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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Letterkenny

Production begins on another six-pack of Letterkenny for CraveTV

From a media release:

CraveTV announced today that production is underway on another six-pack of its most-watched series, the Canadian Screen Award-winning LETTERKENNY. Created by and starring Jared Keeso, the celebrated half-hour comedy is produced by New Metric Media in partnership with DHX Media, and shoots on location in and around Sudbury, ON until early August. New to the writer’s room this season are 19-2 veterans Jesse McKeown and Lynne Kamm. Jonathan Torrens returns to write two episodes, bahd. Anyhoo, here’s what some of the boys had to say.

Set to launch later this year, the newest LETTERKENNY six-pack finds The Hicks holding court back at the produce stand for another small-town summer. Affairs of the heart are on tap this season as Wayne (Keeso) and his sweetie, Rosie (Clark Backo), are on shaky ground and Katy (Michelle Mylett) finally chooses between Hockey Players. The Skids might still be on drugs too.

As viewers tuned-in to the winter season launch on Canada Day weekend, #Letterkenny had 4 million impressions on Twitter worldwide and 1.1 million impressions in Canada. Season 1 of LETTERKENNY took home three 2017 Canadian Screen Awards: Best Comedy Series, Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series, and Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series. As well, series creator Jared Keeso and co-writer and director Jacob Tierney took home a Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award for TV Comedy. Seasons 1 – 3 are currently streaming on CraveTV and Season 1 is also available on iTunes and Google Play.

LETTERKENNY revolves around the dustups Wayne (Keeso) and his buds get into with their small-town Ontario rivals. The Hicks, The Skids, and The Hockey Players get at each other about the most mundane things, often ending with someone getting their ass kicked. Wayne, his best bud Daryl (Nathan Dales), Wayne’s free-spirited younger sister Katy (Michelle Mylett), and Wayne’s buddy, Dan (K Trevor Wilson) are all Hicks. CSA-nominated Daniel Petronijevic returns as Hick McMurray and Melanie Scrofano as doting Mrs. McMurray. Dylan Playfair and Andrew Herr reprise their roles as hotshot Hockey Players “Jonesy” and “Reilly”. Tyler Johnston and Evan Stern (RoboCop) return as Skids Stewart and Roald. Lisa Codrington returns as bartender, Gail, and Jacob Tierney as the Christian leader Glen. Mark Forward returns as the temperamental Coach of Letterkenny Irish and Tiio Horn is back as badass leader of The Natives, Tanis. Keeso’s 19-2 co-star, Adrian Holmes, returns to guest star as Modeans bouncer Bradley. Cara Gee (Strange Empire) and Jade Willoughby join the cast as Tanis’ new rez rivals Shyla and Shania.

LETTERKENNY is produced by New Metric Media, in partnership with DHX Media in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, OMDC Tax Credits and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. Jacob Tierney is executive producer, director, and co-writer. Mark Montefiore and Patrick O’Sullivan are executive producers for New Metric Media.

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Industry News

CBC’s new original talk show The Filmmakers celebrates great Canadian films

From a media release:

CBC today announced a new 11-part original talk show launching as a companion to a special Saturday night line-up of celebrated Canadian films. Hosted by journalist Johanna Schneller and featuring candid studio conversations with some of the creative talent behind many of Canada’s greatest films, THE FILMMAKERS launches this Saturday, July 22 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT). Each half-hour episode centres on one film that will air immediately after the talk show, debuting with Atom Egoyan’s THE SWEET HEREAFTER – the first of 11 Canadian features airing Saturday nights on CBC (full schedule and broadcast times below).

THE FILMMAKERS taps into how some of Canada’s most significant films were made and why we need to watch them, through lively and surprising conversations with a diverse mix of creators, directors and artists including: Xavier Dolan, Sarah Polley, Director X, Atom Egoyan, Mina Shum, Kim Nguyen, Don McKellar, Deepa Mehta, Zacharias Kunuk and Jennifer Baichwal, as well as guest panelists Connor Jessup, David Suzuki, Stephanie Morgenstern, Cameron Bailey, Sook-Yin Lee, Edward Burtynsky, Cazhhmere and Academy Award-winner Sylvain Bellemare.

THE FILMMAKERS will air Saturday evenings on CBC a half hour before each of the following Canadian feature films:

  • July 22 – The Filmmakers 8:30 / film 9 p.m. THE SWEET HEREAFTER – Directed by Atom Egoyan
  • July 29 – The Filmmakers 8:30 / film 9 p.m. STORIES WE TELL – Directed by Sarah Polley
  • August 5 –  The Filmmakers 9:00 / film 9:30 p.m. LAST NIGHT – Directed by Don McKellar
  • August 12 – The Filmmakers 9:00 / film 9:30 p.m. INCENDIES – Directed by Denis Villeneuve
  • August 19 -The Filmmakers 8:30 / film 9 p.m. DOUBLE HAPPINESS – Directed by Mina Shum
  • August 26 – The Filmmakers 8:30 / film 9 p.m. REBELLE (WAR WITCH) Directed by Kim Nguyen
  • September 2 – The Filmmakers 8:30 / film 9 p.m. J’AI TUÉ MA MÈRE (I KILLED MY MOTHER) Directed by Xavier Dolan
  • September 9 – The Filmmakers 10:00 / film 10:30 p.m WATER – Directed by Deepa Mehta
  • September 16 – The Filmmakers 8:30 / film 9 p.m ATANARJUAT (THE FAST RUNNER) – Directed by Zacharias Kunuk
  • September 23 – The Filmmakers 8:30 / film 9 p.m. MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES  Directed by Jennifer Baichwal
  • September 30 – The Filmmakers 8:30 /  film 9 p.m. ACROSS THE LINE (fka COLE HARBOUR) Directed by Director X

In addition to the weekly broadcast, THE FILMMAKERS and a complementary series of film tutorial videos will be available to stream at cbc.ca/arts. The series will also be made available on CBC’s educational platform Curio.ca.

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Featured, Saving Hope

Saving Hope: Peter Mooney returns to Hope Zion

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We had a sneaking suspicion the wrestler who grappled his way into Cassie’s life might return. He does, and it leads to an incredibly shocking storyline in this week’s episode of Saving Hope. Add in the fact Peter Mooney returns to Hope Zion to portray Dr. Jeremy Bishop and there is a lot going on this Thursday.

Here’s the official synopsis for “La Famiglia,” written by Noelle Carbone and directed by Peter Wellington:

Dr. Alex Reid has to put her concern for the newly-unemployed Dr. Charlie Harris aside when the chance to perform a revolutionary cancer surgery arises. Alex, along with Dr. Dawn Bell, Dr. Cassie Williams, and Dr. Dana Kinney band together for the surgery, and are surprised to be led by Dr. Jeremy Bishop (Peter Mooney, ROOKIE BLUE), who returns to Hope Zion Hospital. While they are performing the radical and controversial surgery, Charlie tries to help the distressed spirit of the patient. Cassie is unexpectedly called away from the surgery by her former patient Jake Bugle (James Preston Rogers, REIGN), who seems to have a very different idea of the nature of their relationship.

And, as always, here are a few morsels we can add after watching a screener.

Reunited and it feels so good
We loved how the Saving Hope writers got Alex and Charlie back together again. Having Alex see what Charlie sees was a monumental moment for the couple and she truly understands what he’s dealing with. Now the pair can get down to the really serious business, like naming the baby that’s on the way. Eunice, anyone? There is a lovely car conversation between the pair that we never wanted to end. Where’s big city traffic when you need it? Also? We kind of like it that Charlie’s out of work. He can spend more time with Luke and focusing on family.

Will Shahir and Jonathan finally adopt?
The wheels were set in motion last week when Shahir performed surgery on an infant with spina bifida and the mother wanted him to adopt the baby. But will the pair put pen to paper on the official documents?

Cassie’s paramour is revealed
Who sent Cassie that handful of super-scary balloons, book and chameleon last week? Yup, it was Jake, the pro wrestler who has taken a shine to our young surgeon. He may not be suffering from mercury poisoning anymore, but that doesn’t mean Jake’s anger has gone away. What happens is shocking and terrible, and had us thinking of “Be Still My Heart,” the horrific Season 6 episode of ER.

Dawn is pissed
Check out the image above. There’s a very good reason for her to be upset and she hashes it out with Dana and Alex.

Two big storylines play out 
We won’t give either of them away, but you’re going to love them.

Saving Hope airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

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Killjoys, Web series

Link: Actress Kelly McCormack Talks “The Neddeaus of Duqesne Island” and SyFy’s “Killjoys”

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From Occhi Magazine:

Link: Actress Kelly McCormack Talks “The Neddeaus of Duqesne Island” and SyFy’s “Killjoys”
“It’s not secret that this industry has a lot to learn with how it treats women and working mothers. But some of the hardest working people I know in this industry happen to be both.” Continue reading.

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Featured, Private Eyes

Private Eyes: Shade joins the army in Season 2 summer finale

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First, the bad news. Season 2 of Private Eyes has been split into two parts. The first nine episodes conclude their run this Thursday on Global. The second half of the season doesn’t air until next summer on Global. So, what’s the good news? We still get this week’s episode to watch before the long stretch of nothingness ensues.

I’m thrilled with the way Season 2 has rolled out. Angie and Shade have found love (though Angie ran when she saw Ken’s ring last week), Don has found something to do and Zoe (Samantha Wan) has been a hilariously welcome addition to this cast of characters. Throw in tight writing, and Private Eyes has excelled. I can’t wait to see more.

Now, on to “The Good Soldier,” written by Alan McCullough and directed by Lee Rose. Here’s what Global’s official synopsis says:

Shade and Angie are called to fall in line and salute as they investigate an Army Cadet who has been reported missing. But the case goes AWOL as they discover a dark secret shared among the missing soldier and his two friends. Meanwhile, when Angie discovers Ken is still holding onto the engagement ring from years ago, past emotions of doubt and anxiety rush back, tempting her to cut and run all over again.

And here are some spoiler-free notes we can add.

Becca factors into the main story
We haven’t spent a lot of time with Becca (Nicole de Boer) this season, other than the odd appearance, but she gets major screen time on Thursday. We’re shown what she’s like in the studio and out in the field when Shade helps her record a segment for “Breakfast with Becca.” The segment is a way to get Angie and Shade onto a military base to investigate the young soldier’s disappearance. By the way, the base is actually the Lakeshore campus of Humber College. You know, if you want to drive by.

Jules drops a bomb
We’ve seen Shade deal with Jules growing into a young woman and all that entails (ahem, Liam). Now Jules has got a request for her dad, and Shade isn’t happy about it. Will he say yes? Speaking of Jules, Shade still hasn’t introduced she and Mel. Why hasn’t he? Cold feet with regard to the relationship?

Mayday! Stephen Bogaert appears
He’s known mainly for his narration on Discovery’s Mayday!, but Stephen Bogaert shows up this week in front of the camera. Go back and listen to Anthony Marco interview Bogaert in our 200th podcast (at the 41-minute mark).

Private Eyes returns with new episodes in summer 2018 on Global.

Images courtesy of Corus.

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