From Michael Malone of Broadcasting & Cable:
‘SCTV’ 40th Anniversary Special May Happen, Says Eugene Levy
With its 40th anniversary approaching, legendary sketch comedy show SCTV may be getting the reunion treatment, as Saturday Night Live did a year ago. Eugene Levy, an original cast member, says he’s been in talks with other SCTV principals about marking the milestone in style. Continue reading.
The Amazing Race Canada, The Marilyn Denis Show, Income Property and Still Standing were among the winners on Night 1 of the Canadian Screen Awards.
The non-broadcast fête from Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle saluted the sports, factual, talk, documentary and news categories. The spectacle was hosted by comedian Seán Cullen, whose eclectic humour kept those in attendance on their toes from the start.
“I watch Survivorman because in this business you never know when you’re going to be eating grass clippings and ants,” he quipped in his opening monologue. Later, a cringe-worthy segment boasted Cullen singing to such Canadian celebrities in the audience as Ben Mulroney, CTV’s Michelle Dubé, Marilyn Denis and CBC’s Ian Hanomansing.
The big winners of the night were the crew of CTV’s The Amazing Race, which not only took home Best Reality/Competition Program or Series but the photography, picture editing and directing categories as well. The Marilyn Denis Show captured a win for Best Talk Program or Series.
“I’m so lucky to have a second chance, a second go-round with this show. Please go and watch TV, it’s worth it,” Denis said upon accepting the trophy. Other winners included HGTV’s Income Property starring Scott McGillivray and CBC’s road trip project Still Standing.
Here are the winners in some key categories from Night 1:
Best Lifestyle Program or Series
Income Property
Best Talk Program or Series
The Marilyn Denis Show
Best Reality/Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada
Best Documentary Program
Sol
Best History Documentary Program or Series
Vietnam: Canada’s Shadow War
Best Factual Program or Series
Still Standing
Best Live Entertainment Special
The JUNO Awards 2015
Best News Anchor, Local
Andrew Chang, CBC News: Vancouver at 6
Best News Anchor, National
Ian Hanomansing, CBC News
Best Local Newscast
CTV News Vancouver at 6
Best National Newscast
CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme
Here’s the complete list of winners.
The Canadian Screen Awards gala airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBC.
From a media release:
Shaw Media has greenlit a second season of Slice™’s scintillating series First Dates, with production and casting underway now. The First Dates matchmakers have begun an extensive search for a diverse mix of singles looking to be paired up on a blind date in hopes of finding that special someone. Produced by Force Four Entertainment and Remedy Canada Productions, in association with Shaw Media, First Dates is a docuseries that sets single men and women up on a first date with cameras capturing all their real and romantic moments. The second season of First Dates will air on Slice in 2016 and the entire first season can be watched online at slice.ca along with exclusive digital extras.
First Dates is looking for Canadians of all genders, orientations, ages, backgrounds, and professions who are single and actively looking, or at least open to the prospect of finding someone special. The series will be filmed in Vancouver this Spring, and all Canadians are welcome to apply. The casting site also allows people to nominate friends or family for the show through the same online application process. Online applications for First Dates can be filled out by visiting slice.ca/casting-call. Applicants must be 19 years of age or older, available for filming in the Vancouver area, and must provide a headshot of themselves.
Hailed as “wonderful†and “utterly beguiling†by The Globe and Mail, First Dates gives viewers a gripping look at the hope, charm, attractions, awkwardness, heartaches, connections, and the stakes of a first date. Each episode showcases a restaurant of singles who have been hand matched for a blind date with someone they’ve never met. The restaurant is fitted with 35 fixed-rig cameras capturing every moment, from potential sparks to awkward small talk, flirtatious glances, and sometimes forced smiles. In Season 1, the First Dates restaurant hosted over 300 first dates, which led to 50 smooches and 100 second dates.
From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:
X Company’s Dustin Milligan on growing tension in the team
“Tom is trying to rally the troops and what he experienced with getting shot and heading back to camp for awhile is that ‘yes, things are hard, things are real now and it’s not just about these ideals we have.’ Tom has never been one who has wanted to pull the trigger, but he sees the reality in that and now he sees how he can play an integral role in this final mission, reminding the team of what’s really important here, ‘yes, we have our differences but ultimately there’s something much greater than us that needs our absolute focus and attention.’ Otherwise all could be lost.” Continue reading.Â
You know what you’re going to get when you tune in to Income Property. Not only will Scott McGillivray entertain as he renovates a couple’s home, but he educates folks on how to make the most money out of their investments. It’s a formula that’s worked for 10 seasons on HGTV and I’m frankly surprised it’s taken this long for a spinoff.
Debuting Wednesday with two back-to-back episodes, Income Property: On Vacation is exactly what it sounds like as McGillivray leaves the big city in his rear-view mirror to aid people in adding value to their vacation properties. In the first, McGillivray helps musician Justin Rutledge turn the lakeside shack on his in Prince Edward County land into a money-maker. It isn’t easy, but then anything McGillivray tackles rarely is. Wall-to-wall wood paneling, outdated appliances, a burgeoning mouse and raccoon population, black mould, expired avians and moisture throughout has Justin stressed, but the flop-haired contractor sees lots of potential.
After checking with local building codes, McGillivray—as he does with Income Property—presents Rutledge with two renovation options. I always get a kick out of McGillivray’s reactions to things as the demotion portion of the project gets underway and Wednesday’s debut of On Vacation is no exception. Let’s just say some questionable wiring leads to a funny scene in the old shower. Then, after days painting, rerouting plumbing, replacing rotting floors and intense renos, Rutledge’s new cabin is ready to hit the market, and bring in a tidy little profit for the singer-songwriter too.
Watching the team work to the proposed plan is fun and informative, but I constantly wonder why this series isn’t made up of hour-long episodes. Until that happens, I’ll have to be content with Income Property and this great spinoff, On Vacation.
Income Property: On Vacation airs Wednesdays at 10 and 10:30 p.m. ET on HGTV Canada.
