TV, Eh? is your source of information on Canadian television shows, with links to articles plus scheduling information and network media releases. E-mail to inquire about advertising opportunities, or for suggestions or information for the site (please read the FAQ before submitting questions).
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce the nominations for the 23rd Annual Gemini Awards, recognizing the year’s best in Canadian English-language television. The Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala will be presented in Toronto, ON at the John Bassett Theatre on Friday, November 28, 2008. Canwest Broadcasting joins the Academy in celebrating this year’s exceptional achievements, airing the Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala on E! Network and Showcase at 9 pm ET.
Zaib Shaikh is known as Amaar on Little Mosque on the Prairie, but for tonight’s adaptation of Othello on CBC, he is co-writer, director, and executive producer. Matthew Deslippe, who was recently seen on Across the River to Motor City, plays Iago and is also an executive producer. Listen now to their thoughts on why Othello is relevant today, Carlo Rota in the title role, their pride in Canadian productions, and even what’s next for Little Mosque on the Prairie:
This Sunday on TV, eh? Blogtalkradio show, join Zaib Shaikh (co-writer/director, also Amaar on Little Mosque on the Prairie) and Matthew Deslippe (Iago, also Frank Calasso on Across the River to Motor City) to chat about their adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
Listen live at 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern (call in with your questions at 646- 200-4063) or catch the podcast afterwards.
Afghanada, Dragon Boys win Canadian screenwriting awards
“Vancouver screenwriter Ian Weir, who also created the teen series Edgemount, won the award for best miniseries for Dragon Boys, a two-part drama about teens involved with Vancouver’s Asian gangs. CBC-TV comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes won the award for best variety show for an episode created by Kevin White. White and Mark Critch, Irwin Barker, Gavin Crawford, Gary Pearson, Jennifer Whalen, Carolyn Taylor, Albert Howell, Dave Nystrom, Geri Hall, Todd Allen and Tim McAuliffe are credited as writers. … Best drama series was Across the River to Motor City, written by Denis McGrath and Robert Wertheimer.” Read more.
The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) will celebrate the winning words of 2007 on April 14 at the 2008 Canadian Screenwriting Awards. More than 125 scripts were submitted for this year’s awards, honouring excellence in screenwriting. The entries have been narrowed down to 33 finalists in nine categories, including screenwriting for feature film, drama series, documentary film and more. Several special awards, including the WGC Showrunner Award, will also be handed out at the event.
Among the finalists, you will find the writers of television favourites such as Corner Gas, Robson Arms, Intelligence, Across the River to Motor City, This Hour has 22 Minutes and more, as well as the writers of feature films including The Stone Angel, Poor Boy’s Game and more. A complete list of finalists can be seen on the WGC website.
All winners will be announced at the 2008 Canadian Screenwriting Awards on Monday, April 14, 2008. Guest host (and finalist) Gavin Crawford (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) will once again keep everyone in stitches as he keeps the celebrations rolling. Kyle Tingley (also a finalist for 22 Mins) will co-write the awards show with Crawford.
Last year’s winners included Sarah Polley for the screenplay of Away From Her, Kevin White and Brent Butt for Corner Gas and Susan Coyne & Bob Martin & Mark McKinney for Slings & Arrows.
This year’s finalists reflect the high level of achievement of Canadian screenwriters across the categories.
Alex Strachan of CanWest News Service lists the best of TV, including Intelligence, Corner Gas, and Robson Arms:
Cheer up, television has never been better
“Good grief. So that was the TV year that was. A writers strike. Catfights, celebrity spats and family feuds — and that was just The View. Here’s a look back, through the prism of the stages of grief, as defined by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, author of On Death and Dying.” Read more.
Joel Rubinoff of the Waterloo Record isn’t as optimistic about the state of TV, and gives Falcon Beach and Whistler the dubious distinction of being among the worst of 2007, while Degrassi is one of his best:
TV’s Year of Living Dangerously
“Degrassi: The Next Generation (CTV): The greatest teen show on the planet rediscovers its mojo with a same sex romance between control freak Paige and teen rebel Alexa. The year’s most compelling — and bittersweet — love story.” Read more.
Rob Salem of the Toronto Star includes Little Mosque on the Prairie in his best of 2007:
We’re crazy about TV’s Mad Men
“A provocative premise, a terrific cast … and, however unlikely and unprecedented, a large and loyal Canadian audience. (Runners-up: Durham County, Across the River to Motor City.)” Read more.
The Globe and Mail names Zarqa Nawaz of Little Mosque on the Prairie one of their people of the year:
Arts Person of the year runners-up
“The public broadcaster gambled that Little Mosque would be the breakout hit it so desperately needed. Turns out, it placed the right bet. In its first season, roughly 1 million viewers tuned in weekly. This season, the average was 785,000 — a respectable turnout for a show that managed to lure away two top writing guns from its comedic rival, CTV’s Corner Gas, the most-watched Canadian comedy on TV.” Read more.
Gayle MacDonald of the Globe and Mail interviews actress Charlotte Sullivan:
On-the-job ingénue
“She has never taken a formal acting class, but the 24-year-old actress has won roles in four new TV series, including CBC’s hockey drama MVP and the Chinese-Canadian co-production Iron Road, starring Peter O’Toole and Sam Neill.” Read more.
Brad Oswald of the Winnipeg Free Press gives some alternatives to American shows as the writers strike drags on:
Canadian nights in Canada
“The U.S. writers strike is providing an opportunity to investigate homegrown TV, and you know what? Some of it is really good!” Read more.
Joel Rubinoff of the Waterloo Record reviews the show:
I hope there’s buried gem in River
“Across the River to Motor City (10 p.m. on City) is a maddening TV oddity: a six-part Canadian miniseries that looks and feels like a strained attempt to recreate the polished dexterity of U.S. dramas like Journeyman and Cold Case that is nonetheless just ambitious enough to make you root for it, despite its flaws.” Read more.
Dark, homegrown miniseries worthy prime-time watching
“WITH all the talk these days about how much time and money we Canadians are spending on the southern side of the border, perhaps it’s timely that Citytv is airing a homegrown miniseries that involves cross-border chopping. Yes, chopping. And stabbing. And punching. And shooting. And dumping of bodies, and everything else that’s required in a top-notch cops-and-mobsters thriller.” Read more.
Chris and John from Chris & John to the Rescue talk about their upcoming Summer Camp series and the DVD release of Provincetown, plus share anecdotes about saving the world ... one gay at a time.
Zaib Shaikh is known as Amaar on Little Mosque on the Prairie, but for tonight’s adaptation of Othello on CBC, he is co-writer, director, and executive producer. Matthew Deslippe, who was recently seen on Across the River to Motor City, plays Iago and is also an executive producer. Listen now to their thoughts on why Othello is relevant today, Carlo Rota in the title role, their pride in Canadian productions, and even what’s next for Little Mosque on the Prairie:
I hope there’s buried gem in River
Dark, homegrown miniseries worthy prime-time watching
Entries (RSS)