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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
19-2

Link: ‘19-2,’ a Police Drama on Acorn TV, Is a Slow Burn

From Neil Gunslinger of The New York Times:

‘19-2,’ a Police Drama on Acorn TV, Is a Slow Burn
We’ve seen partners who don’t get along before, of course, but convention leads us to expect them to be thoroughly bonded by the end of the film or of the first episode. Not here. Detente comes slowly, and not easily.

That puts a lot of responsibility on the actors’ shoulders, and Mr. Holmes and Mr. Keeso work the prickly dynamic smartly. They have to, because the writers here (the show is based on a French-Canadian series) don’t resort to shootouts and chases every 10 minutes as some stateside procedurals do. There are major crimes in “19-2,” but there are far more minor ones, just as in real life. A domestic dispute call. A guy complaining that someone else’s car is blocking his driveway. A birthday party that has grown too loud. A man sitting naked in a coin laundry. Continue reading. 

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Award-winning Steve Fonyo documentary makes Super Channel debut

It’s hard to feel sorry for Steve Fonyo, but Hurt certainly tries. And, sometimes, writer-director Alan Zweig succeeds.

It is tough though, especially when Fonyo unleashes an expletive-filled tirade against his girlfriend’s ex, rails against Canada for “not helping” (a.k.a. giving him money) and opines that recreational drug use makes sex better. In a classic case of “how the mighty have fallen,” Zweig’s documentary—the Platform Prize winner at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival debuts on Super Channel on Tuesday—traces Fonyo’s life from hero to dude struggling just to eke out a living.

In 1985, at 19 years of age, Fonyo completed his run across Canada, after having lost his left leg to cancer. He did what Terry Fox was unable by dipping his toe in the Pacific Ocean, raised $13 million for cancer research and was named to the Order of Canada. Fonyo exudes pride as he goes through boxes of old awards, medals and a picture of him meeting then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Then came the fall, a constant tumble brought on by the sudden death of Fonyo’s father and continuing into petty crime and drug use. Money dried up and the Order of Canada was taken away.

Hurt follows Fonyo during a year in his life, 12 months in B.C. marked by anger, sorrow and heartbreak thanks to a marriage ending and tough economic times. Yes, Fonyo is largely responsible for his own situation, and the stubborn attitude he shows towards his neighbours, ex-wife and family is the same that urged him across the country back in 1985.

Hurt isn’t a pretty picture. As a matter of fact, it’s downright sad in some spots, especially when Fonyo eats Chinese food off a plate set on top of a recycling bin, but there are glimmers of hope that Fonyo will triumph over his demons.

Hurt airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on Super Channel 4 and Super Channel On Demand.

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Degrassi

Link: Teen angst, as seen on Toronto TV

From Ed Conroy of the Toronto Star:

Teen angst, as seen on Toronto TV
Punchy teen drama has always been a genre that Toronto TV producers have captured effortlessly and impeccably: witness the breathless anticipation for the latest manifestation of Degrassi, Next Class, now airing on Family Channel in Canada and Netflix internationally. It seems hard-wired into our DNA.

Could it be that while high-profile U.S teen dramas focus on near flawless waxworks leading idealized glossy lives, Toronto’s stories feature plain folk with frumpy clothes, bad haircuts and even worse acne, who lead normal and unremarkable lives? It’s easier for the rest of us to relate, if not exactly an ideal to aspire to. Here are six of the best. Continue reading.

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Dragons' Den

Dragons’ Den Season 11 audition tour announced

2 Comments

From a media release:

It’s time for entrepreneurs across Canada to polish their pitches to be part of DRAGONS’ DEN’s extraordinary 11th season on CBC-TV. This February, producers will hit the road on a 33-city audition tour to find the country’s best businesses in need of a Dragon investment.

As seen on DRAGONS’ DEN last night, auditions will be open to the public and kick-off in Toronto on Feb. 6 in the Barbara Frum Atrium at CBC’s Toronto headquarters (250 Front St. W.). All audition dates and cities are listed below, and venues are listed online. Tour dates will continue to be updated through the DRAGONS’ DEN website (cbc.ca/dragonsden/auditions).

The audition tour will welcome participants of all ages, with businesses at any stage of development. Aspiring entrepreneurs should prepare to pitch their concept to the DRAGONS’ DEN producers in five minutes or less. If they show the producers they have what it takes to pitch in the Den, they could be invited to Toronto to face the Dragons. Prospective pitchers are encouraged to apply online and bring a completed application form to the audition.

Online auditions are open now and will continue in-person throughout February, March and April across the country. Producers will be on the lookout for entrepreneurs in the following cities:

Feb. 6 – Toronto, Ontario
Feb.10 – Guelph, Ontario
Feb. 10 – Regina, Saskatchewan
Feb. 11 – Windsor, Ontario
Feb. 12 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Feb. 13 – London, Ontario
Feb. 13 – Vancouver, B.C.
Feb. 13 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Feb. 17 – Richmond, B.C.
Feb. 17 – Cranbrook, B.C.
Feb. 18 – Calgary, Alberta
Feb. 19 – Nanaimo, B.C.
Feb. 20 – Edmonton, Alberta
Feb. 20 – Sudbury, Ontario
Feb. 20 – Victoria, B.C.
Feb. 24 – Burlington, Ontario
Feb. 24 – Collingwood, Ontario
Feb. 25 – Prince Edward County, Ontario
Feb. 26 – Kingston, Ontario
Feb. 27 – Barrie, Ontario
Feb. 27 – Montreal, Quebec
Feb. 27 – Ottawa, Ontario
March 2 – Grand Prairie, Alberta
March 2 – Oshawa, Ontario
March 3 – Moncton, New Brunswick
March 4 – Abbotsford, B.C.
March 4 – Charlottetown, P.E.I.
March 5 – Halifax, Nova Scotia
March 5 – Hamilton, Ontario
March 5 – Vancouver, B.C.
March 9 – Waterloo, Ontario
March 10 – Kelowna, B.C.
March 12 – Calgary, Alberta
March 12 – Niagara, Ontario
March 18 – Quebec City, Quebec
March 19 – Montreal, Quebec
April 2 – Toronto, Ontario

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Featured, Podcast

Comments and queries for the week of January 15

TV, Eh? podcast episode 198 – One Season Wonders

TV North by Peter Kenter (with notes by Martin Levin) says T. and T. was shown on Global. —Stephen

Thanks for the clarification! 

More choice, smaller bills in store for TV viewers

Until Internet services are improved across the country, the cable/satellite companies won’t have to fear losing much of their customers. Many Internet service providers place high-speed data caps on their customers and I can see more companies doing this as well. Some of the bigger ones like Bell might put data caps to curb streaming from other streaming services but not count their own streaming service toward that cap. It’s been talked about that the current infrastructure is unable to handle the increase in streaming which leads to lower speeds. —Ally

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or @tv_eh.

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