TV, eh?

From Jennifer Cox of Crave:

• Top 10 Canadian shows to watch right now
  “With lots of summertime premieres as well as tried-and-true series returns, currently there’s an impressive line-up of Canadian TV programs. So here are the top 10 Canadian shows to watch right now (with pride).” Read more.

“BOB FALLS IN LOVE”

Doug vows revenge after suffering a hockey injury at the hands of the rival LeDoux Brothers. Meanwhile, Bob finds romance with Juliet, the LeDoux’s sister, an extremely gifted hockey player. When Doug sees this as an opportunity to get back at his enemies, will he jeopardize Bob’s one shot at love?

Here’s what’s coming up this week for new episodes of Canadian series. Check local listings to confirm times. Information is subject to change.

Monday, May 25

THE BEST YEARS, E!, 10pm ET/PT
“Deluth, Minnesota”: Sam assists Poppi in handing out condoms and safe sex pamphlets to the student body, which leads to an unexpected connection with Jake, Alicia’s ex. Meanwhile, Noah, Kat and Robyn struggle to make sense of their feelings for each other, while Rich realizes he wants to get back together with Sam.

Tuesday, May 26

CANADA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, CTV, 8 pm
“Ice Baby Ice” – SEASON PREMIERE: After scouring the country from Vancouver to Halifax, CANADA’S NEXT TOP MODEL has un-earthed 11, all-Canadian beauties bound for the big-time. Join Host/Executive Producer Jay Manuel as he coaches the girls on their way to modeling stardom.

Friday, May 29

SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH…, CTV, 10 p.m.
“Jenny Lewis, Jakob Dylan and She & Him”: Elvis brings together some of the next generation of singers and songwriters catching his ear – all of whom come from musical/show business families.

Sunday, May 31

BOB & DOUG, Global, 8:30pm ET/PT (NEW TIME)
“Bob Falls in Love”: Doug vows revenge after suffering a hockey injury at the hands of the rival LeDoux Brothers. Meanwhile, Bob finds romance with Juliet, the LeDoux’s sister, an extremely gifted hockey player. When Doug sees this as an opportunity to get back at his enemies, will he jeopardize Bob’s one shot at love?

From Bill Brioux of TV Feeds My Family:

• Canucks Exit Bad Break for CBC
  “Friday’s Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… drew 660,000 “commercial.” Flashpoint did 1,149,000. Sunday’s Bob & Doug on Global counted just 174,000 hoseheads, still better than CTV’s dying Degrassi (163,000).” Read more.

Sunday, May 10 – 7:30pm ET/PT

“ICE ROAD TRUCKERS”

After a trip to the Maple Lake Ice Carnival resurrects memories from Dwight’s past as an ice road trucker, he is sent into a state of shock. Bob and Doug take it upon themselves to help Dwight overcome his demons, only to get all three of them stranded in the middle of the Arctic.

Here’s what’s coming up this week for new episodes of Canadian series. Check local listings to confirm times. Information is subject to change.

Monday, May 4

PRODUCING PARKER, TVtropolis, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT
Series Premiere: This animated series follows the outrageous adventures of Parker Kovak (Kristin Booth), an overworked and underpaid television producer, as she manages her boss’s delicate ego, the quirky production crew and all the hilarious behind-the-scenes antics of “The Dee Show.” The Dee Show’s colourful cast of characters includes self-absorbed, high-maintenance host, Dee (Kim Cattrall); the resident copywriter, Simon (Aaron Abrams); the sexy, under-qualified intern, Chicago (Sarah Cornell); and the charismatic station owner, Bake Bellamy (Peter Keleghan).

THE BEST YEARS, E!, 10pm ET/PT
Dermabrasion: Sam juggles putting on a play and her duties taking care of Alicia while trying to bond with Robyn, who sees the play as an opportunity to send a message to her father. Meanwhile, Del and Kat are partnered up for a project that has them psychoanalyzing everyone around them.

COLD BLOOD, Global, 10pm ET/PT
Double Jeopardy: On June 16th 2001, police rush to a gas station after a man is shot in the face in broad daylight. The victim is Jeff Zack, a 40-year-old with a criminal record and a long list of enemies. His killer’s identity and motive remain a mystery, but key evidence leads police to the home of one of Akron’s most powerful families. A tangled web of secrecy, adultery, and murder begins to unravel.

Wednesday, May 6

MURDOCH MYSTERIES, Citytv, 10pm ET/8pm MT/8pm CT
Murdoch.com: The discovery of a decomposed body leads Murdoch into the fascinating world of telegraphy- the 1895 equivalent of the internet. When Murdoch calls on Enid to assist in the investigation, she finds herself in peril. Meanwhile, Inspector Brackenreid’s erratic behaviour has Dr. Ogden questioning the Gold Cure the Inspector is taking to help him stop drinking.

Friday, May 8

FLASHPOINT, CTV, 9 pm
Last Dance: Team One is called to intercept a volatile young couple (guest stars Kathleen Munroe, WITHOUT A TRACE and Luke Kirby, TELL ME YOU LOVE ME) on what appears to be a drug-fuelled crime spree. But as ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ hold a roomful of terrified wedding guests hostage, the team discovers the tragic secret behind this unforgettable night. And Parker (Enrico Colantoni) must make a wrenching ethical decision that threatens Team One’s unity.

SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH …, CTV, 10 pm
President Bill Clinton: Clinton joins Elvis Costello in an unprecedented and revealing chat about his early career aspirations and the astonishing degree to which music shaped him as a man, a politician and a president.

Sunday, May 10

BOB & DOUG, Global, 7:30pm ET/PT
Ice Road Truckers: After a trip to the Maple Lake Ice Carnival resurrects memories from Dwight’s past as an ice road trucker, he is sent into a state of shock. Bob and Doug take it upon themselves to help Dwight overcome his demons, only to get all three of them stranded in the middle of the Arctic.

Sunday, May 3 – 7:30pm ET/PT

“DENNIS MOVES IN”

After Bob and Doug’s sleazy friend Dennis is evicted from his apartment, he moves in with the McKenzies, much to their mutual annoyance. But, when Doug breaks his finger on the job, Dennis convinces him to stay home and join him in the lavish life of worker’s compensation insurance. Will Bob and Doug’s new tenant drive the brothers apart?

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Sweet Baby James Scores on Spectacle
  “Costello brought Taylor back to his first big pop star moment, the 1971 Lincoln Folk Festival, where the North Carolina-native was top of the bill with The Byrds, Dion and many others. “It was an amazing afternoon of great music,” said Costello, who was there in that audience.” Read more.

Sunday, April 26 – 7:30pm ET/PT

“NO COUNTRY FOR OLD PEOPLE”

Bob and Doug’s mother, Gladys, is evicted from her nursing home after her caretaker Slav chooses to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. Now, forced to care for their mother, Bob and Doug have to cope with Gladys’ difficult ways. Will the McKenzies be able to convince Slav to reopen his doors, or will they be forced to find familial harmony?

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Bob & Doug Get ‘Toon Up. Beauty, Eh?
  “Always love talking to Dave Thomas. Besides his certified, Canadian comedy icon status, the SCTV firebrand has an informed opinion on just about any subject. Spoke with him recently about his latest venture, Bob & Doug, which premiered Sunday night at 7:30 on Global.” Read more.

From Sheri Levine of Canwest News Service:

• Bob and Doug, reborn
  “Bob and Doug McKenzie are older, but not wiser, and now they’re animated. The iconic, dim-witted, beer guzzling McKenzie brothers return to television in the new half-hour animated series Bob & Doug, premiering tonight on Global.” Read more.

From Mike Bell of the Calgary Herald:

• Hoser Nation
  “You can’t plan immortality. What you can do, however, is throw on a tuque, parka and work boots, pop open a couple of stubbies with a friend, fry up some pork products, improvise some goofy little bits, and record it with a camera.” Read more.

From Bill Harris of Sun Media:

• Bob & Doug get animated
  “In some ways the animated versions of Bob and Doug McKenzie are more real than the live-action versions ever were.” Read more.

From of the Toronto Star:

• Bob & Doug taking off again
  “(Dave Thomas) and his SCTV writing/performing partner Rick Moranis saw their beer-guzzling, bacon-frying McKenzie Brothers, originally intended as Canadian-content filler, explode into a pop culture phenomenon on both sides of the border. Decades later, there was a second surge of McKenzie mania when their co-directed 1983 feature, Strange Brew, was released on DVD to an avid new audience, on college campuses.” Read more.

Sunday, April 19 – 7:30pm ET/PT

Canada’s favourite pair of ‘hosers’, the McKenzie brothers, return to primetime in an all-new half-hour animated comedy series. Starring SCTV alum Dave Thomas (“Grace Under Fire”) and comedian Dave Coulier (“Full House”) and featuring the voices of notable Canadian comedy stars including Jayne Eastwood, Pat McKenna, Derek McGrath, Ron Pardo, Neil Crone, Stacey De Pass, Tracey Hoyt, Julie Lemieux and Ho Chow.

From Cassandra Szklarski of the Canadian Press:

• Bob & Doug now cartoon hosers
  “It’s been nearly 30 years since dim-witted hosers Bob and Doug McKenzie debuted on Canadian TV with their unique take on the Great White North. The beer-swilling, toque-wearing, back bacon-loving pair personified every Canuck stereotype, and even creator Dave Thomas says he’s amazed the comic characters are still beloved today.” Read more.

From a media release:

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 – 7:30pm ET/PT

Canada’s favourite pair of ‘hosers’, the McKenzie brothers, return in an all-new half-hour animated comedy, BOB & DOUG. Driven with character stereotypes reminiscent of the celebrated film “Great White North”, the series is centered around the fictional Canadian town of Maple Lake, Bob and Doug’s lives as garbage men and their gang of friends who often gather at the ‘Skate ‘n Bowl’. BOB & DOUG builds on the hilarity of the Canadian cult classic while offering a fresh animated look at these beloved characters.

• Dave Thomas as Doug
• Dave Coulier as Bob
• Stacey DePass as Peggy
• Ho Chow as Henry Chow
• Patrick McKenna as Dennis/Donhuckle
• Ron Pardo as Rupert
• Tracey Hoyt as Mary Beth
• Michael Dunston as Dwight
• Derek McGrath as Mayor Melvin
• Neil Crone as Reverend McRee

Listen here to an audio clip.

From a media release:

BOB & DOUG ‘TAKE OFF’ ON GLOBAL

• Iconic Canadian Duo Return in an All-New Animated Global Original Series
• Premieres Sunday, April 19th – 7:30pm ET/PT on Global

Canada’s favourite pair of ‘hosers’, the McKenzie brothers, return to primetime on Global in an all-new half-hour animated comedy series, Bob & Doug.

Premiering Sunday, April 19th – 7:30pm ET/PT, the 22-episode Original Series, starring SCTV alum Dave Thomas (“Grace Under Fire”) and comedian Dave Coulier (“Full House”), will join Global’s highly successful Sunday night line-up alongside such animated favourites as “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons”.

(more…)

From the Canadian Press:

• Rick Moranis opts out of cartoon take on iconic comic duo Bob and Doug
  “Canada’s iconic comic duo Bob and Doug don’t sound quite like they used to. The beloved hosers, immortalized on “SCTV” by comedians Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, are set to return next year in an animated series but only Thomas – who plays Doug – is lending his voice.” Read more.

From Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter:

• Fox joins animated ‘Bob & Doug’
  “The Fox network has come on board the development of “The Animated Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie,” a Canadian primetime cartoon for Canada’s Global Television that reunites Second City TV alumni Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.” Read more.