X Company: 5 Things you need to know about Season 2
As we get ready to pick up with the spies of X Company, things have never looked more dire for the group of secretly trained agents. When we last checked in with the agents of CBC’s WWII drama about the real-life top secret spy training facility located east of Toronto, several team members were facing major danger. As Season 2 kicks off Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 9 p.m., co-creator Stephanie Morgenstern warns that the team may not be escaping that danger any time soon. Continue reading.Â
MasterChef Canada‘s Season 3 return date has been announced, and that means I can let you in on a secret: I know who’s going to win. Mary Berg, the insurance broker who nabbed a spot during the show’s auditions in Toronto last summer, is taking home the title and $100,000.
OK, yes, I am biased. I don’t have an inside track or suspect MasterChef Canada is fixed; I’m just rooting for the energetic redhead because I followed her through the audition process up until the point she earned a place in the Top 40. Bell Media offered journalists two options during the summer event: bring something for the judges to taste or trail behind someone trying out. I opted for the latter—I love to cook but would have been too stressed out having Alvin Leung, Claudio Aprile and Michael Bonacini judge me—preferring to watch another go through experience.
It didn’t take me long to be convinced Berg has what it takes to follow in David Jorge and Eric Chong’s footsteps. She oozes confidence and a girl-next-door quality that will connect with viewers, she has an inspirational back story that will tug the heartstrings and she can make damn fine food. The fact she’s a vegetarian won’t derail her plot to become Season 3 champion.
“I have no issue with meat,” she said in July. “I love cooking it so much. It smells good, it caramelizes, and when I was a kid I ate only bacon. I’d go to the breakfast buffet and eat four plates of bacon.”
Berg advanced to the Top 40 in the strength of her deconstructed lemon meringue pie, a stunning plate that impressed Aprile when he swung by to chat with her. The pie is a twist on a recipe passed down through Berg’s family
“My nana was Miss Canada during the Second World War, so I called it Miss Canada’s Lemon Meringue Pie,” Berg said. “My grandfather ran one of the oldest public houses in Canada in St. Catharines and on Friday nights she would make homemade mac and cheese and lemon meringue pie for him. I wanted to pay homage to her with this pie.”
MasterChef Canada returns Sunday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.
Has Young Drunk Punk (nominated for best comedy) been cancelled? If so, it belongs on your list of “Speaking of cancelled series.†If not, when will more episodes come out? I never really watched it when it was on City, but was able to see many of them on CBC. Good show!
Also, a name for the Canadian Screen Award? CaSA. —D
We’re still waiting to hear of Young Drunk Punk’s fate.
I am loving the baby addition and how the Gleeful Bouncer came into being. Clever writers!! It is nice to see the couple progress as they would in real life. The show just keeps getting better and better IMO and the couple seems delightfully closer. The timing of the upcoming house is perfect. —Robin
I remember quite a few of these shows, but some I’ve never heard of. I am now dedicated to watching every episode of Ombudsman.
And you can bet I’m spending the next three hours reliving Nightwalk, which I recorded on so many VHS tapes when I wasn’t sure what time the late night movie would be finished so I set the VCR to record for much longer than needed. —Candice
Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or @tv_eh.
As the February 18th season four premiere of HISTORY’s Vikings draws closer, Canada’s #1 specialty entertainment program* gives a familiar face and heavy-hitter a guest starring role. Toronto Blue Jays third baseman and 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson is heading to Ireland this week to film an episode of Vikings in which he will have a speaking role. A massive fan of the Canadian-Irish drama, Donaldson recently Tweeted a photounveiling a striking, new Viking-esque hairstyle inspired by the lead character, Ragnar.
Two-time All-Star Donaldson will play the role of Hoskuld, a Viking warrior of great skill, in an episode that will air later this year as part of the fourth season.
In the upcoming season of Vikings, betrayal is everywhere as the powers begin to shift. Following the Vikings’ successful raid of Paris in season three, Ragnar is the most feared and respected leader in the Western World. However, his victory is short-lived as he is surrounded by those who seek his undoing.
Vikings is an international Irish/Canadian co-production being co-produced by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. HISTORY broadcasts both domestically in Canada and in the U.S. MGM Television is the worldwide distributor outside of Ireland and Canada. Vikings is produced in association with Shaw Media.
The new season of Vikings premieres Thursday, February 18th at 10pm ET/PT on HISTORY.
Saving Hope’s Michael Shanks on directing and the show’s new focus
“I think for the remainder of the season we aren’t going to see much in the area of romantic entanglements for Charlie and Alex, but for the other characters we will see that amp up a bit. I think by getting rid of that love triangle aspect on the show they have given themselves some breathing room for some great storylines for the other characters. And the show has become better because of it.” Continue reading.
