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The Topics You Didn’t Know Needed Covering: The Beaverton premieres Nov. 9 on The Comedy Network

From a media release:

It’s happening. Soon-ish. The Comedy Network announced today that new original satirical series THE BEAVERTON will premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, conveniently debuting the night after the U.S. Presidential election and leading into THE DAILY SHOW.

Also revealed today are the correspondents rounding out THE BEAVERTON’s news team. Helmed by co-hosts Emma Hunter and Miguel Rivas, the 13-episode, half-hour satirical series features “hard-hitting” news reporter Aisha Alfa; resident provocateur Donavon Stinson; delightfully corrupt financial correspondent Laura Cilevitz; and sharp-tongued foreign correspondent, Marilla Wex.

Among topics on THE BEAVERTON:

  • S. militia protecting its border from Canadian Black Friday shoppers
  • With beer now available in grocery stores throughout Ontario, The Beer Store fights back by selling groceries
  • Uber reaches a deal with Québec to provide taxi drivers with free rides to job interviews
  • With the Loonie at a 20-year low, Canada moves to Canadian Tire money as its national currency
  • Justin Trudeau wins the Internet by posting dub-smash video while approving the transcontinental pipeline
  • Don Cherry unveils new clothing line for women
  • A technological breakthrough in Virtual Insanity glasses that lets users experience life as Jamiroquai

A so-called televised adaptation of the immensely popular online satirical site TheBeaverton.com, THE BEAVERTON files fake news stories of the utmost importance, informed by real events, the cultural zeitgeist, and national news media. With nearly 6 million views in 2016 and averaging more than half a million unique visitors a month, TheBeaverton.com has become a go-to source for Canadian satire. Viewers who need a daily dose of biting Canadian satire can check in with TheBeaverton.com for hourly updates.

THE BEAVERTON is the brainchild of co-creators Luke Gordon Field and Jeff Detsky (CALL ME FITZ, SEED) of TheBeaverton.com, as well as website senior editors Jacob Duarte Spiel and Alexander Saxton. Directors are Henry Sarwer-Foner (THE RICK MERCER REPORT) and Shelagh O’Brien (JUST FOR LAUGHS GALAS). Producer is Paula J. Smith. Pier 21 Film’s Laszlo Barna and Melissa Williamson serve as Executive Producers.

THE BEAVERTON is produced by Pier 21 Films in association with The Comedy Network, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

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Crawford, Industry News

CBC and Comedy Central greenlight new series from Mike Clattenburg

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From a media release:

CBC in Canada and Comedy Central in the U.S. today announced that they have commissioned new comedy series CRAWFORD from Rabbit Square Productions, created by Mike Clattenburg (Trailer Park Boys, Black Jesus), executive produced by Laura Michalchyshyn (Trailer Park Boys, Chicagoland, The American West) and co-created by recording artist Mike O’Neill (Moving Day, Trailer Park Boys – Don’t Legalize It). The 13×30 series centers around a young man who, after a run of bad luck, moves back in with his parents and turns his natural ability to relate to raccoons into a successful business, all while navigating life with his eccentric family. Production will begin in Toronto in 2017. Content Media will handle international distribution for the series.

What happens when you fail your Bachelor of Arts and your record label drops your Metal band on the same day? For 28-year-old Don, it means moving back home with your polyamorous parents and finding a job that comes easily. Don has always thought differently – ‘thinking sideways’, as his Mom puts it. Following intuition rather than logic is the unique approach that turns Don’s compassion for and affinity for raccoons into a booming business – just as the town’s raccoon population explodes.

Commissioned by CBC in Canada and Comedy Central in the U.S., CRAWFORD is produced by Rabbit Square Productions, Laura Michalchyshyn and Mike Clattenburg’s company. Janice Dawe and Kathy Avrich-Johnson will also produce for Bizable Media. The series deal was negotiated by Maggie Pisacane of Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein and Selz and Bizable Media. Mike Clattenburg is represented by The Gersh Agency and managed by Echo Lake Entertainment.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

HGTV Canada hits close to home in new original series Holmes + Holmes

From a media release:

This fall, HGTV Canada is putting two Holmes under one roof as Canada’s most trusted contractor, Mike Holmes, and his son, Mike Holmes Jr. (MJ), team up in Holmes + Holmes premiering November 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The brand-new, Canadian original series follows the father-son duo as they work together to renovate MJ’s modest bungalow into the perfect first home for MJ and his girlfriend, Lisa. Complementary digital content at HGTV.ca offers fans some of the Holmes’ top tips for renovating and a further glimpse into their relationship in several digital short series.

Mike Holmes has helped hundreds of homeowners over the years, but now the homeowner who needs his help is his son, MJ. In Holmes + Holmes, viewers learn more about the personal lives of the Holmes men as they experience the ups and downs of their most personal renovation challenge to date. While Mike and MJ share a last name, a strong work ethic, and a desire to help others, they don’t always see eye to eye. Their different approaches provide the foundation for unexpected moments of humour and drama – though they always vow to build it right.

HGTV.ca further enriches the Holmes experience for fans with three new digital short series featuring Mike Holmes, MJ and his girlfriend, Lisa. The first digital short series includes construction and how-to tips allowing fans to learn from the pros themselves. Lisa stars in her own digital short series, Lisa’s Healing Herbs, a garden and wellness series where she explores the benefits of herbs – garlic, ginger and mint. Additional rapid-fire questions between Mike, MJ and Lisa result in hilarious, candid responses in several short-form videos. Full episodes of Holmes + Holmes will also be available at HGTV.ca after each episode airs.

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Industry News

Link: New digital taxes may be the future of Cancon

From Michael Geist of The Globe and Mail:

Link: New digital taxes may be the future of Cancon
Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly has energetically crossed the country emphasizing the economic benefits of the cultural industries. Yet as the government conducts a national consultation on Canadian content in the digital world, new digital taxes may ultimately play a starring role.

Ms. Joly has opened the door to an overhaul of Canadian cultural policy, but the million-dollar – or perhaps billion-dollar – question is how to pay for it. Internal government documents obtained through the Access to Information Act suggest that officials believe foreign sources of funding from international sales and joint productions could play a pivotal role in bringing new money into the system. Continue reading.

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