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, Saving Hope

Comments and queries for the week of June 2

1 Comment

Very, very sad that [Saving Hope] is ending. A completely original concept for a medical show, the actors were all amazing and best one of all is it was UNPREDICTABLE! So many shows now are not original and highly predictable, boring story lines and drab and boring. To lose this show is really disappointing, but I guess it was too “intellectual” to the general audience. They didn’t “get it”! Anyway, I wish all the actors have wonderful lives; all great and good things don’t last, unfortunately! Going to miss you, Hope Zion. —Patricia

I really like reno shows but I’m losing interest in [Home to Win]. The contractors act like 12-year-olds and the designers wear jeans so tight they can hardly walk!! If that’s how they work on a real job I’d fire them all. Grow up. —Stan

Very captivated by [Anne]. So well shot, written, acted, etc. I even convinced my family to watch an episode with me and they were hooked from there on in. :) Really hope Season 2 is not far off! —Adria

 

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

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

MasterChef Canada: And the winner is …

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After a three-hour marathon that included their fellow competitors and family members watching from the sidelines, Thea and Trevor did battle in a three-course non-stop cook for the ages to win the $100,000 grand prize and title of MasterChef Canada.

By the time the dust steam had settled on Thursday night, Trevor the plumber/gas fitter from Edmonton had emerged victorious. Thea, the insurance broker from Vancouver, came in second place. Things may have been very different if the tamale ball Thea served chef Claudio Aprile hadn’t been raw in the middle, but the devil is in the details and that one ruined her chances of winning. Judges Alvin Leung, Claudio Aprile and Michael Bonacini awarded Trevor the trophy, explaining that his three-course meal presented the best story of the two.

“Winning this has kick-started my food dream,” Trevor told producers after the confetti had fallen. “My life is changing as we speak. Goodbye plumbing, hello cooking!”

“I’m really happy for Trevor,” Thea said in defeat. “I still feel like a winner. This has been the best journey I’ve ever had and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing my food dream right now.”

MasterChef Canada continued to be groundbreaking in its challenges this season by presenting a doozy of a final one: Thea and Trevor had three hours to create an appetizer, entree and dessert and the clock would not stop running. This meant the pair would not only have to stay focussed while cooking but have excellent time-management skills. Thea’s take on Mexican food with street corn panna cotta, pork cheek tamale and orange sponge cake played to her strength of having bold flavours while Trevor’s octopus and chips, lamb two ways and deconstructed chocolate mint ice cream cone showcased his sophistication in taste and plating.

There wasn’t a ton of drama during the hour-long episode—despite producers injecting dramatic music to suggest there was—and it all rightly came down to taste for final judgement from Claudio, Alvin and Michael. A frontrunner from Week 1, the only way Trevor was going to lose was if something catastrophic went wrong with one of his plates. As soon as the trio went off without a hitch his win was sealed.

What did you think of this season of MasterChef Canada? Did the right home cook win? Let me know in the comments below!

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Caught

Production begins on new CBC original drama series Caught starring Allan Hawco and Paul Gross

From a media release:

Take The Shot Productions announced the start of production of the new CBC original drama series CAUGHT, which will premiere in winter 2018 on CBC, as announced at the public broadcaster’s 2017-18 season preview launch last week. Starring Allan Hawco (who will play David Slaney) and Paul Gross (playing Patterson) and produced by Take The Shot Productions, filming kicked off this week in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Executive producers include Allan Hawco, Perry Chafe, John Vatcher, Alex Patrick, Peter Blackie, Rob Blackie and Michael Levine. The series is written by Allan Hawco along with John Krizanc, Adriana Maggs, and Julia Cohen. It will be directed by TJ Scott and John Vatcher. CAUGHT is adapted from Canadian author Lisa Moore’s acclaimed novel of the same name (published by House of Anansi Press), which was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the Scotiabank Giller Prize and selected as an Amazon.ca Best Book and for The Globe 100 Books in 2013.

CAUGHT is a new series set in 1978. Locked up after a drug deal goes wrong, David Slaney (Hawco) makes a daring break from a New Brunswick prison to attempt one more deal with his former partner (Eric Johnson) – all this with a dogmatic police officer, Patterson (Paul Gross), at his heels. It’s Slaney’s last chance at freedom – but in this tale of bravado and betrayal, nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted.

CAUGHT stars Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle, Frontier, The Book of Negroes), Paul Gross (Alias Grace, Hyena Road, Passchendaele), Tori Anderson (Open Heart, No Tomorrow), Eric Johnson (Fifty Shades Darker, The Knick), Charlotte Sullivan (Chicago Fire, Disappearance), Greg Bryk (Bitten, Frontier) and Enuka Okuma (Rookie Blue, Battle of Sexes).

ABOUT TAKE THE SHOT PRODUCTIONS
Take The Shot Productions Inc. has developed and produced award winning content which has garnered critical and commercial success, both domestically and globally. Based in St John’s Newfoundland, TTS produces a variety of both scripted and unscripted projects for television. Past productions include award nominated series Republic of Doyle on CBC and Discovery Canada/Netflix Worldwide Original Series Frontier, starring Game of Thrones and Aquaman’s Jason Momoa. Frontier will be returning for Season 2 in 2017. Other projects have included the hot factual series Majumder Manor, Boy on Bridge featuring Great Big Sea frontman Alan Doyle, HBO Canada’s Shaun Majumder, and Every Word is Absolutely True.

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Industry News

Rogers Media presents The Canada Project to celebrate 150 years of Canada

From a media release:

What does it mean to be Canadian? As the country prepares to mark 150 years since Confederation, today Rogers Media launches The Canada Project, a multi-brand cross-platform collection of content celebrating Canada.

At the centre of The Canada Project is a sweeping survey of nearly 100 questions put forth to more than 1,500 Canadians, revealing what Canadians really believe, and how we really feel. Commissioned by Rogers Media and executed by Abacus Data, the survey asked Canadians – from new immigrants to fourth-generation families, millennials to boomers, parents to singles – questions on everything from hot-button political issues and values, to lifestyle and leisure preferences, and intensely personal queries. Canadians take pride in being different from our southern neighbours, but how different are we really? When we travel, where do we want to go? When we lie awake at night worrying about our family’s future, what’s on our mind?

Results from the survey will be showcased on a dedicated hub launching today at Macleans.ca, with relevant stories and complementary anniversary content featured throughout June and July across broadcast and digital platforms, including CityNews™, Breakfast Television™, OMNI Television™, FLARE™, HELLO! Canada™, Chatelaine™, Today’s Parent™, Sportsnet.ca and more. Rogers Media’s news, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle brands dig deeper into what Canadians have revealed. From platform to platform, these stories examine our country through the most important eyes: Yours.

Other The Canada Project highlights include:

LOCAL NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS:

  • Beginning June 16 for 15 consecutive days leading into July 1, CityNews Toronto spotlights a different decade each day – beginning with 1867 – exploring Canada’s history and the historical issues…and what we think of those ideas now. Catch up on segments online at CityNews.ca and join the conversation at #DecadeOfTheDay. Have something to say about your Canadian experience – starting June 16, join the CityNews crew at noon in Toronto’s Dundas Square each day for a revival ofSpeakers’ Cornerâ„¢ and watch it on Facebook Live.
  • Wake up on Canada Day with a one-hour Breakfast Television special at 7 a.m. ET on City (check listings for local markets) that highlights our national pride. Driven by results from the exclusive Rogers Media The Canada Project survey, the special includes segments about what national and international events we’re most proud of, best sporting moment, favourite iconic Canadian food, and ultimate Canadian music hero.
  • On Canada Day weekend, OMNI Television presents Why I Chose Canada, a 30-minute special that profiles 10 people’s journey to Canada and what lead to their decision in choosing this country. Hear how some came seeking better opportunities while others came to escape political turmoil. Each person’s story is unique, but all share a common love for Canada. Reflecting the diverse languages and cultures of Canadians today, Why I Chose Canada will end with “O Canada” sung in multiple languages including Mandarin, Punjabi, Arabic, Italian, German, Spanish, Tagalog and more, courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Why I Chose Canada will air in English, with subtitled versions in Cantonese and Mandarin.

ENTERTAINMENT:

  • Entertainment City asked Canadian celebs what makes them proud to be Canadian and what they love most about our country. Non-Canadian stars chime in to share their best experience about Canada and Canadians.
  • Starting June 26, visit HELLO! Canada for a gallery/video to discover stars with surprising Canadian roots, an essay by Dustin Milligan on why he’s proud to be Canadian, and a gallery highlighting the Royals’ most memorable Canadian visits.

LIFESTYLE:

  • Cityline loves a celebration! Airing on City on Friday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET, host Tracy Moore travels coast to coast with PC in Cityline Celebrates Canada 150, a one-hour special exploring truly Canadian food, products, and ideas to celebrate the holiday. Exclusive digital content delves into entertaining ideas, favourite Canadian holiday destinations, uniquely Canadian life hacks, and more.

* The Canada Project Survey Methodology:

Commissioned by Rogers Media, the survey was conducted online by Abacus Data with 1,515 Canadians aged 18+ on April 4 and 5, 2017. A random sample of panelists was invited to complete the survey from a large representative panel of over 500,000 Canadians. The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding. The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association policy limits statements about margins of sampling error for most online surveys. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of 1,515 is +/- 2.6%, 19 times out of 20.

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Letterkenny

This summer, winter is comin’: Season 3 of CraveTV’s smash-hit original comedy Letterkenny launches Canada Day

From a media release:

Turn up the A/C and slap on a turtleneck ‘cause another six-pack of LETTERKENNY drops July 1 on Crave TV and it’s got way more chill. It’s winter in Letterkenny, and what better way to celebrate 150 years of confederation than to complain about winter in the summer. Back at the farm, the produce stand gets swapped out for a sled shack; Letterkenny’s beloved, burned-down watering hole Modeans reopens as Modeans 2; the Skids clown around with a mysterious new presence; the Hockey Players are officially stars of the otherwise hapless Letterkenny Irish; Katy is back from the city; and the rest of the Hicks are pretty much doing the same thing they always do. To keep viewers on ice for the next month, CraveTV just released another two and a half minutes of alliterative artistry with Season 3’s Super Cold Open. To view it, click here.

Guest starring this season is Keeso’s 19-2 co-star, Adrian Holmes. Winner of the 2017 Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for 19-2, Holmes plays Modeans bouncer Bradley. As well, acclaimed actress Sarah Gadon (Enemy) rolls into Letterkenny as mysterious lady Skid, Gae.

Également cette saison, alors qu’ils pêchent au Québec, les Hicks rencontrent leurs sosies français, les Hiques. Jean Guy, le Wayne québécois, est joué par Sebastien Huberdeau (Polytechnique), Jean-Carl, le Daryl québécois, est joué par Alexandre Landry (Gabrielle), Domenic Di Rosa (It’s Carla, Your Agent) joue le Dan québécois, et Kim Cloutier (The Cobblers) joue la Katy québécoise. [Translated: Also this season, while they fish in Quebec, the Hicks meet their French look-alikes, the Hicks. Jean Guy, the Quebec Wayne, is played by Sebastien Huberdeau (Polytechnique), Jean-Carl, the Daryl of Quebec, is played by Alexandre Landry (Gabrielle), Domenic Di Rosa Cloutier (The Cobblers) plays the Quebec Katy.]

LETTERKENNY revolves around the dustups Wayne (Keeso) and his buds get into with their small-town Ontario rivals. The Hicks, The Skids, and The Hockey Players get at each other about the most mundane things, often ending with someone getting their ass kicked. Wayne, his best bud Daryl (Nathan Dales, Goon: Last of the Enforcers), Wayne’s free-spirited younger sister Katy (Michelle Mylett, El Camino Christmas), and Wayne’s buddy, Dan (K Trevor Wilson, JEFF ROSS PRESENTS: ROAST BATTLE) are all Hicks. CSA-nominated Daniel Petronijevic (19-2) returns as Hick McMurray. Dylan Playfair (HATERS BACK OFF) and Andrew Herr (Goon: Last of the Enforcers) reprise their roles as hotshot Hockey Players “Jonesy” and “Reilly”. Tyler Johnston (MOTIVE) and Evan Stern (RoboCop) return as Skids Stewart and Roald. Lisa Codrington (COPPER) returns as bartender, Gail, and Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) as the Christian leader Glen. Mark Forward (FARGO) returns as the temperamental Coach of Letterkenny Irish and Tiio Horn (WHAT WOULD SAL DO?) is back as badass leader of The Natives.

Season 2 of LETTERKENNY launched Christmas Day as the most-watched title on CraveTV, eclipsing its own Season 1 for record viewers. The entire first two seasons, as well as the rowdy “St. Perfect’s Day” special, remain CraveTV’s most consistent top performers each and every day.

Season 1 of LETTERKENNY took home three 2017 Canadian Screen Awards: Best Comedy Series, Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series, and Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series. As well, series creator Jared Keeso and co-writer and director Jacob Tierney took home a Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award for TV Comedy. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on CraveTV and Season 1 is also available on iTunes and Google Play.

LETTERKENNY is produced by New Metric Media (What Would Sal Do?), in partnership with DHX Media in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, OMDC Tax Credits and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. Jacob Tierney is executive producer, director, and co-writer. Patrick O’Sullivan and Mark Montefiore are executive producers for New Metric Media.

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