TV, eh?

From Kathryn Kates of the Toronto Star:

• Now starring in their own home
  “This Valentine’s Day, actors Gabriel Hogan and Inga Cadranel will be enjoying their newly decorated master bedroom. … The two have known each other since childhood, and played together while growing up in co-op apartments in Yorkville, where their parents were good friends. Both were raised in theatrical families. Hogan is the son of actors Michael and Susan Hogan and Cadranel is the daughter of actors Maja Ardal and Jeff Braunstein.” Read more.

Marise Strauss of Playback interviews a bitter Jeff Seymour:

• Seymour says promotion, scheduling killed Jeff Ltd.
  “The topic of how much broadcasters promote Canadian shows is a delicate one, but Jeff Seymour makes no bones about it – he believes that his comedy Jeff Ltd. died after two seasons due to insufficient support from broadcaster CTV.” Read more.

Lee-Anne Goodman of the Canadian Press points out the lack of new Canadian shows:

• CTV congratulates itself for U.S. shows it’s picked up for fall in glitzy launch
  “The network’s Canadian shows, in fact, weren’t highlighted till midway through the launch, when Brent Butt took to the stage to promote the upcoming season of the beloved hit sitcom, “Corner Gas.” “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” “Whistler” and “Robson Arms” join “Corner Gas” on the slate of returning Canadian shows, but there were no new ones on the schedule.”

Marise Strauss of Playback notes a conspicuous absence:

• CTV drums up drama
  “Absent from the CTV schedule, however, is the homegrown comedy Jeff Ltd., which aired on Saturdays.”

From Denis McGrath at Dead Things on Sticks:

• On Can-Comedy Shows Generally & Jeff Ltd In Particular: Why These Pretzels Aren’t Making Me Thirsty
  “Yes, comedy is in decline everywhere, but in Canada it’s in decline for a very specific reason: The shows aren’t funny. I’ll give the standard caveats here: Corner Gas, Trailer Park Boys (where the writers are actually working in deep concert with the onscreen talent.) I have high hopes for the second season of Little Mosque.”

From CTV:

Saturday Apr. 28 at 9:30pm ET – Season Finale – I Want to Be Your Daddy

Jeff’s wildest dreams finally come true when it’s revealed that he is the biological father of a wealthy young heiress. As he takes the reigns of a billion-dollar family corporation, gold watches, super-cars, and no-limit credit cards are just the beginning of Jeff’s fabulous new life.

From the Hollywood Reporter. the news about Falcon Beach being cancelled and Robson Arms renewed, plus a roundup of other recent cancellations, renewals, and question marks:

• Falcon beached by CanWest
  “CTV re-upp[ed] two teen dramas of its own from Epitome Pictures: “Instant Star” and “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” Both series air stateside on the N. CTV also has renewed its hit comedy “Corner Gas” for a fifth season. The broadcaster has not yet decided whether to renew the homegrown comedy “Jeff Ltd.,” from Seymour & From Prods. and S&S Prods., for a third season.

From CTV:

9:30 p.m. ET – Jeff Ltd. – “Jeff De Bergerac”
Jeff guides his uncle Kazem through the minefield of love when Kazem’s television commercial attracts a female admirer. Meanwhile, Samir asks Jeff to help him win back his estranged wife.

From CTV:

9:30 p.m. ET – Jeff Ltd. – “Contra-Dynamantics”
When Liz sends Jeff to a weekend business seminar, he is transformed into the consummate professional. Newly empowered by the doctrine of “contra-dynamantics,” Jeff decides that he alone can cure Gavin’s blind grandmother.

From CTV:

9:30 p.m. ET – Jeff Ltd. – “Size Matters”
Jeff falls big time for the agency’s new client, the owner of an organic food empire, and fantasizes about the genetic perfection of their potential offspring. Meanwhile, Samir’s new carpet store commercials have Uncle Kazem fuming and plotting to take ‘an eye for an eye.’

9:30 p.m. ET – Jeff Ltd. – “The Model Man”
Jeff and Liz are asked to sit as judges for the Miss Milk Contest. Jeff runs into a former romantic interest and jumps at the opportunity to model for this aspiring artist. Meanwhile, Samir becomes Jeff’s houseguest after his wife throws him out for losing his job.

From CTV:

• Robson Arms to air following Corner Gas on Monday, March 12 -
• Jeff Ltd to air following American Idol on Wednesday, March 14 -

CTV will program two of its original comedy series in coveted timeslots that have become available in its schedule next week. An all-new episode of the acclaimed dramatic comedy Robson Arms will air Monday, March 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CTV immediately following the Corner Gas season finale. In addition, an all-new episode of the Gemini-nominated series Jeff Ltd will air Wednesday, Mar. 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CTV immediately following American Idol. Robson Arms and Jeff Ltd continue to air back-to-back in their regular Saturday night timeslot on CTV from 9 to 10 p.m. ET (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times).

In Monday’s episode of Robson Arms, Carol (Linda Cash) is enjoying the single, unfettered life until her teenaged-daughter, Georgia, shows up one dark and stormy night. Georgia, still smarting after her mother’s abrupt departure and subsequent year of “finding herself” in India, rejects her mother’s attempt at bonding, but seeks attention by wreaking havoc in the building. When Georgia’s latest web movie leaves Carol having to dodge a goodnight kiss from Brent the Shopping Cart Guy, Carol breaks down and asks her husband to take Georgia back. Georgia overhears and plots her most self-destructive prank of all. Can the two ever be on equal footing — or in the same headspace, as the case may be?

Robson Arms will follow the season finale of Canada’s most-watched comedy series, Corner Gas. Last week, Corner Gas attracted a season-high audience of 1.8 million viewers. On Feb. 27, Robson Arms attracted 569,000 viewers in a special timeslot following American Idol, up almost 60 per cent compared to it season average and up 77 per cent among the key A18-49 demo.

In Wednesday’s episode of Jeff Ltd, Jeff (Jeff Seymour) hasn’t given up on being part of the “Fish Donuts” empire and enlists his business associate Gavin to create a robotic donut vending machine – The Auto-Fish 9000. Meanwhile, Jeff tries to dodge the advances of both Nathalie and Dorota when Vladimir invites him to dinner as a gesture of thanks for saving his life. Jeff Ltd will follow American Idol’s first Top 12 results episode.

Viewers who missed earlier episodes of Robson Arms and Jeff Ltd can watch them on demand on The CTV Broadband Network (at CTV.ca or TheComedyNetwork.ca). Each week, new episodes are added to the broadband library following their television broadcast on CTV and The Comedy Network.

Robson Arms also airs Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network. Jeff Ltd also airs Mondays at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network.

From CTV:

9:30 p.m. ET – Jeff Ltd. – “The Fishy Award”
Jeff is finally recognized for his ‘genius’ on the Fish Donuts campaign when he is given the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award in Advertising’ (albeit from a local college). Meanwhile, Massoud agrees to give Jeff his own ‘Fish Donuts’ franchise, but only after he graduates from Donut Boot Camp under the watchful eye of a 17-year-old donut store manager.

From andPOP:

• American Jeff Seymour a Canadian success story
  “While most aspiring actors pack their bags and head to L.A to park cars, pump gas and dream big, Jeff Seymour took a different route. He has found success since leaving Hollywood years ago to pursue opportunities in Canada.”

From the Canadian Press, with mentions of this week’s episodes of Corner Gas, Robson Arms, Rick Mercer Report, The Jane Show, Jeff Ltd.:

• TV tips for the week of Feb. 26 

From CTV:

“The Manipulator”
When Jeff gets wind of Liz’s new investment plan, he gets paranoid delusions of a hostile takeover of Santerra and Stevens and craves a piece of the money action for himself. Meanwhile, cousin Samir comes to Jeff for sage advice about leaving his father and opening his own carpet store.

From Playback:

• Viewers jilt Jeff and Jane
  “Early ratings for the second seasons of CTV’s Jeff Ltd. and Global’s The Jane Show have taken a sharp drop from the relative glories of their first runs, following their return to the airwaves earlier this month.”

From Jim Bawden of the Toronto Star, with mentions of Royal Canadian Air Farce, Jeff Ltd. and Robson Arms:

• Hot Box – Television to talk about

From Playback:

• Is Saturday night Siberia for Canuck shows?
  “[Jeff] Seymour’s current-day hominess, as well as his fond remembrance of Saturday night as prime TV-time when he was a kid, were what he settled on after he learned that CTV would be airing the second season of Jeff Ltd. on Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. after Robson Arms, the second season of which likewise launched Feb. 10, in the middle of CTV’s “Crime Time Saturday Night” lineup, sandwiched between CSI and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”

From Jim Bawden of the Toronto Star, an interview with Jeff Ltd. star Jeff Seymour:

• Lovable scoundrel Jeff back with more schemes: Jeff Seymour left L.A. life for Canadian TV. His praised sitcom Jeff Ltd. gets second shot
  “With Canadian TV the money isn’t always there. On U.S. TV it’s all about the money and talent can get the short end. I’ve had parts I really enjoyed – in Paul Gross’s H20, The Grid. This one I’m part writer, executive producer, co-creator. Would this kind of opportunity happen to an actor in L.A? Probably not.”

From Pat St. Germain of the Winnipeg Sun, with blurbs on Robson Arms, Jeff Ltd, Bathroom Divas, Corner Gas:

• TV Extra