TV, eh?

From Natalie Zutter of …ology:

• Fandom Friday: Favorite ‘Degrassi’ openings
  “With the end of Degrassi: The Boiling Point and looking ahead to the crazy changes coming in the fall, I recalled how often Degrassi switched things around when it came to its iconic opening sequence. So, we’ve chosen five Degrassi opening credits from the past 10 seasons that show how far our favorite Canadian kids have come.” Read more.

DEGRASSI – **New Episodes**
Season 10 Returns in October
One of Canada’s top young adult series returns for a second semester. The first half of Season 10 brought big changes to the students when new rivals, new friends, and a shift in the school’s hierarchy shook up every relationship. And the year is only getting started. Fans can catch DEGRASSI when it returns in October, airing once a week, exclusively on MuchMusic.

DISCOVERED (formerly known as DISBAND)
Season 3 premieres in November
MuchMusic’s Gemini-nominated breakout series DISCOVERED (formerly known as DISBAND) may have a new name but still delivers the same rock ‘n roll goods. Each episode puts aspiring bands through a rock star boot camp and teaches them the ins and outs of the music biz. A panel of industry experts hold each artists fate in their hands and determines if they have what it takes to be DISCOVERED. Past seasons have catapulted bands such as San Sebastian, Stereos, These Kids Wear Crowns, and Abandon All Ships to stardom. The slate of 10 new artists chosen for Season 3 to be announced soon.

VIDEO ON TRIAL – **New Episodes **
Mondays at 10 p.m. ET
The most brutally honest judges in pop culture are back to discuss, dissect, and degrade today’s hottest music videos in an all-new season of VIDEO ON TRIAL. This no holds barred MuchOriginal series features comedian guest jurors who give scathing reviews of five music videos each episode. No celebrity is safe from these tough critics. Beware Britney Spears.

From a media release:

It’s a Lockdown at DEGRASSI on the Summer Finale of MuchMusic’s Hit Series, Aug. 23-26

• New episodes of DEGRASSI return in October, airing once a week, exclusively on MuchMusic

It’s been a semester of hot hook-ups and delicious drama for the students of DEGRASSI. And as things heat up, MuchMusic’s hit show is going on lockdown. During the school’s biggest social event, an ongoing feud escalates to a point where lives are put in danger and a lockdown threatens to change Degrassi Community School forever. Don’t miss the action on DEGRASSI’s mid-season summer finale week airing Monday, Aug. 23 – Thursday, Aug. 26 at 9 p.m. ET.

From the summer telenovela format to its groundbreaking storylines, DEGRASSI has kept fans coming back day after day and week after week, making it one of MuchMusic’s most watched shows of the year. Fans can catch DEGRASSI when it returns in October, airing once a week, exclusively on MuchMusic.

Finale Week Episodes

DEGRASSI – “Purple Pills” (Pt. 1 and Pt. 2)
Monday, August 23 and Tuesday August 24 at 9 p.m. ET
Fiona has been seeing a therapist to deal with the trauma of Bobby’s abuse, but overwhelmed with anxiety she turns to the next best thing – champagne. Riley is ready to make his relationship with Zane public but when a university football recruiter shows interest, Riley starts having second thoughts. When Eli cancels guy’s night with Adam to hang out with Clare, Adam makes a new friend, Fitz. But after a humiliating incident Adam is ready to take on Fitz and the bullies all by himself.

DEGRASSI – “All Falls Down” (Pt. 1 and Pt. 2)
Wednesday, August 25 and Thursday August 26 at 9 p.m. ET
Holly J and Sav manage to convince Mr. Simpson to ignore the PTA ruling to cancel the Night in Vegas dance by promising to keep the event trouble free. Drew is suppose to go with his girlfriend Alli, but when Bianca steps in with a proposition he can’t refuse, his relationship with Alli is put to the test. Meanwhile, Fitz promises to end his fight with Eli on one condition – Clare must to go to the dance with him. But when Eli refuses to back down things get out of hand putting the fate of Degrassi Community School in jeopardy.

From a media release:

Degrassi switches to the RED digital camera to set a Canadian television milestone

Stephen Stohn, president of Epitome Pictures Inc. and executive producer of Degrassi, credits the PS Production Services Ltd. (PS) supplied RED digital camera as a key reason his company is able to produce the largest single season episode order of a drama series in Canadian television history.

While most viewers won’t notice the change to digital, behind-the-scenes the RED digital camera has made a significant difference. With the RED’s streamlined workflow and film quality digital output, Epitome Pictures Inc. has been able to produce a new episode of Degrassi every 2 ¾ days.

“After 30 years of shooting on 16mm, the switch to the RED digital camera for this season of Degrassi is a huge milestone,” said Stohn. “Without making the switch to RED we would have had a hard time shooting so many episodes. PS was instrumental in helping us make this transition and the resulting picture quality that we are seeing is way beyond our wildest dreams!”

With a tight production schedule and 48 episodes to shoot, the RED digital camera has been a welcome addition on Degrassi’s Toronto set for director of photography Alwyn J Kumst.

“Because of the volume of footage we shoot each day – the equivalent of maybe 24 to 30 rolls of 16mm – the RED has meant less loading time and waste and not generating short ends,” said Kumst. “PS has been very helpful and knowledgeable with the RED technology we have on set. They have served me very well in the past on other productions so it was comforting to take on Degrassi with its challenging shooting schedule knowing that PS could back up all our camera needs.”

PS has been proud to support this iconic Canadian series since its inception over 30 years ago. The Degrassi brand has since become a worldwide phenomenon. Degrassi is now licensed in over 150 countries around the world and is the top-rated show on TeenNick in the United States.

“I can still remember loading the gear for The Kids of Degrassi Street into a VW van,” recalled Doug Dales, founder and chairman of PS Production Services. “To see the show evolve from where it began three decades ago has been remarkable, and to have helped them take the next step to digital has been a great honour for our company.”

The new “shot on RED” season of Degrassi premiered Monday, July 19 at 9 p.m. ET and won its 9-9:30 p.m. timeslot for teens amongst all Canadian and US specialty networks. The series airs Monday-Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on MuchMusic with a two-hour marathon repeating on Fridays from 6-8 p.m. ET.

From Kat Angus of Postmedia News:

• Degrassi seamlessly incorporates transgendered character
  “Degrassi (MuchMusic, 9 p.m.) is three weeks into its telenovela format, and this week saw the introduction of Adam, the teen drama’s first transgendered character. And, to Degrassi’s credit, the show has seamlessly incorporated Adam into its existing storylines instead of awkwardly introducing him as transgendered.” Read more.

From Angel Cohn of Television Without Pity:

• Degrassi’s New Next Generation Is More Addictive Than Ever
  “However, with “The Boiling Point” (the moniker for this nightly-serialized run) has really upped the ante and renewed my interest in the show. Here’s why….” Read more.

Episode 4: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Anthony and I mock Global’s upcoming show Canada Sings, the producers of The Bridge for thinking CBS is still on board, Degrassi ratings information, and each other. I praise The Movie Network/Movie Central/HBO Canada and Call Me Fitz but we mock their “terrible branding problem” and the vagueness of The Yard‘s premise.

We don’t mock Flashpoint but discuss the season three premiere, and I talk to Enrico Colantoni about his role as Greg Parker and how Flashpoint is a great example of Canadian storytelling. As we say during the podcast, the interview doesn’t have great sound quality and strict spoilerphobes should beware.

Your links

• Canada Sings – I am excited at how much Anthony is going to hate this Glee-like reality show, even if I’m not excited about the show itself
• The Bridge is cancelled on CBS, despite what the producers want to believe
• Flashpoint season 3 premieres August 6
• Degrassi is doing well. I think. If I’m parsing the media release correctly.
• Haven and The Pillars of The Earth are in our rotation
• The Movie Network/Movie Central/HBO Canada schedule
• Enrico Colantoni is a very cool dude
• For information on specific shows, check out the sidebar of TV, eh? under Categories, or search for the show title in that little search box

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

From a media release:

DEGRASSI Wins Timeslot with Key Demo of P12-34 in Its First Week on MuchMusic

• DEGRASSI is MuchMusic’s second most-watched series this BYTD
• More Than 1 Million DEGRASSI Lovers Watch Season 10 on MuchMusic in First Week
• New episodes air Monday through Thursday at 9 p.m. ET all summer long

It’s official. DEGRASSI ’s new format is a hit with audiences! During its first week of its new telenovela format, DEGRASSI won its timeslot (9 – 9:30 p.m. ET) Monday to Thursday with MuchMusic’s key demo of P12 – 34 amongst all Canadian and US Speciality Networks. Within its first week, DEGRASSI also became the station’s second most-watched series this broadcast year to date with P12 – 34 audiences and in overall viewership. And more than one million viewers tuned in to watch the first week of DEGRASSI on its new, exclusive home, MuchMusic.

New episodes air Monday through Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET. This new daily format continues all summer long on MuchMusic. Viewers can get caught up on episodes by going to muchmusic.com.

Source: BBM Canada

From Maddy Pumilia of Blogcritics:

• An Interview with Degrassi’s Charlotte Arnold
  “Holly J is a bit witty and a bit sassy, but that’s what makes her so lovable. Charlotte Arnold has played Holly J. Sinclair for the past four seasons of Degrassi. Back in season seven, she was mean, snarky, and insecure. Definitely the villain you’d love to hate, she made enemies for fun, like treating her best friend Anya (Samantha Munro) horribly by exposing Anya’s learning disability. Degrassi’s now entering its tenth season and Holly J has grown more mature, although she still has that spark of edginess that captures viewers’ attention.” Read more.

From the TV Addict:

• Spotlight on Ben Lewis: DEGRASSI’s Latest Bad Boy
  “Lucky for this TV Addict, Bobby’s portrayer, Ben Lewis, is nothing like the abusive boyfriend he plays on the wildly-addictive teen sudser. In fact, it turns out he’s a downright nice guy who was thrilled — and maybe even a little surprised — to finally land a role on the show that has become something of a right of passage for young Canadian thespians.” Read more.

Episode 3: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Co-hosts Anthony Marco and Diane Wild discuss the CBC fall schedule, including arguing about the merits of Battle of the Blades, deciding Rick Mercer and the gang at 22 Minutes should never have holidays so we can have a Daily Show/Colbert type show in Canada,cheering Being Erica‘s renewal, and cynically deciding CBC had nothing better in development. In other news, 18 to Life was picked up by The CW, Haven got decent ratings, Degrassi introduced a transgendered character, and The Pillars of the Earth premieres Friday on The Movie Network/Movie Central.

Plus, a 20-minute interview with Gordon Pinsent about his role in The Pillars of the Earth, his 80th birthday celebration at the opening of his new play, Due South, the new series he has in development with son-in-law Peter Keleghan, what progress he’s seen in the Canadian TV industry over the years, his relationship with Sarah Polley, and how he’s been in every Canadian TV show and movie ever made.

Your links

• The CW picks up CBC’s 18 to Life
• Haven hits 300,000 viewers
• Degrassi introduces a transgendered character – controversial or same old, same old?
• The Pillars of the Earth premieres Friday, July 23
• The incredible career of Gordon Pinsent
• The CBC fall schedule
• Is Battle of the Blades a case of Schadenfreude or cheesy fun? You decide. (But it’s totally cheesy fun.)
• The Christina Cox vampire show whose title I couldn’t remember is Blood Ties. Last week, I couldn’t remember the Chris Leavins movie The Hanging Garden. Next week, maybe I’ll forget the name of this podcast!
• For information on specific shows, check out the sidebar of TV, eh? under Categories, or search for the show title in that little search box

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.



DEGRASSI MuchMusic Exclusive Season Premiere – Monday, July 19 at 9 p.m. ET (30 min)

New episodes airing Monday – Thursday at 9 p.m. ET all summer long

DEGRASSI returns to MuchMusic with brand new episodes! Sav and Anya have been planning for their Spring Formal for as long as they can remember. That’s until Sav’s parents announce their close family friends, whose daughter is Sav’s potential future wife, are coming to visit. It all feels like too much to handle, especially when Sav meets his possible bride-to-be and she turns out to be smart, funny, and smokin’ hot.

From Bill Brioux of the Toronto Star:

• Degrassi: School more of a grind than ever
  “It’s true — Snake has taken over the school. Stefan Brogren, who started playing Archie “Snake” Simpson in 1987 on Degrassi Junior High, has now graduated to principal as Degrassi: The Next Generation enters its 10th season.” Read more.

From Eric Volmers of Postmedia News:

• Surviving Degrassi, a ‘high school on crack’
  “Landon Liboiron found out early on that there’s a downside to joining the cast of an established TV show, particularly one that is put under severe scrutiny by its devoted fan base.” Read more.

From Bill Harris of QMI Agency:

• More ‘Degrassi’ on the way
  “Degrassi four nights a week? Joey Jeremiah literally would flip his lid. Alas, no one on Degrassi wears fedoras any more (thank God). But the latest version of the Degrassi franchise will air Monday to Thursday, in true teen-soap fashion, starting this Monday on MuchMusic.” Read more.

From a media release:

MuchMusic Invites DEGRASSI Fans to A Friday Night Love-In at Toronto HQ for the Premiere Screening Party

• D: NYC – DEGRASSI TAKES MANHATTAN, July 16
• Fans and DEGRASSI cast unite in advance of Season 10 premiere, Mon. July 19, exclusively on MuchMusic

Get ready for the movie event of the summer! MuchMusic brings fans up close and personal with their favourite DEGRASSI cast members at the world premiere screening party of the new DEGRASSI movie, D: NYC – DEGRASSI TAKES MANHATTAN. This Friday, July 16 fans can head down to MuchMusic’s Queen St. HQ parking lot beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET to hang and take photos with the cast, including Miriam McDonald, Shane Kippel, Annie Clark, Landon Liboiron, Charlotte Arnold, Raymond Ablack, Melinda Shankar, and more! The Big Apple action unfolds on the big screen at 9 p.m. ET where viewers can not only watch their favourite DEGRASSI faces, but also guest stars like MTV’s Jessi Cruickshank, etalk reporter and LaineyGossip.com creator Lainey Lui, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE’s Mary Murphy, Jay Manuel, and Colin Mochrie. The screening is open to the public, so bring friends, cameras and don’t forget chairs and blankets, because Much is doing D: NYC drive-in style! For more information on the screening, fans can hit up muchmusic.com.

And the drama doesn’t stop there. Fans get their fill all summer long when Season 10 of DEGRASSI airs exclusively on MuchMusic, nightly Monday through Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, beginning Monday, July 19.

D: NYC – DEGRASSI TAKES MANHATTAN
Premieres Friday, July 16 at 9 p.m. ET
Later, high school. Hello New York City! DEGRASSI grads and friends dive into the summer that changes their lives forever. And what’s summer without a little romance. Best friends Jane and Holly J head to the Big Apple, with big hopes and even bigger dreams. Back in Toronto, Spinner’s summer is hotter than he ever imagined. But when his hopes for the future turn to dust, he struggles to rebuild and move on. Hot hook-ups, messy melt-downs, Park Avenue jaunts, and wedding-day hijinx are all in a days work for this crew.

DEGRASSI – Season 10
Premieres Monday, July 19 at 9 p.m. ET
Airs Monday – Thursday all summer long
One of Canada’s top young adult series returns exclusively on MuchMusic. Starting this July, DEGRASSI viewers get their fill of the series four days a week, as the show moves to a 30-minute, Monday – Thursday format. In Season 10, a new school year brings big changes to the students of DEGRASSI. New rivals, new friends, new love interests, and a shift in the school’s hierarchy shake up every relationship. Relevant and exciting, intense and fresh, this home-grown hit series continues to explore envelope-pushing stories with a sense of humour and a lot of heart. During the summer, Much fans can also expect exclusive behind the scenes footage from Season 10.

From Cassandra Szklarski of the Canadian Press:

• Teen drama ‘Degrassi’ tackles transgender storyline in upcoming season
  “Degrassi marks a decade of unexpected pregnancies, underage drinking, broken hearts and general angst-ridden rebellion with a new season Monday that introduces its first transgender character.” Read more.

From Jennifer Armstrong of Entertainment Weekly:

• Jay Manuel in the Degrassi movie
  “Here, after the jump, an exclusive sneak-peek clip in which Holly J. (Charlotte Arnold) encounters Mr. Jay before her first day at her summer internship at a place that looks startlingly like MTV (but is apparently called TVM — totally different).” Watch here.

By Diane Wild

Article first published as A Chat With Paula Brancati of Degrassi and Being Erica on Blogcritics

Paula Brancati is taking on New York Friday, when her character Jane Vaughn plays a major role in the two-hour television movie Degrassi Takes on Manhattan. And she’s taking on Canadian television in two high-profile series. Combined with her role as troublemaking friend Jenny in Being Erica, Brancati gets to do “a lot of stuff onscreen that I wouldn’t do offscreen,” as she said in a recent interview.

In Degrassi Takes Manhattan (known as Degrassi: The Heat Is On in the US), Jane tags along with her friends Holly and Declan “because her lies and cheating on Spinner are revealed, so she goes along as an escape.”

Naturally, “lots of debauchery ensues.”

For Brancati, however, the highlight was recording three songs for the soundtrack when Jane joins an indie rock band. Though she started acting in musical theatre as a child and has performed live, this was her first professional recording.

She’ll miss the movie’s premiere on Friday at the MuchMusic headquarters for a great reason, however: her play Love, Loss, and What I Wore premieres that night at Toronto’s Panasonic Theatre. Written by Nora and Delia Ephron and starring Andrea Martin, Louise Pitre and Mary Walsh, the play is a big part of Brancati’s big night.

The 10th season of Degrassi premieres on Monday, but as for Brancati’s involvement? “You know, you’ll have to wait and see the movie” she said. “The movie is really tumultuous. She experiences heartbreak and you don’t know what’s going to happen next with her. She has so many opportunities and places to go, so who knows if Degrassi or Toronto will be one of the options for her.”

Fans will definitely see more of Brancati when the third season of Being Erica airs, though. At 21, the actress gets to play Jenny as a 15-year-old in flashbacks and as a 30-year-old in present-day.

She’s already shot one episode where “there may have been some pole dancing involved. That doesn’t seem to be such a stretch for Jenny but for me it was a little daunting.”

And there’s more to come. She’s shooting another episode in a couple of weeks with the tentative title “Jenny on the Block.”

The show, of course, remains centred around Erin Karpluk’s Erica, but Brancati thinks the upcoming season will shake things up a little. “This season is very dark for Erica. It’s not just a formulaic episodic show. It goes in a whole other direction and there’s new characters .It’s not just a therapy session with Erica and Dr. Tom. I think fans will really enjoy it.”

As for the Degrassi movie, Brancati is curious about the audience reaction. “I want to hear how fans respond to the craziness that’s going to go down. And I want people to empathize with Jane. I really hope they do. She’s made some mistakes but I support the fact that she’s a good girl. Please feel for her!”

Degrassi airs on MuchMusic in Canada and Teen Nick in the US. Being Erica airs on CBC in Canada and SoapNet in the US.

Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Co-hosts Anthony Marco and Diane Wild talk about the renewal of Rookie Blue, a new Flashpoint coming up, The Bridge tanking in the US, and the CTV lineup.

Plus, an interview with Paula Brancati, who plays Jane Vaughn on Degrassi: The Next Generation and Jenny on Being Erica. She’s featured in Friday’s Degrassi Takes Manhattan movie. The 10th season starts Monday – will she be back?

Your links

• Rookie Blue renewed
• New Flashpoint episode airs July 16
• The Bridge averages 3.2 million in US
• Diane will be a guest judge for the Vancouver audition callbacks for Wipeout Canada. Will she be a Paula Abdul or a Simon Cowell?
• The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
• Paula Brancati of Degrassi and Being Erica
• CTV’s fall season
• The Emmy nominations – everyone and Canadians
• For information on specific shows, check out the sidebar of TV, eh? under Categories, or search for the show title in that little search box

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.