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Featured, Killjoys

Killjoys: Shaun Benson guest-stars in a memorable, murderous role

Shaun Benson may play a memorable, villainous character in this week’s episode of Killjoys, but he’s anything but in person.

On Killjoys he plays, well, I don’t want to give it away. But suffice it to say that Benson’s gig—which finds him decked out in black and sporting a blonde hair reminiscent of a certain movie villain—is truly memorable. And this from a series that dropped a rapidly aging baby in our laps last Friday.

We spoke to Benson during a break in filming “Baby, Face Killer,” earlier this year and learned a bit about his character and a lot about acting.

What can you reveal about this character?
Shaun Benson: He’s a protector. So that gives him a real coldness, almost like a snake because he’s sort of like from an evolutionary line of protectors.

The last character you played that I saw was Lane on Saving Hope. Not a great guy.
SB: The transition from good guy to guy who does something wrong, for me, is a very small leap. And I think for some people, and I don’t know if they haven’t danced with the dark side as much as I have, truly, or if they’re not willing to go there, even if they have, for me it’s a paper-thin distance between me being a good person and me being a bad person. So if you put a camera on me, and again, I haven’t been a gangster or murdered people, but I spent years like delving into the darkness, and it makes it tougher to book the lead in a Hallmark movie. Because you put a camera on me and a girl says to me, ‘Hey, you look good, and I look back and I go, you look good too, it’s very loaded.’

Greg Bryk told me that those types of roles means he explores that dark side in a safe way.
SB: What’s very interesting is that when I was in my 20s I played a lot of really good guys, the lead, handsome, whatever. My face was very soft and unwrinkled, I still had some baby fat. And honestly, the roles were pretty uninteresting, not bad, and a great privilege to be able to play them, but it was always like he’s the good guy and he’s trying to solve the case or whatever. But at the time I was really busting at the seams as a young man, out partying and not being too forthright or standup. Then, in my early 30s, I just said ‘I don’t want to be that guy.’ So I can’t remember the last time I consciously told a lie. Like, people know who I am, but now I play the mean guy all the time when I’m the least, you know, that I’ve ever been in my life.

So I get what Greg’s saying because there’s a safety to it so that you can go all the way with it because it’s actually not what’s happening. You know, I can go home … and by the way, it takes its toll. I did a movie of the week for Lifetime and it was keeping women locked in a basement, and it’s all fun and I’m playing it and the director and I talked about it along the way. We talked about this like it’s a bit of a dance.

That’s been my background as an actor. When I was younger I started dancing. So how do we put the joy in the body? And Jack Nicholson even talked about it, for The Shining. Like, he treated that like a ballet and I really understand what he’s talking about. Because, if it’s about the movements in my body, then it elevates the sense of, not only art but spirit and joy, even if it’s a tragedy.

Killjoys airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Space.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.

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Amazing Race Canada, Featured

Amazing Race Canada: Red earth and raw emotions in PEI

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With Courtney and Taylor coming off back-to-back-to-back victories, the RCMP officers seem poised to take The Amazing Race Canada title this season. They don’t bicker and they seem to have fun, two key ingredients to success. But then, fellow siblings Martina and Phil have been crushing it of late; could they be the season’s dark horse team?

With the number of teams dwindling, everyone jetted to one of my favourite spots in this country: Prince Edward Island, home to Cows ice cream, lobster suppers, Anne of Green Gables and potatoes. Lots and lots of potatoes. But before that, the teams had to get there. Courtney and Taylor and Martina and Phil helpfully reminded viewers of the alliance they formed back in Leg 1. Of course, that was foreshadowing. At some point, that alliance would be tested, put into play or broken.

Beaconsfield Historic House was the first location, in downtown Charlottetown, and Kwame and Dylan were the first to arrive. Teams were asked to participate in a scavenger hunt to locate statues of Eckhart the mouse, the hero of a local children’s book. There were nine bronze statues, but only three held Race clues to the next destination. Rather than running all over downtown searching, Mar and Leanne took the time to read up on Eckhart. The result? They collected the first clue before anyone else. Sadly, the fact Courtney and Adam were on a small island didn’t stop them from making a wrong turn. Those two are cursed.

Meanwhile, Mel and Nancy faced their Speed Bump after arriving at Beaconsfield Historic House. There they were instructed to cut hair for charity at The Humble Barber, donating locks. This test was an emotional one for Nancy, who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 45. Needless to say, it was a touching and tearful few minutes showcasing the power of The Amazing Race Canada. It wasn’t revealed how long the Speed Bump lasted, but by the time Mel and Nancy had completed it, they and Courtney and Adam were both asking for maps revealing the locations of Eckhart. Martina and Phil and Courtney and Taylor used their alliance to help the latter team score their final Eckhart location. When we last left Kwame and Dylan, they were wandering aimlessly.

Mar and Leanne found the three pint-sized clues first, followed by Courtney and Adam who used the help of strangers to leave Charlottetown. The aid paid off big-time and they leapfrogged to first place upon arrival at the Road Block. Supper was the order of the day at The Table Culinary Studio but scrambled menus threatened to confuse more than one Racer. Courtney kicked things off on the right foot, followed by Nancy, Mar, Phil and Taylor. Courtney was simply glowing as she received the clue card and ran out to meet Adam. It was good to see them celebrating. Taylor took the time to help Phil decipher his mixed-up menu, repaying them for aid in Charlottetown.

The Detour was, as expected, tuber themed. Teams could either choose to milk goats to make soap and label different types of soap or till the soil and plant potatoes. Every team chose to plant potatoes—I would have too—and Dylan and Kwame were once again left in last place, this time at the restaurant.

For the very first time—on-air at least—we saw Mel and Nancy argue. “Just tell me what to do,” Mel said. “Because that’s what you like to do.” It was a brief altercation, but was it an indication of what each Leg of the Race has been like so far? (Mel’s eye roll said it all.) Still, she brightened up when they completed the task ahead of Courtney and Adam and drove off to Cavendish for a little zombie paintball. Every hit taken by a team while hunting for their next clue was a minute time out.

Mel and Nancy, Courtney and Adam and Courtney and Taylor were the first three pairs to leave for paintball while Mar’s back gave her fits and Dylan and Kwame finally arrived. The drive to Cavendish gave Nancy and Mel the chance to air out their grievances in an honest way. It was uncomfortable to watch, but credit to the producers for really showing the pressure these teams are under. Mel and Nancy apologized to each other … and then got hit 15 times for a 15-minute penalty. Courtney and Adam were assessed a 16-minute penalty and had a minute to sit and watch Mel and Nancy exit for the Pit Stop. Courtney and Taylor were hit 23 times while Martina and Phil were hit 19. Leanne battled her fear of enclosed spaces for as long as she could but she had to bow out, giving Dylan and Kwame an open door as they were given a two-hour penalty. Dylan and Kwame were only hit 14 times, closing the gap between them and the cheerleaders.

This Leg’s Pit Stop was located on a lovely Cavendish beach where Nancy and Mel checked in and received a trip for two to Istanbul. It was pretty cool to see last week’s saved team land in the top spot. Clearly, PEI was just the salve some teams needed, as Courtney and Adam were second on the mat. Dylan and Kwame found their way to the Pit Stop in plenty of time. It was a muted celebration for them as they claimed the final spot on the Leg and Leanne and Mar were eliminated from the Race.

Were you sad to see the cheerleaders leave? Who do you think will win? Let me know in the comments below.

Here’s how the teams finished this Leg of the Race:

  1. Mel and Nancy (trip for two to Istanbul)
  2. Courtney and Adam
  3. Taylor and Courtney
  4. Martina and Phil
  5. Dylan and Kwame
  6. Mar and Leanne (two-hour penalty, eliminated)

The Amazing Race Canada airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. MT on CTV.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

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Featured, Killjoys

Killjoys: Introducing Jaeden Noel

In a universe filled with unique characters, Killjoys’ most recent may very well be the most. The spawn of Delle Seyah and D’avin Jaqobis, viewers first meet him moments after he’s born. But by the end of Friday’s newest episode, “Greening Pains,” he’s grown into a young man.

That young man is played by Jaeden Noel. He’s appeared on such shows as The Expanse, Rogue, Murdoch Mysteries and Odd Squad; now Jaeden Noel checks in as the newest member of the cast. We sat down with him during a break in filming part of “Greening Pains” earlier this year.

What can you say about your character?
Jaeden Noel: He is new to the world. And he grows really, really fast. He’s actually only currently two years old, but he looks like me and I’m 15. It’s an interesting storyline. He’s very new, so he walks through the world trying to learn everything, and he’s like a sponge, he absorbs everything. He’s very attentive and he listens a lot. But he’s also very curious. He follows Dutch around and almost praises her because she’s like the coolest character ever, right?

What’s the relationship between he and D’avin like at this point?
JN: I think it’s very awkward for him. He can’t talk to me like I’m a teenager, but he also can’t talk to me like I’m a baby. But I feel like he does still have that fatherly instinct to protect his son. So that will definitely be there.

Had you seen Killjoys before you got the role? Did you go back and watch episodes?
JN: I got cast for it. I had heard of it, obviously, but I got cast for it and I was like, ‘I should probably brush up on some of this so I know what I’m doing.’ So I watched some of Season 3, I had seen some of Hannah and Luke, they’re great actors, it’s been great working with them. Stefan [Pleszczynski], the director, everyone here is super nice. I find them always making sure I’m OK, asking how my day went, how was my weekend?

As an actor, having the costume and being in this scene, it becomes a little bit easier because you’re able to put yourself into that mindset when you’re surrounded by everything like this, right?
JN: Plus I find this kind of genre of television very interesting. So it’s easy for me to like almost get in and become the character.

How do you juggle school? Because you need to get some schooling in there while you’re working too. 
JN: We have school here. We have an on-set tutor. But also I’m not really bad at school, besides maybe math, but I mean a lot of people aren’t the greatest at math. But I also go to an arts school. And they’re very lenient with things like this. It’s almost like one of the reasons why I go there. It’s like, ‘Oh, I’m filming.’ The teachers are like, ‘OK, just I’ll give you your homework, just have fun, do whatever.’ Whereas other schools, I think it would be more of like a … I’d have to sit down and explain it to the principal.

What have you learned from working with Hannah, Luke and the rest of the cast?
JN: They are incredible actors. I’m sitting there picking their brains, trying to learn everything, what they’ve done, looked at old stuff and watching them while they act, watching their scenes. Because the only thing I can do from them is learn. So I might as well, if I’m going to be on the set with them and be working with these people, I should be learning from them.

Killjoys airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Space.

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Anne with an E, Featured

Comments and queries for the week of August 17

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It’s a shame, and no doubt my loss, but I won’t be watching this second season of Anne with an E. I am so disappointed (as well as others I know) that this Canadian production, by an iconic Canadian author, was aired on Netflix in the States before Canadian audiences had a chance to see it. Not kosher. And the third season no doubt will probably have its airing the same way in 2019. There is hardly a Canadian production I don’t watch, but this has left a bad taste. So long, Anne with an E — parting is such sweet sorrow. —D Mac

Bell Media[Daily Planet‘s cancellation is] disappointing but not really surprising. What we are witnessing are the death throes of profit-based cable television. Media companies like Bell and so many others are prostituting themselves to the public’s lowest common denominator to generate viewers because it is cheap and easy to make programming like what we see now and they have to compete with Internet-based programming. Like flashing lights in a casino, it’s not about quality anymore, it’s just about making you look. Like “click bait” on the Internet. They know you will leave, that is why ad time costs more at the beginning of a show because they already know most people are going to leave in the first 10 minutes. If we would like to preserve intelligent programming on television we need to support networks that don’t rely on maintaining profit margins. Unfortunately, that is only PBS, CPAC and sometimes CBC. Although CBC is fairly debatable also. Ultimately, we are all players in this game and if we want change we need to choose with our remotes and not watch junk TV. I work in the video production industry and all I can say is “Good luck people!” —Sean

So many dance tasks [on The Amazing Race Canada] this year, I’ve seen speculation that it’ll be the theme of the final memory task of the Race at the finale. Darts make for dull TV and I’ve never been a fan of the Face-Off essentially deciding who’s going to finish last halfway through the episode but at least they made it slightly hard with the all sides bit. Six teams and four Legs after this one. Pretty obvious it was going to be a non-elimination episode since the last episode always needs three teams. A good memory-matching opener task. Dylan and Martina were hilarious at the magic Road Block as was the judge watching them. And the kid in the audience that was unimpressed. It feels like the parking ticket was $0 just because they were on the Race. Is there even a penalty for that? I remember Sukhi and Jinder lost 15 minutes due to running a red light. With the amount of focus, Martina and Phil are probably in the finale; stranger things have happened then them possibly winning but they haven’t gotten 1st place yet in any Leg. Sinorama went out of business. I hope that doesn’t mean more budget cuts in future seasons. —DanAmazing

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

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Featured, Killjoys

Preview: Killjoys welcomes its newest member of the family

Are you ready to meet Delle Seyah and D’avin’s baby, Killjoys fans? Of course, we already got a glimpse of the little tyke at the end of last week’s episode. But this Friday we get to know him a little bit better thanks to a fantastic—and very sci-fi (and daytime TV)—twist.

Here’s what Space has revealed with regard to a synopsis for “Greening Pains,” written by showrunner Adam Barken and directed by Stefan Pleszczynski:

A necessary detour to a familiar space station of sin and black-market goods is totally buzzkilled by D’avin’s newborn son. Especially when the wee tyke is aging so rapidly he’s at risk of dying of old age if the team can’t find help amongst the den of criminals they’ve made port in. Added to which, Dutch is still grappling with what happened to her in greenspace, and the Lady’s infection of one of the team is finally revealed …

And here are more spoiler-free details after watching a screener.

Welcome to the family Jaeden Noel!
He’s appeared on such shows as The Expanse, Rogue, Murdoch Mysteries and Odd Squad; now Jaeden Noel checks in as Delle Seyah and D’av’s not-so-little one. The team’s first reaction to his initial growth spurt is classic Killjoys. Look for my interview with Jaeden on the website after Friday’s broadcast.

Delle Seyah isn’t Hullen anymore. That’s good, right?
Depends on who you ask, I guess. I have a feeling the lady herself is going to feel the loss as we advance later into the season. For now, she’s kind of got her hands full.

Fancy returns
An integral member of Team Awesome Force, it’s always good news when Sean Baek grabs some screen time as Fancy. Even better news? Fancy teams up with Gared.

Letterkenny‘s Evan Stern guest-stars
Evan Stern swaps Roald’s Letterkenny overalls for unique facial hair and a memorable scene with Atticus Mitchell’s Pippin. Also memorable? The place Pippin, D’avin, Dutch and Johnny go where Stern’s character is introduced. I was visiting the set that day, and it’s gorgeous.

I never get tired of the Killjoys theme music
It’s simple, rockin’ and has the most memorable singalong since “Hey Jude.”

Killjoys airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Space.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

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