Tag Archives: Featured

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Wild Archaeology — Meet the family

Last week on Wild Archaeology, Jenifer missed out on all of the diving fun because she’d returned home to prepare for her community’s PowWow. This week, Dr. Rudy and Jacob met up with Jenifer in Serpent River First Nation, and we got to tag along.

First, they visited Chief Isadore Day, who spoke to the role Jenifer and the series are playing in the process of healing for Indigenous people living in Canada.

“I am really excited that you are doing things that for a lot of years our young people could only dream about. I really attribute these traditional gatherings as a way to bring healing to our people and to give our young people a sense of pride and give them the direction that they need… That begins to give a sense of liberation and freedom and that is the healing that the young people are grasping today,” Day said.

After spending some time enjoying the PowWow, and learning first-hand about the traditions from the elders and community leaders in Jenifer’s home, the series headed to a quartzite quarry in Sheguiandah, on Manitoulin Island. It is believed that a tool made at this quarry more than 10,000 years ago is the same tool found at the site of Jacob’s dive last week. This would indicate that materials were traded around the upper Great Lakes for more that 10,000 years. Jacob and Jenifer also received a quick lesson in flint knapping.

Tuesday’s episode departed from the format that had been established in previous ones; in it we learned more about the cultural aspects that characterize communities in Ontario. It was fantastic getting to hear Chief Day’s comments as they pertain to the healing young Indigenous people are undergoing thanks to the efforts of programs such as Wild Archaeology.

Artifact Tally

Jenifer: Quartzite Endscraper from 8-10,000 years ago
Jacob: nothing

Wild Archaeology airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mohawk Ironworkers — The Hill brothers keep it in the family

This week on Mohawk Ironworkers, we head to Six Nations, outside of Brantford, Ont., to visit the Hill brothers. These three siblings have logged more than 83 years of ironwork between them, but their efforts have affected their long-term health. The entire episode focuses on the physical demands that this highly-skilled trade places on your body.

Rodney Hill, the eldest, retired 10 years ago but his time as an ironworker continues to take a toll. Years of hard labour had compressed several vertebrae in his spine, causing excruciating pain and numbness in his limbs. Following several surgeries, he was left paralyzed and is now relies on either a wheelchair or walker to assist in his mobility. Spending countless hours in physiotherapy, Rodney is slowly regaining the use of his legs.  His brothers, Mike and Gary, remain by his side just as they did when they all walked iron together.

In addition to the actual physical loss of his legs. Rodney must also cope with the psychological repercussions. Once a strong, vital man bravely walking the iron high above the city skylines, he must now cope with his reduced mobility. For many men, this is almost as debilitating as the paralysis itself. Rodney, fortified with the same courage he showed in his career, will only be satisfied when he can walk with only the aid of a cane.

Throughout, we learn of the very close familial ties ironworkers have, both within their blood family and within the ironworkers unions.

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

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Bachelorette Canada, Featured

Shocker: The Bachelorette Canada eliminates a contender

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And just like that, one of the early favourites to win Jasmine’s heart has been eliminated from the competition. Yup, the man known as Sexual Tongue on Night 1 of The Bachelorette Canada—a.k.a. Thomas—got the short end of the stick at the closing of a dreaded two-on-one date with Mike. Thomas’ only crime was having a gypsy lifestyle full of international modelling gigs and Jasmine couldn’t figure out where she fit with that.

Instead, the rose went to Mike, who offers a more stable life for Jasmine and something she’s craving. I was sad to see Thomas go; not only was he a good-looking dude with a sense of humour, but he had a thought in his head too. But I was happy Mike remained and has a real chance of being around until the end.

Meanwhile, the next Bachelor Canada could very well be Drew. After not receiving a rose at the cocktail party, he went on an expletive-filled rant, calling Jasmine an idiot and vowing the show’s ratings will tank once he’s gone. He did, however, express interest in starring in The Bachelor Canada.

Frankly, the rest of Tuesday’s episode in Marrakesh, Morocco, was a bit of an emotional let-down. Benoit, the frenetic Frenchman, had his first-ever one-on-one date with Jasmine and was given a rose, but that wasn’t a surprise, really. Jasmine has liked him from Day 1 and her only worry going into tonight was whether or not Benoit had any concrete plans for the future. Once he assured her he was in for the long haul, she handed him the coveted flower.

Of course, no episode of The Bachelorette Canada would be complete without Drew acting up and he didn’t disappoint. The V.P. of sales boasted about the attention being on the program would get him and that it will lead to business deals. He also opined he’d like to score some acting gigs. Ug.

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A rainy day tea date wth Drew, Kevin W., Mikhel and Kevin P. went well enough and they learned how to do the tall pour. Kevin W. reacted badly to sharing Jasmine with the others and Drew spent a lot of his time with her … talking about himself. When Kevin W. did get some one-on-one time with Jasmine, he admitted she was the only thing worth sticking around for. By the time the tea had gone cold, Jasmine had handed a rose to Mikhel.

The rose ceremony was a flurry activity, with Drew stealing Jasmine away immediately … to talk about himself. Kevin P. used his time wisely, lowering some emotional walls and collecting his first smooch of the season. Kevin W. hates cocktail parties almost as much as group dates and made that known before complaining Mikhel was given a rose instead of him. It was very interesting to see Jasmine put Kevin W. in his place and explain he wasn’t any more special than the other guys.

By the time the dust had settled Kevin P. and Kevin W. got the final two roses, bringing Drew’s reign of terror to an end. I only wish had stuck around long enough to see it.

Were you glad to see Drew sent home? Comment below!

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

Images courtesy of Corus.

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Featured, Podcast

TV, eh? podcast episode 214 — You’re a Precipitous Drop Off

This week’s podcast begins with Greg recounting his experience screening the first episode of Showcase’s new Canadian original, Travelers. Developed by Brad Wright and nine students at the Canadian Film Centre’s Prime Time TV Program, the sci-fi project stars Eric McCormack.

Greg and Anthony cover the next two weeks of Canadian TV programming, followed by Bill Brioux’s news about ratings for Kim’s Convenience and Murdoch Mysteries and finish discussing Greg’s upcoming set visit to YTV’s Anne of Green Gables TV-movie.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

Want to support TV, eh?’s work? Become a Patreon!

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Featured, Shoot the Messenger

Shoot the Messenger weaves a web of danger in Episode 2

Who was driving the black car shadowing Daisy all episode long? That was just one of many questions asked during Episode 2 of Shoot the Messenger on Monday night. By the time the hour had come to a close, the driver stepped out of the vehicle, but only his shoe and leg were shown. I’m guessing hoping we get an answer next week.

Written by Jennifer Holness and Sudz Sutherland, the second instalment furthered the drama introduced last week, as an injured Hassan attempted to lay low and heal, but that wasn’t happening. Meanwhile, violence on the street escalated, as Khaalif sought to avenge Khalid’s murder by targeting a member of a rival gang for the killing. Instead, a young girl was killed in a hail of gunfire and Kevin collared Khaalif for the crime. Pair that with Hassan wanting to meet up with Daisy, and there was a lot going on with that storyline.

I’m quickly realizing that Shoot the Messenger is definitely not the type of series you can just air in the background while reading emails. Not only do the storylines command attention with their intricacies, but the visuals are stunning. Sweeping views of the city at night, a dead girl’s head being slowly pulled out of a congealing pool of blood … you have to watch.

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The characters are becoming more fleshed out and complex too. Kevin is a by-the-book cop in some ways, but his relationship with Daisy causes him to push boundaries, perhaps to the point of putting his gig or life in jeopardy if he’s not careful. Daisy, meanwhile, seems to be using her feminine wiles to get her way; she slept with Simon because—as she said—she was “curious.” Now Simon is conflicted—he is engaged to be married, after all—about his feelings for the rookie reporter.

Squeaky-clean Simon seems headed for some dirt too. In a bid to chat with basketball star Orlandio Spence (Jamaal Magloire) about his relationship with Khalid, Simon made a deal with his cousin, sports agent Greggor (Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson) to leak a document to The Gazette‘s sports reporter pressuring the team to sign Orlandio to a new contract. (As an aside, Robertson may not be an actor, but he’s very good in Shoot the Messenger so far.)

Shoot the Messenger has a lot of balls in the air right now and things threaten to get a little confusing. But I’m enjoying the ride I’m being taken on and am excited to see where it goes.

Shoot the Messenger airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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