TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 51
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

Captivating Canadian original series reign supreme on Discovery this fall including debut of The Mightiest

From a media release:

This fall, Discovery delivers series with astounding stories of human strength, savvy, and adventurous spirit including the debut of the all-new Discovery Original THE MIGHTIEST. Premiering Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. ET, the six-episode, one-hour docu-series follows veteran adventure hosts Aliya Jasmine and Teddy Wilson as they take to the field to witness the mightiest of machines take on new missions. From re-engineered Chinook helitankers fighting wildfires 24/7 in Southern California, to a train that helps sustain life and connect communities, the series reveals the innovation and science that enable these machines to conquer nearly impossible challenges. Shot across Canada, Europe, and the U.S. in 2022, THE MIGHTIEST is produced in partnership with Bell Media Studios and Exploration Productions.

Leading up to the launch of THE MIGHTIEST is the highly anticipated Season 2 premiere of Discovery Original docu-series MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS, Monday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. ET. Then, Season 2 of extreme adventure series LAST OF THE GIANTS kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 9 p.m. ET, and the two-part special event AFTER THE STORM, which features stories of last year’s widespread flooding in the Pacific Northwest, premieres on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, new episodes of beloved Discovery Original series HIGHWAY THRU HELL air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET throughout the year.

Discovery Canadian Original Series Premieres:

MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS – Season 2

Mondays at 10 p.m. ET, beginning Oct. 31

In the new season of MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS, brothers Craig and Brent Lebeau, third-generation loggers hoping for a successful logging season, and brothers Shane and Chad Glover, second-generation loggers based in the Kootenay region of B.C., along with their father Gary Glover, battle treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather, and complex machinery to get their logs to the mill.

In the season premiere “Let’s Get This Party Started,” Craig LeBeau and his crew set up camp in a remote part of the Shuswap Highlands, on the steepest, baddest block any of them has ever seen: Gollen. Things start out well, until bad weather and a stuck truck derail the entire operation. Meanwhile, Brent’s clearing a snowmobile trail for a local ski resort but, with so many jobs on the go, a mechanical oversight and impending snowfall may cost him the entire job.

MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS is produced by Great Pacific Media.

THE MIGHTIESTSeries Premiere

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, beginning Nov. 23

THE MIGHTIEST takes to the field to witness mega machines take on all-new mighty missions, giving viewers an all-access pass to every aspect of the vessel and the people around it as it embarks on a new and dangerous journey.

In the series premiere “Launch Day,” host Teddy Wilson is aboard the U.S. Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to document final training and tensions rising as the crew prepares for its long awaited first mission. The episode also looks at the massive Airbus A-380’s first landing into a major North American hub, the re-launch of a flying telescope after being grounded for months, and final touches on a cruise ship three times bigger than the Titanic.

LAST OF THE GIANTS – Season 2

Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET, beginning Nov. 24

After their action-packed adventures in North America and the Amazon, Cyril and the team are back with more high-adrenaline missions in Argentina, Nicaragua and the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific.

In Argentina, searching for swamp-dwelling, deadly stingray, Cyril and the team venture into dangerous, uncharted rivers. Trekking through Nicaragua, the team skillfully evade deadly predators as they seek out the prehistoric giant Tarpon and the Goliath Grouper. Finally, journeying to the most remote islands in the South Pacific, Cyril leads a scuba dive through swarms of sharks and moray eels to find a giant trevally, an ocean predator capable of explosive attacks and even snatching birds from the sky.

LAST OF THE GIANTS is produced by Untamed Productions.

AFTER THE STORMTwo-Part Special Event

Thursday, Dec. 15 and 22 at 10 p.m. ET

In November 2021 an unprecedented storm slams into the Pacific Northwest, pummeling the region with a month’s worth of rain in just 48 hours. As rivers break their banks and landslides erupt from the coastal mountains,15,000 people flee their homes via crumbling highways and collapsing bridges. Many of those homes – and the land they sit on – are soon swept away.

AFTER THE STORM follows the events firsthand with the people who fought through this historic flood – from the first signs of trouble brewing over the ocean through the days of impact, with experts explaining the forces behind the disaster. In the aftermath engineers and towns race to rebuild vital infrastructure and roads connecting the coast to the rest of the country. Even when the trucks and trains are rolling again, the ongoing question is about the future: how to build back better in the face of more unpredictable weather – and more unforgiving storms to come.

Part 1 – “A River In The Sky” – Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. ET

When the storm of the century hits the west coast, smashing rainfall records, no one is fully prepared. As the storm takes hold, landslides batter highways, trapping hundreds of drivers. Chelsey Hughes is heading home from a weekend getaway when a wall of debris slams into her car, throwing her into a river of mud and into a fight for survival. In the nearby Sumas region, community heroes like Gary Baars jump into action when rising water overwhelms the system of dikes and pumps that protects their land. Local farmers mount daring rescues of stranded workers and drowning livestock. As defenses collapse, one group of locals works through the night to save the pump station – their community’s last safeguard. In the storm’s aftermath workers race to rebuild dikes and reconnect important roads. Beyond the rush to fix what’s broken, experts explore new ways to manage life in vulnerable flood plains and adapt to the intensifying forces of nature.

Part 2 – “Hell or High Water” – Thursday, Dec. 22 at 10 p.m. ET

On the heels of the summer heat dome, which sparked catastrophic wildfires across southern B.C., November’s atmospheric river brings record-breaking rainfall. In the province’s desert-like interior, firefighter Dylan Bullock is still recovering from severe burns that he suffered in the wildfires. When parched mountains can’t absorb the rainfall, it pours into the rivers and into the city of Merritt. As floodwater submerges the nearby wastewater treatment plant, 7000 residents must evacuate – just as collapsing highways and bridges cut off escape routes. In small, isolated communities the raging Nicola River devours land and houses, stranding locals and triggering dramatic rescues. In the weeks that follow the storm, crews work tirelessly to fix the water plant and improvise repairs to let traffic and supplies start flowing, and engineers analyze what other countries are doing to mitigate flood damage and build more resilient infrastructure.

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ET Canada welcomes Big Brother Canada alums Brittnee Blair and Jedson Tavernier as new on-air reporters

From a media release:

ET Canada is proud to announce that former Big Brother Canada houseguests Brittnee Blair and Jedson Tavernier are set to join ET Canada as reporters beginning this November. Alongside hosts Cheryl Hickey and Sangita Patel, and reporters Carlos Bustamante, Morgan Hoffman and Keshia Chanté, Blair and Tavernier will help deliver the latest in entertainment news to Canadian audiences on the award-winning nightly broadcast, airing weeknights at 7:30 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Global.

Brittnee Blair is a well-known Canadian television personality, appearing as host of W Network’s Movie Date, and appeared as a houseguest on the third season of Big Brother Canada. A beacon and advocate for body positivity and self-love, Britnee is an international plus-size model, who prides herself on encouraging women of all shapes, colours, and sizes to embrace their own beauty. In her spare time, she travels the world discovering and connecting with new places and people, through local cuisine and experiences.

Jedson Tavernier is a Toronto-based model, social media creator, fitness enthusiast and TV personality. After five years of playing varsity basketball at the University of Western Ontario and graduating with two degrees in Kinesiology, Jedson transitioned his talents to entertainment, appearing on the ninth season of Big Brother Canada. Jedson also lends his talents to the Toronto Raptors social media team, and has appeared in various broadcast commercials and brand campaigns. When Jedson isn’t working, he loves to read, stay active, and inspire those around him.

ET Canada airs weeknights at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on Global. For up-to-the-moment entertainment news, celebrity interviews and more, visit etcanada.com, and stream ET Canada live and on demand with STACKTV and the Global TV App.

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OUTtv renews Face to Face with David for fifth season; acquires second series from David Oulton

From a media release:

OUTtv has renewed David Oulton’s syndicated talk show for a fifth season to air in 2023. The network has also acquired a second series, Who’s There?, which is a round table style talk show, with Oulton as host.

Filmed at The Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Face to Face with David has become one of the most aired daytime television shows in Canada. Beginning as a small independent project during the Covid lockdowns, the series is now co-produced and airs on OUTtv, as well as airing daily in Canada on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, Slice, Showcase, Movietime and streams on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and several other broadcasters. The series is also available in the US, UK, Australia, South Africa and multiple other territories.

The fifth season will consist of 13 episodes and air in 2023. The guest list is yet to be confirmed, however previous notable guests have included Raven Symone, Vanessa Williams, Natasha Henstridge, Corbin Bernsen, Miriam Margolyes and many others. Oulton has become infamous for interviewing his guests in a Versace bathrobe while drinking red wine. Face to Face with David is directed by Candace Schmidt and produced by L&C Style Productions.

OUTtv has also acquired a second series from Oulton, Who’s There? The series is a roundtable-style talk show filmed live in person, which each episode featuring Oulton as host and a panel of guests comprised of an artist, business leader, and regular everyday viewer. The six-episode series was filmed at the Paradox Hotel in downtown Vancouver, and features notable guests such as Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half Men, Saw), Mackenzie Gray (Riverdale, Nancy Drew) and Tammy Gillis (Siren, Van Helsing).

Who’s There? is a topical-focused series where the panel of guests discussing a wide-ranging variety of issues and topics, rather than being interviewed directly. The initial season is comprised of six episodes to air on OUTtv. The series is also produced by L&C Style Productions.

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David Suzuki announces retirement as host of CBC’s The Nature of Things

From a media release:

World-renowned environmentalist and science broadcaster David Suzuki will retire next spring after 43 years as host of CBC’s THE NATURE OF THINGS, which he has hosted since October 24, 1979. Suzuki announced his decision tonight during an interview with Ian Hanomansing on The National, discussing his legacy, meaningful moments and hopes for the future. TV’s longest-running science series, The Nature of Things’ 62nd season will launch on Friday, January 6, 2023, with Suzuki’s final episode set to air in the spring. New hosting plans for the series after Suzuki’s departure will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

“I have been fortunate to have been endowed with good health which has enabled me to remain the host of the series long after my ‘best before date’,” said Suzuki. “Aging is a natural biological process that creates opportunity for fresher, more imaginative input from younger people and for years, I have warned that to ensure the continuation of The Nature of Things, we must prepare for the transition when I leave. That moment is now.”

“I am so grateful to Canadians who have kept us on air and to the CBC for sticking with me,” added Suzuki. “The Nature of Things is a unique series that stems from an ecocentric rather than anthropocentric perspective, a critical understanding of how we got into the mess we are in and how to move out of it.”

“David has made science more accessible to countless viewers in Canada and around the world, finding new ways to demystify our complex world and illustrate how the future of humanity and the natural world cannot be separated — long before climate change became a hot topic, “ said Barbara Williams, Executive Vice President, CBC. “We thank David for challenging and inspiring so many of us to look at ourselves and our planet in new ways, and look forward to celebrating his indelible legacy and final season next year.”

Before his life as a broadcaster, Suzuki was a distinguished professor and geneticist. He has authored more than 50 books, received several honorary degrees and awards, and has been recognized by the UN for his environmental leadership. Suzuki is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Companion of the Order of Canada. He also founded the non-profit David Suzuki Foundation.

THE NATURE OF THINGS presents dramatic and insightful stories that are driven by a scientific understanding of the world. THE NATURE OF THINGS continues to inspire and entertain audiences by engaging with the people and personalities behind the science and phenomena that shape our world. From the search for other life in the universe to the psychology of babies, and from the furry animals that invade our backyards to the consequences of human progress, THE NATURE OF THINGS throws open the door to the wonder and accomplishments of science, making it accessible to viewers of all ages.

The 62nd season of THE NATURE OF THINGS will broadcast Friday nights at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) starting January 6 on CBC TV and CBC Gem. More information about the lineup of documentaries this coming season will be available here closer to the premiere.

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Links: The Imperfects, Season 1

From Heather M. of TV Goodness:

Link: Dennis Heaton talks The Imperfects
“The Imperfects grew out of this dinner conversation where we were riffing on what we liked about mad scientist stories and what we didn’t like.” Continue reading.

From Staff of The Collegiate:

Link: A perfectly imperfect wild ride: A review of Netflix’s “The Imperfects”
The humour is top notch and the acting is phenomenal. Though if I had one complaint it’s the fact that two minor characters by the name of Doug and Owen weren’t used to their full potential. Continue reading.

From Kimberley Spinney of Culturess:

Link: The Imperfects costume designer Rafaella Rabinovich talks about the show’s looks and her inspiration
“I’m a super visual person, so I make really elaborate mood boards and I sketch a lot as well to kind of define what it is that we’re looking at and understanding the color palette, so that is the first step.” Continue reading.

From Rya Shulka of The United Business Journal:

Link: The Imperfects on Netflix has a lot to unpack
There are many shocks in the finale of the Netflix original series The Imperfects, leaving fans to wonder if there will be a second season. Continue reading.

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