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.
X Company

Link: X Company writer on the struggles of seeing both sides of the war

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

X Company writer on the struggles of seeing both sides of the war
“We think the more you see the second half the more you sense the tumblers falling into place…even if you can’t see what they are. We like to zag instead of zig. There’s also a note of real tragedy looming, because we as the audience have a luxury of hindsight that they do not; they look on the upcoming Allied raid as the turning of the tide. We, of course, know it’s only 1942, and Dieppe was anything but. So you’re going to start to feel the mounting tension and dread and suspense from that.” Continue reading. 

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Schitt's Creek

Link: Life in Schitt’s Creek is good for Emily Hampshire

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Life in Schitt’s Creek is good for Emily Hampshire
Anyone who has watched Schitt’s Creek is aware that this isn’t your typical comedy, and that feel extends behind the scenes as well. “I feel like I’m super lucky to be on a show where the people are so great and nice. Schitt’s Creek is such a dream job.” Continue reading. 

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Awards, Industry News, Schitt's Creek

ACTRA Toronto announces 14th annual winners

From a media release:

ACTRA Toronto is proud to announce the winners of the 14th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto.

Outstanding Performance – Female
Catherine O’Hara (Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, “Wine and Roses” Produced by Not a Real Company)

Outstanding Performance – Male
Christopher Plummer (Zev Guttman in Remember. Produced by Serendipity Point Films)

Outstanding Performance – Voice
Julie Lemieux (Granny Butternut in Numb Chucks, “Tough Love” Produced by 9 Story Media Group)

Tantoo Cardinal presented ACTRA Toronto’s 2016 Award of Excellence to Sarah Gadon.

A special presentation of statuettes was made to ACTRA Toronto’s stunt pioneers: John “Frenchie” Berger, Matt Birman, Shane Cardwell, Shelley Cook, Bobby Hannah, Chris Lamon, Dwayne McLean, Brent Meyer, Branko Racki, Alison Reid, Morris Maurizio Santia, John Stoneham Sr., Anton Tyukodi and Billy E. Williams.

The 14th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto were presented at a live show and gala at The Carlu. The show was hosted by comic Martha Chaves with live music by Salsa Norte.

The 14th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto was sponsored by: DIAMOND: Actra Fraternal Benefit Society. PLATINUM: ACTRA National, Performers’ Rights Society and Recording Artists’ Collecting Society; Bell Media. GOLD: CBC, CMPA, City of Toronto Film, Television and Digital Media Office, Deluxe, In Your Ear Productions, IATSE 873, Rhombus Media, Shaftesbury Films, United Steelworkers. SILVER: Cavalluzzo, Directors Guild of Canada (Ontario), RBC Royal Bank. BRONZE: Addenda Capital, Creative Arts Savings & Credit Union, Don Carmody Film and Television, eOne, Grant Thornton, HUB International, New Real Films, Rolling Picture Company, Serendipity Point Films, Take 5 Productions, Whizbang Films, Writers Guild of Canada.

ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing more than 15,000 of Canada’s 22,000 professional performers working in recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven union that continues to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers.

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Orphan Black

Link: Orphan Black’s Kevin Hanchard for MVP

From Hermione Wilson of The TV Junkies:

Orphan Black’s Kevin Hanchard for MVP
“There’s a lot of clashing in Season 4, let’s just put it that way, whether it’s between Sarah and Art, or Sarah and everybody else. I mean, Sarah is a wild card and she has, I think, more invested than anybody else in this whole situation. It’s her blood that’s involved here and she’s going to do things the way she wants to do things. There’s a lot of conflicts this year and I think that’s what’s really exciting about this show, is that it’s not just a bunch of pretty people and pretty people angst [laughs], it’s not a show about that!” Continue reading.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Jade Fever strikes in Season 2

Watching a series like Jade Fever—returning Tuesday to Discovery—you can’t help but ask one question: why? Why do folks like Claudia and Robin Bunce trek 120 kilometres from their home in Jade City, B.C., to hunt for jade every summer?

The ride to their camp—named Wolverine—is a mud, water and rock-filled trail heavy diggers and trucks must traverse at a snail’s pace. We’re talking a days-long expedition. Equipment breaks down, biting bugs are a constant, and mud and cold envelop all. Again, why do they do it? One word: jade. Seventy-five per cent of the world’s nephrite jade is in the area and countries like China are willing to pay big for it.

Back for Season 2 on Bell Media’s specialty network, the Bunce’s and their crew—including hot-headed son Josh—are constantly on the hunt for what they call “the million-dollar” rock; the chunk of jade that will be a windfall for the company. Unlike gold, which must be mined, jade is found near the surface, deposited by glaciers millions of years ago. Still, finding the stuff—especially the deep, green gem prized most—is a crapshoot. Unlike the rookie season debut that introduced everyone and got digging right away, Tuesday’s back-to-back instalments hop into the cabs alongside everyone and documents the slow, methodical trip to Wolverine. It takes just one kilometre into the ride for warning beeps to halt the conga line, and just a little bit more before an overheated engine stops everything.

Over in China, meanwhile, company CEO Alan Qiao meets with investors, putting the final signatures on a $500,000 budget. Those investors lost money last year and threaten to pull out if the Bunces don’t produce more jade.

Episode 2 is plagued by a faulty rock truck, but some quick-thinking—and some luck—things eventually take a turn for the better. A nail-biting crossing of the Turnagain River and some expletive-filled track bolt adjustments and the squad is, as Claudia says, “cooking with corn flakes.” Well, most of them, anyway.

A quick teaser hints at the drama to come: rolled over vehicles, injured folks being flown out via helicopter, staff stranded in the bush and endless boulders with nothing inside. Yup, it’s going to be a long season. Luckily, the payoff is worth it.

Jade Fever airs Tuesdays at 10 and 10:30 p.m. ET on Discovery.

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