Please forgive Diane – she had just met Rick Mercer and was a little giddy. Maybe a lot giddy. Anthony patiently guides us through news such as:
- CBC’s 2012-13 season
- Murdoch Mysteries June 6 premiere on Citytv
- The Listener starts up again May 30
- Picnicface and every other comedy in Canada is cancelled (almost)
- The Rosie awards were announced
- The Geminis and Genies are combining
- Canadians watch more web video than television, maybe, depending on survey design
- Is programming for a broad audience smarter than a niche audience?
Episode 93: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed
Your hosts
- Anthony Marco can be found at anthonymarco.com, and on Twitter here and here.
- Diane Wild can be found here at TV, eh? and on Twitter here and here.
From a media release:
SAVING HOPE – Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 7
SAVING HOPE is CTV’s new original medical drama, which debuts in simulcast this summer with NBC. Starring Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE), Michael Shanks (STARGATE ATLANTIS), Daniel Gillies, (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Wendy Crewson (Away From Her), Huse Madhavji (COMBAT HOSPITAL), Julia Taylor Ross (ROOKIE BLUE), and Kristopher Turner (THE LISTENER), the one-hour drama is from acclaimed Gemini award-winning producers Ilana Frank and David Wellington (THE ELEVENTH HOUR, WOULD BE KINGS). When charismatic Chief of Surgery Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) at Toronto’s Hope-Zion Hospital ends up in a coma, he leaves the hospital in chaos – and his fiancée and fellow surgeon, Alex Reid (Erica Durance), in a state of shock. Along with newly-arrived star surgeon, Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies), Alex races to save Harris’ life. As the action unfolds, comatose Dr. Harris explores the hospital halls in “spirit” form, not sure if he’s a ghost or a figment of his own imagination. Reid, along with her fellow doctors, press on to save his life and those of their other patients, as they deal with the complicated and courageous decisions that are made in their daily struggle to keep hope alive.
THE LISTENER – Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning May 30
In the highly-anticipated third season of CTV’s hit Original Series THE LISTENER, Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, The Timekeeper) decides to ignore his telepathic abilities and live a normal life. Choosing to step away from his role as a paramedic to work more closely with the Integrated Investigative Bureau (IIB) and Sgt. Michelle McCluskey (Gemini Award-nominee Lauren Lee Smith, CSI), he puts undue pressure on himself to prove to his peers that he belongs. While his new consultant role means curtailing some of his EMS duties, the critical care team remains the emotional heart of his complicated life. This is especially true when Toby’s best friend and paramedic partner, Oz (Ennis Esmer, THE L.A. COMPLEX), moves into the apartment next door and tries to work up the courage to make a commitment to St. Luke Hospital triage nurse Sandy (Tara Spencer-Nairn, CORNER GAS).
COMEDY NOW! – Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 2
Entering its 14th season, this hilarious, all-Canadian, star-making stand-up series has won awards all over North America. A TV calling card for comedic success, COMEDY NOW! has featured some of Canada’s most successful comedians, including Brent Butt, Jeremy Hotz, Shaun Majumder, Gavin Crawford and Russell Peters. Starring in the all-new season are Jeff McEnery, Roman Danylo, Nathan Macintosh, Darrin Rose, Christina Walkinshaw, Eddie Della Siepe, Graham Chittenden, Perry Perlmutar, Nile Séguin, and Lars Callieou.
From a media release:
Season 3 of CTV Original Series THE LISTENER Returns May 30
- Tragedy unfolds during Season 3 when a key character dies
- The third season delivers first ever FLASHPOINT and THE LISTENER crossover event
- Guest stars throughout the season include JUNO Award-nominee Fefe Dobson, Peter Outerbridge, Wes Williams and TSN’s Glen Suitor
The highly-anticipated third season of CTV’s hit original series THE LISTENER returns Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT premiering May 30 on CTV with encore episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT, beginning June 3 on CTV, with both broadcasts airing simultaneously on CTV Mobile. THE LISTENER comes back in a key timeslot following a brand new season of fan-favourite SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times).
In Season 3, THE LISTENER’s Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik) dramatically steps away from his role as a paramedic to work more closely with the Integrated Investigative Bureau (IIB). Also, the first-ever FLASHPOINT and THE LISTENER crossover event takes place as FLASHPOINT’s ‘Spike’ Scarlatti (Sergio Di Zio) shows up injured at St. Luke Hospital after a SRU takedown. Drama continues to unfold later this season when a tragic turn of events leads to the unexpected death of a lead character.
Ennis Esmer is perhaps best known as Oz on The Listener, which recently finished shooting a third season for CTV, but he also popped up on MuchMusic’s The LA Complex (premiering April 24 on The CW), co-hosted Wipeout Canada, has a recurring role on Covert Affairs, and is part of the Sex After Kids ensemble, a film in development aiming to raise funding via Indigogo. In his spare time he volunteers for charities and gives funny answers to email interviews.
I have this perception of you being everywhere, juggling multiple projects seemingly at the same time – The Listener, The LA Complex, Wipeout Canada, Covert Affairs. How insanely busy are you? Is there a common thread in your career choices?
I’m not THAT busy. I’m an absolutely manageably amount of busy. All these things are (for the most part) a blast to work on, and I try to never lose sight of the fact that busy is the thing I want to be more than anything. Busy is victory. I try to look at busy as a challenge and never as a struggle, because there’s nothing else I’d rather be busy doing.
As for a common thread, I usually like to go into a situation where I’ve auditioned for a given part, the people in charge have watched said audition, and based on that, have decided to offer me the part, and I’ve said yes. I find that works best. Working for people who want to hire me to work for them. That’s the common thread.
