TV, eh?

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Shattered fails to break
  “The first new show of the 2010-11 network season opened to a BBOE (Below Brampton Overnight Estimate) 428,000 viewers Canada wide.” Read more.

From Jo Curtis of Unreality Shout:

• Review – Shattered: Pilot (S01E01)
  “But unluckily for Ben, and indeed the whole show, Canada seems to be the go-to place for shows to die.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• First review of the new season: Shattered
  “Rennie keeps it all simple and intense and makes the character real, even if the premise is a tad surreal. As a cop show, this is nuts. As a study in mental illness, it has its moments.” Read more.

From Greg David at TV Guide.ca:

• Callum Keith Rennie shines in psychotic ‘Shattered’
  “Played to perfection by veteran actor Callum Keith Rennie, Ben is a brilliant homicide detective with a secret: he suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a.k.a. Multiple Personality Disorder. No one at his Vancouver precinct knows Ben has four alternates swirling around in his psyche, though they do wonder about the fugue states he enters from time to time, and the subtly different guy that emerges from them. When “normal,” Ben is quietly confident in his job and has a dry sense of humour.” Read more.

Wednesday, September 1 – 10pm ET/PT *Series Premiere*
*Starring Callum Keith Rennie (24, Californication), Camille Sullivan (Intelligence) and Molly Parker (Swingtown)*

“The Sins of Fathers”

In the series premiere, Ben Sullivan (Callum Keith Rennie), a smart, tough homicide detective who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder, unwittingly drags his new partner, Amy Lynch (Camille Sullivan), into a clouded murder investigation.

From Michael Oliveira of the Canadian Press:

• After years of supporting roles, Callum Keith Rennie takes centre stage
  “Canadian actor Callum Keith Rennie has played a drinking buddy to David Duchovny’s Hank Moody on “Californication,” a foil to Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer on “24,” and chased confused amnesiac Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) during a memorable scene in the movie “Memento.” But in “Shattered,” premiering Wednesday night on Global, the actor mostly known for his supporting roles plays the lead, Det. Ben Sullivan, a troubled homicide investigator with multiple personality disorder.” Read more.

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

• A head-case cop show with issues
  “The series, made in Vancouver and making good use of the city, is not easy to review. It has good bits and rather poor bits. It is, like its central character, splintered. This is to be expected, perhaps, from the opening episode of a series that promises rich psychological drama over the long run. Mind you, segments of Shattered are just a tad too rough for some people’s patience.” Read more.

Episode 9: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Callum Keith Rennie joins me, Diane Wild, for an interview about Shattered, where he plays a cop with multiple personalities.

But first, I try to convince Anthony Marco that the Emmys are worth watching. I did not succeed. I’m not sure I convinced myself. We mention the Gemini Award nominations which will have been announced by the time you listen to this.

Is 18 to Life returning to The CW? Maaayyyybeeee.

Anthony and I could not be less excited about Canada Sings. But if you disagree, casting is now open.

Then I discuss creative control in the Canadian television industry, from the consistent vision brought to Call Me Fitz to the multiple showrunners and lack of a cohesive vision on Shattered and The Listener. I mention my interview with Peter Keleghan, too, where he brings up some of the same issues. And Anthony laments that Shattered lost a golden opportunity to claim that their multiple showrunners were reflective of the multiple personality of the main character.

We finish up with how PVRs are affecting television viewing – for Anthony, it’s being even more annoyed by commercials, while Diane now gets weepy over iPhone 4 commercials.

Your hosts

• Anthony Marco can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane Wild can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

From Gayle MacDonald of the Globe and Mail:

• A man of many faces
  “It’s not easy, this role,” says the 49-year-old actor, who has more than 100 TV and film credits to his name. “Because you’re trapped within a construct of not being discovered. That meant I couldn’t be too outrageous [when I switch personalities] and suddenly start spouting German.” Read more.

Bill Harris of QMI Agency breaks down the fall premiere dates, including Canadian shows:

• Fall TV getting weird
  “Our official fall TV preview section will appear in a few weeks, as the majority of shows are set to debut or return toward the end of September. But a significant number of programs will burst out of the gate before that, some even before Labour Day.” Read more.

From CMF’s Interactivity:

• Edgy Shattered Breaks Drama Conventions
  “If actors relish memorable roles playing conflicted heroes or legendary villains, then Callum Keith Rennie must be one happy guy. Rennie is the star of Shattered, a Vancouver-shot, Force Four Films/E1 Entertainment production premiering on both Showcase and Global in September. It’s Rennie’s first lead role, although the A-list Canadian actor has 100 television and film credits to his name, including Californication, Battlestar Galactica, and the film Memento.” Read more.

LOST GIRL (13x60min) [HD]
(World Broadcast Premiere)
Sundays at 9pm ET/PT beginning September 12

Lost Girl follows supernatural seductress, Bo (Canadian Anna Silk, Being Erica). Growing up with human parents, Bo had no reason to believe she was anything other than the girl next door – until she drained her boyfriend to death in their first sexual encounter. Now she has hit the road alone and afraid. She discovers she is one of the Fae, creatures of millennia-old folklore that pass as humans while feeding off them in secret. Relieved yet horrified, Bo decides to take the middle path between the humans and the Fae as she embarks on a personal mission to unlock the secrets of her origin.

ROOKIE BLUE (13x60min) [HD]
(Network Premiere)
Mondays at 9pm ET/PT beginning August 30

A fun, fresh, high-stakes drama following the lives of five young, ambitious cops right out of the Academy. From their very first day on the job, these rookies are plunged into the world of big city policing, a world where even the smallest mistake can have life-or-death consequences and serious emotional fall-out.

SHATTERED (13x60min) [HD]
(Network Premiere)
Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT beginning September 1

Showcase brings viewers the much anticipated, bold new Canadian original drama series, Shattered. Starring acclaimed actor Callum Keith Rennie (Californication, 24) as unconventional homicide detective, Ben Sullivan, harbouring the secret of his battle with Multiple Personality Disorder.

From Rob Salem of the Toronto Star:

• Salem: Shattered star a man of Rennie parts
  “‘It’s just the first year of the show, so everyone is still going, ‘Can we get away with this? Is this too much or too little?’ It’s so broad that it’s scary sometimes . . . that’s the thing of trying to find the limitations and constraints.’” Read more.

From CBC:

• Q the Podcast 2010-08-26 Callum Keith Rennie (mp3)
  Japan’s disappearing centarians; actor Callum Keith Rennie; Hollerado

From Bill Harris of QMI Agency:

• Rennie ‘Shattered’ role complicated
  “Then again, actor Callum Keith Rennie admits it’s an open question, even for him, as to whether his character Ben — a cop with dissociative identity disorder — is an admirable dude or not.” Read more.

From Brad Oswald of the Winnipeg Free Press:

• Actor makes dysfunctional detective compelling
  “Shattered is an attention-grabber for a couple of reasons — first, it’s well written and employs a cop-show concept that hasn’t been seen a thousand times before (unlike Global’s other unexpectedly popular summer-launched drama, Rookie Blue), and second, its star delivers a compelling and consistently interesting performance.” Read more.

Episode 8: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Anthony Marco and I give a rundown of September’s new Canadian shows, including Lost Girl, Todd & The Book of Pure Evil, Call Me Fitz, Men With Brooms and Shattered.

I rant about Global’s marketing department doing such a poor job of marketing Shattered in particular, their history of poor CanCon marketing, and their delusion that they have the only new Canadian show premiering this fall (hello, see above).

So You Think You Can Dance Canada guest judge Mary Murphy joins me for an interview to talk about the Top 22, what’s unique about the Canadian version of the show, her negotiations to come back full time on the US version, and more.

Your links

• Lost Girl premieres September 12 on Showcase
• Todd & The Book of Pure Evil premieres September 29 on Space
• Call Me Fitz premieres September 19 on HBO Canada
• CBC’s fall lineup – Men With Brooms premieres September 20
• Shattered premieres September 1 on Global
• The CW cancels 18 to Life
• The Tudors is among the Creative Arts Emmy winners
• So You Think You Can Dance Canada
• Follow So You Think You Can Dance’s Mary Murphy on Twitter

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

Episode 7: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

It’s a ranty podcast with Anthony Marco and I appalled at CBC’s 3D documentary on the Queen and accompanying distribution of 3D glasses and John Doyle’s fabulous tear on Stursberg’s departure: “The CBC is a bizarre institution, a rats’ nest of ego, bickering, backstabbing, rumour and sour dislike of anyone who either has power inside CBC, or anyone or anything that isn’t part of the CBC.”

A clip of The Kids in the Hall talking about downloading their own show from bittorrent leads to even more CBC bashing. We even disparage a show neither one of us has seen yet: So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

And then I lay into the Canadian TV publicity machine for omitting mention of writers while listing directors and production executives, and the Writers Guild of Canada for letting it happen.

And stick around for a great chat with funny, opinionated TV writer/producer Adam Barken (Flashpoint, Rookie Blue, Shattered), one of Playback’s “10 to Watch” and an observer of the State of the Canadian TV Industry. He also talks about the art and science of writing for TV, and how “they’re making it up as they go along” is actually a compliment.

Your links

• I don’t want to see the Queen in 2D, but CBC wants me to see her in 3D
• John Doyle on Stursberg’s departure and what it means for the “bizarre institution” of the CBC
• The Kids in the Hall are pirates … of their own show
• So You Think You Can Dance Canada premiered this week and I will watch it soon to see if I agree with my opinion of it
• The Murdoch Mysteries media release is the one that set me off about Canadian TV writing itself. The Shattered release wasn’t provided electronically but here’s the show
• Adam Barken is one of Playback’s 10 to Watch. Trust me, because the site’s behind a pay wall. Follow him on Twitter @adambarken. We also recommend Hart Hanson, who gives good Twitter @HartHanson. And the show Adam couldn’t remember was Wojeck. Check out Flashpoint and Rookie Blue, too.

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

Shattered premieres Wednesday, September 1 at 10 pm ET/PT on Global.

Ben Sullivan (Callum Keith Rennie) is a tough, smart homicide detective with Multiple Personality Disorder. In the first moments of the series, Ben and his new partner Amy Lynch (Camille Sullivan) pursue a murder suspect and Lynch is forced to shoot. The resulting SIU investigation bonds the two partners in blood.

Each week they work to solve the murder cases that cross their desk daily, while Ben copes with the fascinating complexities of managing his life as a cop while living as a man with alternate personalities and the uncertainty of never knowing which personality will surface, or when.

From a media release:

CANWEST PRODUCING A RECORD NUMBER OF SCRIPTED ORIGINAL PROJECTS SLATED FOR GLOBAL AND SHOWCASE

• Includes seven one-hour dramas, four half-hour comedies and three back-door pilots for the 2010/2011 season

Hot on the heels of Rookie Blue’s record-breaking launch and upcoming premiere of Haven, a partnership with SyFy, Canwest confirms an impressive roster of additional Canadian series for Global and Showcase. Canwest is producing seven original one-hour dramas, four half-hour comedies and three back-door pilots, set to premiere throughout the 2010/11 broadcast season.

The line-up of new series includes high-profile partnerships with Canadian, American and foreign broadcasters and production companies.

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