TV, eh?

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Farce Farewell a Family Affair
  “The seven member troupe went out in style, offering a fast, funny show that will air as an hour-long special Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. on CBC. There were several guest stars, including Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean, who got to fire the chicken cannon at his favorite target (you know who).” Read more.

From a media release:

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE ENDS 16-YEAR RUN WITH AIR FARCE NEW YEAR’S EVE FINAL FLIGHT, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31, AT 8 P.M., ON CBC TELEVISION

After an unprecedented 16-year run on CBC Television, following two decades on CBC Radio, Royal Canadian Air Farce will be signing off with their annual New Year’s Eve Special.

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From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family,includes ratings for Rick Mercer Report, Sophie, Dragons’ Den, So You Think You Dance Canada, etc.:

• Air Farce Soars in Final Friday Flight
  “Air Farce: Final Flight signed off as a series Friday night with a season high 913,000 viewers, which will rank it as CBC’s third-highest rated series this fall.” Read more.

From Richard Ouzounian of the Toronto Star:

• Could a political farce be much funnier than this?
  “When the Governor General suspended Parliament yesterday, it may have proved a headache for the average Canadian and a heartache for the politicians, but the crisis has been a much appreciated early Christmas present for those who traffic in satirical comedy. From CBC TV’s Royal Canadian Air Farce through Second City to a revised Bravo! version of a Michael Healey script, it’s all been grist for the mill. ‘It’s manna from heaven,’ rejoiced Roger Abbott of the Air Farce. ‘We’re pumped, stoked, excited.’” Read more.

Photo: Roger Abbott

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family - this week’s ratings for many Canadian shows in the full post:

• Draggin’ Economy Boost Dragon’s Den
  “Wednesday’s So You Think You Can Dance Canada drew 1,439,000 as it dances down to the wire. Corner Gas pumped another steady 1,033,000. The Tudors was steady at 690,000. The Border sank to 546,000 against a stronger episode of Heroes on Global (913,000). The Fifth Estate did 447,000, with Global’s rescue series The Guard struggling at 306,000.” Read more.

From Bill Harris of Sun Media:

• Final Farce: Last regular Friday episode of comedy show airs tonight
  “CBC’s Air Farce, which technically is known currently as Air Farce: Final Flight, will air its 332nd –and final — regular Friday show this evening. The long-running comedy-sketch series will wrap up for good with another one of its traditional New Year’s Eve specials, conveniently on Dec. 31.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family, ratings for Rick Mercer Report, Air Farce, Dragons’ Den, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Border, The Tudors, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Sophie, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Corner Gas, The Guard, etc.:

• Mercer, Air Farce still flying high
  As expected, Don Cherry helped boost the Rick Mercer Report back on top as CBC’s highest-rated non-hockey broadcast last week, drawing 1,169,000 viewers last Tuesday. In fact, if you add the other 815,000 who checked out Mercer’s Friday rebroadcast, the episode drew close to 2 million Canadians.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux of TV Feeds My Family, ratings for The Border, Dragons’ Den, Air Farce, Rick Mercer Report, Heartland, The Tudors, Little Mosque on the Prairie, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Sophie, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Corner Gas, The Guard, and Degrassi, among others:

• Grace Park Behind Border Jump
  “Boosted by the series debut of Grace Park as Homeland Security Agent Liz Carver, The Border jumped to 765,000 viewers across Canada Nov. 10. That made it CBC’s highest-rated off-ice series last week.” Read more.

From Rob Salem of the Toronto Star:

• Plenty of promise in new Canadian TV comedies
  “I mean, how do you replace a Trailer Park Boys? In fact, there is Showcase’s thrice Gemini-nominated Cock’d Guns, a similarly deadpan rock twist on the same mockumentary style. On the other hand, if you related more to Trailer’s taboo-toppling vulgarity, you need tune no further than the same cable channel’s new and resolutely rude Testees, which has thus far made the Boys look more like altar boys.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family, ratings for the below as well as So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Corner Gas, The Guard, Degrassi:

• Weekly Ratings in Jeopardy
  The Rick Mercer Report, opposite U.S. presidential election returns, drew 843,000 last Tuesday night. Air Farce Final Flight, still stubbornly resilient, drew 728,000, The Tudors, 652,000, The Border, 643,000, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 631,000, Dragon’s Den, 617,000, Doctor Who, 547,000, Doc Zone, 515,000, Little Mosque, 514,000, Nature of Things, 455,000, Heartland, 430,000, fifth estate, 289,000 and dead last–below MVP and jPod numbers–poor Sophie at 251,000 viewers.” Read more.