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.
Your Morning

CTV announces Your Morning to première on Aug. 22

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From a media release:

CTV announced today that YOUR MORNING, its new national morning show, will premiere Monday, Aug. 22 on CTV and CTV News Channel. The announcement was made as the first team photo from the program was revealed, featuring Ben Mulroney and Anne-Marie Mediwake (Hosts), Melissa Grelo (Late Morning Anchor), Lindsey Deluce (News Anchor), and Kelsey McEwen (Weather Anchor).

The program is currently in pre-production at Bell Media’s Queen Street West campus in Toronto, from where it will broadcast each weekday from 6-9 a.m. on CTV (Ontario, Québec, and Eastern Canada) and nationally on CTV News Channel.

As announced last month, YOUR MORNING will deliver original perspectives and unique insights into the stories of the day, while showcasing lifestyle topics of interest to Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Additional details will be announced in the weeks to come.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.

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Industry News

CBC original movie Unclaimed airs Saturday, July 23

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From a media release:

Drawn from Stevie Cameron’s national bestseller, On The Farm, comes UNCLAIMED. The two-hour original movie is a fictional recreation of the events surrounding and leading up to the arrest of Robert ‘Willie’ Pickton, told from the perspective of the women of Vancouver’s notorious Downtown East Side.

The story follows Nikki Taylor (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers), a quick-witted and spirited single mother who works the streets and becomes aware that an alarming number of sex workers in the area continue to go missing. Nikki alerts local police officer Sinead McLeod (Sara Canning), who begins working to raise flags with her superiors about the matter. While the two work to bring attention to the issue, they must fight against societal and systematic indifference which causes the case to be ignored.

McLeod quickly finds herself caught between the politics of her department and the desire to follow her instincts when the women continue rapidly to disappear. Following a public outcry, tensions increase and law enforcement finally makes its move and pairs McLeod with Sergeant Keeley (Patrick Gallagher), who is still haunted by an unsolved Jane Doe case. Fighting an uphill battle, Officers McLeod and Keeley find their strongest allies in Nikki and social worker Elaine (Sarah Strange), and together they begin their desperate hunt for a serial killer and to bring justice for the victims and their families.

ABOUT THE CAST & CHARACTERS
Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers as “Nikki Taylor,” Sara Canning as “Constable Sinead McLeod,” Patrick Gallagher as “Sergeant Jeff Keeley,” Sarah Strange as “Elaine Brooks,” Olivia Steele Falconer as “Tara Richards.”

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
Rupert Harvey, Executive Producer; Rachel Talalay, Director; Dennis Foon, Writer

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The Goods

Jessi Cruickshank and Steven Sabados team up for CBC’s The Goods

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From a media release:

CBC today announced two additional hosts for its new one-hour daytime program, THE GOODS. Host and author Andrea Bain and chef Shahir Massoud join previously announced hosts Jessi Cruickshank and Steven Sabados to form the complete team. Shot live-to-tape in front of a studio audience, THE GOODS will air weekday afternoons at 2 p.m. (2:30 NT) beginning October 3 on CBC.

Every weekday, THE GOODS will deliver all the inspiration and information Canadians need in one jam-packed and entertaining hour of daily television. Each of the four hosts brings their own authentic point of view and passion to the show - style and fashion for Cruickshank; home and design for Sabados; relationships and wellness for Bain; and food for Massoud – that combined will make THE GOODS the ultimate afternoon destination for audiences across Canada.

Meet THE GOODS team:

Andrea_Bain
Andrea Bain, @AndreaMBain
Andrea Bain has hosted a number of national lifestyle shows on HGTV and SLICE and appeared regularly as a relationship specialist on various Canadian daytime programs. Most recently, Bain has used her relationship expertise to pen her first book, Single Girl Problems, which will be published later this year. After graduating with a BA in Sociology from York University and a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Humber College, Bain began her television career in a Toronto newsroom. She worked behind the scenes as a producer and, shortly after, landed her first reporting job. After some encouragement from her peers, Bain decided to step in front of the camera full time and became an entertainment correspondent for the Los Angeles-based TV station Reelzchannel, where she interviewed such notable names as Oprah, Brad Pitt and Martin Scorsese.

Shahir_Massoud
Shahir Massoud, @chefshahir
After graduating from York University’s Schulich School of Business, Shahir Massoud decided to pursue his true passion and move to New York City to enroll in the famed French Culinary Institute. While in New York, he worked in the kitchens of Mario Batali (Lupa), Jean-Georges Vongerichten (The Mark Hotel) and Saveur magazine. Massoud has since moved on to become the Corporate Executive Chef at Levetto, overseeing multiple locations all over Ontario. Massoud has also made regular appearances on various Canadian morning and daytime programs including Cityline and Breakfast Television.

Jessi Cruickshank, @JESSI
One of Canada’s most beloved TV personalities, Jessi Cruickshank has been hailed as “one of the funniest women on TV today, period” by The Province. Cruickshank is the host of CBC’s Canada’s Smartest Person, returning for Season 3 in the fall. Her self-deprecating humour, irreverent interview style and eclectic flair for fashion have made her a fan favourite. Cruickshank grew up in Vancouver, where she broke into comedy as the only girl in an all-male improv troupe alongside Seth Rogen. She soon became a household name as the face of MTV Canada, hosting the daily comedy show MTV Live and smash hit The Hills After Show, which generated record-breaking ratings in Canada and the United States. She went on to star in the nightly talk-show The After Show, and has since hosted Live from E!, Jerseylicious, Jessi Cruickshank’s Real Hollywood Survival Guide and Olympic Morning. She has also travelled the world as the Canadian Ambassador for Free The Children. Cruickshank splits her time between Toronto and Los Angeles, where she can be seen on Oh Sit!, Kirstie, The Odd Couple and as the L.A. correspondent for etalk.

Steven Sabados, @stevenandchris
Known in Canada and around the world as a pioneer of design television, designer Steven Sabados is one of Canada’s most adored and respected celebrities. Raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Sabados was born with a passion for the arts and found avenues of expression in painting, photography, architecture and fashion. After completing an education in Fine Art, Sabados moved to Toronto, where he excelled as the in-store Creative Director for some of Canada’s most successful retail brands including Eaton’s and Roots. In 1992, Sabados and partner Christopher Hyndman formed independent design firm The Sabados Group. After appearing on a variety of daytime shows, it wasn’t long before the charming and creative Sabados and the dynamic and fun-loving Hyndman were offered their own show. The smash hit Designer Guys debuted in 2001 followed by Design Rivals and So Chic with Steven and Chris. In the fall of 2008, CBC launched Steven and Chris. The highly successful daytime show was the first of its kind in Canada and quickly became a national sensation.

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Big Brother Canada

Casting for Season 5 of Big Brother Canada launches today

From a media release:

After an action-packed fourth season which saw an of average of nearly 1.2 million viewers per episode*, Global’s smash hit original series Big Brother Canada returns with casting for its fifth season now underway. Canadians who think they have what it takes can apply online at BigBrotherCanada.ca beginning today. The online submission deadline is October 24, 2016.

The next crop of dynamic and outrageous Canadians interested in appearing on the must-see series can apply online with a short video about why they are the ideal houseguest, along with a photo. Applicants must be 19 years of age by February 1, 2017. Additional information, including a complete list of rules and eligibility, can be found at BigBrotherCanada.ca.

Airing exclusively on Global in spring 2017, Big Brother Canada plucks a group of hand-picked strangers from their homes, sequesters them from the outside world, and places them inside a house outfitted wall-to-wall with cameras and microphones that capture their every move. Competing for a grand cash prize, each week the houseguests battle in a series of challenges that give them power or punishment, voting each other out until the fate of the final two is decided by a jury of fellow houseguests.

 

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Featured, Killjoys

The Killjoys get “Schooled”

Sure, it’s nearing the end of July, so most kids are enjoying being out of the classroom. Unfortunately, for Killjoys‘ Dutch, D’Avin and Johnny, they become enrolled embroiled in strange and dangerous goings-on at a special school for super-smart kids. Here’s Space’s official synopsis about Friday’s new episode, “Schooled”:

A simple escort mission takes a frightening turn when the Killjoys discover students have mysteriously disappeared from a school for gifted Westerley children.

And here’s a sneak peek from us about what fans can expect.

Dutch and D’Avin’s super-sexy fight scene
Unlike their near-deadly Season 1 grapple, this one’s all about bragging rights. We’ll call it a draw; let us know what you think.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.
Image courtesy of Bell Media.

The Killjoys go back to school
The mystery at the Prodigy School gives viewers a chance to see how the Killjoys would fare as parents. D’Avin and Johnny? Naturals. Dutch? Not so much. But while D’Av’s scenes with the kids are super-sweet, there’s dark stuff going on at the school. The simple mission outlined by Turin doesn’t go as planned—when do they ever?—and our trio is forced to work with Delle Seyah.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.
Image courtesy of Bell Media.

D’Avin vs. Sabine
She has a small role in “Schooled,” but Pree’s latest hire, Sabine, makes an impression on D’Av. Sabine is played by Tori Anderson, who many of us last saw starring on Open Heart. Can we take a moment to remember Open Heart?

An homage to Marion Ravenwood?
There’s a particular scene involving Pawter that left us with a major case of déjà vu. We’re pretty sure the Killjoys writing team was channeling Raiders of the Lost Ark when our favourite doc was trying to gain her freedom.

Killjoys airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Space.

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