Shelved, Season 1

March 6, 2023 Greg David

From Noel Ransome of the Canadian Press:

Link: ‘Shelved’ is a sitcom that shows a deep love for public libraries
When Toronto’s Lyndie Greenwood received the script material for CTV’s library-based comedy “Shelved” more than a year ago, she was living in California and prepared to say goodbye to her acting career. Continue reading.

From Aisling Murphy of The Record:

Link: ‘This is the Toronto I want to be a part of’: How ‘The Office’ alum Anthony Q. Farrell made a TV show about a Parkdale library
“I’m interested in people who have differences of opinion, people who come from different sides of the tracks. I want to look at places where stories come and the library is one of those places for me. The people who walk through that door are always interesting.” Continue reading.

From Kevin Bourne of Shifter:

Link: Shelved is a comedic look at classism and diversity in Toronto
As the premiere begins, it immediately feels like more like an independent theatre production than a show on a major network. This creates a sense of community and intimacy; not only among the characters, but also with viewers. Continue reading.

From Michelle Dorey Forestell of The Kingstonist:

Link: Hometown ‘nerd’ Chris Sandiford stars in CTV’s ‘Shelved’
Chris Sandiford isn’t just a nerd. He plays one on television. And he learned all of his nerdiness right here in Kingston. Continue reading.

From Melody McCune of Geek Girl Authority:

Link: Taylor Love Talks Getting Her Funny On in SHELVED
“Sheila is very funny, but she’s far more grounded because she’s dealing with so much. She’s mature. She’s almost a straight woman without sounding too boring, [even though] she’s not boring at all. I think a lot of people will see themselves in her.” Continue reading.

Featured, Podcast

TV, Eh? Podcast Episode 259: Sullivan’s Crossing set to debut on CTV, no more The Porter on CBC and CSAs, Part 1

March 5, 2023 Greg David 2 Comments

Welcome back to another bi-weekly chat about the latest news in Canadian TV! First, Greg and Amy go through debuts and returns on the Canadian TV calendar.

Then, we cover the latest Canadian TV news, which includes the cancellation of CBC’s The Porter, Sullivan’s Crossing to debut on CTV, more Skymed for CBC, a development deal for Priyanka, and Part 1 of our discussion about the Canadian Screen Awards, focusing on Best Drama and Best Comedy.

This podcast brought to you by Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky and Pelee Island Monarch Vidal.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mena Massoud explores the burgeoning world of plant-based living in new original series Evolving Vegan, March 30

March 2, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

CTV Life Channel and Crave delve into the exploding vegan food scene across North America, with the launch of all-new Bell Media Studios original series, EVOLVING VEGAN, Thursday, March 30 at 8 p.m. ET. Hosted and executive produced by Mena Massoud (Aladdin), EVOLVING VEGAN is inspired by his online project of the same name, which itself has evolved into a cookbook, and now, an inspiring travel series exploring beautiful meals, talented chefs, and restauranteurs who are making plant-based living delicious and accessible.

Throughout the six, one-hour episodes, Massoud takes viewers on a plant-based escape, and serves up a refreshed look at a flourishing food scene in Los Angeles, Austin, Mexico City, Vancouver, Portland, and Toronto.

In Episode 1, Massoud explores the plant-based food scene in Los Angeles and restaurant-hops with friends Lilly Singh and Laura Marano, indulging in elevated vegan French pastries, “pastrami” sammies, Thai “chicken” wings, and unbelievable “carne” asada.

About Mena Massoud:
Mena was born in Cairo and immigrated to Toronto with his parents and two sisters at the age of three. He began his post-secondary studies in neuroscience before transferring schools and programs and graduating with a BFA in theatre.

He is an actor, author, and entrepreneur. He has founded Evolving Vegan, a project which aims at making veganism accessible to all and has also launched a non-profit organization to aid underrepresented artists, the EDA (Ethnically Diverse Artists) Foundation.

The billion-dollar, international success of Aladdin inspired Mena to create Press Play Productions to continue paving the way for diverse artists and stories.

EVOLVING VEGAN is produced by Bell Media Studios. Jennifer Couke and Michelle Crespi are Executive Producers for Bell Media Studios. Mena Massoud and Ali Mashayekhi are Executive Producers for Press Play Productions.

Skymed

Paramount+ and CBC announce start of production for the second season of Skymed

March 2, 2023 Greg David 1 Comment

From a media release:

Paramount+, CBC and Piazza Entertainment today announced that production has begun on the sophomore season of the high-stakes medical drama series SKYMED. Filming in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, the young medics and pilots flying air ambulances return for more life, death and drama in the skies of remote Northern Canada.

The original series will be available in Canada on CBC TV and CBC Gem, and streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and internationally in the UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, and Germany.

Produced by Piazza Entertainment in association with CBC and CBS Studios, SKYMED’S second season promises new hookups, break ups and heartbreaks as the medevac service expands into new territory, throwing the flight crew into intense new emergencies at work and in their personal lives.

The series is created by Julie Puckrin and inspired by her sister and brother-in-law who met flying air ambulances. Returning to SKYMED is Natasha Calis as ‘Nurse Hayley Roberts,’ Aason (Ace) Nadjiwon as Golden boy pilot ‘Captain Austen Bodie,’ Morgan Holmstrom as no-nonsense ‘Nurse Crystal Highway,’ Praneet Akilla as ‘First Officer Chopper,’ Thomas Elms as icy-cool pilot ‘Captain Nowak,’ Mercedes Morris as ‘First Officer Lexi Martine,’ and Kheon Clarke as ‘Nurse Tristan Green’. Braeden Clarke reprises his recurring role as Crystal’s charming on-again-off-again love interest, ‘Jeremy Wood,’ and Aaron Ashmore returns as ‘Wheezer,’ the wise-cracking big brother that everyone looks up to.

Cast joining the second season includes Sydney Kuhne (“Ginny & Georgia”) as fiery new flight medic ‘Stef,’ Ryan Ali (“The Hummingbird Project”) as handsome young pilot ‘Reese,’ and Nadine Whiteman-Roden (“Faith Heist”) as Dr. Yana Noah.

SKYMED is produced by Piazza Entertainment in association with CBC, Canada’s national public broadcaster, and CBS Studios. The series is created by Julie Puckrin, who also serves as Executive Producer along with Gillian Hormel and Vanessa Piazza. Outside of Canada, SKYMED will be distributed internationally by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Sullivan's Crossing

New CTV original drama Sullivan’s Crossing premieres March 19

March 1, 2023 Greg David 1 Comment

From a media release:

The longest road travelled is from the head to the heart. CTV announced today that all-new original drama series SULLIVAN’S CROSSING joins the network’s midseason schedule Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app beginning March 19. From the team behind the hit series VIRGIN RIVER, and adapted by executive producer and showrunner Roma Roth from the New York Times bestselling novels by beloved author and Virgin River scribe Robyn Carr, SULLIVAN’S CROSSING stars Morgan Kohan (TRANSPLANT), alongside Chad Michael Murray (ONE TREE HILL), and Scott Patterson (GILMORE GIRLS).

Filmed in Nova Scotia, the 10-episode one-hour drama follows the journey of neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan (Kohan), whose perfectly planned life is turned upside down after finding herself in unexpected legal troubles. Needing time to reflect, she temporarily leaves her life in Boston taking refuge in her childhood home of Sullivan’s Crossing, a campground in picturesque Nova Scotia that is run by her estranged father, Sully Sullivan (Patterson). There, Maggie must deal with her complicated present while she also navigates her painful past. Further complicating matters is the irritating mysterious newcomer, Cal Jones (Murray), whose presence in Sullivan’s Crossing ultimately will lead Maggie to question her carefully laid plans.

Rounding out the SULLIVAN’S CROSSING cast are actor, singer, and a Companion of the Order of Canada, Tom Jackson (CARDINAL) as Frank Cranebear; actor, singer, songwriter, Andrea Menard (THE VELVET DEVIL) as Edna Cranebear; Lindura (GHOSTS) as Sydney Shandon; Amalia Williamson (NORTHERN RESCUE) as Lola Gunderson; Reid Price (THE SINNER) as Rob Shandon; Allan Hawco (JACK RYAN) as Andrew Mathews; Lynda Boyd (VIRGIN RIVER) as Phoebe Lancaster; Peter Outerbridge (DESIGNATED SURVIVOR) as Walter Lancaster; and Lauren Hammersley (VIRGIN RIVER) as Connie Boyle.

On the series premiere, “Coming Home” (Sunday, March 19 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app), when neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan’s (Kohan) seemingly perfect life in Boston is turned upside down, she leaves the city and her boyfriend Andrew (Hawco) to return to her childhood home of Sullivan’s Crossing, a picturesque Nova Scotia campground owned by her estranged father, Sully Sullivan (Patterson), whom she hasn’t seen in years. While there, Maggie attempts to reunite with her father as well as her old friends as she butts heads with Cal Jones (Murray), the irritating, yet handsome mysterious stranger who has been helping her father around the campground. But coming home isn’t easy and it brings up memories and feelings Maggie is not ready to face.

Exclusive videos are available throughout the season on @CTV’s social channels and on CTV.ca and the CTV app, providing viewers with an extension of the series with bonus digital content.

Adapted by Showrunner Roma Roth from the New York Times bestselling novels by author Robyn Carr, SULLIVAN’S CROSSING is executive produced by Reel World Management in association with CTV and Fremantle and is an interprovincial co-production with Nova Scotia-based producer Mike Volpe and Ontario based producer Mark Gingras with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, Bell Fund, Cogeco Fund, Screen Nova Scotia, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit. SULLIVAN’S CROSSING is distributed internationally by Fremantle.

Showrunner, Roma Roth executive produces alongside Christopher. E. Perry with Mike Volpe and Mark Gingras producing.