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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Rookie Blue

Rookie Blue renewed for season two

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From a media release:

LOCKED AND LOADED: CANWEST AND ABC ANNOUNCE EARLY RENEWAL OF SUMMER’S HOTTEST NEW HIT, ROOKIE BLUE

  • Homegrown Series Sets New Record as Biggest Canadian Drama Premiere on Any Network in Over a Decade

Today, Canwest and ABC jointly announced the renewal of this summer’s biggest new series, Rookie Blue. The sexy hit Canadian drama was greenlit for a second season only three weeks following the ground-breaking premiere on Global Television and ABC.

A bullet-proof winner since its debut, Rookie Blue has hooked a combined weekly average of 8.5 million viewers on both sides of the border, and has garnered a rap sheet full of critics’ accolades. Sparked by this extraordinary response to the new blue, the second season is currently in development and will move into production in Toronto later this summer.

In Canada, the series premiere garnered a record-breaking 2.1 million viewers on Global (Ind 2+, national – up from the preliminary overnight number of 1.8 million) – the highest-rated premiere for a Canadian drama series on any network in over a decade. Bolstered by an extensive marketing campaign across the country, Rookie Blue is the most successful original Canadian drama ever commissioned by Canwest.

Rookie Blue was developed by Thump Inc. and produced in partnership with leading indie studio and distributor, E1 Entertainment. The series is executive produced by award-winning Tassie Cameron (Flashpoint), Ilana Frank (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings), Noreen Halpern (Hung, Haven), John Morayniss (Hung, Haven) and David Wellington (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings).

E1 owns worldwide distribution rights for its TV productions and markets its programs to broadcasters, digital outlets and retailers around the globe. Along with the sales to ABC and Canwest, the exclusive global pay-TV rights (excluding U.S., Canada, France and Germany) for Rookie Blue were previously acquired by Universal Networks International, the global channels division of NBC Universal.

Rookie Blue follows the lives of five inexperienced rookies thrown into the world of big city policing. The series examines the trials and triumphs, competition and camaraderie of this rookie family learning that no amount of training can prepare them for this job – or for life.

Shot entirely on location in Toronto, Rookie Blue features a diverse lineup of Canadian actors including Missy Peregrym (Reaper, Heroes), Gregory Smith (Everwood), Charlotte Sullivan (M.V.P.), Enuka Okuma (24) and Travis Milne (My Green House). Rounding out the cast is Ben Bass (Would Be Kings), Eric Johnson (Smallville), Matt Gordon (Rent-A-Goalie), Noam Jenkins (Flashpoint) and Melanie Nicholls King (The Wire).

Rookie Blue airs Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT on Global and ABC. In this week’s episode, “Signals Crossed” (Thursday, July 15), Andy (Missy Peregrym) trades in her uniform for something more risqué when she goes undercover as a prostitute. Tensions run high when Dov (Gregory Smith) puts an informant’s life in jeopardy and it’s up to Andy to infiltrate a risky gun deal in progress to save her.

Viewers can catch up on the first three episodes of Rookie Blue at www.GlobalTV.com.

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Haven

New tonight: Haven on Showcase – series premiere

Haven (13x60min) [HD] (Canadian Broadcast Premiere)

Monday, July 12 at 10pm ET/PT

Haven starring Emily Rose (Jericho, Brothers and Sisters) and Lucas Bryant (MVP, Queer as Folk), is based on the novella The Colorado Kid from renowned author Stephen King. The series follows the Audrey Parker (Rose) a shrewd and confident FBI agent with a lost past who arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine on a routine case. The town turns out to be a longtime refuge for people affected by a range of supernatural afflictions. Audrey chooses to stay in Haven and explore its many secrets, not only to unravel the mysteries surrounding the troubled locals, but to dig deeper into the unsettling truths about her own history and unique ties to this extraordinary place. Audrey quickly learns that life is different in Haven as the town reveals itself to be a supernatural abyss.

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Haven

In the news: Haven reviews

From Andrew Ryan of the Globe and Mail:

From TJ Rosene of Rabid Doll:

  • ‘Haven’ – Welcome to Haven
    “Stephen King fans were excited to learn that his “The Colorado Kid” was going to be turned into a television series. The novel had an interesting, almost film-noir quality to it that could translate well onto film: there was mystery, suspense, but most importantly there was a good story at the heart of the novel that had all the ingredients for an intriguing and unique series. Time will tell whether the series will deliver, but as of now, unfortunately, the pilot episode of “Haven” does not dish up the story very convincingly.” Read more.

From Mike Moody of TV Squad

  • ‘Haven’ – ‘Welcome to Haven’ Recap (Series Premiere)
    “While ‘Eureka’ offered a fun and engaging time-travel story with James Callis (‘Battlestar Galactica’) amusingly attempting a new accent on Friday, ‘Haven,’ based on Stephen King’s 2005 novel ‘The Colorado Kid,’ offered a tepid murder mystery plot with a tacked on sci-fi bent.” Read more.

From Mel Odom of Blogcritics:

  • TV Review: Haven – “Welcome to Haven”
    “Call it X-Files Lite or X-Files fun, maybe even the new Twin Peaks, but I’m planning on plopping down each Friday night, or as soon as I can get to the DVR, to watch the new episodes of Haven, SyFy Network’s new drama. The first episode premiered last night and was a little rough in places, but mostly because it strove to introduce a whole menagerie of characters in a short amount of time while throwing out a handful of plot threads. Not in the least was the heroine’s potential missing mommy being on the front page of the local newspaper twenty-five years ago.” Read more.
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