TV, eh?

From a media release:

14th Annual WGC Screenwriting Awards Finalists

And the finalists are …

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From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Millions Ignore Canadian TV Awards
  “Apparently there was some sort of Canadian TV awards show on Saturday night. It drew 303,000 viewers on Global according to BBM Canada overnight estimates. Word is it was held in Calgary. Another 50,000 caught it on Showcase.” Read more.

From Rob Salem of the Toronto Star:

• A TV show so Canadian, you could cringe
  “Well, I’ll say one thing for Saturday night’s Gemini Awards gala: it could never have been mistaken for an American awards show. Which is absolutely fine, in theory. In execution, alas, maybe not so much.” Read more.

From Alex Strachan of Canwest:

• Why the Geminis matter (sort of)
  “The show itself was kind of lame. The host was old-school all the way. And the awards themselves — Flashpoint, Rick Mercer, Dragon’s Den — favoured popularity over originality. (Nothing for Less Than Kind, a token acting award for Being Erica, nothing for Project Runway Canada, etc.)… And yet … There was a gentle spirit to the evening, a kind of quiet grace and country hospitality. A joie de vivre, if you will, for homegrown TV made for a homegrown TV audience.” Read more.

From Lisa Wilton of Sun Media:

• ‘Flashpoint’ shines at Gemini Awards
  “Flashpoint proved it’s more than a flash in the pan after walking away with three major awards at last night’s Geminis gala. CTV’s popular cop drama received the most gongs of any nominated program during the 90-minute televised event.” Read more.

From Shannon Montgomery of the Canadian Press:

• Flashpoint’ takes top honours at 2009 Gemini Awards celebrating top Canadian TV
  “The cross-border hit cop drama “Flashpoint” was the big winner at Saturday’s Gemini Awards as it snagged three of the night’s top honours in Canadian television, including best drama.” Read more.

From CBC:

• Flashpoint triumphs at Gemini gala
  “The police drama nabbed a trio of trophies at the annual celebration of Canadian English-language TV: best drama, best director for Kelly Makin, and best actor in a continuing drama for Enrico Colantoni, who stars as the leader of the show’s elite police tactical unit. Producer Anne Marie La Traverse thanked the show’s growing fan base.” Read more.

From a media release:

The 24th Annual Gemini Awards concluded this evening with the Broadcast Gala, a glitzy event held at the historic BMO Centre, Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta. Hosted by award-winning comedian Ron James, a total of 17 awards were presented including those for Best Comedy Program or Series and Best Dramatic Series. The gala, broadcast on Global and Showcase, also included special tributes to Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce, and Trailer Park Boys for their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Canadian television industry.

The following categories were announced:

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From Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star:

• Five reasons to watch the Gemini Awards
  “COMEDY CURTAIN CALL It truly is the end of an incredibly successful era for TV comedies, as Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Trailer Park Boys are all being honoured for their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Canadian television industry.” Read more.

9pm ET/PT
Honouring the year’s highest achievements in Canadian television, the Awards will be broadcast direct from the grounds of the historic BMO Centre, Stampede Corral in the beautiful city of Calgary, Alberta. The broadcast is hosted by Comedian Ron James and includes presenters Cory Monteith (Glee) and Jessica Lucas (Melrose Place).

From Lisa Wilton of Sun Media:

• Ron James pumped to host Geminis
  “There won’t be any crass insults, ego-driven stage invasions or embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions at this year’s Gemini Awards if everything goes according to Ron James’ plan.” Read more.

From Alex Strachan of Canwest:

• Great Canadian TV: What you might have missed
  “Canadians love Canadians. Canadians love television. But Canadians don’t always love Canadian television. There is, however, some great TV being created north of the 49th parallel, despite our national boob-tube inferiority complex.” Read more.

From Canwest News Service:

• A real Gem: Host Ron James vows Geminis will be light, humorous.
  “You can almost hear the wheels spin in Ron James’ head as he considers all the comedic gold found in the Wild Rose province. The reliably fast-thinking, fast-talking comedian will be in Calgary on Nov. 14 to host the Gemini Awards. To honour The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s decision to tour the TV award show to a new city each year, James figures he’ll offer the crowd at the Stampede Corral some playful skewering of the host city.” Read more.

From Shannon Montgomery of the Canadian Press:

• Star hopes cancelled show could find an audience after Gemini nod
  “Phyllis Ellis is hoping a Gemini award could have the power of a resurrection. Despite being cancelled after only 10 episodes, Ellis’s “Three Chords From the Truth” is up for two awards, including best comedy program, at the ceremony celebrating Canada’s homegrown TV talent this weekend.” Read more.

From Alex Strachan of Canwest:

• Struggling to remain relevant; Geminis walk fine line between nominating popular and critically acclaimed TV shows.
  “The ever-revolving door of new and old Canadian TV programs has resulted in a slew of first-time contenders for this year’s Gemini Awards. Will any of them pull off an upset win this weekend? And, more important for the future of the Geminis and for the state of Canadian TV in general, can it really be called an upset if you don’t know who any of the favourites are?” Read more.

From a media release:

ICONIC CANADIAN COMEDY SERIES TO RECEIVE SPECIAL GEMINI TRIBUTES

• Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Trailer Park Boys Recognized On-Stage at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards
• Gala Presenters to Include Star of the Hit Global TV Show GLEE – Cory Monteith, Rick Mercer, Hugh Dillon, Jessica Lucas, Erin Karpluk, George Stroumboulopoulos and many more
• Broadcast live to air on Global and Showcase this Saturday, November 14th – 9pm ET/PT from Calgary
• Tickets to the 2009 Gemini Awards are available for $10.50 at www.ticketmaster.ca

Canwest and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television will proudly pay tribute to three Canadian comedic television gems at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards.

This Saturday, November 14 – 9pm ET/PT on Global and Showcase (please check local listings), the Gemini Awards will salute Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Trailer Park Boys for their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Canadian television industry. Having recently wrapped their final seasons, the Academy will honour these influential comedies with a special look back at their funniest moments on-air. Cast members from each show will be on hand to accept their award.

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From Dyscultured, includes an interview with me:

• Episode 56 – ACTA’s Got No Seoul
  My segment starts 31 minutes in. We talk about the Gemini Awards, the Local TV Matters campaign, the history of TV, eh? and how talking about the Canadian TV industry makes me want to punch everyone involved (but I say it with, um, affection). Listen here or download from iTunes.

From a media release:

24th Annual Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala to Feature Appearances from Canada’s Top TV Talent

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television today announced the first round of presenters for the 24th Annual Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala, taking place Saturday November 14 at the historic BMO Centre, Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta. Hosted by award-winning comedian Ron James, the event will be broadcast live on Global and Showcase at 9pm ET/PT. Public tickets are now available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.ca.

The lineup of Award Presenters includes:

• Hugh Dillon – Flashpoint
• Erin Karpluk – Being Erica
• Jessica Lucas – Melrose Place
• Amber Marshall and Graham Wardle – Heartland
• Mark McKinney – Less Than Kind
• Rick Mercer – The Rick Mercer Report
• Cory Monteith – Glee
• George Stroumboulopoulos – The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

The 24th Annual Gemini Awards will be broadcast on Global and Showcase on Saturday November 14 – please check local listings for times. For a complete list of nominations, visit www.geminiawards.ca.

From the Canadian Press:

• ‘Flashpoint,’ ‘Passchendaele’ big winners at Directors Guild bash
  “Flashpoint earned the title of best TV drama, also picking up awards for direction and sound editing.” Read more.

From Cassandra Szklarski of the Canadian Press:

• ‘The Tudors’ leads Gemini winners
  “CBC-TV’s sexy period drama “The Tudors” is heading into next month’s televised Gemini Awards gala with four trophies, while CTV’s slick cop series “Flashpoint” boasts three.” Read more.

From a media release:

Being Erica Wins at C21/FRAPA Format Awards

The CBC  series Being Erica received the award for Best Scripted Format at the prestigious C21/FRAPA Format Awards last Wednesday night at a gala dinner and awards show held as part of MIPCOM in Cannes, France.

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From a media release:

The Gemini Awards Head West…

• Comedian Ron James Goes to ‘Wild Rose Country’ to Host Canada’s Biggest Night in Television
• The 24th Annual Gemini Awards air on Global and Showcase Saturday, November 14th – 9pm ET/PT from Calgary

Canwest and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television are proud to announce Ron James as the Host of the 24th Annual Gemini Awards.

Honouring the year’s highest achievements in Canadian television, the Awards will be broadcast on Saturday, November 14 – 9pm ET/PT on Global and Showcase direct from the grounds of the historic BMO Centre, Stampede Corral in the beautiful city of Calgary, Alberta.

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