Tag Archives: Family Channel

Family Channel’s Bajillionaires is rich with laughs and creativity

The world is full of budding entrepreneurs looking to get a leg up and make a fortune, and some of them are pretty young. But Bajillionaires pushes the envelope in a new and charming way.

Debuting as a two-day television event on Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3, at 10 a.m. ET/PT on Family Channel, Bajillionaires follows a group of neighbourhood friends who are looking to invent something amazing, change the world and possibly make a pantload of money in the process. Bajillionaires is created by Derek Harvie, whose credits include writing and executive producing Testees, The Tom Green Show and Freddy Got Fingered. While those were decidedly un-PG-rated, Bajillionaires is homespun fun thanks in large part to smart writing and a wonderful young cast.

“Charles Bishop at Six Eleven Media [Bajillionaires‘ production company] has developed tons of children’s shows … and he had an idea about kids inventing stuff and I had an idea about kids owning their own company,” Harvie says over the phone. “The invention thing seemed to tie in with that. Sometimes they’ll create an actual product or gadget and sometimes they might come up with a business idea.”

Ricky Ortiz is fantastic as Max Graham, a kid with big ideas and, in the first episode, hoping for a big loan from a bank. When he and Kaylyn French (Mya Singh, above left) get turned down, they opt to build a delivery drone, vibrating headband and super juicer to try to qualify for InventiveCon, an invention convention with a big cash prize to get their start-up off the ground. Max has great ideas, but they don’t always work out, as evidenced by flashbacks to a robot dogwalker, robot lawnmower and mechanical mechanic. Still, when he’s with Kaylyn and their buds Alicia Windsor (Arista Arhin), Noodles (Alec Dahmer, above right) and Zeke (Jadian Toros), hilarious—and sometimes good—things happen.

Part of the fun of Bajillionaires are the ideas the kids kick around. Sussing out how to create a drone that will deliver coffee to Sam’s sleep-deprived dad or a headband to gently wake someone from a nap shows ingenuity and something that could really be created. It’s entertaining and inspiring stuff.

“A lot of them are useless and a lot of them are funny,” Harvie says of the inventions. “But a lot of them are really smart and there are a lot of kids that have made money off of actual inventions. The popsicle was a kid invention.”

Bajillionaires‘ two-day event happens Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. ET/PT on Family Channel. Bajillionaires‘ regular timeslot is Sundays at 10 a.m ET/PT on Family Channel.

Images courtesy of DHX Media.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Link: Being Erica star Erin Karpluk is a mother of three in Family Channel’s Holly Hobbie

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: Being Erica star Erin Karpluk is a mother of three in Family Channel’s Holly Hobbie
For some Canadian TV viewers, Erin Karpluk will forever be known as the young woman coming to terms with herself with the help of an unconventional therapist in the comedy-drama Being Erica.

In the new Family Channel series Holly Hobbie (debuting Saturday at 11:30 a.m.) Karpluk is the one offering guidance as the mother of the lead character, 13-year-old Holly. Continue reading. 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Family Channel kicks off 2019 with must-see series Holly Hobbie

From a media release:

This weekend, Family Channel is giving fans a double dose of friendship, laughter and heart as the new series Holly Hobbie premieres as a two-day television event on January 12 and 13 at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT. Inspired by the American Greetings character first introduced in 1967, the tween drama stars up-and-comer Ruby Jay as 13 year-old Holly Hobbie, an aspiring singer-songwriter who lives with her family on a farm outside small town Collinsville, U.S.A. Those who can’t wait to catch a glimpse of the show, can stream the first episode on the Family Channel App (available now on advance free preview), or visit Family Channel’s YouTube page for exclusive behind-the-scenes video content.

Filmed this summer in Hamilton and Toronto, Holly Hobbie centres around a passionate young girl who isn’t afraid to fight for causes she believes in, even if it ruffles feathers. She loves spending time with friends and family, writing songs, or riding her horse. But when Holly sees people in trouble, or wrongs that need righting, she has to step in. Both a dreamer and a doer, Holly navigates friendship, young love and family conflict with a positive attitude and authenticity. She may plan on saving the world some day, but for now she is happy to start at home.

In the series premiere, debuting on Family on Saturday, January 12 at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT, Holly finds out that her grandma’s café might have to close for good and attempts to save it by hosting an open mic night. Then, in the second episode, on Sunday, January 13 at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT, Holly gets jealous when she discovers that her friends Amy (Saara Chaudry, The Breadwinner) and Piper (Kamaia Fairburn, Star Falls) are trying out for cheerleading together, so she tries to sabotage their developing friendship. Following the two-day event, new episodes of Holly Hobbie will continue to air Sundays at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT and will be available on both the Family Channel App and Family OnDemand.

Fans interested in learning more about the series and its cast, can check out Family Channel’s YouTube page for some amazing new videos! The Next Step’s Briar Nolet welcomes Ruby Jay to the ‘Family’ with an up close and personal interview, featuring rapid fire questions and a fun game of “this or that.” Meanwhile, The Next Step’s Myles Erlick shows off his vocal chops, performing alongside Ruby Jay in a collaborative cover video of the Golden Globe winning hit song “Shallow,” that no one should miss. Fans are encouraged to check back regularly, as new content will be released throughout January.

Holly Hobbie also stars Hunter Dillon (The Exorcist) as Tyler Flaherty; Charles Vandervaart (The Stanley Dynamic) as Holly’s brother Robbie Hobbie; Kate Moyer (Our House) as Holly’s sister, Heather Hobbie; Erin Karpluk (Saving Hope) as Holly’s mom, Katherine Hobbie; Evan Buliung (Reign) as Holly’s dad, Robert ‘Bob’ Hobbie; and Sara Botsford (Ride) as Holly’s grandma, Helen Hobbie.

Produced by Aircraft Pictures in association with Cloudco Entertainment with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund and Hulu Originals, Holly Hobbie is executive produced by showrunner Sarah Glinski (Degrassi: Next Class, Degrassi: The Next Generation), alongside Karen Vermeulen, Ryan Wiesbrock and Sean Gorman of Cloudco Entertainment (Tinpo, Buddy Thunderstruck and Care Bears), Matthew Wexler of Wexworks Media. (D.N.Ace, Paw Patrol) and Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures (The Breadwinner, Bruno & Boots: This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall).

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Family Channel, Universal Kids and Six Eleven Media start production on new live-action scripted comedy Greenfields

From a media release:

DHX Television’s Family Channel, Universal Kids and Six Eleven Media are pleased to announce that production has begun on the new live-action series Greenfields. Created by Derek Harvie, the half-hour, single-camera comedy follows 12-year-old Max and his eclectic group of friends as they navigate the highs and lows of running a start-up company. The 20-episode order is being filmed in Toronto, with the series scheduled to debut on Family Channel (Canada) and Universal Kids (U.S.), NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s network for kids 2-12, in fall 2018.

Twelve-year-old Max Graham (newcomer Ricardo Ortiz) is President and CEO of a tiny start-up company, which he runs out of his parents’ garage with his neighbourhood pals. Their goal: to invent an amazing product, change the world and maybe even make a bajillion dollars! With every flop – and there’s quite a few – the gang learns valuable lessons, creates closer bonds and comes one step closer to their BIG idea, all the while trying to find the balance between business and friendship.

Featuring a predominantly Canadian cast, Greenfields stars Ricardo Ortiz as Max Graham; Arista Arhin (Odd Squad, Star Trek: Discovery) as the team’s newest member and Chief Product Designer, Alicia Windsor; Mya Singh (Odd Squad) as Max’s oldest friend and Head of Marketing and PR, Kaylyn French; Alec Dahmer as accidental class clown and Research Technician, Noodles; Jadian Toros as the youngest member of the team and Chief Financial Officer, Zeke; Adrianna Di Liello (Backstage, Annedroids) as Max’s older sister, Chelsea Graham; Sandy Jobin-Bevans (Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) as Max’s dad, Bryan Graham; and Allison Price (The New Yorker Presents) as Max’s mom, Helen Graham.

Greenfields is produced by Six Eleven Media in association with DHX Television’s Family Channel and is executive produced by Derek Harvie and Charles Bishop with his team at Six Eleven Media. Greenfields is also produced with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund (CMF). International distribution will be handled by DHX Media.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Production commences on Holly Hobbie™

From a media release:

DHX Television’s Family Channel and Aircraft Pictures in association with American Greetings Entertainment announced today that principal photography has begun on its Holly Hobbie™Â live-action series. The contemporary new tween drama, based on the American Greetings character first introduced in 1967, is being filmed in Toronto and Hamilton this month. The series makes its debut with 10 episodes in the US exclusively on Hulu this fall, followed by its Canadian debut on Family Channel. Universal Kids (US) has also purchased the linear rights for the series following its first window run on Hulu.

A dreamer and a doer, Holly Hobbie has lived her whole life in the small town of Collinsville. Holly’s a 13-year-old singer-songwriter who’s got her best friends and close-knit family by her side, but she’s dreaming of ways to save the world – even if it’s starting in her own backyard.

Cast for Holly Hobbie features newcomers and notable stars including: Ruby Jay (Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy) as Holly Hobbie; Saara Chaudry (The Breadwinner, Max & Shred) as Amy Abbasi; Kamaia Fairburn (Star Falls, Odd Squad) as Piper Parish; Hunter Dillon (The Exorcist, Supernatural) as Tyler Flaherty; Charles Vandervaart (The Stanley Dynamic, Murdoch Mysteries) as Robbie Hobbie; Kate Moyer (Our House, IT) as Heather Hobbie; Erin Karpluk (Saving Hope, Being Erica) as Mrs. Hobbie; Evan Buliung (Reign, Bitten) as Mr. Hobbie; and Sara Botsford (Ride, The Lot) as Holly’s grandma, Helen Hobbie.

Holly Hobbie is produced by Aircraft Pictures, with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund. Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen(The Breadwinner, Bruno & Boots: This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall) serve as producers. Karen Vermeulen, Ryan Wiesbrock and Sean Gorman of American Greetings Entertainment (Tinpo, Buddy Thunderstruck and Care Bears) and Matthew Wexler of Wexworks Media (D.N.Ace, Paw Patrol) are serving as executive producers alongside showrunner Sarah Glinski (Degrassi: Next Class, Degrassi: The Next Generation).

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail