TV, eh?

From the Telegram:

• Background roles on Republic of Doyle to be on auction at SPCA fall gala fundraiser
  “The SPCA announced today that anyone who buys a ticket to the group’s third annual gala fundraiser auction Sept. 25 will have a chance to bid on two background roles on the Republic of Doyle television series.” Read more.

From CBC:

• Newfoundland TV hit to be shown in Australia
  The Republic of Doyle, seen each Wednesday night on CBC, has been picked up by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Read more.

From Pam Frampton of the St. John’s Telegram:

• Don’t touch that Doyle
  “The fervour of fans is amazing, so pity the poor fellow who posted the comment on our website: ‘I don’t get it. It sucks.’ He had a few allies, but for the most part his criticism was drowned out in a lovefest of online remarks from people in various parts of the country.” Read more.

From John Gushue of CBC:

• Mr. Pinsent is called to the (Doyle) set
  “Bob Symonds caught this snap on the set of the CBC hit series, which started shooting its second season last week in and around St. John’s.” Read more.

From Ashley Fitzpatrick of the Telegram:

• New writers added to ‘Republic of Doyle’
  “Alan Hawco slid into the character of Jake Doyle and an orange jumpsuit Tuesday for the second day of shooting on “Republic of Doyle.” It is the second season of filming for the St. John’s-based television series.” Read more.

From CBC:

• Republic of Doyle starts 2nd season shoot
  “Shooting began in St. John’s Monday on the second season of Republic of Doyle, the hit CBC series that treats the city as a character unto itself.” Read more.

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

• Some home truths about Canadian TV
  “Promotion matters more than anything. CTV knows this and has benefited enormously. It has promoted the hell out of Hiccups and Dan For Mayor. It made sure that every Canadian knew about Flashpoint and The Bridge. Maybe this was a lesson learned from the launch and success of Corner Gas, but the presence of Canadian shows on CTV is inescapable.” Read more.

From Alex Strachan of Canwest News Service:

• What’s wrong with the Canadian TV dramas on the networks this fall . . . and what’s right about the comedies.
  “Canadians are watching Hiccups and Dan For Mayor, in other words, because there isn’t a same-but-better version on NBC or CBS.” Read more.

From J. Kelly Nestruck of the Globe and Mail:

• A star who’s proudly from the Rock
  “Republic of Doyle star Krystin Pellerin talks about her return to the stage in Waiting for the Parade.” 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.

From Andrew Ryan of the Globe and Mail (from April 7):

• Cop shows and the Canada-U.S. divide
  “The loonie may be booming, but our TV crime-drama format couldn’t be more different” Read more.

From Glen Schaefer of Canwest Media Service:

• Republic of Doyle a Rose with no thorns
  “Every once in a while, an actor is allowed some input into a role, but Lynda Boyd’s latest role as a woman with a past on TV’s Republic of Doyle has had some input into her. ‘You want to see my tattoo?’” Read more.

From Bill Harris of QMI Agency:

• ‘Doyle’ heads into season finale
  “‘I just feel like everything’s falling apart around me right now.’ With those words, Jake Doyle, played by Allan Hawco, sums up the situation in the first-season finale of Republic of Doyle. The episode, titled The Fall of the Republic, airs Wednesday on CBC.” Read more.

When Mal suddenly leaves town and lends Jake out to be shadowed by a pompous crime novelist looking for inspiration, Jake’s entire life, including his constant relationship woes, is put under the authorial microscope; a simple cheating spouse domestic case turns out to be something far more devious than it first appears.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Dragons’ Den Roars to a 2 Mil Season Finale
  “St. Patrick’s Day also brought the luck o’ the Irish to Republic of Doyle, which followed DD with an estimated 908,000 viewers Wednesday night–opposite American Idol.” Read more.

When a dubious chip truck owner notices his truck is missing — along with his driver/best buddy — he cons Jake into taking the case; Martin really crosses a line with Rose and she takes matters into her own hands; and Jake’s divorce becomes final and he’s happy to tell Leslie that he’s now a free-agent. But Leslie’s just been bumped up the ladder with a promotion to Sergeant, and her eye is on the job, not Jake Doyle.

From Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter:

• Canadian sitcoms, reality TV outdo dramas
  The funny thing about Canadian TV nowadays are sitcoms and light reality fare are outperforming edgy homegrown dramas in primetime. The March 5 two-hour series premiere of the CTV police drama “The Bridge” from E1 Television debuted Friday night with 998,000 viewers, just shy of the 1.009 million viewers that tuned in to the recent series premiere for the CBC’s P.I. drama “The Republic of Doyle.” Read more.

A grieving widow hires the Doyles to find out why her husband left a generous sum of money in his will to a woman she’s never heard of. Rose continues to battle with Martin over their divorce while Mal formulates a plan to get Poole out of their lives for good; and Leslie and Jake hit a comfortable stride as friends and colleagues — just as his divorce from Nikki becomes final.

Jake sets out to find the true identity of a beautiful amnesiac who stumbles across his path and ends up fighting off her two stalkers; Martin Poole refuses to leave town and wreaks havoc in Rose and Mal’s relationship; and Leslie gives Jake the cold shoulder.