Tag Archives: CBC

CBC reveals Canada’s Smartest Person participants

GemCBC

From a media release:

-From doctors to teachers, an electrician to a fighter pilot, CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON will show the nation a new way to look at ‘smart’-

-Tune-in to the special two-hour season premiere on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT)-

CBC’s new competition series CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON has narrowed down the field to 32 remarkable Canadians who will put themselves to the test, squaring off every episode for their chance to take home the title of “Canada’s Smartest Person.” Each week, Jessi Cruickshank, along with co-host Jeff Douglas, will guide viewers through the hour-long competition series, which explores how Canadians are smart, based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. In each episode four competitors go head-to-head in a series of entertaining and revealing challenges that test six areas of intelligence: linguistic, physical, musical, visual, social and logical, with one winner advancing to the championship finale. Then, in the climactic season finale, the eight weekly finalists will battle it out to claim the title of CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON. Audiences can join the fun and take on every challenge from home by downloading the CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON app or playing along online at cbc.ca/smarterstperson.

Hailing from the east to the west coast and everywhere in between, this diverse group of Canadians range from 16 to 71 years old and includes an artist, scientist, fire fighter and musician to name a few, each demonstrating that intelligence is about much more than IQ.

Introducing the competitors who will compete for the chance to become CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON:

· Yahaya Baruwa, 26, author and entrepreneur from Toronto, ON

· Alisia Bonnick, 20, novelist and psychology student from Stouffville,ON

· Max Cameron, 31, fighter pilot from Calgary, AB

· Brian Charbonneau, 33, drag artist and screenwriter from Sainte-Geneviève, QC

· Alea Ciecko, 23, psychiatric nursing student from Winnipeg, MB

· Mith Das, 29, copywriter from Toronto, ON

· Daryl Dillman, 24, orthopedic surgery resident from Cole Harbour, N.S.

· JP Doiron, 30, cheese salesman from North Rustico, P.E.I.

· Brent Hayden, 30, Olympian, private swim coach, and photographer from Vancouver, B.C

· Dipna Horra, 39, audio-visual artist from Ottawa, ON

· Jennifer Hurd, 21, doctorate student from Ottawa, ON

· Cat Jahnke, 33, musician from Winnipeg, MB

· Rhiannon Jones, 30, stay-at-home mom from Chilliwack, B.C.

· Kaveh Kavoosi, 27, doctor from Aurora, ON

· Roselyn Kelada-Sedra, 30, actor and law student from Toronto, ON

· Kate LaFrance, 28, middle school teacher from Fredericton, N.B.

· Braden Lauer, 22, law student from Vancouver, B.C.

· Victoria Leenders-Cheng, 33, magazine editor from Montreal, QC

· Kiel Lemmen, 31, high school teacher from Port Coquitlam, B.C.

· Johnny MacRae, 27, poet from North Vancouver, B.C.

· Melanie Martin, 40, physicist and associate professor of physics and, radiology from Winnipeg, MB

· George Millar, 71, teacher from Edmonton, AB

· Nader Nadernejad, 16, high school student from Peterborough, ON

· Nick Nickerson, 49, retired naval communicator and cryptographer from Merrickville,ON

· Norm Odjick, 42, Algonquin Nation tribal council director general from Anishinabeg, QC

· Lisa Preston, 39, radio host from Mississauga, ON

· Mary Rose, 39, Ayurvedic cleaner from Victoria, B.C.

· Chris Sensenig, 37, master electrician from Welland, ON

· Tova Sherman, 52, CEO from Bedford, N.S.

· Ellen Snider, 48, executive director from Quispamsis, N.B.

· Albert Tam, 25, MBA candidate and arts administrator from Woodbridge, ON

· Chris Tessaro, 51, firefighter and poker player from Mississauga, ON

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CBC hits TIFF in grand style

Kudos to the folks over at the CBC for taking a crucial first step in the network’s reinvention by using the Toronto International Film Festival as a backdrop to let folks know about the upcoming television season and the brand overall.

Canada’s public broadcaster staked out the corner of King St. West and Blue Jays Way this past weekend, turning what used to be a condominium sales office into a welcome centre called Canada House stocked with snacks, virgin Caesars, phone recharging stations and cardboard fans emblazoned with the iconic network logo and the Twitter message “#FallForCBC.” The stars of CBC’s radio and TV shows rolled through as well, meeting fans, posing for pictures and promoting their projects all weekend long.

The network even had a cool little set-up where those featured folks held press conferences in front of groups of about 50 or so fans at a time. I sat in on the panel for Canada’s Smartest Person, and hosts Jessi Cruickshank and Jeff Douglas described how the interactive program will not only showcase the linguistic, physical, musical, visual, social and logical skills of selected finalists from across the country, but an app will challenge viewers at home.

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I also got the chance to interview Dragons’ Den David Chilton and newest panelist Michael Wekerle for an online bit for TV-Eh (I’ll post that when it’s all been edited) and the pair swear the show’s upcoming Season 9 is deserving of your investment of time. Also appearing over the weekend were the stars of Mr. D, Murdoch Mysteries‘ Jonny Harris, Adam Beach, the folks behind The Book of Negroes–which has been adapted into a miniseriesand that Mamma Yamma thing.

The CBC knows it has some catching up to do with regard to connecting with newer and younger viewers. No longer able to sit back and allow NHL hockey to draw in numbers, they’re experimenting with content very unlike CBC. Dark western drama Strange Empire has got great buzz (the rough poster I was shown has a Deadwood feel), co-production sci-fi offering Ascension is definitely not typical CBC fare and historical drama Camp X promises to be thrilling.

Sure the network acknowledges this is somewhat of a rebuilding year, but there was a palpable optimism on Saturday that they are moving in the right direction with content and, even more importantly, connecting with an audience.

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Comments and queries for the week of Sept. 5

I have DirecTV and I like the show Heartland, which I see on UP on channel 338. The series plays on Wednesday nights and every day at 4 p.m. I see on the computer that Heartland is on CBC in Canada for next season starting on Sept. 22, and I wonder what channel I would get this on in Michigan? Thanks in advance. —Paulla

Great question Paulla, and one that I had to do a little bit of legwork on. The short answer is, yes you may be able to watch your beloved Heartland on CBC when it returns. First thing though: the actual date is Sunday, Sept. 28. The second thing? Only certain areas of Michigan–those generally close to the Canadian border–offer CBC as part of their cable lineup. Contact your cable company directly to see if you are one of those lucky people.

My mom is 87, and I am 50 and on disability. We had someone rip apart our tub and shower and he’s still not done. He started the job in the beginning of July of 2014. We have nothing in writing and haven’t paid him. Please help us so we can bathe.–Natalie

Yikes! Sounds like you need Mike Holmes to come to your rescue. You’re in luck, because his production company is currently looking for homeowners in Southern Ontario to be featured on Holmes Makes It Right. Head over to their website and good luck!

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CBC announces fall television schedule

GemCBC

 

From a media release:

CBC Television confirmed today the season premiere dates for its primetime broadcast line-up. Anchored by returning fan-favourites and bolstered by five exciting new shows, CBC has a new way to look at smart with CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON, hosted by Jessi Cruickshank and Jeff Douglas beginning September 28; CBC Selects presents JANET KING from Australia’s public broadcaster on Oct. 5, gritty western drama STRANGE EMPIRE on October 6; gripping political thriller THE HONOURABLE WOMAN starring Maggie Gyllenhaal on September 29 and continuing September 30, and the new six-episode, Canadian-produced original space drama ASCENSION,  premiering November 25.

CBC Television kicks-off its fall season with brand new episodes of its flagship daytime lifestyle series STEVEN AND CHRIS, every Monday through Friday at  2 p.m. (2:30 NT) beginning Sept. 22. In primetime it all starts with the season eight premiere of long-running family drama HEARTLAND and the return of popular series MURDOCH MYSTERIES, THE RICK MERCER REPORT, THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, DRAGONS’ DEN, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, THE NATURE OF THINGS, DOC ZONE, MARKETPLACE andthe fifth estate.

See CBC’s primetime schedule below:

SUNDAY

7 P.M. HEARTLAND (Sept. 28)

8 P.M. CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON (Sept. 28)

9 P.M.   CBC SELECTS: 
JANET KING (Oct. 5)

MONDAY

8 P.M.  MURDOCH MYSTERIES (Oct. 6)

9 P.M. STRANGE EMPIRE (Oct. 6)

TUESDAY

8 P.M.  THE RICK MERCER REPORT (Oct. 7)

8:30 P.M.  THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES (Oct. 7)

9 P.M. THE HONOURABLE WOMAN (begins Monday, September 29  at 9 P.M. continues Sept. 30)

*ASCENSION begins airing at 9 P.M. on November 25

WEDNESDAY

8 P.M.  DRAGONS’ DEN (Oct. 15)

9 P.M.  REPUBLIC OF DOYLE (Oct. 15)

THURSDAY

8 P.M. THE NATURE OF THINGS (Oct.9)

9 P.M. DOC ZONE (Oct.9)

FRIDAY

8 P.M. MARKETPLACE (Oct. 17)

9 P.M. the fifth estate (Oct. 24)

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Doyle stars reveal their Canadian TV faves

“Oh yeah!” is the common refrain on Republic of Doyle, but a more apt one for fans may be “Oh no!” since word came down earlier this year that the series’ upcoming sixth season will be its last.

Yup, Jake Doyle (Allan Hawco) is hanging up the keys to his GTO after driving his way into our hearts. Hawco and the rest of the cast told me that it was his plan to have the series he co-created with Perry Chafe and Malcolm MacRury go out on top rather than fizzle out (or, one supposes, be part of CBC’s recent cull that saw the cancellation of Arctic Air, The Ron James Show and Cracked).

Republic of Doyle‘s action-packed hours of crime solving and witticisms will be missed, but so will the weekly sojourns in St. John’s, a city that’s pretty as a postcard and boasts memorable real-life characters. Doyle is a unique and memorable series, and one that  ranks among viewers’ favourite Canadian series of all time next to programs like Corner Gas, Due South, The Beachcombers and even The Littlest Hobo. As we count down to Doyle‘s final season on the air, we got the stars of the East Coast drama to name their favourite home-grown series of all time.

Allan Hawco (Jake Doyle)
Quentin Durgens, M.P.  Gordon Pinsent played an M.P. in Ottawa.”

Krystin Pellerin (Leslie Bennett)
Mr.  Dressup.”

Mark O’Brien (Des Courtney)
Codco.”

Marthe Bernard (Tinny Doyle)
“I was going to say The Kids in the Hall, but I feel like I should say Codco because my dad worked on it, but he also wrote for The Kids in the Hall, so I’ll say that.”

Sean McGinley (Malachy Doyle)
Due South.”

Lynda Boyd (Rose Miller)
“It’s a toss-up between The Beachcombers and Mr. Dressup, because I grew up with both.”

Republic of Doyle returns to Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET this fall on CBC.

Which is your favourite Canadian TV show of all time? Comment below to let me know!

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