TV, eh?

From the WGC:

• Finalists Announced: The Writers Guild of Canada congratulates the 2010 Finalists

From a media release:

Murdoch Mysteries Season 3 Premieres Sunday, March 14 on Citytv

The third season of Murdoch Mysteries premieres Sunday March 14 at 9:00pm ET/CT/PT (7pm MT) on Citytv. An encore presentation of Murdoch Mysteries will air Fridays at 9:00pm ET/PT (8pm CT, 10pm MT) starting March 19.

Set in 1895 Toronto, Murdoch Mysteries is a one-hour drama series that explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) a handsome young detective using radical forensic techniques, like fingerprinting and trace evidence, to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders. Season 3 will bring back some of Murdoch Mysteries more intriguing characters such as the mysterious warmonger Terrence Meyers (Peter Keleghan) and Nikola Tesla (Dimitry Chepovetsky) whom Murdoch calls on to help defeat his newly discovered nemesis. Some of the cases Murdoch will try to solve in this season include the death of one of their own, a decorated police officer, that blows open the dark underbelly of Station Number Two, eventually leading Murdoch into a world of police racketeering, profiteering, brutality and racism; and the elaborate heist of a valuable Rembrandt painting.

The premiere episode finds Murdoch running for his life from British Intelligence agents accusing him of murder. He finds himself in Bristol, England with no memory of who he is, how he got there and why anyone would want him dead.

Find out Whodunit? in the Season 3 premiere of Murdoch Mysteries Sunday, March 14 at 9:00pm ET/CT/PT (7pm MT) on Citytv (replaces previously announced March 4 premiere date).

From a media release:

Fridays (starting March 5)
Murdoch Mysteries (season 3 premiere) at 10pm ET/PT (9pm CT, 8pm MT)

Stay tuned for information on season 3 premiere date.

From

• TVonDVD – Murdoch Mysteries: Season One – British Cozy Meets Forensics in Canada!
  “Based on a series of novels by Maureen Jennings, the Canadian Murdoch Mysteries is a delightful mix of several types of classic styles – the British cozy, Sherlock Holmes and forensics shows like CSI. Set in Victorian era Toronto, the series mixes historical fact with dramatic – and occasionally, whimsical – fiction. The series, which follows on the heels of a number of made for TV movies that starred Peter Outerbridge as Murdoch, is a good lighter in tone and brighter in presentation, though every bit as absorbing.” Read more.

From Luke Hendry of the Belleville Intelligencer:

• A Glanmore murder mystery – TV SERIES MURDOCH MYSTERIES: Being filmed at historical site
  “Glanmore National Historic Site was the scene of a murder Monday. Actually, there were several scenes involving murder — all staged for filming of the Murdoch Mysteries television series. The show is based on Maureen Jennings’ novels and is set in 1897. Today is the final of two days of location shooting at the museum. ” Read more.

From W. Brice McVicar of the Belleville Intelligencer:

• Happy to host murder
  “One of Belleville’s most recognizable landmarks will be the site of a murder next month and staff at the Glanmore National Historic Site couldn’t be happier. Cast and crew of the television series Murdoch Mysteries are scheduled to begin four days of filming at the Bridge Street East museum Nov. 9. The mystery series, set in 1897 Ontario, is expected to conduct three days of interior shooting and one of exteriors along streets in the neighbourhood.” Read more.

From Robin Parker of Broadcast UK:

• Murdoch Mysteries to film in UK
  “Canadian co-pro Murdoch Mysteries is to get more of a British flavour for its third run, thanks to a strengthened co-production deal between UKTV, ITV Studios, Global Entertainment and indie Shaftesbury Films.” Read more.

Why yes, I am bribing people to chat up Canadian TV right now. Join the fun and blog, email, or Twitter your thoughts for the chance to win some great prizes, courtesy The Movie Network/Movie Central/HBO Canada, CBC, and TV, eh? Click here for all the details.

Here’s a small sample of what people are saying so far:

Alex Epstein at Complications Ensue:

• Divorced, Beheaded, Died
  “I really enjoyed the first two seasons of (The Tudors); but not on the CBC. The BBC version clocks in at about 51 minutes, the CBC version had to be edited down to 44 or so. I found the CBC version to be quite choppy, if you’ll pardon the expression, with odd priorities. So I watched Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD.” Read more.

• This is What I’m Talking About
  “Shows like DURHAM COUNTY are worth making just because they’re fun, scary, creepy detective shows; and if you like the dark, Laurie Finstad and director Adrian Mitchell ladle out darkness enough for any appetite. But, together with FLASHPOINT and CORNER GAS and the other exports, they go a little way towards giving the rest of the world a sense of who we’ve become. And that’s a value in its own right. Okay, Steven Harper?” Read more.

From Groove Kittie:

• Teeeeeeeeee Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, eh!
  “The Border: OH MAN! Talk about a cliffhanger! I’m a bit anxious about this one being a bit of a Gray/Layla shipper. :S On the upside, my favourite characters (Gray and Slade and Maggie) were untouched by the blast. Hey. I’m trying to keep positive here. *trembles* And just to make things a little bit worse, the premiere isn’t until October 8th. Way to drag out the suspense, CBC. *flail* Evil bastards! October 8, 2009 / CBC” Read more – she talks about Flashpoint, Murdoch Mysteries, and Sanctuary, too.

Check out #tveh on Twitter for even more Canadian TV chatter.

And enter the contest – deadline’s Monday!

From Cassandra Szklarski of the Canadian Press:

• TV turns to literary hits for newest prime-time series
  “The small screen similarly offers the greatest potential for Vincent Lam’s Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, said screenwriter and playwright Jason Sherman, who adapted the collection of stories for an eight-episode miniseries bound for The Movie Network and Movie Central early next year. Sherman wonders if the influx of literary inspiration is in any way driven by cable’s success with more sophisticated, layered TV dramas. ‘TV needs story,’ said Sherman, who has also adapted books for the stage and written for Citytv’s Murdoch Mysteries, based on a series of novels by Maureen Jennings.” Read more.

Looking forward to Blood Letting & Miraculous Cures or the return of Murdoch Mysteries? Enter the TV, eh? giveaway!

From thisisbristol.co.uk:

• Canadian TV show Murdoch Mysteries film episode around Bristol landmarks
  “The episode sees the titular hero Detective William Murdoch in Bristol trying to stop an assassination. His co-star for this episode was Lisa Faulkner, a British actress most famous for dying a particularly gruesome death in the BBC1 spy drama Spooks. The episode was filmed for the series’ forthcoming third season.” Read more.

From a media release:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce the nominations for the 24th Annual Gemini Awards, recognizing the year’s best in Canadian English-language television. The 2009 Broadcast Gala will take place on Saturday November 14th in Calgary, Alberta and will be broadcast live on Global and Showcase.

The drama Flashpoint leads the 2009 Gemini Awards nominations with a record 19 nominations, followed by The Tudors with 11 nominations. Being Erica, Diamonds, Less Than Kind, and The Border each received 9 nominations.

Click here for more information and a full list of nominees.

From Karena Walter of the St. Catharines Standard:

• TV show filmed at Ball’s Falls
  “Location manager Greg McMaster said the period element adds an extra challenge. There can’t be anything that looks like it’s post-1897 in the shots, such as street lights and concrete. ‘A set like Ball’s Falls is ideal because it’s eliminated most of that already,’ McMaster said.” Read more.

From a media release:

The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) announces the 2009 DGC Awards nominations. Comedian Shaun Majumder will host the annual gala on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. See nominees here.

From Jennifer Cox of Crave:

• Top 10 Canadian shows to watch right now
  “With lots of summertime premieres as well as tried-and-true series returns, currently there’s an impressive line-up of Canadian TV programs. So here are the top 10 Canadian shows to watch right now (with pride).” Read more.

From Torontoist:

• Televising Toronto the Good
  “Murdoch Mysteries, the Shaftesbury Films–produced television show that follows the exploits of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson)—the Victorian detective first encountered in the best-selling novels of Maureen Jennings—helps bring this other side of Toronto’s history to life. Currently riding a wave of success, the multiple Gemini-nominated show just got renewed for a third season on Citytv and will begin being aired on American Public Television at the end of the month. Season one was released on DVD earlier this week.” Read more.

From Jeff Swindoll of Monsters and Critics:

• Murdoch Mysteries: Season One – DVD Review
  “Wild Wild North could be another moniker for this genre bending Canadian television show. Inspector Murdoch does lack the actor bluster of Artemis Gordon, but Yannick Bisson might fit into Robert Conrad’s tight pants. Elementary, my dear Murdoch.” Read more.

From a media release:

NEW CANADIAN PRIME TIME PROGRAMS THIS FALL:

CONVICTION KITCHEN – A Citytv Original Production – 10 PM Sunday

World-renowned executive chef, Marc Thuet, and his wife and business partner, Biana Zorich, put their reputations on the line with a high-stakes challenge that will push them – and their charges – to the limit In Conviction Kitchen, Marc and Biana have just three weeks to train a staff of former bank robbers, thieves and minor offenders, completely outfit a brand new business, and create an Italian menu around fresh and seasonal ingredients… But the real challenge will be making it beyond opening night — Because once the eatery opens, the restaurant’s motley crew have only three months to turn a profit – or their bosses will pull the plug, and they’ll lose their second, and for many – the last chance to turn their lives around.

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From Paul Mavis of DVD Talk:

• Murdoch Mysteries – Season One
  “Playing very much like Sherlock Holmes Meets CSI, Murdoch Mysteries – Season One has that stolid deliberateness of many Canadian dramas, along with a spotty budget that delivers a sometimes wobbly production design. But in the long run, it should be all about the mysteries, and they’re certainly nothing special. The cast, with the exception of the wonderful Thomas Craig (from Coronation Street), is fairly colorless, as well.” Read more.

From a media release:

New this fall:

CONVICTION KITCHEN

World-renowned executive chef, Marc Thuet, and his wife and business partner, Biana Zorich, put their reputations on the line with a high-stakes challenge that will push them – and their charges – to the limit In Conviction Kitchen, Marc and Biana have just three weeks to train a staff of former bank robbers, thieves and minor offenders, completely outfit a brand new business, and create an Italian menu around fresh and seasonal ingredients… But the real challenge will be making it beyond opening night — Because once the eatery opens, the restaurant’s motley crew have only three months to turn a profit – or their bosses will pull the plug, and they’ll lose their second, and for many – the last chance to turn their lives around.

(more…)

From a media release:

Head North of the Border For a Series of Fascinating Adventures in MURDOCH MYSTERIES

The new American Public Television-distributed series MURDOCH MYSTERIES, airing on public television stations nationwide beginning June 30, 2009, follows the exploits of young detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) as he navigates the streets of 1890’s Toronto. Using unconventional, cutting-edge forensic science techniques, Murdoch battles ridicule from his fellow officers and skepticism from his superiors to solve a series of challenging killings that plague the city.

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