TV, eh?

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• CBC Puts Cherry on Full Winter Launch
  “Cherry said he had a blast working Battle of the Blades last month as a judge, but said one guy associated with that show just isn’t getting enough credit. “I know I’m going back on everything I’ve ever said about the guy, but Ron MacLean held that whole show together,” sez Grapes. MacLean truly was the cool head who kept Blades on ice, so consider that oversight corrected here.” Read more.

Tonight Rick is in Edmonton for the 35th annual Canadian Finals Rodeo event. He joins the season’s top point-getters for this grand season finale — Rick barrel-races, does trick riding on a horse, and even helps to get the stock animals in order backstage. Later, he’s north of Toronto getting a fly-fishing lesson from a pro.

From a media release:

CBC TELEVISION OFFERS MORE GREAT CANADIAN ENTERTAINMENT WITH ITS NEW WINTER 2010 PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Kirstine Stewart, general manager of CBC Television, today announced details of the network’s winter 2010 schedule that, along with a number of ongoing favourites, features the new Monday night family comedy 18 TO LIFE, the father-and-son P.I. series REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, the long-awaited return to the network of one of Canada’s most legendary comedy troupes with KIDS IN THE HALL: DEATH COMES TO TOWN, a two-part TV movie event based on the life of DON CHERRY, and a daytime lineup anchored by a new season of STEVEN AND CHRIS.

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From Bill Brioux of TV Feeds My Family:

• V Falls Back to Earth
  “Rick Mercer Report 1,084,000. … 22 Minutes clocked 597,000. Being Erica drew 537,000.” Read more.

From Andrew Ryan of the Globe and Mail:

• We all love Rick. But how about Erica? Two homegrown programs currently at the top of their game
  “Tonight brings two homegrown programs currently at the top of their games. You’re probably already watching one, and barely aware of the other.” Read more.

Tuesday, November 17 at 20:00 content for RICK MERCER REPORT, repeating Friday, November 20 at 20:30:

This week Rick is in London, ON training with members of Canada’s national wheelchair rugby team. Later, he goes to Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair and checks out some ’super dogs’ in action — a wide variety of canines who dance, catch frisbees and perform other amazing feats.

From a media release:

The 24th Annual Gemini Awards concluded this evening with the Broadcast Gala, a glitzy event held at the historic BMO Centre, Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta. Hosted by award-winning comedian Ron James, a total of 17 awards were presented including those for Best Comedy Program or Series and Best Dramatic Series. The gala, broadcast on Global and Showcase, also included special tributes to Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce, and Trailer Park Boys for their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Canadian television industry.

The following categories were announced:

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From Alex Griffith of the University of Toronto Strand:

• The Rick Mercer Report: cross-country satire
  “When Rick Mercer entered the CBC studio, the first thing that caught my attention was how short he actually is. For someone who looms like the CN Tower in Canadian television, Mercer’s short stature was initially underwhelming. The surprise faded as Mercer launched his show, demonstrating why he is arguably Canada’s most popular comic.” Read more.

From Kyle Carpenter of the McGill Tribune:

• POP RHETORIC: CAN’TCON
  “Canada’s television shows – news and non-fiction programs excluded – are terrible compared to their American counterparts. And it’s not only in one genre: we fail in every category imaginable. In response to American comedies like The Office and 30 Rock, we come back with Little Mosque on the Prairie. For their action dramas NCIS and Prison Break, we come up with Flashpoint. Animated shows like Family Guy and South Park are met with Bob & Doug and Chilly Beach. They created Saturday Night Live, we came up with The Royal Canadian Air Farce. The Daily Show? The Rick Mercer Report. Seriously, we couldn’t even get Sesame Street right – we had to create a monster named Sesame Park.” Read more.

From BBM Canada:

• Top programs – Total Canada
  #12 Flashpoint (1.871 million)
  #16 Dragons’ Den (1.709 million)
  #19 Battle of the Blades (1.618 million)
  #26 Rick Mercer Report (1.242 million)

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Visitors Welcomed at CTV
  “Tuesday’s Rick Mercer Report made 927,000. … 22 Minutes clocked 596,000. … Being Erica at 447,000.” Read more.

This week Rick checks into the world of fashion at Toronto’s annual Fashion Week. He gets an overview from Jeanne Beker, chats with Canadian designers, and even joins the models on the runway. He is also in Burnaby, BC at Electronic Arts to see how video games are developed from start to finis

From Andrew Ryan of the Globe and Mail:

• Homegrown shows and old standbys shine in the ratings
  “In other signs of Canadian television’s strength this season, CTV’s Flashpoint led off last weekend with a Friday-night episode reaching 1.56 million viewers – the evening’s most-watched show, American or Canadian.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Mercer, Erica Up, News Down
  “The Rick Mercer Report was up to 1,242,000 viewers Tuesday night.” Read more.

Rick goes on a man-date with RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson:

Rick is in Niagara Falls indoor skydiving with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, and then they hang out at Lifeson’s Toronto bar where Rick gets a guitar lesson. Rick also goes behind the scenes on Parliament Hill to find out what makes the place tick— he changes the Peace Tower flag, conducts a tour, among other tasks.

Rick joins the stars of CBCs Battle of the Blades at historic Maple Leaf Gardens

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Clock Ticking on 22 Minutes?
  “It’s been a tough fall so far for one of CBC’s longest-running shows — This Hour Has 22 Minutes. The topical comedy showcase, now in its 17th season, drew just 468,000 viewers Tuesday night.” Read more.

Tuesday, October 20 at 20:00

Tonight Rick joins the CBC TV show Battle of the Blades at Toronto’s historic Maple Leaf Gardens and trains on the ice with the competitors. He’s also in Pembroke, Ontario to participate in the annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Boat Race; he races on a lake inside a huge, hollowed-out pumpkin.

From John Law of the Niagara Falls Review:

• What a Rush: Rick Mercer, Alex Lifeson go freefallin’
  “When it came time for their ‘man date,’ Canadian comic Rick Mercer and rock legend Alex Lifeson went straight to the Honeymoon Capital.” Read more.