Tag Archives: Featured

Featured, Sunnyside

Sunnyside cancelled by City

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Things are less than sunny for the folks at Sunnyside; City has decided not to renew the Canadian sketch comedy series for a second season.

“We are extremely proud of Sunnyside and the 13 episodes of this fiercely original comedy that we were able to bring to our viewers,” a statement sent to TV, eh? on Wednesday read. “It was a privilege to work with the immense talent—both off and on screen —involved in this unique Canadian production. It was a difficult decision, but, despite critical acclaim, the series was unable to connect with the audience it needed to continue. We thank Canadians for their support of Sunnyside and look forward to bringing them more original content in the future.”

The news is a definite buzz-kill for co-creators Dan Redican and Gary Pearson and cast members Pat Thornton, Kathleen Phillips, Patrice Goodman, Alice Moran, Kevin Vidal and Rob Norman; the group captured a Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble) during Sunday night’s gala, besting This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Rick Mercer Report and The Second City Project. Sunnyside’s photographer, D. Gregor Hagey, won a CSA for Best Photography in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series and three other nominations.

Filmed in Winnipeg, the series followed the odd folks and characters who called the neighbourhood of Sunnyside home.

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Featured, X Company

Preview: Worlds collide on X Company

I’m lucky enough to be sent screeners of X Company in advance of the CBC broadcasts. That gives me the chance to watch them and work ahead on reviews or book interviews with writers, directors, cast or crew. It also affords me the opportunity to get into Twitter conversations with fellow television critics who receive the same perks I do.

The result? Social media conversations like what happened when Bridget Liszewski, A.R. Wilson and I jumped on social media to talk about Wednesday’s new episode, “Fatherland.”

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Written by co-creators Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and supervising producer Sandra Chwialkowska, Episode 8 provides the most gripping, dramatic scenes in Season 2. That’s saying something for a program that’s already featured the Fabers killing their son and Aurora taking Rene’s life. Here’s what Bridget, A.R. and I were going gaga over.

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“Planes, Trains and Panic Attacks”
Chwialkowska tweeted that tongue-in-cheek alternate episode title, but she ain’t lying. The simple train ride Aurora and Sabine are taking to the coast to celebrate Ulli’s life turns into a nail-biter. Façades are shed, conversation turns truthful and innocence is lost forever. Those scenes—directed by Amanda Tapping—are so claustrophobic and full of emotion that I had to get up and walk away from the computer. Yeah, it’s that powerful. Want more proof? Take another look at that image of Aurora and Sabine.

Scuba Man makes his move
Scuba Man works his way into Camp X and sets his assassination attempt against Sinclair in motion while Harry, Neil and Alfred try desperately to warn their commanding officer. Meanwhile, Klaus is still struggling with his feelings. Should he support his Fatherland, Germany, and do all he can to win the war, or recognize Sinclair as a friend of his father? What he decides is the second-most dramatic scene of the episode.

X Company airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

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Featured, Schitt's Creek

Review: Schitt’s Creek “The Motel Guest” – I need my space!

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When Roland and Jocelyn have a fight, Jocelyn tells him she needs her space. So he seeks refuge at the motel, where he creates havoc for the Roses. David is “offended” by Roland’s collection of undershirts hanging outside his motel room, and Johnny and Moira have their own fight over “needing space.” Even Alexis decides she needs her own space and checks out an apartment in “Lower SC.”

This is an episode about relationships and the frustrations that can happen when living in close – or even not so close – quarters, and how (in the words of Johnny Rose) our loved ones can “push every button” we ever had.

Johnny and Jocelyn work through their respective frustrations together, and Moira and Roland do the same. Their style of communication is a bit more down and dirty than Johnny’s or Jocelyn’s, but in the end they also help each other work through their frustrations and come to a place of forgiveness.

Alexis doesn’t take the apartment after hearing that someone killed themselves in it, and in his twisted brotherly way, David says, “I can almost guarantee you that someone’s killed themselves in this [motel] room.”

I enjoyed this episode. It was funny and sweet while showing another side of human nature. A side that can sometimes be a bit bitchy. And no one does bitchy better than Moira and David.

It’s no wonder that this show and this cast dominated the Canadian Screen Awards.

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Awards, Featured, Podcast

TV, eh? podcast episode 202 – Wifi and the Candy

As with every other week, Diane, Anthony and Greg discuss the next two weeks in Canadian TV programming using the ever-popular calendar before breaking down this year’s Canadian Screen Award winners in the key categories handed out on Sunday night. Greg gives his thoughts on three nights of trophies from the media room.

Want to contribute to the discussion? Post links and discussion topics on our Reddit page.

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, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Uncertainty strikes Hockey Wives star Ashley Booth

Of all the things Hockey Wives cameras have recorded, there’s nothing more emotional than seeing a wife concerned about her husband’s future. That’s exactly what’s facing Ashley Booth when new episodes of W Network’s series resume on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

While other couples like Dan and Taylor Winnik make the long drive to Toronto, where he’s been traded—Dan has since been moved to Washington—and Carey and Angela Price enjoy some white water rafting, David Booth’s career at the time of production was up in the air. After a year with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, David was trying out for the Florida Panthers when cameras recorded he and Ashley’s uncertain status in North America. You can’t help but feel badly for the pair, and wonder if they’d regretted agreeing to cameras capturing that for TV.

“I watched the first season and I knew that Hockey Wives wasn’t all about drama and gossip, so I said yes,” Ashley said during a phone call to promote the remainder of Season 2. Though they don’t appear until next week’s episode, the duo make up for it with entertaining moments. Eagle-eyed viewers may be able to suss out the secrets to Ashley’s South of the Border dip or be in awe of David’s typical restaurant meal until the next step in his hockey career is decided: he signs with Admiral Vladivostok of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. Viewers won’t see David’s exploits there, which is too bad, because everything is a contrast to North America.

“There’s so much that’s different, it’s too much to cover in one phone call,” he says. “Everything is different from the very beginning. The players all shake hands when they arrive in the dressing room. The coach goes around and shakes everyone’s hand. After a couple of games I was like, ‘Guys, we’ve already met!'” Ashley admits adapting to Russia was tough and her faith (and blog) were instrumental in getting her through tough times. As for what viewers can expect from the pair, Ashley offers up the following tease: “There’s something big that happens at the end of the season.”

Hockey Wives airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on W Network.

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