TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 583
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

Link: CBC hired external investigator to probe nepotism complaints after executives’ spouses awarded contracts

From Sean Craig of the National Post:

Link: CBC hired external investigator to probe nepotism complaints after executives’ spouses awarded contracts
The CBC hired an external investigator to probe two top television executives after receiving complaints that at least 13 contracts were handed to production companies owned by their spouses. Although the investigator found no breaches of the public broadcaster’s conflict of interest policy, the legal counsel for one anonymous complainant said the findings are “inconsistent with the facts” and the contracts present the appearance of conflict of interest. Continue reading.

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Link: Saving Hope’s Julia Taylor Ross on Maggie’s journey

From Christy Spratlin of The TV Junkies:

Link: Saving Hope’s Julia Taylor Ross on Maggie’s journey
“I was so happy that the writers made Zach and Maggie’s friendship blossom in the way that it did. It made for a more complex dynamic at first and then an ease and a trust later in the show. I LOVED the Alex/Maggie friendship. It was wonderful to navigate how these two women balanced their professional and personal relationships and supported each other through trying times. I look back at the pilot now and see how much their relationship grew.” Continue reading.

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Link: Sci-fi TV doesn’t have to be prestige – it can just be fun

From Adam Rogers of Wired:

Link: Sci-fi TV doesn’t have to be prestige – it can just be fun
“We’re unabashedly genre, committed to the source material, not trying to be for everybody,” says Emily Andras, showrunner on the wonderfully daft Wynonna Earp (she’s a descendant of the famous gunfighter who kills demons with a magic gun [Earp, not Andras]). Andras suggests calling it “batshit genre,” but I have a different term in mind: commodity sci-fi. Continue reading.

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Private Eyes gets ghostly in Episode 5

Season 2 of Private Eyes has really been a joy to watch. It’s the perfect summer confection, packed with fun with a side of light drama; the perfect program to sit down and fully enjoy on a steamy evening. The writing in this sophomore go-round is tighter and the acting crew have truly embraced their roles. That continues in this week’s new storyline, “Now You See Her…,” which injects a little of the paranormal into the proceedings.

Here is the official episode synopsis from Global for Thursday’s episode written by James Thorpe and directed by Kelly Makin:

A brilliant orchestra conductor hires Shade and Angie to find his missing fiancée. But there’s a catch – she died a year ago. On the trail of a ghost, Shade and Angie unearth a dark secret with fatal implications for everyone involved.

And, as always, here are a few tidbits to tease you after watching a screener.

Don gets a plot of his own
Daddy Shade has been in the background for much of the series so far, able to offer a supporting shoulder or a well-timed quip. This week a phone call puts Don front and centre, and throws his and Matt’s lives for a loop.

Nolan returns
It’s been a few weeks since Clé Bennett (above) has been on-screen and it’s great to have his whisper-voiced, detective back in our lives, especially if it leads to some super-awkward scenes involving Angie as they discuss the case. (Also, I love the writing team giving a shout-out to Cobourg, Ont.)

Follow the moving donut box
I’m a total TV geek and take immense pleasure in the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a television show from the writing to the incredible sets and set decoration. That’s why I spotted a donut box that switched position a couple of times in one scene. See if you catch it too. Mon Dieu!

Second Jen co-star alert!
Samantha Wan, of course, plays Zoe this season. While we await the fate of Second Jen—ahem Rogers—keep your eyes peeled for a guest role by Wan’s co-star Amanda Joy.

Private Eyes airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

Images courtesy of Corus.

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Saving Hope: Magicians and pianists and cell phone babies, oh my!

When we last left our friends at Hope Zion, Maggie and Sydney were planning to move to London for Syd’s new job and Charlie’s gift had advanced to a new, troubling level: Spirit Blake was able to touch him. This week, a wrench in thrown into the works when Maggie is offered a new gig, throwing her future with Syd into disarray.

Here’s what CTV has revealed about this Thursday’s new episode of Saving Hope, “Leap of Faith”:

Dr. Alex Reid and Dr. Maggie Lin work together to deliver the baby of plastic surgeon Dr. Arnie Storms (Ari Cohen, SHOOT THE MESSENGER) and his wife. Charlie treats magician “Abbadon” (Joe Cobden, THIS LIFE), who shattered both his legs during an illusion gone wrong, and Dr. Shahir Hamza treats his idol – a virtuosic concert pianist – who has been inadvertently poisoning herself, while trying to curb symptoms of early onset Parkinson’s. Meanwhile, when Maggie is offered an obstetrician position at Hope Zion, it causes her to rethink her role at the hospital.

And here are a few more tidbits about the instalment, written by Adam Pettle and Hayden Simpson and directed by Jason Priestley.

Jonathan and Shahir adjust to being parents. Sort of.
We knew there’d be Alex and Charlie’s newbie factoring into Season 5 storylines but Shahir and Jonathan’s potential happy addition has been a complete surprise. We’re loving Christopher Jacot in this role and his scenes were Huse Madhavji are equal parts hilarious and emotional.

Speaking of Alex and Charlie’s baby…
We find out the sex of the little cherub.

We’ve got your guest stars
Shoot the Messenger‘s Ari Cohen, sketch comic Marty Adams (above) and Bellevue‘s Joe Cobden drop by this week. The latter two provide truly laugh-out-loud moments in Charlie’s spirit storyline. Seriously though, how many more excuses can Charlie make to his co-workers about why he’s staring off into space and/or talking to himself?

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

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