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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Amazing Race Canada, Featured

Comments and queries for the week of July 13

Martina’s funny and a real underdog type [on The Amazing Race Canada]. Although I wonder if giving up her bag will come back to bite her. Maybe weight on a flight? The dance coach was sassy. Funny seeing multiple not even try it although it made things a bit lopsided. An interesting way to split up the Express Passes so one team doesn’t end up with all three like last year. Although they went to frontrunners of the pact anyway. I enjoyed seeing the cheerleaders hike like they were lost for a bit. Two episodes and no credit card action at the airports. Did BMO drop sponsorship this year? Knew it was probably non-elim when they played the heroic music in the ride up. The Starting Line was in B.C., and now an episode in B.C. What is up with the route planning on the show? Last year had weird circling back too. Right now the cheerleaders and cowgirls seem to be strongest. Although either of the teams with a Courtney could pull a dark horse win I feel. —DanAmazing

I thought Chewy and Happy would go farther than Episode 1 too. Was surprised they let Nancy and Mellisa off the gondola first (“Ladies first!”) as it is a race (??) but that just showed chivalry still exists even in competition. This run might be Heroes Edition but quite a few of the couples came off as just regular people who signed up for a physically challenging adventure, i.e., Martina and Phil during the log climb. I felt so sorry for them both but she did it. My arms and legs were feeling her pain watching it on TV. The food bank volunteers also came off as everyday people. Will be rooting for them too. As always, enjoy the scenery of this great country especially some of the places shown I will likely never have opportunity to go. —Tunie

Wow … just found out InnerSpace is gone! Might have to be Space channel GONE from my viewing. —Bruno

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

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Letterkenny

Link: ‘Letterkenny’ is the Canadian comedy you didn’t know you needed

From Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter:

Link: ‘Letterkenny’ is the Canadian comedy you didn’t know you needed
The first time I ran into the Canadian comedy Letterkenny, which will make its U.S. debut Friday on Hulu (the first two seasons, of five so far), it was hearing both of my teenagers laughing about something on YouTube. Like, for a long time. It was the cold open from Letterkenny‘s first season. Continue reading. 

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Industry News

Enterprise Pictures announces plans and partial slate

Toronto-based Enterprise Pictures is excited to announce their inaugural television and feature film slate. The company is engaged in ongoing discussions with various U.S. advisors and studios to raise equity in exchange for distribution rights to the company’s robust slate. Stay tuned for additional announcements in the coming weeks. Enterprise Pictures is the brainchild of Matthew Robillard, an ex-investment banker at Osprey Capital who previously developed cable network Channel Canada, and launched multi-platform entertainment brand ComedyLab Entertainment.

Enterprise Pictures is developing eleven television series and fourteen feature films. Highlights listed below:

Television Slate

The Opportunist is a one-hour crime thriller about the Opportunist and his clandestine army of operatives who prey on the criminal super rich by conning them out of their ill-gotten billions. Each season targets a different billionaire operating in an exotic, tax-friendly jurisdiction i.e. Singapore, Monte Carlo, Silicon Valley, Geneva. Season one targets the sociopathic leader of a money-mad, Scientology-like cult that gets exposed, then chased out of the country by the U.S. Department of Justice, with the Opportunist and his team slowly enveloping the target in a web of intrigue, disinformation and misdirection. Pilot written.

Ninja is an action drama about a multi-generational family of Ninja assassin-spies who fight desperately to survive and prosper during feudal Japan’s bloody and treacherous civil war. To be shot on location in Japan utilizing authentic samurai-era historical sites, and starring a cast of English-speaking actors of Japanese heritage. Pilot written.

FunHouse is a comedy drama about six stand-up comics who all eat, sleep, laugh and love in a big, old mansion they call the ‘Funhouse’. Between performing comedy gigs on-stage and holding down hellish part-time jobs, the cast gradually chisel out successful careers in the roller coaster world of comedy. Pilot written.

Treasure Island is a competition reality series about twelve people trapped on an exotic, deserted island. They must compete or co-operate to win a $5.0 million treasure buried somewhere on the island. Physical and augmented-reality clues planted by the ‘Puzzle Master’ host help the cast solve a ‘Genius Puzzle’ that ultimately reveals the treasure’s secret location.

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Flashpoint

Link: 10 years ago, ‘Flashpoint’ opened the door For ‘Wynonna Earp,’ ‘Orphan Black’ and ‘Travelers’

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From Merrill Barr of Forbes:

Link: 10 years ago, ‘Flashpoint’ opened the door For ‘Wynonna Earp,’ ‘Orphan Black’ and ‘Travelers’
In the summer of 2008, amidst the fallout of a damaging writers strike in the first half of the year, America broadcast networks were desperate for content. For CBS, one solution ended up coming from a strange place: Canada. What resulted from an unassuming find meant to just fill time was a series that would break the door down for shows such as Orphan Black and Wynonna Earp to thrive a decade later. That find? Flashpoint. Continue reading.

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Amazing Race Canada, Featured

The Amazing Race Canada: Express Passes in Dawson City

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Still smarting after seeing Chewy and Happy eliminated so early on The Amazing Race Canada, I hoped my remaining favourite teams would stick around a little longer, and perhaps win the whole shebang.

Leanne and Mar, who placed first last week and scored a trip for two to Tokyo, tore open the Route Info envelope and revealed the remaining teams were headed to Dawson City, Yukon. Not only would the Leg celebrate the gold rush but three Express Passes were available, meaning some pairs would have a distinct advantage over others and possible partnerships were in play.

Martina and Phil proved to not only be a savvy team but thoughtful too. Realizing they were faster if Phil carried all their gear, they put everything in his knapsack … and gave hers away to someone in need. How can you not cheer for a team who does that? Meanwhile,  Akash and Joseph seemed determined to turn their luck around.

Everyone was on the same plane, so who got into their sponsored vehicle first was key. Well, that and the speed to set up a Woods-themed campsite. The duo to manage that would score $5,000 from the tent company. Todd and Anna led the charge to the mining camp followed by three teams. Courtney and Adam were confident their outdoor background would serve them well. As for Akash and Joseph? They forgot their tent back at the airport. Todd and Anna completed the task first, collecting the next clue and $5,000. Kwame and Dylan were done next, followed by lovebirds Courtney and Adam and Mellisa and Nancy.

A modern-day gold rush experience was next, as teams used GPS to navigate to nine locations in Dawson City, collect five gold coins and return them to the bank to cash in their next clue. Of the remaining four locations were three Express Passes. Nancy and Mel snagged the first Express Pass. Anna and Todd’s strong effort was paid off when they got the second Express Pass and were first to cash in their coins. I have a feeling Anna and Todd are going to be sneaky tough this season. A flurry of gold coin-carrying teams rolled through the test. And Mar and Leanne’s perseverance paid off when a long walk netted them the final Express Pass.

A Detour had squads choosing between dealing blackjack or dancing the can-can on stage in burlesque costumes. (I would have done the latter.) Anna and Todd opted for blackjack and he sped through his half thanks to playing online and with his friends. Anna’s math skills let her down the first time but she succeeded in try No. 2. Courtney and Adam chose to dance, meaning he had to squeeze into an orange and black outfit. He was, predictably, terrible and the smooching twosome switched challenges.

The Leg’s Pit Stop was located at the top of Midnight Dome where Jon welcomed Todd and Anna and awarded them with a trip to France. A flurry of kicking legs and dealt cards followed as the rest of the teams checked in, with Mellisa and Nancy coming on strong, followed by Taylor and Courtney, Mar and Leanne and the rest. Zainab and Monica just couldn’t get out of their funk and arrived on the mat in last place … only to be informed this was a non-elimination Leg. The pair will have to complete an extra test in the next Leg and should be thanking their lucky stars the producers gave them a break so early in the season.

Who do you think has the best chance to win this season? Who are your favourite teams? Let me know in the comments below.

Here’s how the teams finished this Leg of the Race:

  1. Todd and Anna (Express Pass and won a trip for two to the south of France)
  2. Nancy and Mellisa (Express Pass)
  3. Taylor and Courtney
  4. Mar and Leanne (Express Pass)
  5. Dylan and Kwame
  6. Martina and Phil
  7. Adam and Courtney
  8. Joseph and Akash
  9. Zainab and Monica (non-elimination Leg)

The Amazing Race Canada airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. MT on CTV.

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