TV, eh?

From Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter:

• Colm Feore goes paranormal for ‘Listener’
  “Colm Feore has joined the cast of “The Listener,” the upcoming Canadian paranormal series acquired by NBC, Canada’s CTV and Fox International.” Read more.

From CBC radio:

• Part 3: Why Canadian TV?
  With Fall just around the corner, you are about to be bombarded with new television. New episodes of old favourites and a fresh crop of brand new shows will be competing for eyeballs and ad dollars. But let’s not forget that this summer was full of surprises too. …” Read more and listen.

From a Writers Guild of Canada media release:

Canadian Nets Not Upfront About Lack of Canadian Original Scripted Drama

Canadian broadcasters CanWest and CTV held their upfronts this week, allowing a sneak peek at what Canadians can look for on their TV screens come Fall. To the Writers Guild of Canada, the new season is best summed up in the title of CanWest’s new show: “True Hollywood Story Canada” – the Canadian networks are filling their best time slots with U.S. programming, and offering very little new original scripted Canadian drama.

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From Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star:

• Toronto plays itself in 2 shows set for CTV
  “As the sun sets on Dog River, Sask., Toronto had better be ready for prime time. CTV announced details of its new fall season, and the highlights include the final season of Corner Gas; two new series based and shot in Toronto, The Listener and Flashpoint; and the Canadian version of a dance reality show, So You Think You Can Dance Canada.” Read more.

THE CTV FALL 2008 PRIME-TIME SCHEDULE (Canadian series only)
All times ET. New programs in CAPS.

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From a media release (I’m including Canadian series only):

CTV’s fall season includes:

• Flashpoint (CTV), the Canadian-produced series to be simulcast with CBS follows an elite team of police as they thwart the most heinous of crimes at the moment they get out of hand
• The world premiere of The Listener (CTV), the Canadian-produced series airing in the U.S. on NBC and in 175 other countries, tracing the life of a young man with a very special talent - the ability to read minds
• So You Think You Can Dance Canada (CTV), the all-new Canadian version of the hit international format

CTV also announced today the first projects on its development slate for the 2008/09 season, including a pilot for a new comedy series from Corner Gas creator Brent Butt. Also announced were The Marilyn Denis Show, a daytime series starring Gemini Award winner and CHUM FM personality Marilyn Denis (for CTV), and an all-new season of Canada’s Next Top Model (for “A”).Additional projects will be announced later.

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From Gayle MacDonald of the Globe and Mail:

• Are U.S. networks messing with our shows?
  “The first two were picked up as 13-part episodic dramas; shooting is now under way in Toronto on Pink Sky/Avamar Entertainment’s Flashpoint, and kicks off in June on The Listener, from Shaftesbury Films. More exciting for both shows’ producers, however, is the fact that the slick, polished pilots (made for more than $2-million each) so impressed two U.S. networks that CBS and NBC bought the U.S. rights during the writers strike in January to broadcast the pair of Canadian-made dramas.” Read more.

From Brendan Kelly of Variety:

• Shaftesbury’s shift to TV pays off
  “Shaftesbury’s growth began when it shifted its focus from features — a business that’s hardly a profit center in Canada — to TV production. That decision soon paid off, with shows like the bioterrorism-themed drama “ReGenesis” [pictured at right] and kids’ series “Life With Derek,” both of which have sold to more than 100 countries. Shaftesbury recently upped its profile bigtime thanks to “The Listener,” a drama about a Toronto paramedic with telepathic powers, which has been sold to NBC in the U.S. and CTV in Canada.” Read more.

From Steve Brennan of the Hollywood Reporter:

• Canadian producer enjoying role as U.S. network content provider
  “‘Christina’s been making dramas forever,’ a friend of Canadian producer Christina Jennings, chairman and CEO of Shaftesbury Films, remarked in a throw-away line that made her sound like a gnarly veteran. She’s a veteran, but far from gnarly. In fact, Jennings is the model for the dynamic, young and smart producer that is bringing Canada into a new frontier of film and TV production.” Read more.

From Bill Harris of Sun Media:

• TV’s money shot
  So you think it’s a bright new day for the big American networks and Canadian shows are poised for success in the U.S.? Please, get real.” Read more.