), a 40-year-old free spirit who impregnated herself and arrives at Hope Zion after suffering a fall. Meanwhile, Dr. Zach Miller and Dr. Maggie Lin deal with a mysterious man who comes into the E.R. covered in blood that is not his, and he doesn’t know how it got there.

And here’s a little more we can divulge after watching a screener.

Charlie and Alex
Alex may have given Charlie short shrift during the first half of this season, but he was there when she needed him when Martha passed away. The pair held hands during the lake-side memorial … but are they back together? As Facebook would say, it’s complicated.

Shahir and Jonathan seek an adoption
It turns out to be more of a challenge than either of them had considered and, unfortunately, puts pressure on the relationship.

Teresa Pavlinek guest stars
I’ve loved this very funny lady since I first saw her starring on The Jane Show, so I was thrilled to see her on Saving Hope. Her character, Trudy, is memorable for a couple of reasons, but most of all due to her connection with Sydney.

Spirit Blake returns …
… and seriously freaks Charlie—and me, and Alex—out.

Saving Hope airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV.

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Featured, Podcast, Schitt's Creek, Wynonna Earp

TV Eh B Cs podcast 67 — The Tim Rozon Entree

Tim Rozon’s first major role was playing heartthrob, Tommy Quincy, opposite Alexz Johnson and Laura Vandervoort for four seasons on the teen drama series Instant Star for TeenNick and CTV. Other leading roles include two seasons playing Mutt Schitt on CBC’s runaway comedy Schitt’s Creek.

Tim has made guest appearances on many of the hit shows made in Canada over the last decade, including: Rookie Blue, Flashpoint, Heartland, Lost Girl and 19-2. In addition to acting, Tim produced the documentary feature Shuckers, about the world of oysters and those who shuck them.

When not acting, Tim plays the role of restaurateur in Montreal at his hit restaurants Garde Manger and Le Bremner opposite star chef Chuck Hughes.

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

Want to support TV, eh?’s work? Become a Patreon!

Image courtesy of Bell Media.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Degrassi

Family Channel celebrates Canada Day with Season 4 of Degrassi: Next Class

From a media release:

This Canada Day long weekend, Family Channel is heading back to the classroom, bringing fans across the country a brand new season of Degrassi: Next Class. Premiering  Monday, July 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, season four of the critically acclaimed teen drama takes a look at some of the most relevant issues affecting today’s youth, exploring important topics such as mental illness, gender identity and cultural adjustment. Following the premiere, new episodes of Degrassi: Next Class will air weeknights at 10 p.m. ET/PT. For fans who’d prefer to spend their long weekend binge-watching, all 10 episodes will be available on The Family Channel App beginning Friday, June 30.

Season four of Degrassi: Next Class picks up with the students returning to school from their winter break, many for their final semester. Still reeling from the reality of Maya’s accident, Degrassi Community School is carefully monitoring everyone’s mental health and ensuring that all students have someone to talk to. While exploring situations teens commonly struggle with today, such as break ups and make ups, peer pressure and balancing academia with personal life, season four also continues to focus on the lives of the Syrian refugees as they try to find their place at Degrassi. The new season also marks the graduation of some of the series’ most beloved characters, but not before a beautiful yet dramatic prom.

A special treat for fans in honour of the Canada Day long weekend, on Friday, June 30, the entire fourth season will be available on The Family Channel App, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes extra content. For those who are new to the series, missed a few episodes or simply want to re-watch all the Next Class drama, seasons one through three are currently available on The Family Channel App and on Family OnDemand.

Reprising their roles for season four of Degrassi: Next Class are Amanda Arcuri as Lola Pacini; Amir Bageria as Baaz Nahir; Soma Bhatia as Goldi Nahir; Jamie Bloch as Yael Baron; Chelsea Clark as Esme Song; Reiya Downs as Shay Powers; Ana Golja as Zoe Rivas; Nikki Gould as Grace Cardinal; Ricardo Hoyos as Zig Novak; Ehren Kassam as Jonah Haak; Andre Kim as Winston Chu; Lyle Lettau as Tristan Milligan; Spencer Macpherson as Hunter Hollingsworth; Eric Osborne as Miles Hollingsworth III; Parham Rownaghi as Saad Al’Maliki; Dante Scott as Vijay Miraj; Olivia Scriven as Maya Matlin; Sara Waisglass as Frankie Hollingsworth; Richard Walters as Deon “Tiny” Bell; Dalia Yegavian as Rasha Zuabi and Stefan Brogren as Principal Simpson.

Degrassi: Next Class is produced by DHX Media, in association with Family Channel and Netflix. The series was co-created by Linda Schuyler who is also Executive Producer with Stephen Stohn, Sarah Glinski and Matt Huether.

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