TV, eh?

From Marise Strauss of Media in Canada:

• Comedy blocks face off on Mondays
  “CBC’s midseason schedule got off to what looked like a promising start on Monday, with critics united in their praise of Being Erica, the first of two new series set to debut this week amid varied competition from the commercial networks.” Read more.

From Sean Minogue of the Georgia Straight:

• Canadian TV heats up the winter season
  “With the recent layoffs at Canwest Global and CTV—plus whispers of cutbacks at the CBC—it seems not even our TV industry is insulated from recent economic tremors. But while belts tighten one notch, Canadian TV promises to kick it up two as we charge into 2009. Here are some highlights of new series, returning favourites, and upcoming documentary specials.” Read more.

From Maria Kubacki of Canwest News Service:

• Wild Roses depicts Alberta as land of oil and seduction
  “There’s something strangely familiar about Wild Roses, the new 13-part series debuting on CBC Jan. 6. It’s set in the heart of oil and cattle country and features a wealthy family, headed by a greedy oil man who’s always scheming against a rival, debt-ridden family. There’s a great, big, over-the-top mansion and lots of hottie ranch hands. Everyone is busy screwing everyone — oh, and there’s plenty of sex, too.” Read more.

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

• A drama with all the subtlety of a chuck-wagon race
  “Wild Roses is by, for and about women. Oh, there are men in it and some if them even speak and do stuff, but it’s all about women. It’s a sort of Sex and the City of Calgary (and surrounding ranchlands). Such is the ferocity of its adherence to the template for chick flicks that it even announces, within minutes, one of the cardinal rules of chick-flick stuff - the skinny little blonde is a bitch.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux in the Toronto Star:

• Would Wild Roses, by any other name, smell like a hit?
  “How would a show called Cowgirls have fared? We’ll never know now that CBC, after testing the title, decided to rebrand it as Wild Roses. The Calgary-based drama begins tonight at 9 on CBC.” Read more.

Premiering Tuesday, January 6 at 9 pm on CBC:

From Eric Volmers of Canwest News Service:

• Wild Roses Country
  “It was roughly a month ago that Toronto-based actor Steve Byers found himself frantically riding a horse through the picturesque backdrop of Springbank in a very expensive business suit.” Read more.

Photo: Steve Byers, Gary Hudson, Adam MacDonald

From Cassandra Szklarski of the Canadian Press:

• ‘Wild Roses’ showcases Alberta
  “It’s easy to draw parallels between the new CBC-TV drama Wild Roses and those ’80s nighttime soaps Dallas and Dynasty, admits star and veteran performer Gary Hudson.” Read more.

My interview with one of the stars of the new CBC show:

• Wild Roses Explores Thorny Saga Of Two Families
  “‘Some of the bigger themes are quite Shakespearean, like loss and love and betrayal,’ explains star Michelle Harrison, who doesn’t disagree with the Dallas comparison either. She points out that the two dueling families at the heart of the series — the debt-ridden ranchers, the Henrys, and the oil-rich McGregors — also have a Capulet and Montague vibe. ‘The love that shouldn’t happen is happening all over the place,’ she laughed.” Read more.

From Maryanne Firth in the Welland Tribune:

• Fenwick native stars in new CBC drama
  “She’s back for a second season as Melissa Bryant on CBC’s sitcom Sophie, and she’s now balancing the role of Rebecca McGregor on CBC’s new nighttime drama Wild Roses.” Read more.