From Bill Brioux:
This week’s podcast: Reege up way past his bedtime on Late Late Show
Schitt’s Creek has lost nearly 40% of its audience in two weeks according to overnight estimates. It opened close to 1.4M in the overnights and landed at 834,000 this past Tuesday night. Most shows find their level by the fourth airing. Will the Schitt hit the fan if half the audience has paddled away? Continue reading.
In the wake of voyeurism charges against Spun Out actor J.P. Manoux, CTV has announced that Masterchef Canada will replace the sitcom in the post-Superbowl slot, and future broadcast plans have been “indefinitely suspended.” Season two was scheduled to premiere on March 5 after Sunday’s sneak peek.
CTV was shocked to learn tonight of the arrest of Spun Out actor J.P. Manoux. The charges against him are serious allegations. CTV will work with Spun Out producers Project 10 Productions to assist the Toronto Police Service in any way possible in their investigation. We can confirm that all future broadcast plans for Spun Out, including this Sunday’s post Super Bowl sneak peek, have been indefinitely suspended.
From Bill Brioux for The Canadian Press:
For many years, “sketch” was a word that would get you thrown out of a TV network’s boardroom.
Broadcasters in English Canada, hungry for ratings, just weren’t interested in what they saw as yesterday’s genre. Instead, the search was on for the next “Corner Gas.” The show was proof, it was thought, that Canadians wanted nothing more than a good sitcom. Continue reading.
From a media release:
CTV is set to deliver TV’s top series week-after-week in the new year, as the network announced its 2015 mid-season schedule today. Kicking off the season is the new, big-buzz, Captain America-inspired, seven-part television event MARVEL’S AGENT CARTER (Jan. 6), which joins a heroic line-up of the fall’s returning ‘super’ hits, including new breakout series GOTHAM and THE FLASH, as well as Top 10 hits ARROW and MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.E.I.L.D.  Â
The new year also features a delicious trio of some of the best in Canadian reality, comedy, and drama as brand new seasons of three CTV Original Series return: Season 2 of hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF CANADA (Feb. 8); Season 2 of workplace sitcom SPUN OUT (March 5); and Season 3 of crime drama MOTIVE (March 8). Viewers can also look forward to the return of new Season 3 episodes of the #1 Canadian drama SAVING HOPE, beginning with a special two-hour event Jan. 7. SPUN OUT, MOTIVE, and SAVING HOPE mid-season debuts will also be made available as CraveTVTM First Looks, one day prior to their television broadcast premieres.
Also headlining CTV’s mid-season schedule, and loaded with star power, is new murder-thriller SECRETS AND LIES (March 1)starring Ryan Phillippe (DAMAGES); cyber-crime procedural CSI: CYBER (March 4), starring Emmy® Award winner and Golden Globe® nominee Patricia Arquette (MEDIUM); Oscar® winner John Ridley’s new TV drama AMERICAN CRIME (March 5), starring Oscar nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Felicity Huffman (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) and Oscar and Golden Globe Award winner Timothy Hutton (LEVERAGE); and new comedy THE ODD COUPLE (Feb. 19), starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Matthew Perry (GO ON).
Also returning to the CTV line-up with new seasons are culinary competition series MASTERCHEF JUNIOR (Jan. 6 on CTV Two), Emmy Award-winning singing competition THE VOICE (Feb. 23 on CTV Two), and the 26th installment of THE AMAZING RACE (Feb. 25).
Following last week’s Golden Globe nominations, THE 72ND ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (Jan. 11) kicks off a long list of big ticket events on CTV this winter, including SUPER BOWL XLIX (Feb. 1), THE 87TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS (Feb. 22), and THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS (March 15).
From a media release:
–Russell Peters to make guest appearance during Season 2–
CTV, in association with Project 10 Productions, announced today that production is now underway in Toronto on 13 new episodes of last season’s most-watched Canadian scripted comedy, SPUN OUT. A 2014 Directors Guild of Canada Award-nominee for Best Comedy TV Series, the hilarious comedy follows the ups and downs of a public relations agency staffed with people who can spin everyone’s problems but their own. Headlined by Dave Foley, the complete returning ensemble cast for Season 2 of SPUN OUT features Paul Campbell, Al Mukadam, Rebecca Dalton, J.P. Manoux , Darcy Michael, and Holly Deveaux. Shooting at Toronto’s Pinewood Studios through December, SPUN OUT will premiere in 2015 on CTV.
“With exceedingly talented cast, a fantastic writing room, and pedigreed producers, we look forward to seeing how SPUN OUT grows in its second season,†said Phil King, President – CTV, Sports, an‎d Entertainment Programming.
One of the biggest names in comedy, Gemini Award-winning comedian Russell Peters (RUSSELL PETERS: NOTORIOUS) is confirmed to make a stop by the DLPR office during Season 2. Also confirmed to date are up-and-coming actresses Ellen Wong (THE CARRIE DIARIES) and Ingrid Haas (CHELSEA LATELY).
With series stars Dave Foley set to direct two episodes and co-star J.P. Manoux also confirmed to direct an episode, Season 2 of SPUN OUT brings a whole new set of adventures for the DLPR gang. Beckett tries to execute the perfect “business bang†with a trusted journalist, Nelson questions his ability to keep up on trends, and Dave goes head to head with his ex-wife from a rival PR firm. Also in store this season, Gordon gets trapped in an elevator, Bryce develops an internet addiction, Stephanie realizes Abby is a conversation ninja and exploits it by making her a brand influencer, and after a night of debauchery, the team goes on the hunt for a missing Dave.
SPUN OUT is produced by Project 10 Productions in association with CTV. Gemini Award winners Jeff Biederman (LIFE WITH DEREK, OVERRULED!) and Brent Piaskoski (ACCORDING TO JIM, RADIO FREE ROSCOE) are co-creators, writers, and executive producers. Brian K. Roberts (EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, THE DREW CAREY SHOW) is co-creator, director, and executive producer. Andrew Barnsley (SPORTS ON FIRE) and Dave Foley are executive producers, and Colin Brunton (PUPPETS WHO KILL) is producer.
