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Preview: To Russia with Love focuses on LGBT community in Sochi’s shadow

There were a lot of headlines and TV broadcasts spotlighting the LGBT community leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The country makes no secret of the fact homosexuality is viewed as deviant behaviour and that one could be arrested just for protesting in favour of that life choice.

CBC focuses its documentary lens on the LGBT community leading up to—and during—the Games from several angles. Narrated by Glee’s Jane Lynch, To Russia with Love follows U.S. figure skating commentator Johnny Weir, Canadian speed skater Anastasia Buscis, New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup and Australian snowboard cross racer Belle Brockhoff in the days preceding Olympic trials. With the UN renouncing Russia’s views on the LGBT community and Billie Jean King being named to the U.S. Olympic delegation, Buscis, Skjellerup and Brockhoff realized that if they did medal in Sochi they could be public spokespeople for their community on the world stage.

The well-rounded To Russia with Love includes interviews with LGBT activists in Russia who worry of reprisals after the cameras and eyes of the world turn away after Games are done and the challenge facing Konstantin Yablotskiy, who aims to host the gay-friendly Open Games just days after Olympic Games end.

Some of the most gripping footage is captured at Mark Tewksbury’s home in Calgary where he not only reflects back on his life post coming out and asks tough questions of Weir and the athletes over dinner. They may have high hopes of making a statement in Russia, but what would it cost them?

It’s a question they grapple with during their whole trip and reflect back on once they get home. Should they have staged a protest—as Tewksbury secretly hoped—or were the public discussions about the issue a big enough step?

To Russia with Love airs Thursday at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Check out this teaser for tonight’s broadcast:

 

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Hockey Wives scores Season 2 … and new ladies

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment’s W Network announced today the first set of new and returning wives who will be featured in the highly-anticipated second season of the docu-series Hockey Wives. New stars include Keshia Chanté, one of Canada’s most versatile music stars, host of BET’s hit music countdown show 106 & Park and girlfriend of Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery; and Rhianna Weaver, a Montreal-based philanthropist and marketing professional and wife of veteran Canadiens defenceman Mike Weaver. Returning stars include Kodette LaBarbera, Tiffany Parros, Noureen DeWulf, Maripier Morin and Martine Forget, with additional new wives to be announced in the coming months. Produced by Bristow Global Media Inc., in association with W Network, Hockey Wives Season 2 is scheduled to premiere this fall, with LG signed on as the lead sponsor.

Hockey Wives Season 2 will continue to have unmatched access to the off-the-ice lives of the women who are the captains of their families, careers and relationships. Following the success of the first season the series will continue to delivers a rare opportunity for fans to meet accomplished “captains” off the ice and explores the meaning of being married to the game. With an exclusive look into the high-stakes lives of WAGs (wives and girlfriends) of professional hockey players, the series reveals that it takes an incredible woman to manage fulfilling personal careers and stick handle life off of the ice with some of today’s top pro athletes.

Being married to the game comes with its fair share of perks, but make no mistake the hockey life isn’t for the faint of heart.  Balancing family, career and personal aspirations against a backdrop of the pressures of being traded, injury, career uncertainty, long periods of separation is a constant juggling act. And, if you happen to be in one of the country’s biggest hockey cities, it’s like living in a fishbowl.  Meet the off-ice Captains – sexy, savvy, jet-setting women, stick handling life through another grueling hockey season. From wives who are rookies, to those who are facing free agency or whose partners are Stanley Cup winning superstars, these women form a team of their own, supporting and encouraging one another through personal and professional highs and lows.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Brad Smith new host of Chopped Canada

From a media release:

Shaw Media and Paperny Entertainment announced today that Brad Smith (The Bachelor Canada) will host the new season of Food Network Canada’s high-stakes culinary competition series, Chopped Canada. Brad Smith takes the helm as host for the third season of the wildly popular series, with production underway on 31 episodes jammed with new twists and supreme specials, including a Chopped Canada Teen Tournament, a food truck showdown, and the return of past season favourites aiming to redeem themselves in the kitchen arena. The third season of Chopped Canada will join the Food Network schedule later this year.

A seasoned CFL veteran, Smith made his move to television as the Bachelor for the opening season of The Bachelor Canada in 2012. After the show, Smith became an entertainment reporter, interviewing celebrities and keeping his finger on the fast pulse of Hollywood for viewers. Smith brings a loyal fan base to Chopped Canada with his larger-than-life personality, infectious smile, and a personal penchant for food.

Joining the judges’ table for season three is celebrity chef, author, and television personality Mark McEwan. Long considered one of Canada’s most respected chefs and restaurateurs, McEwan is no stranger to competitive culinary television, having been the Head Judge on Food Network’s Top Chef Canada for four seasons. He and returning Chopped Canada judges Lynn Crawford, John Higgins, Antonio Park, Anne Yarymowich, Eden Grinshpan, Massimo Capra, Michael Smith, Susur Lee, and Roger Mooking will judge 120 competitors from every corner of Canada.

Each episode of Chopped Canada pits four chefs against the clock – and each other – for a chance to win $10,000. Cooking off in head-to-head challenges before a rotating panel of expert judges, the competitors put their skill and ingenuity to the test in an attempt to turn baskets of mystery ingredients into an extraordinary, three-course meal within a limited amount of time. Course by course, the judges chop the chefs from the competition until only one remains.

Chopped Canada Season 3 will launch later this year.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Link: Smart TV: Rise Of The Machines

From Jim Bawden:

Smart TV: Rise Of The Machines
“I wasn’t so sure this series could ever be made,” chuckles executive producer Carlo Massarella who helped create the gigantic Rise Of The Machines. Part One of this seven part hour series revs up on Discovery Monday June 22 at 7 p.m.

That’s right — while other networks go to sleep for the summer with reruns Discovery is premiering one of its most ambitious and I should say costly TV shows of the year. Continue reading.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Link: Reelside goes behind the scenes with Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen

From Rebecca Tucker of The National Post:

Reelside goes behind the scenes with Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen
Reelside is frank in its portrayal of Goldberg’s gradual rise to the top of his field in L.A., and he too underlines his humble beginnings. “I got pretty depressed when I came here. I owed Seth tons of money and I slept on his couch,” he says. “It’s cartoonishly true what they say about L.A. My wife came here and was a waitress, and would go home and cry every night.” Goldberg pauses and laughs: “I hadn’t realized how stock we all were, maybe until just now.” Continue reading.

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