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, X Company

Comments and queries for the week of April 15

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Jennifer Valentyne exits Breakfast Television Toronto

Jennifer was and still is a fixture to all in this city. I know that most woke up to her in the morning and their mood was set by Jennifer’s laugh and her humour, while at the same time being professional at what she did for Breakfast Television. We will miss her, but I am sure that with this chapter closed for her another better opportunity will land on her door step soon. Good luck Jennifer, and thanks for being the best you could be for all these years. —Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti

All the comments from people saying they will not be watching any more is pure BS. You did not watch because of Jennifer, she was NOT what makes BT tick. You watched to get the news, bottom line, so stop it. Yes, it is sad that she lost her job but it’s sad when anyone loses their job after so many years of service. That’s life. (She just had a better job than most people.) I will still watch BT because l like the show and the morning people that run it. —Jeannie

So sorry that Jennifer will no longer be on BT. I always looked forward to her segment. Someone has made a poor decision. —Edie

So sad to hear about Jennifer’s departure. I will not continue to watch the program. I wish her all the best!!! —Janee

Could it be possible that Rogers ends up selling City and their speciality channels to offset the losses they are facing with NHL? —Karen

X Company‘s creators discuss the heartbreaking finale and look towards Season 3

This is the best show CBC has ever done: well-written, well-acted, well-directed. I am so glad that the audience learns some history mixed in with the fiction, and stunned to see a German portrayed as a genuine conflicted human being. Bravo, can’t wait for next season! —Scott

A fantastic show. I, too, waited anxiously all week for the next episode and was SO RELIEVED to hear it’s been renewed for Season 3. Great actors. Great writing. Great story. —Catharine

This is the best show CBC has ever aired. The anticipation from week to week was high. The actors are so outstanding and the writing is good, the hour seemed to go too fast. I’ve been to the beaches in Dieppe and spoke with many of the survivors so it really hits home with me. —Robyn

The finest Canadian show I have ever watched. Bravo! The acting was superb, the writing (for both seasons) exceptional. Each episode a hand wringer until the very end. It was hard waiting for the next episode every week. Bring on Season 3, we’re all waiting. —Ann

Very sad that Tom has died. Someone was obviously going to die knowing what happened at Dieppe. The trailer pretty much sold it out as Tom due to his absence in the safe house and warnings from Neil, but the exit was quite spectacular! Can’t wait ’til next year for S3. :) —Emily

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

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Industry News

Charles Randolph (THE BIG SHORT) and Moira Walley-Beckett (FLESH & BONE) to Speak at TSC 2016

From a media release:

Charles Randolph is an American screenwriter and producer for film and television. Randolph has written screenplays for several films and TV movies including THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE (2003), THE INTERPRETER (2005), and LOVE & OTHER DRUGS (2010). Randolph received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay, a BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and won an the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing THE BIG SHORT in 2015.

Moira Walley-Beckett is a multiple award winning playwright, television writer and screenwriter. She is the Series Creator and Executive Producer of ANNE.

Recently, Moira created FLESH AND BONE, a critically acclaimed Limited Series for STARZ. The drama received multiple nominations and won a SATELLITE AWARD and a GRACIE AWARD in 2016. Before creating FLESH AND BONE, Moira spent six years as a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the critically acclaimed AMC series BREAKING BAD. For her work on that show, Moira has won a total of three EMMY AWARDS, three WRITERS’ GUILD AWARDS, three AFI AWARDS, three SATURN AWARDS, two PGA AWARDS, a GOLDEN GLOBE, a PEABODY, and received a PEN LITERARY AWARD nomination.

Kevin Shortt is lead writer at Ubisoft Montreal and has spent over 10 years in video game development. His credits include FAR CRY PRIMAL, WATCH DOGS, JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR: THE GAME and LOST: THE VIDEO GAME.

The full Toronto Screenwriting Conference schedule is now online.

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Industry News

More than 66,000 Canadians have already signed up to the new basic TV package

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From a media release:

In just five weeks, more than 66,000 Canadians have already signed up for the new basic television package, according to data collected by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). In addition, more than 1 out of 3 of these Canadians have also taken advantage of the new packaging options by subscribing to individual channels, small packages or both.

On March 1, 2016, Canada’s licensed television service providers began offering a new basic package that costs no more than $25 per month. The companies also began offering either the option to pay for individual channels (“pick-and-pay”) or small packages of no more than 10 channels.

The CRTC recently asked Access Communications, Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, MTS, Rogers Communications SaskTel, Shaw Communications, TELUS and Vidéotron to provide data on the number of subscribers that have subscribed to the new basic television package.

The CRTC reminds Canadians that television service providers will be required to offer full pick-and-pay starting on December 1, 2016.

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Sensitive Skin

HBO Canada Reveals New Episodic Images and Brand New Promo for Season 2 of Hit Original Series SENSITIVE SKIN

From a media release:

HBO Canada revealed today a first look at 11 all-new episodic images for the first episode of the Emmy®-Nominated, Canadian Original SeriesSENSITIVE SKIN. In addition, HBO Canada released the brand-new promo for the series, which returns May 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET on HBO Canada.

Sunday, May 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET
SENSITIVE SKIN picks up after the highly emotional cliff-hanger ending of the first season and sees Kim Cattrall’s Davina enter a new phase of her life. In the first episode, Davina searches for a new home but discovers that moving on isn’t as easy as she’d hoped, and soon finds herself in the picturesque Toronto Islands.

 

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Featured, Slasher

Slasher cuts another character

With the Season 1 finale airing on Chiller this Friday, fans in Canada watching Slasher on Super Channel are still seven weeks behind. Sarah and Dylan have just moved to Waterbury, and Verna McBride (Mary Walsh) and Justin Faysal (Mark Ghanimé) are The Executioner’s first two victims. That is, if there is in fact just one person committing the crimes, something Police Chief Iain Vaughn (Dean McDermott) was hoping when Heather Peterson (Erin Karpluk) was arrested last week.

Clearly, as “Like As Fire Eateth Up and Burneth Wood”—Friday’s new episode—shows, the wrong person was put in jail. That’s not all we learn during the instalment; here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come.

Brenda confesses
We love Wendy Crewson in everything, but she really shines in Slasher. Creator Aaron Martin has written a sassy, cigarette smoking chick who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, especially when things get a little tense. When she and Sarah find themselves in a dangerous position, she pulls out a gun, stating: “You think I’d return to this shit-hole without packing a little heat?” Line of the night. There is one thing that scares Brenda, and that’s the past: her confession, revolving around an incident in 1968, threatens to ruin the relationship she’s got with Sarah.

Slasher_Day3_SM_ 133

Tropes twisted
Horror movies contain some of the most hackneyed scenes and dialogue ever. Running and hiding in a closet. Calling “Hello, is anyone there?” into a darkened room. Hitting re-dial on your phone and having it ring the killer hiding inside your house. Martin’s nods to those well-worn customs are rife, but subtle twists on them result in truly scary moments.

Shout-out to Mr. D
Booth Savage, who played Principal Callaghan on Mr. D, gets new life on Slasher as the mayor of Waterbury. It’s pretty safe to say we’ve never seen this side to him before.

The Executioner vs. Sarah
Turns out The Executioner isn’t merely killing everyone. There is method to his madness and Sarah discovers what that is during the show’s closing moments.

Slasher airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Super Channel.

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