TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 1022
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

Corus signs U.S. deals for Cheer Stars and Masters of Flip

From a media release:

Following Corus Entertainment’s announcement on expanding its distribution presence with original content at MIPCOM this year, the company has secured two premarket U.S. deals that include the sale of Cheer Stars (working title) to ABC Family and the U.S. broadcast rights of the renovation series Masters of Flip to Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. Both series are part of a growing slate of properties for international distribution from Corus Entertainment, which includes both titles as well as the real estate series Buying the View.

Corus is building on its relationship with Disney | ABC Television Group on the Canadian original production of Cheer Stars (10 x 60). Produced by Good Human Productions, Cheer Stars follows members of reigning World Champion competitive cheerleading team, The Great White Sharks as they sweat, fight and sparkle their way through a make-or-break cheer season and strive to defend their world championship title. Set to premiere Summer 2016 in Canada on ABC Spark and in the U.S. on ABC Family, the creative collaboration between the two networks further aligns Corus’ portfolio of Women and Family brands with ABC Family, which has been ranked as the  #1 network for Women 18 to 34 for the past three consecutive summers. Corus holds license agreements with Disney | ABC Television Group for ABC Spark as well as the newly launched Disney Channel in Canada.

Additionally, Corus has sold the first season of Masters of Flip (12 x 60) to Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. in the U.S., where it is slated to premiere in December 2015. The series, which is the #1 rated new reality series on Corus’ W Network in Canada, follows husband-and-wife house-flipping experts, Kortney and Dave Wilson (CMT Canada’s Meet the Wilsons, Kortney & Dave: By Request) as they breathe new life into old, rundown homes in the thrilling world of high stakes house flipping. Each one-hour episode opens with Kortney and Dave house-hunting for properties that have seen better days and gambling on which one to flip to make the most profit. With limited timelines and tight budgets, they take on the challenge of transforming each real estate disaster into a stunning family dream home. Masters of Flip was produced by Rhino Content and developed in association with W Network.

 

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Production underway on Season 4 of Motive

From a media release:

– 13 episodes now being shot on location in Vancouver –

– Series star Kristin Lehman directs an episode of the multi-CSA nominated series –

– Victor Zinck Jr. (THE 100), and Karen LeBlanc (CRACKED) set to guest star in recurring roles this season –

CTV announced today, in association with Foundation Features and Lark Productions, that production has begun on Season 4 of hit Canadian crime drama MOTIVE. A 2014 Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Dramatic Series, MOTIVE finished its third season with an average audience of 1.24 million viewers, landing the series among the Top 4 most-watched Canadian dramas last season. Shooting in and around Vancouver through February 2016, MOTIVE’s 13 new episodes will join CTV’s upcoming midseason lineup.

Joining Season 4 in recurring roles are Victor Zinck Jr. (THE 100) and Karen LeBlanc (CRACKED), who are both set to don detective badges as they become the newest additions to the series’ homicide team. Series star Kristin Lehman returns as Detective Angie Flynn, and takes on a new role this season: directing one of the series’ episodes. MOTIVE also stars Louis Ferreira (SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE) as Detective Oscar Vega, Brendan Penny (THE ASSISTANTS) as Detective Brian Lucas, and Lauren Holly (NCIS) as medical examiner, Dr. Betty Rogers.

With the climactic Season 3 finale of MOTIVE, viewers last saw Angie and Vega in the hospital hallway as Vega was wheeled into surgery to remove the tumor in his throat. Season 4 picks up three months later, and finds Angie and the rest of the homicide team feeling the pressure to bring a cop’s killer to justice as they adjust to Vega’s new role as their Staff Sergeant and the personality quirks of their new colleague, Detective Mitch Kennecki (Victor Zinck, Jr.). All past episodes of MOTIVE are streaming now on CraveTV™.

MOTIVE is produced by Foundation Features and Lark Productions in association with Bell Media. Executive Producers are Dennis Heaton (CALL ME FITZ, Fido), who also serves as the Season 4 Showrunner; series creator Daniel Cerone (DEXTER, THE BLACKLIST); Louise Clark (CORNER GAS, HIGH MOON); Rob Merilees (Stone of Destiny, Brain on Fire); Erin Haskett (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER); Rob LaBelle (MENTAL); Lindsay Macadam (Brain on Fire); and Ben Brafman (PERSON OF INTEREST, DEFYING GRAVITY). The series is distributed internationally by NBC Universal International.

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Corus and Bento Box partner for Bento Box Canada

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment Inc. and Bento Box Entertainment, LLC today announced the creation of Bento Box Canada, an animation production company based in Toronto. The joint venture follows last year’s announcement of the multi-year, co-development deal between the two companies. As part of the agreement, Bento Box Entertainment and Corus will work side-by-side to develop and produce a slate of original, primetime animated series for Corus networks, to be distributed internationally by Bento Box Entertainment.

The partnership will draw on Bento Box Entertainment’s award-winning experience and relationships with acclaimed primetime comedy writers, showrunners and animators as well as the expertise of Corus’ animation studio, Nelvana, to produce animated series targeted to the 18 to 34 demographic. Bento Box Canada will operate from Corus Quay, the state-of-the-art technical facility that is home to Corus and Nelvana, and will utilize creative, technical, and back office services from both companies.

This fall, production will begin on the first  Bento Box Canada series, The Pandas.  From creators Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler, The Pandas is an irreverent, animated family comedy full of hard jokes, whimsical wonder, biting satire and just the right amount of heart.

Bento Box Canada’s board of directors will include Scott Greenberg, CEO of Bento Box Entertainment, Colin Bohm, Executive Vice President, Head of Corus Kids and Scott Dyer, President of Nelvana. Along with other executives from Corus, Nelvana and Bento Box Entertainment, the board will provide strategic leadership and assist in growing the production slate.

Bento Box Entertainment is known for producing the Emmy® award-winning series, Bob’s Burgers, as well as Brickleberry, The Awesomes, Allen Gregory, and Out There. Founded by Scott Greenberg, Mark McJimsey and Joel Kuwahara, the company brings years of experience in producing and creating audience-favorite primetime animation hits on multiple platforms. Prior to Bento Box Entertainment, their collective production credits include The Simpsons and The Simpsons Movie, King of the Hill and The Goode Family among many others.

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Review: Heartland’s beary scary situation

There was a bear in the woods—and an elephant in the room—when Heartland returned for its first episode of Season 9. “Brave New World,” written by Heather Conkie and directed by Bruce McDonald, was a big change from the Season 8 finale. In those final moments, Ty and Amy finally tied the knot in front of family and friends.

This Sunday certainly found the wedded couple stronger than ever relationship-wise, but Lou and Peter are falling apart. Things looked too good to be true when the pair were sharing a coffee as they watched Georgie ride Trouble and Phoenix Roman-style; by episode end Lou had filled out a separation agreement. The document was secreted away by Georgie—putting off the inevitable for the time being—but the couple isn’t coming back from this precipice. Kudos to Michelle Morgan for portraying the pain Lou’s feeling and for the fierce mama bear instinct she’s got when it comes to her kids. Peter may think everything will be hunky-dory, but Lou knows that’s not true.

Speaking of bears, I’m glad Sunday’s furry co-star didn’t stick around for long. The fatalist in me pictured the beast going on a rampage at Heartland; that didn’t happen, but the injured horse did help Georgie and Amy understand what happens when you let something free. Not only did Bear direct them to an abandoned horse suffering from rain rot, but showed the girls (and viewers) what friendship, support and trust will bring when you show a little faith.

With such a heavy main story, it was nice to have lighter moments when Jack showed up to kick Tim’s butt into gear on the loft renovations. Tim was indeed in over his head with the school, Casey and life in general; good on Jack for calling him out and then taking control of the situation. With him in charge, Ty and Amy may be moved in by Christmas.

What did you think of Sunday’s return? Do you think Lou and Peter will get back together?

Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.

Added bonus: Sunday’s closing music, “Carry On,” was performed by Fortunate Ones

 

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Link: CBC’s newest Dragon on becoming the beer baron and giving back

ManjitMinhas2015-highresFrom Marsha Lederman of the Globe and Mail:

CBC’s newest Dragon on becoming the beer baron and giving back
Now Ms. Minhas, 35, has a new title to add to her CV: Dragon. The lifelong Calgarian is one of the new money-investing entrepreneurs on the hit CBC TV series, now heading into its 10th season. We reached Ms. Minhas – the “beer baron” as she’s called on the show – in Calgary. Continue reading.

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