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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Mary Kills People

Mary Kills People premieres January 25 on Global

From a media release:

Global’s provocative original drama Mary Kills People premieres Wednesday, January 25 at 9 P.M. ET/PT

  • Network Releases a Sneak Peek of the Series Today, Followed by the Full First Episode Available January 21 on GlobalTV.com
  • Go Behind the Scenes of Mary Kills People in the Exclusive Video Featuring the Series’ Female-Led Creative Team

Emotion, adrenaline, and drama are at the forefront of Global’s compelling new original series Mary Kills People. The highly anticipated, six-part event series starring Caroline Dhavernas as Dr. Mary Harris, an ER doctor with a secret side job, premieres Wednesday, January 25 at 9p.m. ET/PT. From Entertainment One (eOne) and Cameron Pictures Inc, the emotionally-charged series is developed by an outstanding female led creative team including Creator/Co-Executive Producer Tara Armstrong, Executive Producers Tassie Cameron and Amy Cameron, and Director/Co-Executive Producer Holly Dale.

In anticipation of the series launch, Global is releasing the first five minutes of the premiere today (Wednesday, January 18) on GlobalTV.com. The sneak peek introduces viewers to Mary’s world as an ER doctor, who also moonlights as an underground angel of death — helping terminally ill patients who want to die and slip away on their own terms. Following the sneak peek, viewers get a chance to watch the full first episode on GlobalTV.com, Global Go, and on demand beginning January 21.

Leading up to the series premiere, GlobalTV.com delivers viewers exclusive Mary Kills People content, including weekly digital vignettes inspired by different episodes of the series. Kicking off the digital vignettes is a behind the scenes look at the women behind Mary Kills People, and explores what initially drew this female-led creative team to the compelling series.

Mary Kills People follows Dr. Mary Harris (Dhavernas), an overworked single mother and ER doctor, that lives a double life helping terminally ill patients with assisted deaths. So far Mary has managed to stay under the radar but her double life is getting complicated.

Set in the morally grey world of assisted death, the series follows Mary’s exploits as she balances the needs of her family and her day job with helping terminal patients end their lives on their terms…all while eluding the police, who are determined to bring her down. The premiere episode begins when Mary becomes romantically involved with an attractive patient that sets off a chain of events that could destroy her life, her family, and her career.

Viewers who miss Global’s gripping premiere episode can catch up on GlobalTV.com and Global Go following the broadcast the next day.

Mary Kills People is produced by eOne and Cameron Pictures Inc., in association with Corus Entertainment, and with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. The series is executive produced by Tassie Cameron, Amy Cameron, Tecca Crosby and Holly Dale. Tara Armstrong is Co-Executive Producer. Tashi Bieler serves as the Executive in Charge of Production for eOne and Norman Denver is Producer.

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Featured, X Company

X Company 302: The spies attend a ‘Masquerade’

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If there was one major knock against the first season of X Company, it was that its cast was too male-heavy. Yes, Evelyne Brochu is the de facto lead of the ensemble cast, and her character, Aurora, is the undisputed leader of the spy team, but that didn’t change the fact she was surrounded by four male co-stars on the show’s promotional posters. Meanwhile, Lara Jean Chorostecki (Krystina) largely languished in the background, and Livia Matthes (Sabine) appeared in just three episodes.

Fast-forward to Season 3, and Brochu is no longer so alone. Yes, she’s still surrounded on the promotional posters (though now only three-to-one), but Chorostecki and Matthes have been given increasingly complex storylines, and Sara Garcia (Miri) was brought on in Season 2. All four actresses feature prominently in this week’s new episode, “Masquerade,” written by co-executive producer Sandra Chwialkowska, as Aurora tries to rein in Sabine, Krystina interrogates Scubaman (Trevor White), and Neil (Warren Brown) attempts to track down Miri. Plus, Madeleine Knight is introduced as Heidi, a woman who will influence Aurora’s path in Season 3.

What’s behind this glorious increase in female characters? According to Chwialkowska, it’s simple arithmetic.

“I have found over the years working on different television shows that the more women in the [writers’ room], the more female faces end up on screen.” she tells TV-Eh in an upcoming breakdown of the episode.

There were two women in X Company‘s Season 1 writers’ room, including co-creator Stephanie Morgenstern. Season 2 had three women in the room, and Season 3 had four.

Here’s a sneak peek of the episode.

Aurora and Faber dance
Chwialkowska says she dreamed up the idea of Faber and Aurora dancing together in Season 2, and the moment is one of her favourite moments of the series.

“In a way, the whole season is kind of a dance between those two,” she says.

More Krystina
Last season, Krystina had a romance with Tom and took out Klaus Frommer. In “Masquerade,” she faces off with Scubaman in Sinclair’s absence — and Chorostecki shines.

More Sabine
Will Sabine tell her father Franz is working with the Allies? Enjoy the fine work of Livia Matthes as you find out.

What will happen to Miri?
Neil and Harry attempt to rescue Miri — and X Company elevates itself once again.

X Company airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of CBC.

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Industry News

Link: Women behind Canadian TV: 2017 edition

From Bridget Liszewski of the TV Junkies:

Women behind Canadian TV: 2017 edition
They say a lot can change in a year. For the television industry on many levels that’s certainly been true, thanks in no small part to the rise of social media, which has given a platform to fans to use their voices to speak out against inequalities they see happening. Gone are the days where television shows can go an entire season without a female director and no one noticing or calling attention to it. It’s clear now that people are watching and listening, especially when it comes to diversity. Despite the fact that we’re still smack dab in the middle of the Peak TV era, unfortunately the problems with gender diversity behind the scenes in television haven’t changed all that much. Continue reading.

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Workin' Moms

Link: Workin’ Moms: Dani Kind on Anne’s unapologetically frank attitude

From Bridget Liszewski of the TV Junkies:

Workin’ Moms: Dani Kind on Anne’s unapologetically frank attitude
There is no sugar coating when it comes to Anne Carlson on Workin’ Moms. If you’re looking for anything other than the truth, then she’s not the friend for you. However, Anne’s unapologetically frank attitude can also be viewed as refreshing and actress Dani Kind gives a real heart to the character under all that sarcasm and exhaustion. She is a little less than thrilled to be pregnant with a third, and unexpected, child and Anne isn’t afraid to let everyone know that. It’s just one of the many refreshingly honest stories the new CBC comedy series is telling. Continue reading.

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