From Antonia Zerbisias of the Toronto Star:

• Shaw could kill TV fund
  “That could mean that independent producers of programs such as Degrassi: The Next Generation, Trailer Park Boys, Little Mosque on the Prairie and most documentaries won’t have the financing they need.” She concludes that it might be time, however, to take a long, hard look at the fund.

From the Canadian Press:

• Videotron suspends contributions to Canadian Television Fund, wants review of fund
  “We fully intend to continue being a leading contributor to the financing of Canadian production but we have decided to withhold our monthly contributions to the Canadian Television Fund until significant changes are made to its management and direction.”
  

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail, about Canadians in US entertainment generally, Slings and Arrows specifically:

• Proud Canucks vs La-La Land wannabes 

From OLN:

From rock star to real tough guy, see what happens when Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson puts down the guitar, takes to the skies and slogs away in some very un-rock star occupations when OLN presents Ed’s Up, a new original 13-part series airing Wednesdays.

In each episode, Robertson, an avid recreational pilot, receives a set of GPS coordinates from a “mystery person,” who clearly wants to see him sweat it out! He then flies to the unknown location – some of which includes a tree-planting camp, ocean survival training, steel mill, navy training camp and a CFL practice with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats – and has to immediately get to work. These jobs are very physical and at times incredibly dangerous. But why would an international rock star risk life and limb doing these crazy challenges? Simply put, this series gives Robertson a chance to prove to himself and the world that although he’s a pampered celebrity, he’s tough enough to work alongside some of this country’s unsung heroes. Will this soulful musician from Scarborough, Ontario hack it, or get sent packing?

Episode Twelve – “Rock Quarry / Saw Mill”
Wed., Jan. 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. PT

The 3-Day Novel Contest: The Series – Who Will be Canada’s Next Literary Superstar?

Airs Sundays at 9:30pm ET on BookTelevision, starting February 4th Encore Presentations on ACCESS Tuesdays at 8:00pm MT and CLT Wednesdays at 9:00pm ET

Step aside, Atwood! BookTelevision and Indigo-Chapters reveal Canada’s next literary superstar as The 3-Day Novel Contest: The Series, an exciting eight-part reality series, airs Sundays at 9:30pm ET, starting February 4th.

Twelve writers sit down in the middle of Edmonton’s biggest Chapters bookstore – cameras and customers following their every keystroke – to try to write a novel in just three days. Eating, sleeping, and living in the bookstore, the would-be novelists face diabolically challenging contests, the dreaded “Thirteenth Machine,” and utter exhaustion as they compete to attain literary heights and get published.

These 12 finalists were chosen from 150 applicants from across Canada, all hoping to undertake the most grueling marathon of their careers. The finalists include: literary novices, a 40-year journalism veteran, a mother of five, a tattooed cook who grew up on the streets, a crown representative, and an unemployed perpetual student – their backgrounds as diverse as the books they write.

Continue reading Upcoming series: The 3-Day Novel Contest, BookTelevision, Feb. 4 →

From Bravo:

The Curtain Rises for Season Two of Bravo!’s Bathroom Divas: So You Want to be an Opera Star?

Airs Saturdays at 9pm ET / 6pm PT, beginning February 10 (Encore presentations Tuesdays at 8pm ET / 5pm PT)

Canadian singing hopefuls from all walks of life transform themselves from singing in the shower to performing opera on stage in the second season of Bathroom Divas: So You Want To Be An Opera Star?, an exciting six-part, one-hour documentary series produced by Kaleidoscope Entertainment for Bravo!. After a cross-country search for raw operatic talent, six finalists are hand-picked to participate in an extensive opera boot camp and one of the protégés ultimately wins the title of “Bathroom Diva.” After an overwhelmingly successful first season, the series returns to Bravo! February 10 and airs every Saturday at 9pm ET / 6pm PT, with encore presentations every Tuesday at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.

After a call for submissions, judges Mary Lou Fallis (soprano professor/comedienne), Tom Diamond (opera director/drama coach), Daniel Lichti (bass-baritone/professor) and Liz Upchurch (pianist/vocal coach) travel to Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax to audition hundreds of opera-star wannabes. The judges encounter singers with varied backgrounds; an orthopedic surgeon, a landscape gardener, a lobbyist, a beef and pork trader, a CEO of an advertising firm and a fashion designer. One candidate is so nervous that she has to lie down on the stage before performing, while another auditionee breaks down and cries at the end of his audition. One opera hopeful even claims to channel spirits when she sings. From this country’s deep talent pool, six finalists are selected to take part in an extensive three-week opera boot camp in Toronto.

Continue reading Upcoming series: Bathroom Divas: So You Want to be an Opera Star?, Bravo, Feb. 10 →