Everything about Featured, eh?

Corner Gas, Corner Gas Animated, Featured, Podcast

TV Eh B Cs podcast 81 — Wine and McDonald’s with Corner Gas Animated’s Tara Spencer-Nairn

Note: Unfortunately, something weird happened in the downloading of the files for Tara and my conversation. The result is some crosstalk that is, at times, super annoying. I sincerely apologize to my listeners and Tara for this. 

Tara Spencer-Nairn returns as the deadpan police officer Karen Pelly in Corner Gas: Animated—airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on The Comedy Network—a role she played in the Gemini-winning, No. 1 rated CTV sitcom Corner Gas, earning a Gemini Award for Best Ensemble Performance in 2007 and two Gemini nominations in 2004 and 2006.

A graduate of the Vancouver Film School, her big breakthrough came in 1999 when she was cast in the highly acclaimed New Waterford Girl. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival and received seven Genie Award nominations including Best Picture.

Spencer-Nairn appeared in the recurring role of Sandy in CTV’s hit drama The Listener. She has appeared in numerous other television productions including The Outer Limits, The Strain, Murdoch Mysteries, Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story, Flashpoint Saving Hope and Degrassi. Most recently she could seen in the third season of Syfy/Space hit series Killjoys as a recurring guest star.

Spencer-Nairn was born in Montreal, raised in Vancouver and now calls Toronto home. The youngest of three siblings, the actor spent 12 years as a competitive gymnast. She is married and the mother of two young sons.

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Burden of Truth, Caught, Featured, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Heartland, Workin' Moms

CBC Music provides the soundtrack to your favourite shows

Sometimes it’s not only the visuals and storylines that make a television series great. The right music can really make a scene shine. The CBC knows what makes a good show, and with that in mind, have created playlists for numerous primetime programs on their platform to connect us with the series and characters we love. Even if some of the shows are have come to an end, CBC Music wants you to keep the sweet memories and enjoy your favourite series through the music. Here a just a sample of the sweet playlists CBC Music has put together to accompany your faves.

The TV Show: Heartland

Key songs on the playlist: Matthew Barber, Distant Cousins, Ben Rector, Royal Wood

The mood: Heartland is full of heartwarming family moments. And the music is part of what makes it so special. This soundtrack is warm and sensitive. It is perfect for a family ride to the park or beach. Or even for a small family gathering in the backyard.

The TV Show: Frankie Drake Mysteries

Key songs on the playlist: Alabama Red Peppers, Louis Armstrong & His Hot Seven, Read and Miff’s Stompers

The mood: Whether you’re cooking dinner or gathering for a family game night, this soundtrack is what you’re searching for. Light but full of harmony, jazz makes the mood bright. You won’t even notice how your body starts moving to the rhythm.

The TV Show: Burden of Truth

Key songs on the playlist: The Barr Brothers, Andreya Triana, Adam Baldwin

The mood:  You want to be as confident as Joanna Hanley? This music is gonna make you work hard. Perfect for your brain, but relaxing at the same time. Make your studying and working more enjoyable with The Weather Station or Etiquette.

The TV Show: Hello Goodbye

Key songs on the playlist: Stephanie Rainey, Andrew Simple, Samantha Watt

The mood: Hello Goodbye makes you cry with happiness. It is what brings you pleasure and lets you discover incredible stories. The music is great for a date or just a quiet night with yourself, to understand and remember how family, friends and your loved ones are important.

The TV Show: Workin’ Moms

Key songs on the playlist: The Black Eyed Peas, Kelis, She-Devils

The mood: Girl’s night out? You definitely know what songs you need to have on your playlist! Something like “Love Fool” by Tanika Charles will make that girly atmosphere. A few glasses of wine, a little talk, the most important people and energetic music.

 The TV Show: Caught

Key songs on the playlist: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner, The Rolling Stones

The mood: Caught is a story about drug dealers and prison breakers set to the perfect 70s soundtrack. Whether you’re going on a long trip or just want to survive in the morning traffic jams, the smashing hits from your favourite bands are gonna rock you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a 70s child or a freshman to the exciting world of free and unlimited self-expression, hits like “Tumbling Dice” by The Rolling Stones, “Crazy on You” by Heart and “Up Around the Bend” by Creedence Clearwater Revival will make you scream and sing along.

 

 

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Featured

Comments and queries for the week of May 4

As with so many others, I am so upset that You Gotta Eat Here! has been cancelled! What are they thinking? Bring this show back! There are so many other restaurants out there that need to be shown and it’s not the same over and over again, such as Top Chef contest shows. Listen to the people who have written in! And they are only a fraction of people that feel the same way. —Lyn

 

Really glad that there is going to be a Season 12 of this totally addictive series. In the UK and we have just seen Episode 17 and IMHO it had one of the toughest storylines ever with the conflict of morals and ethics set against the personal tragedy of Julia’s miscarriage. Having read the sneak peek of Episode 18, what is in store for next season? Will Emily Grace return to full the emptiness in George Crabtree ‘s heart? Will miss Hart’s manipulative scheming turn out to be the tip of an evil iceberg? As Julia was having fertility treatment did she just lose one of a pair of twins? And when is Murdoch going to be promoted? We know that Brackenried becomes chief constable, retiring in the 1920s from the Frankie Drake web story, where Watts becomes an inspector. And of course more of Myers Pendrick and Higgins. I just wish there were two series a year! —Clive

I was actually hoping Murdoch would come to his senses this time. This is not love. Julia asks too much. She obviously loves herself more than her husband. So selfish! No man should have to live with a Victorian “nasty girl!” —Beth

I disagree wholeheartedly. I don’t understand why a strong woman is often seen as a nasty woman, even by other women. William was very, very cruel when he blamed Julia for the miscarriage. He was cruel to her when he walked away from her (much earlier on) upon learning she had had an abortion. He was cruel when he took much too long to come to her to propose before she left for Buffalo. She loved William so much but was making a sacrifice of her own happiness so that he could meet and marry someone who could give him children. He did not go to say he loved her still and please don’t marry Darcy. I know he had just let someone out of jail when he shouldn’t have, but he could still have let her know before he left town. It probably would have turned out entirely differently. So William has hurt Julia over the years too. To paint her as nasty is a disservice to women everywhere. One needs to look at the whole picture and look at the love between them as being strong and forgiving. —Linda

This is a beautifully written and superbly acted TV show. We may hope for things to happen but basically it’s written for plot and character development. It’s ENTERTAINMENT! Sit back and let it entertain you!! —Pamela

 

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

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

Donut worry on Masterchef Canada

Tonight’s episode was for you, donut lovers! The team challenge took place at the Cherry Beach off-leash dog park in Toronto. This beautiful place was accompanied by amazing weather. The winners from the last episode—Eugene, Andy and Marissa—were chosen to be the team captains for the Red, Blue and Green teams. The task was to make up to 200 donuts with a two-hour prep time. The team that sold the most had a chance to win the challenge and be safe from the Pressure Test.

The teams gathered to discuss their ideas. What a diversity of thoughts starting from a chocolate banana donut and finishing with breakfast bagel donut-looking dish. However, nothing ever goes smoothly on MasterChef Canada. Beccy was in charge of the dough but added the yeast into very hot water, so it just died. The Green team had to start over. Eugene and his creativity caused his team to slow down and when the Green and Blue had their donuts almost ready, the Red team was just starting to assemble their yumminess.

The Red team went with a breakfast bagel donut topped with orange whipped cream and candied bacon. The Blue team made a caramelized banana donut with chocolate glaze and banana cream filling. The Green team wanted to make people feel warm, so they cooked an apple pie donut with a candied bacon and crunchy cinnamon topping. The crowd had different thoughts and preferences. The Red team was running out of donuts, the Blue team served a raw donut. What else could go wrong? Claudio, Alvin and Michael revealed the winning team. With only $25 separating the first and the last team, the Green team won the challenge and was safe from the elimination. That meant Red team and Blue team had to fight for the right to stay in the competition.

Jonathan, Marissa and Beccy had the opportunity to save one member from each team. Their pick was Andy from the Blue team and Nadia from the Red team.

Eugene, Michael V, Michael G and Jen had to compete against each other in the dreaded Pressure Test. The goal was to master an authentic Russian salmon coulibiac. The dish is six layers of tasty ingredients rolled in puff pastry. The Slavs’ dishes are just insanely imaginative, but very complicated to make. Would you give it a try? Let me know in the comments below!

The home cooks had only 75 minutes to make this happen and the knives were flying on the cutting boards. Every single layer of the dish is unique. There were egg whites, egg yolks, mushroom duxelles, salmon, parsley. The coulibiacs went into the oven and only a bit of luck could help the home cooks. Claudio, Alvin and Michael tried all the dishes and made their decision. Jen’s dish was absolutely a win. Michel V, Michael G and Eugene were in the bottom. Michael V ended his competition in the MasterChef Canada.

MasterChef Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV.

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Awards, Featured

Spiral, Anne, Letterkenny and Cardinal top 22nd Annual WGC Screenwriting Awards

Writers for Spiral, Anne, Letterkenny and Cardinal were among the winners at the 22nd Annual Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards in Toronto on Monday night.

The event, held at the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning’s Koerner Hall, celebrated the country’s screenwriting talent in television, web series and film. Spiral writer Karen McClellan (pictured above) won in the Shorts & Webseries category for her script “The Girl in the Dream.”

“Writers don’t get here on their own,” McClellan said. “I want to say a special shout-out to some writers who have taken a chance on me in the past: Susin Nielsen, Shelley Eriksen, Bruce Smith and a dear friend who is not here tonight but always in my heart, Denis McGrath.”

Letterkenny‘s Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney won the TV Comedy category for their Season 2 script, “Relationships,” while Cardinal‘s Aubrey Nealon took home the TV Drama trophy for the Season 1 episode, “John Cardinal.”

Gavin Crawford, comedian, writer and host of CBC Radio’s Because News hosted, starting the night off with a surprise appearance by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne a.k.a. Crawford. As Wynne, Crawford extolled the virtues of Canadian television and film writers while taking a jab at recent adaptations of Anne of Green Gables and Alias Grace.

“I’m particularly excited about Kale & Prune, a six-hour CBC miniseries adapted from a Margaret Atwood’s Whole Foods receipt,” he joked.

Alison Lea Bingeman, Marsha Greene, Rachel Langer, Joseph Kay, Cynthia Knight, Adriana Maggs, Elize Morgan, Jiro Okada and Sugith Varughese presented the night’s categories.

Mark Ellis was the recipient of The Denis McGrath Award for his service to the Writers Guild of Canada, Michael MacLennan was given The WGC Showrunner Award, Sarah Dodd the Sondra Kelly Award and Sherry White the Alex Barris Mentorship Award. WGC president Jill Golick, whose term has ended after eight years, had the final say of the night with an impassioned plea to the group’s members.

“Stories are the best way to change hearts and minds,” Golick said. “Keep writing my friends. Keep finding ways to bring truth to light. ”

The category winners are:

Shorts & Webseries
Spiral, Episode 101 “The Girl in the Dream,” written by Karen McClellan

Children’s
Mysticons, Season 1 “Sisters in Arms,” written by Sean Jara

Movie of the Week & Miniseries
Alias Grace, written by Sarah Polley

Best Script from Season 1
Anne, Season 1 “I Am No Bird, And No Net Ensnares Me,” written by Moira Walley-Beckett

TV Comedy
Letterkenny, Season 2 “Relationships,” written by Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney

TV Drama
Cardinal, Season 1 “John Cardinal,” written by Aubrey Nealon

Tweens & Teens
The Stanley Dynamic, Season 2 “The Stanley Cheer,” written by Matt Kippen

Feature Film
Entanglement, written by Jason Filiatrault

Documentary
The Hundred-Year-Old Whale, written by Mark Leiren-Young

 

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