Tag Archives: CBC

Featured, Heartland

Preview: Strained relationships on Heartland

It’s been two weeks since we’ve had a new episode of Heartland. Fourteen days to think about Georgie’s horse jumping success, Jack and Lisa’s argument and Lou and Mitch’s kiss. This season is shaping up to be an entertaining ride, isn’t it?

Here’s what CBC has to say about this Sunday’s instalment, “Strange Bedfellows,” written by Pamela Pinch and directed by Pierre Tremblay.

Amy has to get creative when asked to work with Lisa’s racehorse, but conflict arises when information about the horse’s breeding comes to light. Meanwhile, when her business expands Lou must make a decision about her relationship, and Georgie tries to figure out where she stands with Wyatt when he makes an unlikely new friend. Then, when lingering tension between Jack and Lisa comes to a head, their stubborn personalities could test their marriage.

And, as always, we’ve got a few more tidbits after watching a screener of the episode!

Amy is burning both ends
With Ty away saving the wolves, Amy is left juggling Lisa’s racehorse needs with baby Lyndy. Thankfully, she’s got plenty of babysitters to help lessen the load, like Grandpa Jack. But we’re hoping Ty returns soon; he’s missing some key moments in his daughter’s life. It is, however, great to see Amy back on a horse.

Lou makes up for lost time
Now that Lou is back for awhile, she and Mitch are making the most of it, if you know what I mean. Trouble is, Katie is missing out of primo time with her mother, but will a summer in New York City with a nanny solve that?

Lisa is in bad shape
It’s been a tough few weeks for Lisa, financially. Sadly, things don’t seem to be improving for her on Sunday either and that puts a major strain on her relationship with Jack.

Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Murder at a private school haunts Murdoch Mysteries

After a week off for Halloween, some gremlins got into Murdoch Mysteries‘ scheduling at CBC. “The Accident,” originally scheduled to be broadcast this Monday, has been bumped to Nov. 13. Instead, we’ll see “21 Murdoch Street,” on Monday. We’re not sure why the swap occurred, but it puts off the crying showrunner Peter Mitchell has been teasing for another seven days.

As for “21 Murdoch Street,” here’s what the CBC has revealed about the episode written by Natalia Guled and directed by Harvey Crossland:

Crabtree and Constable John Brackenreid go undercover at a prestigious boys’ school to break up a gambling ring and uncover murder.

And here are some non-spoilery additions from us after watching a screener.

John Brackenreid steps up
Inspector Brackenreid may not like it, but the murder case Station No. 4 is investigating means John (Charles Vandervaart) trades his work uniform for a school one. The send-up of 21 Jump Street involves George too, as he takes advantage of the situation to make an impression on some young minds via a certain published novel.

Julia continues her journey
We’re loving Julia’s storyline this season. Her attempting to further the science behind infertility is inspiring and emotional; look for a sweet and all-too-brief moment between Julia and William.

Watts returns
Speaking of too brief, we get a spare few minutes with Det. Watts. Of course, he makes the most of his screen time.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

 

 

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Featured, Frankie Drake

CBC’s Frankie Drake Mysteries solves crimes in a post-Murdoch Mysteries Toronto

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There’s a new detective in town, and CBC’s hoping she’s as popular as Detective William Murdoch. Frankie Drake Mysteries, debuting Monday at 9 p.m. after Murdoch Mysteries, is chockfull of sass, swagger and, yes, murder.

Frankie Drake Mysteries also shares key DNA with Murdoch Mysteries. The drama is produced by Shaftesbury, who also produce Murdoch, and series co-creators, Carol Hay and Michelle Ricci, were longtime writers on Murdoch (learn how Frankie Drake came to be) with fellow Murdochian producer/director Cal Coons doing showrunning duties on Frankie Drake.

So, what sets it apart? Frankie Drake Mysteries is set in 1920s Toronto, a time of change in society in general and for women in particular. The series follows Frankie Drake (Lauren Lee Smith) and her partner Trudy Clarke (Chantel Riley) at Drake Private Detectives, the city’s only all-female detective agency, as they fight crime in the age of flyboys, gangsters, rum-runners and speakeasies. Frankie Drake Mysteries is a riot of flashy wardrobe, sparkling cars, jazzy soundtrack and funky settings. There is a sense of lightness and fun—aside from the murders of course—and a fast pace.

“It has been a bit of a whirlwind,” Smith says during a break in filming on location in Hamilton, Ont. “We’re sort of discovering things as we go along. I’m certainly discovering things about the character as we go along. The writers are kind of doing that on purpose, giving us little snippets here and there.” Last seen on This Life, Smith says she was immediately drawn to Frankie upon reading the first script and had an idea of who she was, looked like and moved. As viewers will see in Monday’s debut, Frankie struts through life with confidence with a twinkle in her eye and a crooked grin.

Along for the 11-episode first season ride with Smith and Riley are Sharron Matthews as Flo, a Toronto morgue assistant; Emmanuel Kabongo as boxer Moses Page; and Rebecca Liddiard as morality officer Mary Shaw. Season 1 guest stars include Lucas Bryant, Steven Lund, Derek McGrath, Grace Lynn Kung and Wendy Crewson, who drops by to play Nora Amory in Episode 1.

“I am having a blast,” Crewson says between takes. “I’m playing woman of that era who is able to understand psychology and really sort of played on men’s egos. Men thought they were smarter and [Nora] plays to that weakness.” Of course, not all is as it appears with Nora and that shakes Frankie to her core.

And while Frankie struggles with the information Nora has for her in Monday’s debut, Smith had some major issues behind the scenes thanks to the 1920s car she was tasked with driving.

“The car and I have a tumultuous relationship,” Smith says with a laugh. “I was trying to make friends with her by saying, ‘Come on, girl. I know you’re old-timey and a little rusty, but let’s be friends.’ I realize she wants to be bossed around by a strong person behind the wheel. She has caught on fire twice, she stalls constantly, the brakes only work sometimes and to go forward you need to put her in reverse.”

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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The Nature of Things

Link: Into The Fire Burns With Intensity

From James Bawden:

Link: Into The Fire Burns With Intensity
“I’d started the research and then the B.C. wildfires raged. There had been Fort McMurray –an entire city of 90,000 ravaged –the human tragedies were huge. I also wanted to hook into the people who spend their lives studying fires. And there are a lot of them out there. The fires are getting bigger. It’s important to understand the science. I was told each rise in temperature of just 1 degree means a 12 fold increase in lightning.” Continue reading.

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Featured, Great Canadian Baking Show

Dan Levy and Julia Chan bake up fun on CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show

Never underestimate the power of social media. That’s what Schitt’s Creek co-creator, executive producer, writer and star Daniel Levy learned when he tweeted his love for The Great British Bake Off and announced he’d be honoured to host a Canadian version of the culinary competition if that was ever in the cards.

“I had tweeted, quite naively, that if it ever came to Canada that I’ve love to throw my hat in the ring,” Levy says with a smile. “Almost immediately I started getting these responses, ‘It is for sure coming to Canada.’ ‘It’s happening.’ And then I inevitably got the call asking me if I would actually be interested. I said yes.”

Levy fulfils his dream on Wednesday when The Great Canadian Baking Show debuts at 8 p.m. on CBC. As if helming the homegrown version of your favourite program wasn’t enough, Levy does it with one of his best friends in Julia Chan; the former Saving Hope actress (who went by Julia Taylor Ross) joins him as narrator and co-host.

“We are great friends and were watching The Great British Bake Off together and Dan got involved,” Chan recalls. “Dan threw my hat in the ring, I got a call, went through the process and, apparently, we have good chemistry.”

“Watching this show and kind of colour commentating through the whole process, I was like, ‘I have a friend, she’s never hosted before but I think she would be a great, fresh voice for the show,'” Levy explains.

The Great Canadian Baking Show is fresh on a couple of levels. First, unlike other culinary competitions such as Top Chef Canada and MasterChef Canada, this is all about the baking. That, for watchers of those other shows, is often the hardest challenge put towards competitors thanks to the unforgiving science behind baking. You can fly by the seat of your pants when searing a steak. Not so when baking a multi-tiered cake. Second, The Great Canadian Baking Show is light-hearted and fun. If Wednesday’s debut is accurate, we’re in for one heck of an enjoyable ride. Levy and Chan are natural hosts, walking amongst the 10 home bakers, tasting here, asking questions there and genuinely having a good time.

Of course, the program isn’t all crumpets, tea and giggles. Each of the eight episodes contains three rounds—the Signature Bake, Technical Bake and Show Stopper—judged by baking legends Rochelle Adonis and Bruno Feldeisen. At the end of each episode, one home cook will be eliminated. This season’s 10 competitors represent a thick slice of Canada, from Regina CFO Vandana Jain to Victoria animator Jude Somers, from Toronto human rights lawyer Corey Shefman to Montreal graphic designer Sabrina Degni. All have a passion for baking and a flair for drama on a platter. Wednesday’s challenges force the 10 competitors to up the ante with regard to cakes and the results are stunning.

And while Levy is a longtime fan of The Great British Bake Off, he’s not so great in the kitchen, admitting to just one item in his culinary repertoire: frittata.

“I don’t have any culinary experience, but I do have a lot of opinions,” he says with a laugh. “That’s something that I can bring to this. I can’t bake a thing, but I can eat.”

The Great Canadian Baking Show airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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