From the Globe and Mail:
From Lee-Anne Goodman of the Canadian Press:
From CMT:
Premiering Wednesday, March 7 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on CMT
The Grammy-nominated country music family The Wilkinsons returns to CMT this March with a brand new 10-episode season. After watching the family’s trials and tribulations of building their home in small-town Ontario in season one, viewers now see what happens when they actually move in. Reconnect with this truly unconventional musical family when the CMT Original Series The Wilkinsons premieres with two back-to-back episodes, Wednesday, March 7 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Season one of the comedy-reality series saw Steve, Chris and their kids whiplashed between the demands of mid-level stardom and complications with cabin contractors. This season, Amanda and Tyler explore solo careers – a Music Row spin on the dilemma of the empty nest that all families eventually face. There are also new headaches with a demanding new manager, a new album and some less-than-welcoming neighbours.
To view a promotional clip of The Wilkinsons please visit http://stream1.corusent.com/TV/corus/00promos/wilkinsons.wmv
“The Wilkinsons is a hybrid show that blends scripted beats of comedy and drama with improvisation and reality. It’s the universal story of a family adjusting to children growing up. Will they leave? Will they stay? Some very poignant moments all wrapped into a maze of laughs and some tears as the season guides us to the answers.” says Henry Less, President and Founder of Henry Less Productions.
Family time continues at CMT.ca where viewers can watch the Wilkinsons’ video diaries dishing on fame, touring and family life, along with bloopers and out-takes. Lower thirds will run throughout each episode directing the audience to view the extended versions of the scenes on CMT.ca. Also, at CMT.ca, viewers will be able to download The Wilkinsons’ song “Heal Me” for free.
“We are thrilled not only to be giving our audience a new season of this CMT original Canadian production, but also for the rich interactive experience we can offer our viewers on CMT.ca, with more exclusive content than ever before, along with great bloopers and video diaries that take the fan experience to the next level,” said Ted Ellis, Director of Programming, CMT Canada.
The Wilkinsons’ brand new album, Home, will be released in March through Fontana North Distribution. The album was produced by Russ Zavitson, John Dymond, Steve Wilkinson and David Kalmusky and features their cover of Bonnie Raitt’s song, “Papa Come Quick”, now playing on country stations across Canada.
In the first two episodes, the Wilkinsons get used to small town life where they are inundated with requests to perform at charity functions. The family struggles with the decision of hiring a new manager for the band. To top it all off, Amanda’s photo appears in a local rag with a suspected “baby bump,” and Steve worries about his decision to put his family in the
spotlight.
CMT airs two back-to-back episodes of The Wilkinsons every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT beginning March 7.
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From the Toronto Star, the star of This is Daniel Cook, I Dare You and the upcoming Dino Dan appeared on Oprah’s show:
From Thunderbird Films:Â
CBC Television’s Original Hit Drama to Return as New Movie-of-the-Week for Fall 2007
CBC Television, along with Thunderbird Films, today announced that production is underway in Vancouver on The Quality of Life-A Dominic Da Vinci Movie. The special two-hour television movie follows the popular Dominic Da Vinci franchise and picks up where Da Vinci City Hall left off. The Quality of Life will air during the fall 2007 season on CBC Television and in 2008 on Showcase.
“Dominic Da Vinci has become a true Canadian icon, and we jumped at the chance to bring him back to television audiences,” said Kirstine Layfield, Executive Director of Network Programming, CBC-TV. “We are thrilled with the screenplay and look forward to its broadcast premiere.”
Dominic Da Vinci first burst onto television screens in 1998 when Da Vinci’s Inquest debuted in Canada on the CBC. The series’ 91 episodes ran until 2005. The series has earned praise from critics worldwide and has been honoured with 32 industry awards and 53 nominations, including 18 Geminis, 5 Leos and 5 Writers Guild of Canada Awards.
A 13-episode spin-off of the crime series Da Vinci’s City Hall ran until 2006. Additionally, the Da Vinci franchise has had tremendous success in the U.S. since its debut in 2005.
Cleared in 98% of the country, the series reaches over 4 million viewers a week in the U.S. and continues to grow in popularity and to deliver solid ratings during its second year of syndication.
The Quality of Life once again teams up writer/creator Chris Haddock with Alan DiFiore and Nicholas Campbell, who will reprise his role of Dominic Da Vinci. Directed by John Fawcett, the television movie will also star fellow City Hall alum, Ben Ratner and Patrick Gallagher.
In this continuing story, Dominic Da Vinci and his fellow politicians become peripheral witnesses to a scandalous murder that happens, ironically, during a big city “crime” conference hosted by Da Vinci for mayors from across the country. With each attendee revealing only a piece of the puzzle, Da Vinci must not only solve the crime, but convince his fellow city leaders of their responsibility to be proactive in protecting their citizens.
 “The Canadian public cannot get enough of Da Vinci,” commented the film’s worldwide distributor Michael Shepard, President, Thunderbird Films. “We are honoured to team up with the CBC and bring Da Vinci back to broadcast television.”