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.

Discovery orders full season of How Hard Can It Be

Discovery announced today it has ordered a complete 10-episode season of ANDREW YOUNGHUSBAND’S HOW HARD CAN IT BE (working title) from Canadian independent producer Proper Television. Already in pre-production on Season 12 of CANADA’S WORST DRIVER for Discovery, Younghusband is the star of this new documentary series that sees him tackling the hardest, weirdest, and most dangerous activities he can find in an attempt to beat the experts at their own respective games.

The second Discovery original Canadian series to be shot in ultra-vivid 4K UHD, each 30-minute episode of ANDREW YOUNGHUSBAND’S HOW HARD CAN IT BE finds the star bringing his unique comedic take to wildly different experiences as he puts himself in harm’s way to attempt tough jobs, weird pastimes, and bizarre passions. Whether it’s a roller derby dust-up or trying to keep up with his marathon-running mom, competitive professional eatering or demolition derby driving, Younghusband pushes himself to the limits of his physical and mental abilities.

Recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Photography in a Lifestyle or Reality /Competition Program or Series, casting for Season 12 of CANADA’S WORST DRIVER is still open! On the heels of an incredible Season 11, ranked in the Top 5 most-watched program on entertainment specialty television in Canada this past fall with an average audience of 625,000 viewers, fans can go online at http://www.canadasworstdriver.com and nominate a friend or family member.

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Photo gallery: Letterkenny Season 1 photos unveiled

With less than a month to go before Letterkenny drops on CraveTV, the fine folks in charge of the show have released some pretty kickin’ key art to introduce fans to the characters headed our way.

All six half-hour episodes debut on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 9 a.m. ET, at which time Jared Keeso’s online creation, Letterkenny Problems, launches as a television series. Here’s a sneak peek at The Hicks, Skids and the Hockey Players battling it out in that quirky small town.

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Comments and queries for the week of January 29

TV Eh B Cs podcast 40: Keeping Company with Ellis and Morgenstern

So enjoyed this interview with Mark and Stephanie. Will us in the States get to see this great show? Loved Flashpoint and they could bring it back and would still be a big hit. Thanks, Anthony. —Mary


Baby talk on Murdoch Mysteries

The baby is so adorable, I just want to reach through the TV screen and hug him. And it was great fun to see Crabtree let down his hair, so to speak. Love the inventions! —Helen


Who will win Season 3 of MasterChef Canada?

I am not convinced it’s Berg. My bet is either on Zhara or Robyn. Zara is young with a touching story and Robyn of thechewishkitchen’s plating is out of this world. —TVFoodie

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

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Global greenlights new original drama Mary Kills People

From a media release:

Global announced today a brand new Canadian original drama series Mary Kills People,set to premiere on the network in January 2017. Partnering with independent studio Entertainment One (eOne), Mary Kills People is executive produced by Canadian Screen Award winner Tassie Cameron (Rookie Blue), under her new production company, Cameron Pictures Inc., and created and written by talented newcomer Tara Armstrong, a winner of the 2015 Shaw Media Writer’s Apprentice Program. Set in the morally grey world of assisted suicide, Mary Kills People is a thought-provoking, intense, and controversial drama. The provocative six-episode series is set to begin production in Toronto this summer. 

Mary Kills People follows Dr. Mary Harris, a single mother and ER doctor by day, who also moonlights as an underground angel of death — helping terminally ill patients who want to slip away on their own terms. So far Mary has managed to stay under the radar; but death is hot, business is booming, and her double life is getting complicated.  When the police start to close in, Mary realizes she’s going to have to fight dirty if she’s going to stay in the killing game.

Mary Kills People is produced by eOne and Cameron Pictures Inc., in association with Shaw Media, and with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. eOne handles international distribution for the series.

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Prep for Season 4 of Vikings with stunning A World Revealed

I don’t make a point of reviewing or writing about digital initiatives. Not because I don’t enjoy them, but because they—and webisodes and online exclusives—all fall into a grey area. They’re not TV shows in the traditional sense and some come off more like DVD extras.

Vikings: A World Revealed plays like something you’d find at the end of a DVD or Blu-ray set, but presented in a much more entertaining way. The special website—bowing Thursday for fans to preview before Season 4 on History next month—is very much like an interactive documentary. Immersing those who visit into the world of Ragnar Rothbrok, his followers and enemies, it offers four views—Kattegat Village, The Great Hall, Wessex Chamber and The Courtyard—of the world occupied by these adventurous souls. Music sets the tone and vibrant animation accents informative video extras into how the Canadian-Irish co-production is made.

Click on Kattegat Village and actress Katheryn Winnick, smeared with blood and crud, takes visitors on a personal journey around the encampment. Along the way, clickable on-screen arrows go deeper, exploring how Viking ships are built for the series (and a sneak peek at Bjorn’s ride), the role of Viking women, how the series’ gallons of blood is created and what inspired those wicked hairstyles. Alyssa Sutherland (Princess Aslaug) takes visitors on a tour of The Great Hall, where set decoration, the hand-made costumes, Bjorn’s mystery map and the creation of the series are covered. Moe Dunford’s (Aethelwulf) humour is the highlight of The Courtyard tour, where he breaks down the Romans’ influence on King Ecbert and gives some hints as to where Aethelwulf’s head is at in Season 4.

The best segment of the lot is the trip into the Wessex Chamber, where Linus Roache and Travis Fimmel joke their way through describing the intricacies of King Ecbert’s inner sanctum. Beards, directing and series creator Michael Hirst are covered when Fimmel isn’t highjacking everything Roache is saying.

Fans of Vikings will find Vikings: A World Revealed to be an entertaining sidestep away from the series and it’s really a must-see for anyone looking to dive into the world of the vikings.

Vikings: A World Revealed can be found on History’s website.

Vikings airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History beginning February 18.

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