Everything about Frankie Drake, eh?

Frankie Drake

Link: Our TV critic moonlights as an extra in Frankie Drake Mysteries

From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:

Link: Our TV critic moonlights as an extra in Frankie Drake Mysteries
I wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or offended. After all, I was being offered a role on the new CBC series Frankie Drake Mysteries.

“You can play a waiter in a Chinese restaurant!” the publicist cheerfully suggested.

After years of interviewing Asian American actors such as John Cho (Star Trek), Eddie Huang (Fresh Off The Boat) and Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken) about the lack of Asian representation in movies and television, playing an ingrained stereotype lacked appeal, to say the least. I had also, in the past, pointedly called out Canadian television producers for making racist comments. So maybe I wasn’t the best candidate. Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Frankie Drake, Frankie Drake Mysteries

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries delivers a solid right hook in Episode 3

2 Comments

With two weeks of episodes under our stylish belts, we can say Frankie Drake Mysteries is firing on all cylinders. Flo is a hoot, Frankie is fabulous, Trudy is terrific and Mary is magnificent. Seriously, this series looks as though it’s been on the air for two seasons, not just two episodes, so congratulations to co-creators Carol Hay and Michelle Ricci, showrunner Cal Coons and the rest of the cast and crew for making Frankie Drake so great.

Now, on to Episode 3, “Summer in the City,” written by Carol Hay and directed by Norma Bailey. Here’s what the CBC has released regarding Monday’s episode synopsis:

When a body is found in a young man’s trunk, the case brings Frankie and Trudy into Toronto’s elite social circles.

And here’s some more intel after watching a screener of the episode.

Rebecca Liddiard is has a comic gift
Liddiard has been all over our television screen of late thanks to Houdini & Doyle, Alias Grace, Slasher: Guilty Party and now Frankie Drake Mysteries. Her Mary is a delightful whirlwind of energy, innocence and flailing limbs that we can’t get enough of. Look for our interview with Liddiard in the coming days.

Welcome Emmanuel Kabongo and Grace Lynn Kung
Kabongo (21 Thunder) appears as boxer Moses Page who is training to fight real-life pugilist Jack Dempsey, while Kung (Mary Kills People) is Wendy Quon, who runs the local speakeasy.

Frankie & Hemingway create sparks
There was a definite connection between the two the first time we saw Frankie and Ernest Hemingway (Steve Lund) converse and there is more of that on Monday night thanks via sarcasm, snark and plenty of side-eye.

Trudy sings!
We were thrilled to see Carol Hay’s script offered the chance for Chantel Riley to step behind the mic for a little somethin’ somethin’. Fingers crossed there’s more of that to come in Season 1.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of CBC.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Frankie Drake

Link: Interview: Making history with Rebecca Liddiard of Frankie Drake Mysteries

From Captain John Kirk of Pop Mythology:

Link: Interview: Making history with Rebecca Liddiard of Frankie Drake Mysteries
” I would say I am more of a historical fiction nerd! I absolutely love to read and watch historical fiction pieces – I always have. That’s probably where it comes from. I can’t speak for the people who cast me but I always get excited when an audition comes up for these roles!” Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Frankie Drake

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries sprints into Episode 2

1 Comment

Last Monday, we got our first look at Frankie Drake Mysteries on CBC. In a word: we loved it. It really is the perfect companion to Murdoch Mysteries though lighter in tone and featuring—count ’em—four kick-butt ladies doing the crime solving.

Last week’s “Mother of Pearl,” was spent giving us a bit of Frankie’s backstory, so we were hoping to get some info on Flo, Trudy and Mary in Monday’s new instalment. Here’s what the CBC has revealed about the storyline for “Ladies in Red,” written by Cal Coons and directed by Ruba Nadda:

Frankie and Trudy are hired by a factory owner to root out communists at his plant, but things soon take an explosive turn.

And here are some additional tidbits after watching a screener.

Flo is fabulous
We’re already in love with Sharron Matthews’ portrayal of Flo. She’s saucy, smart and unapologetic and is a hit with the menfolk. When Frankie and Trudy catch up with her on Monday, she’s in the middle of chatting up a passing fellow and has some laugh-out-loud evidence on Frankie and Trudy’s latest case.

It’s the 1920s so…
… Frankie and Trudy carry guns. That’s a major change from fellow Monday night partner Det. William Murdoch, though at least the coppers at Station No. 4 get to carry billy clubs. Good thing too, because Frankie’s major case involves the Bolsheviks, going undercover and a truly explosive scene. As for Mary, she’s very interested in science and has an inquisitive mind; perhaps she’s inherited that from her father, whom we have yet to meet. Any guesses as to who he may be?

Frankie rides a motorbike
Reason No. 25 why we’re enamoured in this show already.

Paul Amos and Karen Robinson guest star
Amos, who starred on Lost Girl and appeared on Murdoch Mysteries, drops by as Mr. Richard Scanlon, a factory manager. Robinson, who is so great as Ronnie on Schitt’s Creek, plays Trudy’s mother Mildred Clarke.

Franke Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Frankie Drake

Link: Frankie Drake Mysteries stars preview CBC’s unique new series

From Kelly Townsend of The TV Junkies:

Link: Frankie Drake Mysteries stars preview CBC’s unique new series
“It was great to read this script and to see that they made Trudy on the same level as Frankie. It’s not like one is better than the other, they’re both highly intelligent women. Especially being a black woman on television and having that role, is also very important for myself. Being able to see that character be as strong as she is and as courageous as she is was very exciting for me to be able to jump into.” Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail