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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Home to Win: Bryan and Sarah Baeumler and Sangita Patel preview Season 3

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are no strangers to working together. The pair, in addition to being married and with a passel of kids, the home builder and interior designer are business partners too. Viewers have seen that both in House of Bryan and most recently in Bryan Inc. But the pair is still getting used to working with the massive group of HGTV Canada talent assembled for Season 3 of Home to Win.

Returning Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada, Home to Win once again reunites 26 of this country’s biggest names in builders and designers with host Sangita Patel to renovate one piece of property for one deserving Canadian. But unlike the last two seasons of Home to Win, the home is only up for grabs for a first-time homebuyer (get details on how to audition). And, in the bursting Southern Ontario real estate market, that’s huge.

“It was a great concept, a great idea,” Sarah Baeumler says alongside Bryan and Patel during a press junket at Corus Entertainment headquarters. “When we’re talking to people that want to buy a house and what to look for, the idea and cost right now is a very difficult thing to talk about because it’s out of most people’s realm. To be able to do this and have somebody win their first-time home is spectacular.”

As with last season, Sunday’s return follows Bryan Baeumler and Scott McGillivray as they walk through a trio of homes that are potential projects. The show’s producers hit a home run when they paired the veteran builders together for the task; as contributor Tanya writes in her preview, Baeumler and McGillivray share a similar sense of humour and get on like gangbusters.

“We show up, have fun and have a laugh,” Bryan Baeumler says. “I’ll be honest, nobody laughs at me as hard as I laugh at me. Scott’s the same. We don’t get a lot of time to hang out when we’re not [filming] because we’re both very busy with family, kids and work, so it’s nice to just hang out with the brother I never wanted and have some fun.”

We won’t give away which of the three homes Baeumler and McGillivray choose as the one to be made over (well, that, and we’re not allowed to say), but it’s a great choice. And one with plenty of challenges. Still, folks like Brian McCourt, Sarah Keenleyside, Kortney and Dave Wilson, Drew and Jonathan Scott, Sabrina Smelko, Jo Alcorn, Carson Arthur, Danielle Bryk, Kate Campbell, Sebastian Clovis, Mike Holmes, Mike Holmes Jr., Paul LaFrance, Tiffany Pratt and Samantha Pynn are up to the test. With Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe coming up with the overall design style of the home, the over two dozen-strong team gets to work.

“This is one of the most important things about this season and what we learned from [making] the last two seasons,” Sarah says. “We didn’t take the time to come up with a cohesive plan, we went off and were creating all of these things. Being able to stand together and say, ‘OK, what does everyone feel?’ You pick something that is sort of neutral ground. Somebody like me, who is into neutral colours and white, can wrap my head around it. We all came to a consensus on the overall feel and then go off on our own little tangents.”

Are you hoping to be one of the Canadians in the running to win the home? Patel has some advice when it comes to the audition process and making your video.

“Just be real,” she advises. “Be yourself in your audition tape. Don’t do anything crazy. Tell us why you need this house and why you want to get this house.”

Home to Win airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Media Headquarters announces greenlight of daring wilderness expedition series ‘The Brigade’

From a media release:

Media Headquarters announces a greenlight for THE BRIGADE, a groundbreaking new expedition competition series produced for Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks (World Fishing Network, Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel). Thrill-seeking and adventure-loving men and women from across the U.S. and Canada are encouraged to apply at thebrigadetv.com for their chance to join the ultimate trek and win prize money up to $1 million. THE BRIGADE is slated to debut in spring 2019.

THE BRIGADE will retrace an epic 2,600-mile fur trade route that links waterways from the coast of Oregon, traversing through two states, four Canadian provinces, two mountain ranges and five river systems before ending at the icy shores of Hudson Bay in Manitoba. Originally called “The York Factory Express,” it’s a thrilling and dangerous paddling odyssey unlike any other. THE BRIGADE must work together to navigate fierce whitewater, portage over mountains, and fish and hunt for sustenance all without fuel or GPS. There are no eliminations. Instead the competition relies on the collective strengths of its cast to hang on against all odds. Those who complete the expedition have the chance to share prize money up to $1 million.

THE BRIGADE is a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. Adventurers who have expedition experience, strong paddling skills, a multitude of outdoor abilities, and also possess willpower, strength and determination, should apply at thebrigadetv.com. Casting is now open through to May 15, 2018.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Love is in the venue with new Bell Media Studios’ series, Where To I Do?, starring Tommy Smythe

From a media release:

Viewers have more reasons than ever to say “I do” to Gusto this spring, with the brand-new original series WHERE TO I DO? airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, beginning May 17. The series is the first to come out of the previously announced partnership between Bell Media Studios and Motion Content Group, and has already been renewed for a second season. WHERE TO I DO? debuts this fall in Québec on Canal Vie.

The eight-episode, 30-minute series is hosted by Canadian property and design expert Tommy Smythe (THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW), as he helps couples find their perfect wedding venue. Whether they’re ravers looking for a party, entrepreneurs looking for high-end glamour, or young lovers looking to keep things simple, Smythe takes each couple to three unique spaces where their fantasy wedding could be realized.

From a medieval castle to a rustic country barn, and from a chic rooftop bar to a trendy downtown mansion, Smythe uses state-of-the-art, 3D graphics to bring each space to life and help the couple decide which venue is the perfect fit for their dream day. With the decision made, each episode culminates with a wedding-day reveal of the chosen venue.

In the first episode, premiering Thursday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, romantic bride Tamara and rave-loving groom Paul are on the hunt for the perfect wedding venue. Renovating a fixer-upper and planning a wedding at the same time has proven challenging, especially since they both want a short six-month engagement. To add to the complications, the couple have very different visions for their big day. Tamara wants a whimsical day with simple décor and a beach feel, while Paul wants industrial, high ceilings, and lasers. On their quest to mix romance with laser beams, Smythe takes the couple to visit prospective venues in Toronto, Art Gallery of Ontario, District 28, and The Thompson Hotel Rooftop.

WHERE TO I DO? is a co-production between Motion Content Group and Bell Media Studios. Martin Oxley is Executive Producer for Motion Content Group.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: HGTV Canada’s Home to Win is back on the renovation track with the biggest prize ever

Home to Win, the incredible original series from HGTV Canada, is back for a third season this Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT with the fabulous ET Canada star Sangita Patel as host. What can viewers expect this time around? That was my biggest question.

The first episode follows Bryan Baeumler and Scott McGillivray as they hunt for the perfect property to buy and renovate for one Canadian family to call their own. The hook? The home is available to first-time home buyers only, a huge deal for a family looking to own their first property. The hilarious duo of Baeumler McGillivray made me cry with laughter as they walk through the houses, joking, playing pool and teasing each other. McGillivray is looking into the attic in one of the bedrooms and Baeumler sneaks up on him and scares him to death. The perfect combination of intelligence and wittiness of these two is worth watching.

In each episode, an incredible team of builders and designers works together to renovate the whole house step-by-step. Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe are the ones responsible for making it look chic and exquisite. And there are more than 20 famous and extremely talented Canada designers and builders—including Tiffany Pratt, Sarah Baeumler, Sebastian Clovis, Sarah Keenleyside, Danielle Bryk and Mike Holmes—who join them to take on the challenge of turning this house into a living dream.

What makes it so special? I think that the combination of achieving a kind and heartwarming goal and diversity of talented and absolutely entertaining people makes it so enjoyable. It’s never enough, you always want more.

Sunday’s episode is chock full of ideas and concepts and we get to see how the house looks from the outside. Next week we go inside. Don’t miss it.

You can try your luck by visiting Home to Win‘s site and submitting an online application for a chance to win the home, which will be awarded during the season finale.

Home to Win airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

Image courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Discovery’s newest original Canadian series Hellfire Heroes battles through the untamed flames, beginning May 22

From a media release:

In the fierce wilderness of Central Alberta, a uniquely versatile group of firefighters risk their lives to serve and protect the residents of isolated areas of the province. Discovery’s latest original Canadian series HELLFIRE HEROES, airing Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT beginning May 22, follows two rural Alberta fire departments – Lesser Slave Lake Regional Fire Service and Yellowhead County Fire Department – and their teams of brave men and women whose job is to always be prepared for the worst.

From the network that brought viewers the heroes of the highway with HIGHWAY THRU HELL and HEAVY RESCUE: 401, the debut of HELLFIRE HEROES further reinforces Discovery’s success in the prime-time space through uniquely Canadian content that tells the stories of authentic, everyday acts of courage. HIGHWAY THRU HELL and HEAVY RESCUE: 401 made Discovery the most-watched entertainment specialty channel in each show’s timeslot among key demographics (P2+, A18-49, and A25-54).

Living in a rural part of Canada where most residents depend only on themselves and their neighbours, the firefighters of the Lesser Slave Regional Fire Service (led by Chief Jamie Coutts) and the Yellowhead County Fire Department (led by Chief Albert Bahri) serve and protect a combined area spanning more than 30,000 square kilometres.

Fighting fires is only one of the many calls these heroes answer. Featuring stories of strength, fearlessness, and dedication, the HELLFIRE HEROES never know what challenge they’ll face next – battling raging forest fires, industrial accidents, search-and-rescue operations, saving lives on remote highways, freeing people trapped in elevators…even delivering babies. When the call comes in, day or night, these resourceful teams are united in their mission to keep residents safe.

Subscribers can access live streaming of HELLFIRE HEROES through the Discovery GO app and Discovery.ca.

HELLFIRE HEROES is produced by Pixcom Productions in association with Discovery Canada. Producer is Nicola Merola. Senior Supervising Producer is Manu Wiecha. Series Producer is Sharone Ostrovsky.

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