TV, eh?

Bill Harris of QMI Agency breaks down the fall premiere dates, including Canadian shows:

• Fall TV getting weird
  “Our official fall TV preview section will appear in a few weeks, as the majority of shows are set to debut or return toward the end of September. But a significant number of programs will burst out of the gate before that, some even before Labour Day.” Read more.

From Tamara Neely of the Okotoks Western Wheel:

• Fate of tractor divides community
  “However, television fame is a life-changing opportunity few tractors have the opportunity to experience and the raffle winner is invited to donate it to the Heartland television show. Heartland’s series producer Gordon Imlach said crew are buying raffle tickets and fair supporters are welcome to buy a raffle ticket in their name – they will take good care of Millie.” Read more.

From Elizabeth Guider of the Hollywood Reporter:

• Canada’s ‘Heartland’ gets U.S. syndication
  “Canadian series “Heartland” has been cleared in 94% of the U.S. by Genesis TV and Film for the fall season. The CBS, Tribune, Sinclair, Hearst, Lin, Meredith, Nexstar and Belo station groups are the key station groups acquiring the drama. The show is likely to air mostly in weekend primetime slots. No financial details as to license fees per episode were available.” Read more.

From Constance Scrafield-Danby of the Orangeville Citizen:

• Amber Marshall – Living the perfect life in the perfect role
  “Amber Marshall says her life changed “100%” within a single week when she was offered the starring role of Amy in Heartland, CBC’s endearing Prairie series.” Read more.

From the DGC website – nominations include Being Erica, Flashpoint, Sanctuary, The Bridge, Death Comes to Town, G-Spot, Less Than Kind, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Degrassi, Heartland, How to be Indie, Overruled:

• The Directors Guild of Canada Announces the 2010 DGC Awards Nominees “The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) announces the 2010 DGC Awards nominations. Comedian Dave Foley will host the annual gala on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The Guild will celebrate the career of acclaimed director Sidney Furie (The Ipcress File, Lady Sings the Blues) and the extraordinary contributions of Don McCutcheon and Paul Bronfman to the DGC and the Canadian film and television industry.” Read more.

From a media release:

CBC TELEVISION CELEBRATES CANADIAN STARS, ICONS & HOMEGROWN HITS AT FALL 2010 SEASON PREVIEW

• Battle of the Blades is Back!
• Debbie Travis Comes to CBC Prime Time!
• Men With Brooms Brings Fresh Laughs for Fall! (pictured)

Kirstine Stewart, General Manager of CBC Television, previewed the network’s Fall 2010 schedule that features the highly anticipated new season of BATTLE OF THE BLADES, the debut of a brand-new format for ALL FOR ONE WITH DEBBIE TRAVIS on prime time television, a new half-hour comedy based on the popular Canadian movie MEN WITH BROOMS, and the return of several established CBC hits.

PAUL GROSS, DEBBIE TRAVIS, ERIN KARPLUK, RICK MERCER, PETER MANSBRIDGE, GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS, DAVID SUZUKI, KURT BROWNING, DON CHERRY and RON MacLEAN, along with many other CBC celebrities, participated in the announcement for the Fall schedule that also includes THE RON JAMES SHOW, BEING ERICA, THE TUDORS, RICK MERCER REPORT, HEARTLAND, THE FIFTH ESTATE, DRAGONS’ DEN, the 50th season of THE NATURE OF THINGS, and CBC’s winning daytime lineup that includes STEVEN and CHRIS, BEST RECIPES EVER and KIDS’CBC.

(more…)

From Alyssa Noel of the Edmonton Sun:

• ‘Blackstone’ tops Rosie awards
  “Corrupt First Nations leaders, a suspicious fatal fire and a young girl’s gas-huffing addiction make up the heavy plot of this year’s big Edmonton-based Rosie Award winner.” Read more.

From Bruce Kirkland of QMI Agency:

• ‘Heartland’ star likes going country
  “The city kid goes to the country — and likes it! Graham Wardle, one of the appealing young leads in the Canadian TV series Heartland, was born in Mission, B.C., but grew up entirely in greater Vancouver. So Alberta’s Big Sky country, where Heartland is filmed, is a revelation and part of the show’s appeal to both him and the public.” Read more.

From Bruce Kirkland of QMI Agency:

• Quality Canadian shows exist
  “But the constant complaining about problems with government funding, government regulations and the private sector’s penchant for buying American has had one unfortunate side effect. It makes it appear that there is nothing Canadian to celebrate. Wrong. And the new release of two box sets, Heartland: The Complete First Season and Heartland: The Complete Second Season is a poignant reminder.” Read more.

From Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald:

• Rosie nominations bloom
  “Olympic athletes, a horse-whispering teen and cowboy zombies were among the eclectic crew Rosie smiled on Wednesday morning as finalists for the Alberta Film & Television Awards were announced in Calgary and Edmonton.” Read more.

From Elizabeth Withey of the Edmonton Journal:

• Edmonton scores big with Rosie nominations
  “Prairie Dog Film & Television’s Blackstone earned nine nominations, including best production reflecting cultural diversity, best director, best screenwriter and editor in a drama over 30 minutes and best dramatic production under 60 minutes. The one-hour series pilot, set on a fictional reserve and directed by Ron E. Scott, also earned best-actress nods for Calgary’s Michelle Thrush and Edmonton artist Roseanne Supernault, a graduate of Victoria School of the Performing Arts.” Read more.

From Gayle MacDonald of the Globe and Mail:

• If numbers are what count, CBC’s made prime-time progress
  “Four of the public network’s TV shows drew million-plus audiences this season, but critics wonder if there are costs in quality.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• 22 Minutes Down to 13 Amid CBC Cuts for Fall
  “The most dramatic cut could come at the expense of the network’s longest-running entertainment series, 22 Minutes. The Halifax-based comedy may be down to a half-season, with just 13 episodes ordered, down from 18 last season and 20 the season before that.” Read more.

By Valeria Nekhim of The Concordian:

• When passion meets profession
  “Award-winning Canadian screenwriter and former ConU professor finds success on Heartland.” Read more.

When Amy follows in her mother’s footsteps and enters a professional colt starting competition her gift with horses, and self-confidence, is put to the test.

Caleb struggles to get over the physical and emotional scars from his terrible accident as Amy tries to get him back on a horse and Tim doles out some tough love.

From DiscoverFoothills.com:

• Christmas in March
  “The CBC show…filmed in and around the foothills…has began production on a two-hour television movie that will air in December. Executive Producer Jordy Randall says it’s pretty exciting for them to join the line-up of Christmas specials and step outside of the series a bit.” Read more.

Amy faces a tough moral dilemma when she discovers Mr. Hanley has abandoned his horses and is on the brink of losing his farm.

From Petrina Gentile of the Globe and Mail:

• A tale from the Heartland
  “Now meet Graham Wardle, who plays Ty on the CBC drama, Heartland . Although only 21, Wardle has starred in In the Land of Women alongside Meg Ryan and Adam Brody, The X-Files , The Sentinel , The Outer Limits and The New Addams Family.” Read more.

From Lisa Wilton of QMI Agency:

• ‘Heartland’ star a recognizable face
  “(Chris) Potter is now onto the sixth TV series of his 21-year film and television career, playing Tim Fleming in the hit CBC family drama, Heartland.” Read more.

From BBM Canada:

• Top Programs – Total Canada
  #13 Dragons’ Den (1.529 million)
  #25 Flashpoint (1.046 million)
  #29 Heartland (1.028 million)
  #30 Rick Mercer Report (1.009 million)

7 pm – When a dangerous horse virus called Strangles puts Heartland under quarantine relationships are put to the test and Pegasus becomes very ill.