TV, eh?

From Denis McGrath at Dead Things on Sticks:

• Why Durham County rocks
  “Durham County serves us up a hero, and then muddies the waters right away. As those waters grow murkier, the choices you’re forced to make as an audience, the value judgements you’re forced to generate — are never pre-digested and easy. This is a show that keeps you involved by continually forcing you to evaluate how you feel about what you’re seeing.”

From the Canadian Press, with episode descriptions of Degrassi and Durham County for Monday:

• TV tips for the week of May 7
  • “The first of a two-part conclusion of “Degrassi: The Next Generation” airs this evening. Alex encounters money woes and Emma learns that Sean’s plans for next year don’t include her. (CTV)”
  • “Hugh Dillon, onetime frontman of Toronto punk band the Headstones, is great in “Durham County” as Mike Sweeney, a quietly tormented homicide detective who moves his family to the suburbs in search for a more peaceful life after the murder of his partner. No such luck. Sweeney is soon tracking down a serial killer in this compelling six-part crime drama. (The Movie Network/Movie Central)”

From the Georgia Straight:

• Rick Mercer: minister of humour
  “I get to cover what I love, which is Canadian politics. I get to travel the country, hang out with polar bears, or go to Nunavut, or do whatever I want. That offer obviously never came along from the States because that job’s only available here and I have it.”

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail - see second-last item:

• Downward dog, upward profit
  “This six-part Canadian crime drama, about an emotionally damaged homicide detective (Hugh Dillon) hunting a serial killer, and possibly a copycat killer, is as moody as all get-out. In style and tone, it is clearly influenced by such HBO dramas as Six Feet Under and The Sopranos. Perhaps too much so. Visually sumptuous and adult, it is decidedly grim and seethes with male rage. The opening episode is rich, compelling and deeply disquieting drama.”

From Lee-Anne Goodman of the Canadian Press:

• Rock star-turned-serious actor Hugh Dillon shines in gritty drama ‘Durham County’
  “Durham County” is the brainchild of a group of women - producers Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman, writer Laurie Finstad Knizhnik and director Holly Dale. Shot in a Montreal suburb, it’s a dark, taut thriller that wouldn’t look out of place on an American cable channel alongside shows like “Dexter” and “The Wire.” That’s something Dillon, a native of Kingston, Ont., now based in Los Angeles, is particularly proud of.”

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

• When Canadians watch TV, they want drama
  “When most Canadians watch TV, drama is what they want to watch, and the majority of the most-watched programs in Canada each week are dramas. But we’re not making any.”

And a reaction from Denis McGrath of Dead Things on Sticks, with a list of Canadian dramas currently in development:

• Canadians Want Drama
  “So is the CRTC going to extract from CTV the first plank in a new drama committment? That’s what Doyle seems to be calling for. That would be great.”

From the Financial Post:

• Artistic community backs CTV’s CHUM takeover
  The artistic community tried to rally Tuesday behind the CTV Inc. takeover of CHUM Ltd., telling CRTC officials that CTV is the only player committed to fostering and nurturing Canadian talent. Nevertheless, the chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Konrad von Finckenstein, appeared unmoved.

But, from Bloomberg later:

• Canadian Regulator to Reject Calls to Block Chum Deal
  Canada’s broadcasting regulator will reject calls to bar CTVglobemedia Inc. from taking over rival Chum Ltd. because the agency will ensure the company produces enough Canadian shows to meet standards.

From CTV:

• Rosie O’Donnell jumps on the Degrassi bandwagon as host of New York City event yesterday

Yesterday in New York, the headline-grabbing Rosie O’Donnell hosted an unprecedented town hall discussion with cast from Canada’s own Degrassi: The Next Generation and the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening. Both casts candidly discussed the numerous issues, both good and bad, that teens deal with on a daily basis. Reaching out to viewers directly and touching on subjects that affect them is not a stretch for Degrassi, as the series continues to do so in its provocative Season 6 finale. Premiering Monday, May 7 and Monday, May 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times), the two-part finale focuses on a Degrassi character who takes a job as a stripper in order to help her family make ends meet.

Yesterday, select Degrassi cast members joined performers from the hit Broadway show Spring Awakening in what was billed as a “Live Verbal Mash Up” hosted by Rosie O’Donnell. Taking place at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, the one-hour town hall event welcomed 500 teens from the New York City area to discuss peer pressure, identity issues and how teens are dealing with young adulthood.

With yesterday’s event hosted by Rosie O’Donnell, a recent tribute at the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival and two more volumes of the graphic novels “Degrassi: Extra Credit” hitting bookstores this week, the Number 1 Canadian drama series Degrassi is riding a wave that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. In the U.S., Degrassi is the flagship series on the digital cable channel The N, where it ranks as the network’s Number 1 program.

In Degrassi’s two-part, Season 6 finale:

“Don’t You Want Me - Part One” (Monday, May 7 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CTV): Alex and her mother Emily are in deep money trouble and can’t pay the rent. The situation is dire and when a job as a waitress at a ‘gentleman’s club’ comes up, Alex takes it - but learns there’s bigger money onstage. Alex has to decide what to do - and how her maybe-more-than-a-friend Paige will deal with the situation.

“Don’t You Want Me - Part Two” (Monday, May 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CTV): Alex’s double life is finally bringing in the cash she wants but hiding everything from everyone is taking a toll on her schoolwork and her connection with Paige. Making money is the only way Alex and her mother won’t get evicted, so she tries to convince herself that she is making the right decision.

The Degrassi two-part finale will be available on demand on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca Tuesdays at 9 a.m. ET (May 8 and 15) following their television broadcast on CTV.

Viewers can catch up on all 17 of this season’s previously aired episodes, along with corresponding exclusive online content, all on demand on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca. Following the television broadcast of each new episode, the episode itself as well as a scripted webisode (a.k.a. “Degrassi Mini”) and a behind-the-scenes documentary (a.k.a. “Degrassi: On the Set”) for the episode will be available on demand beginning Tuesdays at 9 a.m. ET on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca.

From Global:

THE JANE SHOW  - Season Finale
Wednesday, May 2 – 10pm ET/PT
“Who’s Got Spirit?” - Love is in the air when Jane and her Spirits co-workers attend a conference in Hamilton.

From Citytv:

Citytv Reveals The 10 Finalists In the Running to Become “Canada’s Next Top Model” with Host Jay Manuel Premiering Wednesday, May 30th on Citytv

The battle for the title of “Canada’s Next Top Model” begins today as Citytv reveals the 10 finalists who will compete to turn their modelling dreams into reality. In this exciting, new season, the finalists will face tougher challenges on the runway and in front of the camera while living under one luxurious roof. Watch the drama start to unfold when “Canada’s Next Top Model”, Cycle 2 premieres Wednesday, May 30th at 8:00pm on Citytv.

“Canada’s Next Top Model” Participants are:

Name: Cori
Occupation: Student
Age: 18
Hometown: Val Caron, Ontario

Name: Gina
Occupation: Buyer, Engineering Firm
Age: 23
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Name: Jacqueline
Occupation: Student
Age: 20
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia

Name: Mika
Occupation: Job Hunting Now!
Age: 25
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Name: Mo
Occupation: Student
Age: 20
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Name: Rebecca
Occupation: Factory Worker
Age: 22
Hometown: Mannheim, Ontario

Name: Sinead
Occupation: Job Hunting Now!
Age: 18
Hometown: Chatham, Ontario

Name: Steff
Occupation: Student
Age: 19
Hometown: Cornwall, Ontario

Name: Tara
Occupation: Server
Age: 20
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Name: Tia
Occupation: Student
Age: 19
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec

The 10 finalists will have eight weeks to prove they have what it takes to make it in the highly competitive world of modelling. Each week, the participants will be tested as they strive to master runway challenges, photo shoots, publicity skills and successfully learn the business of becoming a Supermodel, all under the surveillance of the “Canada’s Next Top Model” cameras.

Throughout the series, the participants are mentored by Host Jay Manuel and the panel of judges including “FT-FashionTelevision’s” Jeanne Beker, Supermodel Yasmin Warsame, Celebrity Photographer Paul Alexander and Creative Director NoleMarin. Each episode will also feature a special guest judge who will critique within their particular area of expertise, helping to send one model hopeful packing each week.

Canada’s Next Top Model will walk away with a $100,000 beauty contract from P&G Beauty, a modelling contract with top agency, Sutherland Models and be featured in an editorial spread in Fashion Magazine.