TV, eh?

From Jim Bawden of the Toronto Star:

• Hot box: Television to talk about
  “Two Emmys: Congrats to two Canadian-made animated TV series, which won Emmys at the 34th Annual Creative Arts & Entertainment Awards held June 14 in Los Angeles. Arthur, produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment (and Boston’s WGBH), won Best Children’s Animated Program while Nelvana Films’ The Backyardigans tied for Best Animation.
  Back Again: It was to be the “can’t fail” TV project of last season: an English-language version of the Quebec TV hit Rumeurs. Rumours, executive-produced by Citytv founding father Moses Znaimer, would star Jennifer Dale, Amy Price-Francis, David Haydn-Jones. But nobody watched and the sitcom was soon off the CBC grid. It has resurfaced Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. as CBC runs off unused episodes.”

Ann Marie McQueen of Sun Media interviews Allison Graham:

• ‘Rumours’ actress happiest at home
  “The English-language version of the popular French series — which is set at a Toronto-based women’s gossip and lifestyle magazine and stars Jennifer Dale and David Haydn-Jones — is set Tuesday to begin airing daily at 7:30 p.m. The network is giving the first season a second chance after the series failed to catch fire when nine episodes aired last year.”

From Tod Maffin at Inside the CBC:

• Terrorism drama among list of new CBC TV shows; Venture and Opening Night cancelled
  “Shows coming back to air include: Little Mosque on the Prairie, Test the Nation, Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister, The National (duh), Marketplace, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Rick Mercer Report, The Royal Canadian Air Farce, Dragons’ Den. Curiously absent from the list of returning shows is Intelligence, but a CBC spokesperson tells me it’s not an omen — talks with the independent producer are still continuing.”

From Lee-Anne Goodman of the Canadian Press:

• Success abroad, online viewing, CBC troubles dominated Canadian TV in ’06

(The Blogcritics post referred to in that article is here: Canadian television embracing irrelevance?)

From Playback:

• Programmer Layfield on CBC’s fall ratings 

From CBC:

9:30  p.m.

Vincent tells Sarah he wants to have a baby, and Frank panics about his lack of love life.

• Official show site
• More TV, Eh? posts

From CBC:

When Sarah feels underappreciated at work, she makes the mistake of demanding more responsibility from Michelle.

• Official show site
• More TV, Eh? posts

From Bill Brioux of the Toronto Sun:

• Numbers don’t lie: CBC barely alive in the ratings department 

From CBC:

Monday, November 20, 2006, 9:30 p.m.
Eps 7
Sarah and Sandra declare a truce, while Felix wages war on Ben.

• Official show site
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From CBC:

Episode 6 – The Real Thing, 9:30 pm
Sarah wants the magazine’s lingerie photos to show a real woman instead of the usual thin model – an idea Sandra opposes vehemently. Ben has a bad experience buying lingerie, and Katie finds herself a new job: a job her brother disapproves of.

• Official show site
• More TV, Eh? posts

From the Canadian Press:

• Rumours cast a close-knit bunch urging Canadians to give their show a chance 

From CBC:

Monday, November 6, 2006, 9:30 p.m.
Eps 5

Helen goes on a date with someone she used to babysit, while Felix’s babysitter teaches him an interesting new game.

• Official show site
• More TV, Eh? posts

From Guy Dixon of the Globe and Mail, CBC’s defense of their ratings claims “the network’s total audience share has remained steady this season compared with the end of last year” and points to “solid ratings for stalwarts such as the Rick Mercer Report and the fifth estate and the slow promise of newcomers Dragons’ Den and Intelligence”:

• Stursberg says CBC ratings not ‘disastrous’

From Playback:

• Small audiences for CBC’s Intelligence, Jozi-H

From CBC:

Sarah leads a disastrous production meeting, while her boyfriend and her best friend argue over who gets to spend time with her.

• Official show site
• More TV, Eh? posts on Rumours

From the Toronto Sun, about the Canadian networks’ scramble to adjust schedules with new and cancelled shows. Mentions several Canadian shows such as Corner Gas, Rumours, Intelligence, and Dragons’ Den:

• Touch that dial! Is there a doctor in the House for ailing TV schedule?

From the Toronto Star, a few Canadian shows are on the list, including Corner Gas, Rumours, and 72 Hours: True Crime:

• Hot Box: Television that smokes

From CBC:

On an all new episode of Rumours, Ben struggles to get along with his family and coworkers, while Sarah struggles to write something nice about Ben for an article.

• Official show site 

From the Toronto Sun:

• Rumour has it: For a CBC show, Rumours has sharp, snappy dialogue and plenty of hot gossip

Series debuts for the week of Oct. 8. Check local listings for exact times in your area.

Monday, Oct. 9

Rumours, CBC: Rumours offers a modern look at high urban living through the eyes of the staff at a Toronto-based women’s magazine. Wild and wickedly funny, the show explores sex, love, friendship, family, and business and how the lines between these things blur, fall apart, and get smashed to pieces. Airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC. Official show site.

The Hour, CBC: The Hour brings viewers a different take on the news. It’s not a newscast. And It’s not a magazine show. It’s 1/24th of a day through the lens of George Stroumboulopoulos and company. All news shows cover the issues of the day. The Hour covers them in an unconventional way. Whether it’s interviewing Canadians in The Hour’s dubious panel van, setting up the current climate in a political hot zone, or interviewing a past-his-prime rock star in all his spandexed glory, George is there, guiding you seamlessly between politics and pop. Airs Mondays – Thursdays at 11 p.m. on CBC. Official show site.

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Intelligence, CBC: Intelligence is the story of opposite sides of the law coming together to serve themselves and each other. It is a cat and mouse game of exploitation and cover-up, as each camp uses intelligence agents to build up their enterprises. As the season begins, third generation gangster Jimmy Reardon and Director of Vancouver’s Organized Crime Unit Mary Spalding have made deals with the devil; that is, Jimmy has made the deal to work with Mary Spalding as a star informant, and Mary has made the deal to provide Reardon with protection from prosecution. Each will attempt to use the other without getting caught in the act. Airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC. Official show site.

Thursday, Oct. 12

October 1970, CBC: The eight-hour mini-series October 1970 is a detective thriller, a hostage drama and a political nail-biter. On October 5, 1970, the political landscape of Canada was changed forever when terrorists from the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) kidnapped British diplomat James Cross from his Montreal residence. Five days later, another FLQ cell snatched Pierre Laporte, Québec’s Minister of Labour. By October 17th, Laporte had been killed, the police were overwhelmed, the city was in chaos, and the army, in full battle gear, patrolled the streets. Ottawa invoked The War Measures Act suspending civil liberties in Canada. Airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Friday, Oct. 13

Jozi-H, CBC: Set in a socially turbulent, violent, yet undeniably modern city, JOZI H is a gripping medical drama about the personal struggles faced by an eclectic, international band of Doctors, Surgeons and Nurses, dedicated to saving lives at one of the world’s highest profile emergency medicine facilities – “Johannesburg Metropolitan Hospital”. The result is enthralling, compelling viewing in a series filled with complex characters and intriguing storylines, based on universal themes, yet ready to tackle hot issues. JOZI H is a hard-hitting series that combines cutting-edge medicine with riveting drama. Airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on CBC. Official show site.

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