TV, eh?

From the Globe and Mail:

• CBC’s string of reality-show success: Public broadcaster has found ratings gold in home-grown Battle of the Blades and British imports
  “When CBC’s Battle of the Blades debuted Oct. 4, nearly two million viewers tuned in to watch the novel and sometimes awkward pairings of figure skaters and hockey stars. It was second highest premier for a homegrown CBC series since Little Mosque on the Prairie, and the ratings held strong throughout the show’s seven weeks, averaging 1.7 million viewers each episode. It’s the latest in a string of reality hits for the publicly funded broadcaster, which has found past success by poaching reality concepts from Britain and selling them to Canadian audiences.” Read more.

From Joanne Shuttleworth of the Guelph Mercury:

• Alison’s got all the confidence of Maria
  “It was about a year ago when Alison Jutzi sang her heart out but still got booted off the reality show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” Read more.

From a media release:

MARIA HOPEFULS REUNITE IN ONE-HOUR DOCUMENTARY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, AT 9 P.M., ON CBC-TV

It’s been one year since viewers fell in love with the 10 Maria hopefuls who vied for the iconic role of Maria Von Trapp in the CBC Television series HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA?

Through the power of reality television, Elicia MacKenzie became an overnight sensation in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish’s stage production of The Sound of Music. With MacKenzie’s portrayal of Maria Von Trapp, and runner-up Janna Polzin as her alternate, the musical attracted widespread critical acclaim and continues to wow audiences at The Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.

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From the Canadian Press:

• ‘Maria’ runner-up cast as alternate in ‘Sound of Music’ production
  “Janna Polzin, 25, will play Maria twice a week, while the winner of the CBC-TV reality show, Elicia MacKenzie, will perform the role six times weekly, said producers Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish.” Read more.

From BBM Canada, Flashpoint at #3 (1.216 million), Canadian Idol at #6 (984,000 – performance), Canadian Idol at #13 (850,000 – results), How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria at #23 (716,000):

• Top programs – Total Canada

From BBM Canada, Canadian Idol at #3 (1.192 million) and #4 (1.117 million), Flashpoint at #5 (1.086 million), How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria at #19 (752,000) and #28 (610,000):

• Top programs – Total Canada

From Marise Strauss of Media in Canada:

• Maria a winner for CBC
  “CBC’s How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? ended on a high note this week, averaging over 700,000 viewers for its last two episodes, which saw Vancouver’s Elicia MacKenzie win the lead for the fall remount of The Sound of Music.” Read more.

From Richard Ouzounian of the Toronto Star:

• ‘Dark horse’ wins Maria role: Lloyd Webber lauds Vancouverite, 23, for `the most delicious quality when she sang’
  “Elicia MacKenzie, the exuberant 23-year-old Vancouverite who went from what Andrew Lloyd Webber called “almost zero to hero” was the surprise winner last night as the CBC-TV program How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? came to a close.” Read more.

From Peter Birnie of the Vancouver Sun:

• Surrey resident wins Maria contest
  “Problem? What problem? It turns out that the answer to the question posed in the CBC TV reality show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was waiting right here in the Lower Mainland all along.” Read more.

From Vanessa Farquharson of the National Post:

• Problem like Maria solved by Vancouver’s Mackenzie
  “A wide-eyed and breathless Elicia MacKenzie — who just a few years ago was considering a career in massage therapy — officially landed the role last night of Maria von Trapp in the upcoming Mirvish production of The Sound of Music.” Read more.

From J. Kelly Nestruck of the Globe and Mail:

• How do you solve a problem like… Elicia?
  “I though Janna Polzin had it in the bag. She had the look. She had the stage presence. She hit the centres of the notes when she sang. And, most importantly, she got the most votes last week.” Read more.

From CBC News:

• Viewers choose Maria for The Sound of Music
  “Problem solved: Elicia MacKenzie has been chosen to portray novitiate-turned-nanny Maria von Trapp in the upcoming Toronto stage production of The Sound of Music.” Read more.

From the Toronto Star:

• The problem’s about to be solved
  “Tonight, Canadian viewers of CBC’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? find out which young woman has won the televised competition to play Maria von Trapp in the Toronto production of The Sound of Music.” Read more.

From CBC News:

• Maria saga approaches its finale
  “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? is nearing its final act. Three performers are still in the running for the role of Maria von Trapp in the new production of The Sound of Music, which will open in Toronto in October: 25-year-old Jayme Armstrong of Richmond, B.C., 23-year-old Elicia MacKenzie of Vancouver and 25-year-old Janna Polzin of Woodstock, Ont.” Read more.

From Victoria Ahearn of the Canadian Press:

• ‘Maria’ finalists talk ‘favourite things’
  “The Canadian Press conducted interviews with the three finalists, asking them about their favourite things, why they love the musical classic and why they think they should be Maria.” Read more.

From BBM Canada, Canadian Idol at #2 (1.308 million) and #9 (957,000), Flashpoint at #12 (908,000), How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria at #27 (655,000):

• Top Programs – Total Canada

From Liz Brown of the Calgary Herald:

• Maria host solves his own problem
  “Crawford, a Lethbridge native, is a standup and sketch comedian most famous for his work on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. But this is his first attempt as ringmaster of a live TV show. And while he’s stumbled along the way, as the show’s finale nears, he’s proving himself a comedic and endearing host.” Read more.

From the Toronto Star:

• Hot Box: TV worth talking about
  “Canadian TV viewers seem to be having no problem with Maria as the ratings for CBC’s reality-talent show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? get higher. Last Sunday was a record 655,000 viewers for the show and Monday was 610,000. The final two episodes air July 27 and 28.” Read more.

From CBC:

• And then there were three; Marias close in on finale
  “It’s now down to three Marias, and in just a few days a relatively unknown Canadian actress will land the leading role in the upcoming Toronto production of The Sound of Music.” Read more.

From Gayle MacDonald of the Globe and Mail:

• Maria’s main man
  “It was over a lunch in Barbados with fellow Briton Simon Cowell that Andrew Lloyd Webber came up with the idea of using a television audience to help find the ideal Maria for his production of The Sound of Music in London’s West End.” Read more.

From the Canadian Press:

• Webber confident Canadians will pick the right Maria for Sound of Music
  “Musical theatre titan Andrew Lloyd Webber says he’s confident that Canadians will select just the right woman to play Maria in his upcoming Toronto production of The Sound of Music.” Read more.

Photo: Producer Andrew Lloyd Webber is flanked by panelists John Barrowman, Elaine Overholt and Simon Lee.

From BBM Canada, Flashpoint at #5 (original: 1.108 million) and #24 (repeat: 625,000), Canadian Idol at #11 (performance: 984,000) and #17 (results: 732,000), Corner Gas at #26 (591,000) and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria at #27 (571,000):

• Top programs – Total Canada

From the Canadian Press:

• Andrew Lloyd Webber to coach Maria hopefuls through final weeks
  “Theatre giant Andrew Lloyd Webber is jetting to Canada to work with the final four hopefuls vying to star in a fall production of The Sound of Music.” Read more.