Everything about Ascension, eh?

Ascension

Link: Ascension’s Canadian mission lifts off on CBC

From Bill Brioux of the Toronto Star:

For veteran Canadian actor Gil Bellows, Ascension reminded him of the science fiction literature he read growing up, especially the works of Isaac Asimov and Aldous Huxley.

The CBC series, which debuts Monday at 9 p.m., is about a 100-year space mission to find a new world to assure the survival of the human race.

Bellows, 47, who has appeared in a wide variety of TV shows (notably Ally McBeal) and movies (The Shawshank Redemption), plays the Earthbound son of the brilliant scientist who dreamt up the trillion-dollar enterprise. Continue reading.

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Ascension

Video: Tricia Helfer discusses CBC’s Ascension

From CBC:

Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer stars in the original, six-part miniseries Ascension, coming to CBC-TV in Winter 2015. CBC Connects caught up with her at her L.A. home to find out why she jumped at the chance to be in a new space adventure. The show follows a secret 1963 U.S. mission that sends hundreds of people on a century-long journey to colonize a new world, but the voyage is thrown into question when a young woman is murdered nearly 50 years into the trek.

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Ascension, Book of Negroes, X Company

CBC unveils winter schedule; sets debut date for X Company

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GemCBC

From a media release:

This winter, find the best in Canadian programming on CBC Television with a roster of returning hit series and seven new titles. Featuring Donald Sutherland’s animated coming of age tale PIRATE’S PASSAGE on Jan. 4, the gripping adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s novel THE BOOK OF NEGROES premiering Jan. 7, BBC’s LIFE STORY, a compelling nature series by David Attenborough on Jan. 11  and the hilarious stand-up  comedy specials from the WINNIPEG COMEDY FESTIVAL beginning Jan. 11. The CBC is also proud to present the highly-anticipated comedy series SCHITT’S CREEK which debuts with back-to-back episodes Jan. 13 , the critically acclaimed sci-fi drama ASCENSION that launches Feb. 9,  World War II spy thriller X COMPANY premiering Feb. 18 and the four-part crime drama CHASING SHADOWS starting on Mar. 23.

Plus, catch all-new episodes of returning prime-time hit series MR.D, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, DRAGONS’ DEN, HEARTLAND, 22 MINUTES, THE RICK MERCER REPORT, STRANGE EMPIRE, MARKETPLACE, the fifth estate, THE NATURE OF THINGS, DOC ZONE, JUST FOR LAUGHS GAGS: 15 YEARS and CBC’s flagship daytime series STEVEN AND CHRIS returns with all-new episodes Monday –Friday at 2 p.m. (2:30NT) starting January 5.

Please see broadcast schedule below:

SUNDAY
7 p.m. (7:30 NT) – HEARTLAND (returns with new episodes Jan.11)
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – LIFE STORY (premieres Jan.11)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – WINNIPEG COMEDY (premieres Jan.11)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

*PIRATE’S PASSAGE airs January 4 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT)
*JUST FOR LAUGHS Gags: 15 YEARS airs January 6 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)

MONDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – MURDOCH MYSTERIES (returns with new episodes Jan.12)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – STRANGE EMPIRE (returns with new episodes Jan.12)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – ASCENSION (premieres Feb.9)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – CHASING SHADOWS (premieres Mar.23)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

TUESDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – THE RICK MERCER REPORT (returns with new episodes Jan. 6)
8:30 p.m. (9 NT) – 22 MINUTES (returns with new episodes Jan. 6)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – SCHITT’S CREEK (premieres Jan.13)
9:30 p.m. (10 NT) – MR.D (premieres Jan.20)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – DRAGONS’ DEN (returns with new episodes Jan.7)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – BOOK OF NEGROES (premieres Jan.7)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – X COMPANY (premieres Feb.18)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

THURSDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – THE NATURE OF THINGS (returns with new episodes Jan.8)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – DOC ZONE (returns with new episodes Jan.8)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

FRIDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – MARKETPLACE (returns with new episodes Jan.9)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – the fifth estate (returns with new episodes Jan.9)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

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Ascension

CBC moves Ascension premiere to January

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From a media release:

The six-episode series was originally scheduled to launch on CBC-TV Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014

CBC today announced a change to the premiere date for the network’s upcoming sci-fi drama, ASCENSION from November 25, 2014 to January 2015. Further details about the exact date and time of the premiere episode of ASCENSION will be announced in the coming weeks.

CBC first announced the acquisition of ASCENSION, a Canadian-produced original drama commissioned by American television network Syfy, in July. A co-production of Lionsgate and Sea to Sky Studios in association with Quebec-based Lift Off Productions and Blumhouse Productions, ASCENSION was shot in Montreal during the summer.

In 1963, the U.S. government launched a covert space mission sending hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. The series unfolds in present day, nearly 50 years into the journey. As the mission approaches the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission.

Brian Van Holt (Cougar Town, The Bridge) stars as the ship’s heroic captain, William Denninger, opposite Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, The Firm), who plays the role of Viondra Denninger, the captain’s manipulative and dangerous wife. In addition to Helfer, the cast features a number of Canadian actors including Jacqueline Byers (90 Days, Scared Stiff) and Andrea Roth (Rescue Me, Ringer). Wendy Crewson (Revenge, Saving Hope), Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary, Apollo 18) and John Ralston (Bomb Girls, Life with Derek) appear as guest stars. Other lead cast members starring alongside Van Holt and Helfer include Brandon P. Bell (Hollywood Heights, Mission Impossible III) as First Officer Aaron Gault and Tiffany Lonsdale (G.I Jane: Retaliation) as Chief Astronomer Emily Vanderhaus.

ASCENSION is an ambitious original drama created and written by Philip Levens (Smallville), who also serves as executive producer and showrunner on the series. Jason Blum (Stranded, The River, film franchises Paranormal Activity and The Purge) is also an executive producer, along with Ivan Fecan, Tim Gamble and Brett Burlock from Sea To Sky Studios. Canadian director Stephen Williams (Lost) directs the first two episodes. The series is co-financed and distributed by Universal Cable Productions and Lionsgate Television.

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