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Bachelorette Canada, Featured

Laughs, liquor and sexual tongues on The Bachelorette Canada

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I have something to tell you, and I’m kinda proud of it. The Bachelorette Canada is my guilty pleasure. Please, go ahead and judge me (you’re not the first to do it), but sometimes there’s nothing more fun that watching a television show where you don’t have to think. You can just sit and be entertained. That’s what you get from the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise, and I’m OK with it. (It’s also the only series I actively yell at the TV during.)

So, going in with that attitude, I was pumped to watch Jasmine Lorimer begin her journey for her male co-star in life as The Bachelorette Canada debuted Tuesday night on W Network. Was it entertaining? Hell, yes! I love watching guys act tough in front of a lady, and the addition of alcohol pretty much ensures that’ll happen. I also enjoy watching the dudes who are “there for the wrong reason,” and jeopardize everyone’s “journey.” There was certainly some of that on Tuesday too.

After a quick introduction into who Jasmine is (a laid-back, spontaneous, adventurous hairdresser), her personal struggle (the death of her father at 12) and watching her tool around Vancouver on a bike, Jasmine chatted with Jillian Harris (Ed didn’t come up) about expectations. Then it was down to business, as the 20 bachelors rolled up in the requisite limos to deliver them in front of Jasmine. Among the standouts? Mike the firefighter, who caught Jasmine’s eye and connected over the proximity of their hometowns; Chris the inventor, who produced a burning rose to her; and Kevin P., who wowed Jasmine with a song—she admitted to being attracted to musicians—and vomited minutes later due to food poisoning.

There were, of course, the fellows that went with gimmicks to catch Jasmine’s eye—the aforementioned Chris; Tony and his cowboy hat; Kyle on one knee; Scott making a wooden box; JP, a.k.a. Butler in the buff; and Eddie, a.k.a. Canada’s Crush, fumbling through a telescope setup—but that never makes a big impression. What does is stimulating conversation. Jasmine got that from Drew, Thomas and (a.k.a Sexual Tongue). David scored major points not only with Jasmine but Chris too when he had a string section accompany his original tune … until he cockily said, “Top that!” to the other guys. Dudes are the best at getting in their own way and David proved it. We also learned that cowboy Tony may be an angry drunk, a fact that wasn’t lost on Jasmine.

Was I surprised firefighter Mike got the First Impression rose? Not at all. He clearly had a connection with Jasmine and is a humble guy. He doesn’t appear to play head games or boast, so unless he does something lunk-headed, he’s got the inside track to Jasmine’s heart. Sticking around for another week alongside Mike are Kevin W., Drew, Sexual Tongue Thomas, Mikhel, Kyle, Seth, Scott, Andrew, Chris, Benoit, Wale, Kevin P., JP and David.

(Also? Noah Cappe, so good on Carnival Eats, is a capable Bachelorette Canada host, stepping in to lay ground rules and support and then dipping back into the shadows to let the drama play out.)

This is going to be a good season.

The Bachelorette Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on W Network.

Image courtesy of Corus.

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Auction

Kids Help Phone Auction: The Super Ultimate Blue Jays Fanatical Past & Present Pack

blue_jays1The Super Ultimate Blue Jays Fanatical Past & Present Pack: One Delgado/Wells/Bautista 40th anniversary Bobblehead (pristine, in box!), two autographed baseballs (catcher Josh Thole and Blue Jays great Lloyd Moseby!), one AL East Division Champions 2015 pennant, one size large, coveted “Edwing” stadium giveaway t-shirt and one MLB Network Blue Jays Uniform tote bag. Donated by Denis McGrath. Value: at least $300.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mohawk Ironworkers in the aftermath of 9/11

Part 2 of the 9/11 story on APTN’s Mohawk Ironworkers continues tonight with the stories of three Mohawk men and their experiences following the collapse of the World Trade Center: John McGowan and Jaysen Mayo of Kahnawa:ke, and Brad Bonaparte of Akwesasne.

We first met John McGowen, a third generation ironworker, last week. John spent three and a half months at Ground Zero and since then has suffered from many maladies including asthma, sleep apnea, and acid reflux, all of which can be linked directly to his experiences there. Despite this, he continues to work and was one of several Mohawk ironworkers who built One World.

Jaysen Mayo was also a part of the rescue, recovery and cleanup at Ground Zero. To this day, he can recall the horrors he faced following the collapse.  As a result of his exposure to the various toxins during the cleanup, Jaysen suffers from decreased lung capacity and an auto-immune disease that requires monthly blood transfusions.

Brad Bonaparte of Akwesasne lost his life to cancer as a result of his exposure. His children share their memories of their father’s work at the WTC. The premature loss of Brad was also a significant loss to his community: Brad was a well-respected artist and storyteller, passionate about Mohawk teachings. Many of his steel creations mark the Akwesasne territory.

This episode goes on to reveal the abysmal lack of support workers initially received from the local, state, and federal governments in the U.S. First responders.  As well, ironworkers had no warnings regarding the toxic contaminants that were present at Ground Zero, nor were they supplied the proper protective gear that would have safeguarded them from harm.  It took two months for the U.S. government to implement a worksite safety plan for workers. This was too little and too late for an estimated 40,000 workers who had already been repeatedly exposed.

Having just marked the 15th anniversary of 9/11, this episode was rather touching. Here we met just a few of the heroes and their families, and we learned of some of their sacrifices in the infernal aftermath. A most appropriate tribute.

Mohawk Ironworkers airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Amazing Race Canada, Featured

And The Amazing Race Canada winners are…

After 10 legs, thousands of miles and a pile of product placement, Steph and Kristen emerged as the winners of Season 4 of The Amazing Race Canada, landing in front of host Jon Montgomery on Mont Royal, the first-ever all-female team to take the title.

The couple nabbed cars, a trip around the world, $250,000 and the Season 4 title.

Arriving in second place were Emmett and Jillian, with Joel and Ashley in third. It was truly a nail-biter of a finish with all three pairs swapping first-place positions all Leg long, and I credit the show’s producers for making that way. By mixing physical tests (the Cirque do Soleil and the Biodome) with mental ones (delivering bagels and remembering key points from the season), no one squad was given an unfair advantage. The result? A truly dramatic ending in Montreal.

Cab drivers leaving with $50 extra in their pockets, mixed up directions and nonsense words were just part of the wildness in the season-ender and, really, anyone could have won. This has easily been the most-evenly matched seasons of The Amazing Race Canada I’ve seen.

Kristen and Steph’s win wasn’t an easy one, but by the time they’d left the Moment Factory—and successfully remembering key phrases from the Legs—the only thing that could have stopped them was a lost cab. It almost happened, but they’d built enough of a lead that Jillian and Emmett couldn’t catch them.

Kudos to the former Big Brother Canada competitors for not giving up. It would have been so easy for Jillian to just shut down after she got her bakery directions mixed up and dropped bagels on the sidewalk, but she didn’t. And credit to Emmett for not freaking out because he certainly could have.

Congratulations to the “First Nations Sensations,” Joel and Ashley, for running a great final Leg as well. If not for the Memory Moments challenge, they very well could have taken the title.

Here’s how the teams finished the final Leg:

  1. Steph and Kristen (winners)
  2. Jillian and Emmett
  3. Joel and Ashley

What did you think of this season of The Amazing Race Canada? Comment below or on Twitter @tv_eh.

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Auction

Kids Help Phone Auction: A Night Out With Canadian TV Writers in Toronto

drinks

A Night Out With Canadian TV Writers in Toronto: No, you don’t have to pay! This is a chance to grab a few drinks, some laughs, and insider convo with two or three of the hardest working Canadian TV writers toiling in Toronto. Thrill to the anecdotes and bon vivantery, and some excellent craft cocktails. Your first couple are on us. (And maybe more, if you bring a good story. It’s all about the good story.) All of this happens upon a mutually-agreed upon Friday or Saturday night, in Toronto, sometime in November 2016. Donated by Denis McGrath.

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