From Heather M. of The Televixen:
Link: Andrew Airlie talks The Romeo Section Season 2 + preview
This week on The Romeo Section, Wolfgang and Norman continue their investigation while Wolfgang sorts out the after-effects of his mystery mugging. When I visited the set last week, I chatted with Andrew Airlie about Wolfgang and Norman’s camaraderie, and working so closely with Brian Markinson which, surprisingly is a first for the pair. Continue reading.
My first experience with the public face of depression was back in 2012, when TSN’s Michael Landsberg discussed it openly in the documentary “Darkness and Hope: Depression, Sports and Me.” Because of folks like he and Clara Hughes, who herself has spoken publicly about mental illness, more and more people are opening up about their struggles.
People like the Greene family, who are featured in this week’s episode of Firsthand. Written and directed by Jeff Newman, who executive-produces alongside producer Jocelyn Mitchell, “Being Greene” from Nüman Films delves into a family where mental illness is a part of their lives. Quinn Greene serves as the narrator, describing how he’s the one always looking for a laugh when he’s on stage performing. He introduces his father, Dave, rock quarry operator by day and Elvis tribute artist (he’s pretty darn good) by night; mother Roxie, a writer and intellectual; and youngest son Kane, a big-hearted guy with a gap-toothed smile. Of course, what folks see outwardly is no indication of what’s going on inside their heads.
The small-town Manitoba family pulls back the curtain on their struggles with mental illness as Dave unlocks the door to his childhood home, revealing a major case of hoarding because of a childhood of abuse and poverty. But while Dave found solace and success in performance, he became distanced from Roxie, Quinn and Kane. Roxie has attempted suicide in the past and deals with unipolar depressive disorder, Kane suffers from anxiety and suicidal thoughts and spends days in bed, unable to get up or hold a job. Quinn decides to have Kane move in with him, so he can keep tabs on his brother.
The problem? Quinn wants to have his own life, and feels guilty for having that desire. And when, just 13 minutes into “Being Greene,” Kane is openly discussing his dark thoughts at Sara Riel Inc., a mental health facility, I imagined he was on the right path. But then autumn and winter arrive, the darkest seasons of the year for Kane emotionally, and everything spirals out of control. With guys like Kane’s boss, Sam, thinking his employee just needs to eat more fruit to get out of his funk, it’s no wonder some people have trouble discussing their struggles.
But “Being Greene” isn’t meant to be a sob story, or a vehicle to pity the family. Rather, it’s meant to educate and encourage us to talk about our feelings and reveal what’s going on with our own mental health. And, thanks to “The Greene Warriors,” it can be entertaining too.
Firsthand airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.
With just eight guys left on The Bachelorette Canada, Jasmine’s job is getting tougher. And, with Quebec City as the backdrop, she got a lot closer to her final decision.
As the episode began, Chris announced to producers that he wasn’t going to focus on his differences with Drew, but his connection with Jasmine. Smart move, considering Chris isn’t vying for Drew’s affections.
But it was Mike—and his eight-pack abs—who landed the first one-on-one date of the episode, with the two taking to the skies in a helicopter. (I’m hoping Mikhel gets a helicopter date so he can show off his skills.) The fact he’s a firefighter scored Mike points, and their connection over parental loss did too. The in-sky smooches sealed it, and he nabbed the first rose of the night, though the fact he’s not able to relocate—at this point, anyway—could cause some problems.
As for the first group date, Mikhel, Chris, Kevin P. and Thomas donned plaid lumberjack shirts and headed outside to hammer nails and chop and carry logs around in the woods. It was a physical date designed to spotlight prowess and determination, and some did better than others. Thomas (speaking in third person, no less) and Chris started off strong, but Chris faltered in the end and the former construction worker turned international model was tops in the competition. Not only did he get free time with Jasmine in a horse and carriage but they discussed the differences between Tom and Thomas, and what they do to get freaky. Kudos to Thomas for letting his guard down and singing—into a Two Oceans wine bottle—to Jasmine because he was rewarded a rose for it.
Second group date was reserved for Benoit, Kevin W. and Drew. Drew announced he was playing it coy with Jasmine, with fingers crossed she’d be intrigued by his mystery and seek him out. Speaking of fingers, everyone’s got a workout at a spa where massages and other spa treatments were doled out. The hook? Jasmine was blindfolded and had to guess who was touching her. Drew went first, running his oily fingers all over Jasmine, and that upset Kevin W. quite a bit. Benoit and his vibrating things performed a sensual manicure, and upset Kevin W. too. When it was his turn, Kevin W. took control of the pedicure and got Jasmine all hot and bothered. Jasmine successfully guessed who had performed what and, after fending off Benoit’s tongue, got serious with Drew and talked dogs, outside fireplaces, apple trees and his mom. Kevin W., meanwhile, was surprised by the jealousy he was feeling and showed it by giving Jasmine a bit of a cold shoulder. He was rewarded by … Drew receiving a rose.
After a surprisingly low-key episode compared to last week’s fireworks, Jasmine doled out the remaining roses to Mikhel, Kevin W., Benoit and Kevin P. Unfortunately, despite wanting to focus on Jasmine, she wasn’t interested in Chris, his lyrics … or kissing him. That led to the most awkward moment of the season, Chris’ demise, and a tearful exit.
“Just another broken dream,” he said, wiping away tears.
Was Jasmine wrong to send Chris home? Comment below or via Twitter @tv_eh.
The Bachelorette Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on W Network.
Images courtesy of Corus.
From Mufsin Mahbub of Film-Book.com:
Link: Wynonna Earp: Panel reflects on first season and tease what’s comingÂ
Wynonna Earp makes its first trip to New York Comic Con after becoming a runaway success on Syfy. The cast and crew came together to share with fans the behind-the-scenes in making the television adaptation of the cult comic book series. Showrunner Emily Andras, comic book series creator Beau Smith, actress Melanie Scrofano, and actor Tim Rozon joined the panel to chat about Syfy’s new hit series and give a tease of what’s coming for season two. Continue reading.Â
From David Berry of The National Post:
Link: Kim’s Convenience, and the method behind the seeming madness of CBC’s programming
If nothing can be everything to everyone, the CBC can at least be nothing to anyone.
I don’t know that our public broadcaster will ever shake its reputation for striving cluelessness when it comes to what, exactly, Canadians want to see on television. There’s all that history, for a start, and it’s a nice convenient narrative that works for everyone from grumpy free-marketers who see “heritage funding†as just another term for setting their hard-earned tax dollars on fire to sniffing aesthetes who think art isn’t art unless each and every second of it is a punishing ordeal designed to shake your understanding of human experience to its very core. Continue reading.Â
From Katherine Monk of The Ex-Press
New CBC sitcom exposes The Convenience Truth
Andrea Bang thanks the Toronto Blue Jays. Not only did the team win the required games to advance, they pushed back the network premiere of her new show, Kim’s Convenience.
The new CBC comedy based on Ins Choi’s award-winning Fringe play airs this evening, but it was originally slated to air last Tuesday – in the heat of the Blue Jays’ wild card bid. The network wisely aired the ballgame instead, but Bang wasn’t depressed about the delay. Continue reading.
From Courtney Shea of Toronto Life:
Link: Q&A: Ins Choi, the writer behind CBC’s new comedy Kim’s Convenience
In 2011, Kim’s Convenience upstaged every other show at the Toronto Fringe Festival and earned the Best New Play award for its creator, Ins Choi. Five years later, the comedy—about a Korean family and their variety store in Regent Park—is the centrepiece of CBC’s fall prime-time lineup, premiering tonight at 9 p.m. (it got bumped by the Blue Jays last Tuesday), and the first Canadian TV series to feature an entirely Asian cast. We spoke to Choi about the pressure of pioneering, why Kim’s Convenience isn’t a “Korean show†and how the Asian–North American entertainment community can bury Long Duk Dong once and for all. Continue reading.
