TV, eh?

From Rob Salem of the Toronto Star, and if the Star isn’t using “hot” and “new” ironically, I am (how long have The Simpsons been on?):

• Cartoons for adults the hot new trend
  “Given Canada’s prolific history of cutting-edge kid cartoons, it was only a matter of time before we set our sights on the current hot TV trend of adult animation. Canwest Global has been particularly busy in this regard, with the new, definitely-not-for-kids primetime Bob & Doug cartoon, and now, debuting tonight at 8:30 on TVtropolis, an adult-oriented animated sitcom, Producing Parker.” Read more.
  

From Joel Rubinoff of The Record:

• Booth’s breakout
  “Anyone who has charted the burgeoning career of Kitchener actor Kristin Booth will likely have noticed two things: 1. she’s almost always cast as a wholesome, virtuous, wide-eyed ingenue. 2. she almost always undercuts this image with whimsical humour and mannerisms that border on satirical.” Read more.

From of the Globe and Mail:

• This city girl sings in the key of Dee
  “Cattrall described doing Producing Parker ‘a blast,’ not least because it originates with Toronto’s Breakthrough Entertainment and Canadians, to her mind at least, are masters of the edgy lampoon. ‘I think it comes from our British roots. We’re a little suspicious of things and willing to take the piss out of people.’” Read more.

Here’s what’s coming up this week for new episodes of Canadian series. Check local listings to confirm times. Information is subject to change.

Monday, May 4

PRODUCING PARKER, TVtropolis, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT
Series Premiere: This animated series follows the outrageous adventures of Parker Kovak (Kristin Booth), an overworked and underpaid television producer, as she manages her boss’s delicate ego, the quirky production crew and all the hilarious behind-the-scenes antics of “The Dee Show.” The Dee Show’s colourful cast of characters includes self-absorbed, high-maintenance host, Dee (Kim Cattrall); the resident copywriter, Simon (Aaron Abrams); the sexy, under-qualified intern, Chicago (Sarah Cornell); and the charismatic station owner, Bake Bellamy (Peter Keleghan).

THE BEST YEARS, E!, 10pm ET/PT
Dermabrasion: Sam juggles putting on a play and her duties taking care of Alicia while trying to bond with Robyn, who sees the play as an opportunity to send a message to her father. Meanwhile, Del and Kat are partnered up for a project that has them psychoanalyzing everyone around them.

COLD BLOOD, Global, 10pm ET/PT
Double Jeopardy: On June 16th 2001, police rush to a gas station after a man is shot in the face in broad daylight. The victim is Jeff Zack, a 40-year-old with a criminal record and a long list of enemies. His killer’s identity and motive remain a mystery, but key evidence leads police to the home of one of Akron’s most powerful families. A tangled web of secrecy, adultery, and murder begins to unravel.

Wednesday, May 6

MURDOCH MYSTERIES, Citytv, 10pm ET/8pm MT/8pm CT
Murdoch.com: The discovery of a decomposed body leads Murdoch into the fascinating world of telegraphy- the 1895 equivalent of the internet. When Murdoch calls on Enid to assist in the investigation, she finds herself in peril. Meanwhile, Inspector Brackenreid’s erratic behaviour has Dr. Ogden questioning the Gold Cure the Inspector is taking to help him stop drinking.

Friday, May 8

FLASHPOINT, CTV, 9 pm
Last Dance: Team One is called to intercept a volatile young couple (guest stars Kathleen Munroe, WITHOUT A TRACE and Luke Kirby, TELL ME YOU LOVE ME) on what appears to be a drug-fuelled crime spree. But as ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ hold a roomful of terrified wedding guests hostage, the team discovers the tragic secret behind this unforgettable night. And Parker (Enrico Colantoni) must make a wrenching ethical decision that threatens Team One’s unity.

SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH …, CTV, 10 pm
President Bill Clinton: Clinton joins Elvis Costello in an unprecedented and revealing chat about his early career aspirations and the astonishing degree to which music shaped him as a man, a politician and a president.

Sunday, May 10

BOB & DOUG, Global, 7:30pm ET/PT
Ice Road Truckers: After a trip to the Maple Lake Ice Carnival resurrects memories from Dwight’s past as an ice road trucker, he is sent into a state of shock. Bob and Doug take it upon themselves to help Dwight overcome his demons, only to get all three of them stranded in the middle of the Arctic.