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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Corus Entertainment’s specialty networks welcome back 16 returning Canadian original series, plus 18 new titles for 2024/25

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From a media release:

Today, Corus Entertainment announces its complete slate of Canadian original content to premiere across its specialty networks in 2024/25. The 34 new and returning titles include new seasons from HGTV Canada‘s most trusted home and design experts, new challenges from Food Network Canada‘s best competition series, new points of view from The HISTORY Channel®‘s thoughtful docu-series and documentaries, and a fresh take on romantic comedy made-for-TV movies on W Network, plus new and beloved animated characters from Nelvana on Treehouse, YTV and Cartoon Network, appealing to families and kids of all ages. In total, Corus will deliver more than 295 episodes, movies, and specials, including 18 brand-new titles.

“Corus maintains its leadership position within the Canadian original lifestyle and factual space with our schedule of new and returning titles. With our proven formats, top-tier stars, and premium storytelling, we deliver what Canadian audiences want to see across our expansive specialty portfolio,” said Rachel Nelson, Vice President of Original Programming and Head of Corus Studios. “As our industry landscape evolves it’s more important than ever to share Canadian stories as told by Canadian voices, and we believe that this lineup delivers just that.”

Additional Corus content announcements were made this morning, including updates on new pickups for Corus’ specialty networks. For the latest updates, visit www.corusent.com.

HGTV CANADA

Canada’s #1 Lifestyle network*, HGTV Canada continues to be the home of real estate, renovation, and interior design. With four new Canadian Original series and eight returning, the network offers endless inspiration and education to audiences this upcoming broadcast year.

The Baeumlers are back as Bryan and Sarah start production on their new docu-follow series, Building Baeumler. In it, viewers will catch up with the couple as they navigate work and life following the successful launch of their Bahamas resort. Bryan and Sarah are determined to expand their evolving business and find their next big thing together. From surprising projects on the island to personal projects close to home – the Baeumlers offer an intimate look at their lives as they grow their individual and family ventures.

HGTV Canada introduces audiences to DIY designer, Kristen Coutts, in the new series Beer Budget Reno (working title). Filming this summer and casting now, Kristen delivers life-changing renos for people on a budget using money-saving hacks that transform outdated spaces into something fresh and functional. Also, in production for HGTV Canada, Rentovation helps long-term leasers upgrade and personalize their space. The new series shares innovative solutions and clever designs that provide forever-home vibes and stunning transformations. This fall, luxury designer Ali Budd delivers high-end reveals and big-budget renovations in House of Ali, Season 1.

The network’s most anticipated original series return this fall with back-to-back premieres. Fan-favourites, Sebastian Clovis and Randy Spracklin bring heart, community, and tough renovations in Season 2 of Gut Job and Season 3 of Rock Solid Builds. The ensemble cast of Hoarder House Flippers, Season 2, take on new challenges with Mactar, Issa, and Khadim Mbaye in Montreal, Heather and Nathan Porteous in Winnipeg, and a new set of flippers, Deidre Ritsche and Stephanie Bradt, from Windsor. Brother-sister duo, Billy Pearson and Carolyn Wilbrink, bring modern design to dated properties in Season 3 of Farmhouse Facelift, while the Scott Brothers return with new episodes of Don’t Hate Your House, Season 1. Canadian icon Pamela Anderson is back this winter and building on her terms in Season 2 of Pamela’s Garden of Eden. While this spring, Scott McGillivray and Debra Salmoni return for Season 6 of Scott’s Vacation House Rules, and Scott teams up with Bryan Baeumler again in Season 2 of the Top 20 specialty entertainment program, Renovation Resort.**

Launching today, HGTV Canada Hotline is here to help. The weekly digital series, available through HGTV Canada’s social media platforms and hgtv.ca, offers how-to advice from Canada’s home authority. The brand’s creators – experts in a diverse range of fields – answer viewer on topics big and small – from DIY projects, to organizational hacks, to financial real estate advice.

FOOD NETWORK CANADA

Canada’s #2 Lifestyle network*, Food Network Canada, features big stars, big eats, and big challenges in 2024/2025. The Top 10 specialty entertainment program***, Top Chef Canada returns for an epic Season 11 this fall with host Eden Grinshpan, judges Chef Mark McEwan, Mijune Pak, David Zilber, and Janet Zuccarini, and 10 all-new chef competitors from across Canada. Hollywood star, Pamela Anderson is joined in the kitchen by renowned chefs as she explores her passion for plant-based food and sets the table for intimate dinner parties with her friends and family in Pamela’s Cooking with Love, premiering next year. The Big Bake and Great Chocolate Showdown both return with new episodes this upcoming broadcast year, and Noah Cappe is back in Season 10 of Carnival Eats.

THE HISTORY CHANNEL

The HISTORY® Channel, a Top 10 specialty network* and destination for behind-the-scenes storytelling, premieres five new Canadian Original titles in 2024/2025. Brand-new series Yukon Rescue follows emergency response teams in Canada’s rugged north as they navigate extreme weather conditions, structure fires, avalanches, flash floods, spreading wildfires, and more to keep their communities safe.

The four-part documentary, Sounds Black, traces the origins and impact of Black Music in Canada. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Cazhhmere, with contributions from luminaries such as Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, Fefe Dobson, Maestro Fresh Wes, Deborah Cox, Keisha Chante and more, the series explores Black Canadian music from its tangled diasporic roots to its international dominance. Kru Williams and Adam Palmer‘s adrenaline-fueled hunt for gold and Taylor Starr and father Don Froese‘s search for truth continue in Season 2 of Deadman’s Curse premiering this fall. Then, Mike, Connor, and Avery are back at the wheel in Season 5 of Rust Valley Restorers. The network delves into the paranormal with Season 1 of Repossessed, featuring a team dedicated to finding and authenticating haunted objects and intervening when the spirit won’t let go.

W NETWORK

Another Top 10 specialty network*, W Network is known for its popular offering of romantic made-for-TV movies, and starting to rollout early 2025 is the next chapter in The Love Club movie franchise, The Love Club Moms. The four-part original movie franchise, produced by Nikki Ray Media Agency, follows the romantic lives of four strong, successful women – Ashley Newbrough (Love in Glacier National: A National Park Romance), Rebecca Dalton (Nurses), Genelle Williams (Family Law), and Nazneen Contractor (Children Ruin Everything) – as they juggle motherhood with trying to find their happily ever after. The Love Club Moms also stars Ryan Bruce (Let Him Go), Corey Sevier (Take Me Back For Christmas), Mark Taylor (Beyond Black Beauty), and Joseph Cannata (A Perfect Match).

KIDS

CARTOON NETWORK

Nelvana’s award-winning short film Jelly will be making its official primetime debut this September on Cartoon Network. An inspirational modern fairy tale, Jelly explores the delicate balance between pursuing one’s passion of expressive art versus treading the financially murky waters of a soul-sucking factory job.

TREEHOUSE

Treehouse, the #1 overall Kids Specialty network with K2-11 and K2-5****, this Fall welcomes the much talked about and eagerly-awaited new series, Barney’s World, co-produced by Mattel Television and Nelvana. The CG-animated series is set in the local playground, where Barney is joined by dinos Billy and Baby Bop and their three kid best friends. Throughout silly and imaginative adventures together, Barney helps kids explore big preschool emotions and shows them how to love themselves, others, and their community.

Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! continues to delight kids with Season 28 pulling into Treehouse this year, plus a brand new one-hour holiday special, Thomas & Friends: “The Christmas Letter Express” All Engines Go!, where Percy rushes to deliver a letter so the child’s Christmas Wish comes true.

Coming later this year to Treehouse is Millie Magnificent from Nelvana, inspired by the best-selling books by Ashley Spires and Nelvana’s award-winning short film The Most Magnificent Thing. Millie Magnificent follows avid creator, problem-solver, and innovator Millie Sparks. With a load of determination and spark of imagination, Millie and her ‘creato-crew’ – best friends Ben and Maya and Millie’s adorable dog Wallace – strive to find the most magnificent solutions to their neighborhood’s challenges.

Also this fall, new episodes of Builder Brother’s Dream Factory GEAR UP and GET IT DONE on Treehouse. See more of twin brothers, Drew and Jonathan, a pair of regular kids who use their extraordinary imagination, creativity, grit and heart to help friends and solve problems by dreaming big – really big – sometimes too big! Vida The Vet™, produced by Spin Master Entertainment, also returns with new episodes, following ten-year-old Vida, an animal doctor who nurtures the charming and silly woodland creatures who live outside her home.

YTV

Zokie of Planet Ruby premieres this Fall on YTV, the #1 Commercial Kids Specialty network with K6-11.***** Ruby Studebaker and her alien BFF Zokie Sparkleby film their adventures around the town of Tres Leches. Along with their con-man friend Earl the squirrel, Ruby teaches Zokie about Earth, while Zokie tries to control his unpredictable alien powers.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: W Network’s Sex with Sue is a stimulating peek at the sex educator’s career

Like countless other teens and young adults in North America, I listened to and watched Sunday Night Sex Show. Debuting in 1996, the live TV show Sunday Night Sex Show (predated by a live call-in radio show on Q107 and TV series on Rogers TV) featured the grandmotherly Sue Johanson offering up no-nonsense advice from callers who had questions about everything to do with sex. Wanted to know how to put a condom on the right way? Sue would grab a banana and roll one onto it. Worried that you could get pregnant through your belly button? Well, Sue had an answer for that as well.

Airing Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on W Network, the feature-length documentary Sex with Sue explores the decades-long career of the renowned sex educator. Written and directed by Lisa Rideout and produced by Banger Films (the same folks known for excellent music documentaries), Sex with Sue kicks off with footage of a typical call Johanson received on her program. A young woman is asking about a foot fetish her boyfriend has, and how uncomfortable she feels about a certain request he’s made. Johanson, true to form and with no judgment at all, offers up an interesting solution to the young woman, alleviating her stress. That was Johanson’s MO and why she was beloved by a legion of young adults. Regardless of the question, query or situation, she listened and offered solutions, putting young minds at ease and, often, offering humour along the way.

Johanson graced magazine covers, and appeared on talk shows hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman; not bad for a woman who got her start in Don Mills, Ontario, in 1970. It was there that Johanson launched a birth control clinic in Don Mills Collegiate Institute, the first of its kind in Canada. From there, she moved to the stage, speaking to kids and young adults about sexuality before transitioning to radio and TV.

That, and more, are discussed through a series of intimate conversations between Johanson and her daughter, Jane.

Featuring interviews with sex educator Shan Boodram, Dan Savage, Nina Hartley, Russell Peters, George Stroumboulopoulos, Delta Work, Bree Mills, Margaret Cho and past Sunday Night Sex Show crew, the excellent documentary reflects on Sue’s influence while looking forward to what’s next in progressive sexual education.

Sex with Sue airs Monday, October 10, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on W Network.

Image courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

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Bachelor Canada, Featured

The Bachelor Canada: Rap battles, poolside chats and baby talk

Last week was a jam-packed one here at TV, eh? and as a result, I wasn’t able to recap last Wednesday’s episode of The Bachelor Canada. But here I am and ready to break down all of the breakdowns that occurred this week. Let’s go!

Now that Shanti has been eliminated, all eyes have turned to Brittany. Brittany was instrumental in getting Shanti booted, so I should have realized she’d be one to watch for the rest of this season. Chris announced this was the week he hoped to advance relationships and figure out who might be in it for the long haul.

After some back and forth clips establishing Brittany and Jessie aren’t pals, Noah dropped off the first date invitation for Stacy, Kait, Jessie and Brittany to attend a pool party at Chris’ place. I laughed out loud when Chris welcomed the four ladies and told them he does this all the time. Really? You invite four girls over to your place all the time to just chill out? Anyway, Chris pulled Kait aside first and revealed he’s an edgy dude who is looking for a girl willing to try anything. He and Jessie continued to grow their relationship as she asked him about baseball and if that defined him. For her part, Jessie revealed applying for The Bachelor Canada was a crazy move for her and doing crazy things might have the biggest payoff. After a quick toast and some Brittany one-on-one time with gossip and smooches, Chris awarded Jessie a rose.

The second group date promised some bomba for Lisa, Lara, Lyndsey, Meghan, Mikaela and Dee. Dee was bummed because she wanted a one-on-one to decide whether she should stay or go home to her daughter. Rather than lazing about by the pool, the six ladies were tasked with writing a bomba, a traditional poem used to communicate feelings. The girls paired up, worked and prepared to recite their poem in front of a school full of kids. Lara and Lisa managed to be funny and dis their competition, Lyndsey and Dee were terrible, and Mikaela and Meghan won. That meant Mikaela and Meghan went head-to-head in a bomba battle with Mikaela winning it all. She landed some personal time with the bachelor and made the most of it with some mini golf and kisses after sinking every putt. After more kisses and slow dancing, Mikaela was given a rose.

The one-on-one date of the week was awarded to Catie and had a yoga theme to it, which made her day. Chris may have been uncomfortable with the yoga moves he was asked to perform, but he sure looked at home with Catie in his lap. Still, Chris had real issues connecting with her on the same spiritual level and it bothered him. Later, the pair practiced more eye gazing before Chris presented Catie with a rose.

At the cocktail party, Lyndsey was questioning whether or not she and Chris had shared a connection … until he pulled her aside for a makeout session. Lisa and Chris smooched in the rain, grounding her concerns too. Dee finally got the opportunity she was hoping for and sat down with Chris to talk about her daughter. Unfortunately for her, Chris wasn’t ready to settle down with a child and they agreed it would be best for her to depart.

Here’s who will be back next week:

  • Jessie
  • Mikaela
  • Catie
  • Lyndsey
  • Brittany
  • Kait
  • Meghan
  • Stacy
  • Lisa

The Bachelor Canada airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on W Network.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

 

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Bachelor Canada, Featured

The Bachelor Canada: Battleground in Costa Rica

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Now that the first episode of The Bachelor Canada was out of the way, we could really get down to business. I mean, I felt bad seeing the girls who didn’t get a rose leave last week, but we never really got to know them that well anyway. At least, not as well as the 15 who accompanied Chris to Costa Rica.

I excitedly opened up my bottle of Two Oceans Wine—broadcast sponsor for this season—and settled in to absorb all of the drama as it unfolded.

And what drama there was! As soon as the drinks were poured former model Shanti was disparaging her fellow competitors as not being to the quality she’s used to. Poor baby. Shanti distanced herself from the other girls, literally, preferring to sit off by herself while the remaining 14 wondered exactly what her deal was. With two group dates and a single one-on-one date, the pressure would be on to impress Chris enough to keep him interested. Dee got the first impression rose last week and was hoping Costa Rica would be the perfect setting … to tell Chris about her daughter.

Dee would have to attempt that chat during one of the group outings because it was Lyndsey who scored the one-on-one. The pair united at the airport and hopped aboard a plane for a ride over an active volcano. Laughter was had, sarcastic jokes were traded and cuddling occurred … until Chris asked her age. The 10-year difference—he’s 33 and she’s 23—seemed to throw him for a loop. Chris stuck with the date and was rewarded with a treehouse dinner, but he couldn’t shake the age difference; Lyndsey countered that she’s done a lot of living in those years and is ready to be in a relationship. She’s also encountered hurt: a longtime beau she was ready to marry was on Tinder looking to score a quickie. The result? Chris gave her a rose and major smooches.

Meanwhile, the lucky 13 gathered together to learn who’d be on the first group date: Brittany W., Catie, Lisa, April, Meghan and Mikaela. Then, suddenly, Shanti was asking to have a group meeting. Her issue? None of the other girls, in her opinion, were up to Chris’ standards and if they could see how they were acting most of them would be going home. She added that the stress they were putting on her was making Shanti physically sick. It had become painfully obvious that Shanti shouldn’t be in the house or on The Bachelor Canada.

Thankfully, the group date began, with Chris welcoming who he selected for a photo shoot on the beach. The idea, of course, was to see the girls in a group setting and observe who was more willing to go with the flow and have fun. Meghan made the most of her 1800s swimming outfit, something Chris noted right away. Funniest photo shoot was Lisa, who insisted she don her mermaid lower half for the camera, something Chris wasn’t too excited about. Catie had the winning shots; there was a palpable connection between the two and her eyes betrayed her growing feelings. Then they kissed, sending everyone into a tizzy. Mikaela got back at Catie by kissing Chris as she approached for some alone time, shocking the latter. Meghan got her kisses in too before Chris handed Catie a rose.

As for the final group date, Brittany M., Dee, Jessie, Kait, Stacy, Lara, Ashley and Shanti were off to do battle, but not before Brittany made a devious move first. After discovering Shanti in the bathroom, she suggested Shanti tell Chris about the other girls in the house. The planned group date, however, was scuttled due to weather so Chris dropped by to party at the girls’ place, promising some key personal time with the group date members. That didn’t sit well with Shanti, who made the most of her time with Chris to tear into her competition. Anyone who has watched this franchise knows you don’t rat out others, especially during alone time with the bachelor or bachelorette. Chris finally clued in that perhaps Shanti was the problem and he was doing damage control until the rose ceremony when Shanti told Chris that Dee was a single mother … as Dee walked into the room. It was awful. It was unthinkable. It was embarrassing to watch. That cast a shadow on the rest of the night, despite Stacy and Kait’s nice chats with Chris.

In an unprecedented move—at least that I’ve witnessed in the Canadian franchise—Chris grew frustrated with Shanti’s constant harping about the other girls and asked her to leave. Good on him for doing that … and on Brittany for her power play. The cocktail party was skipped, meaning no more personal time to make an impression before the rose ceremony. Catie was ill and skipped the ceremony (Was she hung over? Did she eat a bad shrimp?) so she missed seeing who was eliminated.

Here’s who will be back next week:

  • Catie
  • Lyndsey
  • Stacy
  • Mikaela
  • Kait
  • Dee
  • Brittany M.
  • Meghan
  • Lisa
  • Lara
  • Brittany W.
  • Jessie
  • April

What did you think of the episode? Are you happy Shanti was sent home or will you miss the drama? Let me know in the comments below!

The Bachelor Canada airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on W Network.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

 

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Bachelor Canada, Featured

The Bachelor Canada: Chris Leroux begins his journey

With the Major League Baseball playoffs at hand, it totally made sense for The Bachelor Canada to return on Wednesday. After all, single lad Chris Leroux was a professional baseball player. And, after throwing strikes for the Florida Marlins, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates, he was hoping to get another win: meeting the gal of his dreams.

Back to host this season of The Bachelor Canada is the always reliable Noah Cappe, who unveiled Chris and the 20 young ladies looking to make an impression on him and land that all-important first impression rose.

After the requisite preamble introducing viewers to Chris, we got some key facts: he played sports as a kid, grew up in Mississauga, Ont., has a massive tattoo on his left side and pitched in the majors but retired from all that because he wanted to settle down. Now Chris has got a house and is looking for someone to move in and choose paint chips with him. After watching him get dressed very, very slowly, it was time to meet some of the 20 ladies who’d signed waivers and joined the fray.

Among those the producers wanted us to keep an eye on prior to the limo drop-offs were 29-year-old lawyer Catie, 24-year-old waitress Meghan, 31-year-old real estate student Shanti, 32-year-old spray tan business owner and single mom Dee, 24-year-old graphic designer/mermaid Lisa, and 27-year-old humanitarian/pageant queen Brittany M. Right out of the gate it seemed like Dee would be a good fit, mainly because she loves the rush of riding a dirt bike, and Meghan because she’s going to speak her mind. Shanti’s “kill list” scared me and her comments about scoping her competition has set her up to be the villain of the season. Once the cars started to roll in, I made mental notes on performer Pricilla and luxury travel nomad Kait.

Once the drinks started to flow, things started to get interesting. Chris fulfilled his promise to Mikaela and spoke to her first; by the time they finished their time together they were holding hands and he felt a connection. Chris also seemed to connect with Kait and Brittany M. But it was Dee who really felt a spark with Chris and she was awarded the all-important first impression rose. Shanti, meanwhile, was upset Chris didn’t approach her for a conversation and seemed ready to leave. Unfortunately, the producers got involved and had Chris go and talk to Shanti. It made for some good TV, but it would have been even better if they had let Shanti walk out.

Shanti was convinced that Chris’ arrival in the bathroom meant she would be getting a rose, but was that guaranteed? Who would be the ladies receiving an all-important flower?

Here’s who will be back next week:

  • Lyndsey
  • Shanti
  • Catie
  • Mikaela
  • April
  • Lara
  • Jessie
  • Stacy
  • Kait
  • Brittany M.
  • Ashley
  • Brittany W.
  • Lisa
  • Meghan
  • Dee (first impression rose)

What did you think of the first episode? Let me know in the comments below!

The Bachelor Canada airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on W Network.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

 

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