TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Featured, Letterkenny

Crave and New Metric Media ink exclusive overall content deal with Jared Keeso for all new series and to expand the world of Letterkenny

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From a media release:

Following the record-breaking success of LETTERKENNY and SHORESY, Crave, and award-winning producer New Metric Media, announced today a new, multi-year creative partnership that expands the world of LETTERKENNY. The deal encompasses 49 new episodes for Crave, including LETTERKENNY spin-offs, and the development of all-new series with multi-hyphenate talent, Jared Keeso.  In addition to the content commitment, the companies continue to collaborate on existing and new ancillary brand extensions, including merchandise and live productions.

“We are thrilled to extend the legacy of Jared Keeso through this creative pact with our partners at New Metric Media,” said Justin Stockman, Vice President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “LETTERKENNY and SHORESY are consistently among the most-watched series on Crave, which is a testament to Jared’s creative vision, and keen ability to create groundbreaking, culturally relevant content. This deal marks a starting point of what’s sure to be another defining era in comedy.”

“We are excited to break new comedic ground on this landmark pact with creative powerhouse Jared Keeso and our content partners at Crave,” commented Mark Montefiore, Founder and CEO, New Metric Media. “This deal exponentially builds our 360-degree comedy ecosystem strategy for many years to come.”

As Crave’s first-ever original series, LETTERKENNY premiered in 2016 as a breakout hit, and quickly solidified a loyal fanbase. Since then, it has delivered 81 episodes and eight specials, amassed 12 Canadian Screen Awards, international critical acclaim, and an exclusive first window U.S. streaming partnership with Hulu for both LETTERKENNY and its official spinoff SHORESY, which was recently renewed for a third season for a total of 18 episodes.

Beyond the small screen, the Canadian phenomenon has expanded its reach with highly sought-after merchandise including Funko POPs, Letterkennyopoly, the popular Puppers Golden Lager, as well as live productions including the sold-out Letterkenny Live! North American tour, and the recent live standup comedy shows, Letterkenny Presents. The series is based on the internet sensation Letterkenny Problems, a five-part series of shorts, which to date has garnered more than 21 million views.

New Metric Media handles the international distribution for LETTERKENNY and SHORESY and has licensed it in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany, and Scandinavia. For any new projects to come out of this comprehensive pact, Bell Media is the distributor, while New Metric Media is the exclusive sales agent.

The deal was negotiated by: Bell Media’s Carlyn Klebuc, Dianne Vernon, and Justin Stockman; New Metric Media’s Mark Montefiore and Jayme Alter (Dentons LLC); and Jared Keeso’s representatives Trina Allen (Play Management), Gordon Gilbertson (Gilbertson Entertainment), and Jeffrey Hynick (Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer).

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Featured, One More Time

CBC unveils winter 2024 streaming and broadcast slate featuring more than 20 series from Canadian storytellers

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From a media release:

CBC today announced streaming and broadcast premiere dates for its winter 2024 slate of new and returning programming on CBC Gem and CBC TV, including more than 20 original series from Canadian creators, producers, and storytellers reflecting people, places and perspectives from across the country. The first episode of all series will be available to stream on CBC Gem starting at 9 a.m. ET on their premiere dates noted below, with a new episode available weekly at the same time unless otherwise specified. CBC TV local broadcast times are noted in parentheses (for Newfoundland and Labrador, please add half an hour to all times).

New Canadian Original Series

ONE MORE TIME New Comedy Series (13×30) – Premieres Tuesday, January 9 (9 p.m.)
Stand-up comedian D.J. Demers created and stars in new workplace comedy series ONE MORE TIME as the hard-of-hearing manager of a second-hand sporting goods store.

WILD CARDS New Drama Series (10×60) – Premieres Wednesday, January 10 (8 p.m.)
Comedic crime-solving drama WILD CARDS follows the unlikely duo of Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti, Grey’s Anatomy), a gruff, sardonic cop and Max (Vanessa Morgan, Riverdale), a spirited, clever con woman, set against the backdrop of beautiful Vancouver. Acclaimed actor Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210) joins the cast as a recurring guest star, playing Max’s father and master con man, George.

GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN New Factual Entertainment Series (8×30) – All episodes available to stream on CBC Gem beginning Friday, January 26
Two actors known exclusively for their work in the horror genre step off script and into their own real-life thriller on their quest to decipher if Canada’s most ghostly places are truly haunted.

FOR THE CULTURE WITH AMANDA PARRIS (6×60) New Documentary Series – All episodes available to stream on CBC Gem beginning Tuesday, January 30
In this documentary series, award-winning writer, executive producer and host Amanda Parris leaves the wars raging on social media to create space for urgent and provocative conversations that centre Blackness and Black folks.

ALLEGIANCE New Drama Series (10×60) – Premieres Wednesday, February 7 (9 p.m.)
Supinder Wraich (Sort Of), Enrico Colantoni (Station Eleven), Stephen Lobo (Continuum), Adolyn H. Dar (Superman & Lois), Brian Markinson (A Million Little Things) and David Cubitt (Virgin River) star in new police procedural ALLEGIANCE, telling the story of a young woman caught between her allegiance to her flag, to her badge, and to her family.

THE GREAT CANADIAN POTTERY THROW DOWN New Factual Entertainment Series (8×60) – Premieres Thursday, February 8 (8 p.m.)
Jennifer Robertson (Schitt’s Creek) hosts this open-hearted competition series that sees ten talented Canadian potters face each other to be crowned Canada’s Top Potter, with help from guest judge Seth Rogen.

Returning Series

CORONATION STREET ongoing (weekdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)

FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 5 (102×30) – Continues Monday – Thursday (7:30 p.m.)

BEST IN MINIATURE Season 3 (8×60) – All episodes available to stream on CBC Gem beginning Tuesday, December 26 (airing Tuesday, December 26 to Friday, December 29 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on CBC TV)

MURDOCH MYSTERIES Season 17 (24×60) – Continues Monday, January 1 (8 p.m.)

DRAGONS’ DEN Season 18 (16×60) – Continues Thursday, January 4 (8 p.m.)

THE NATURE OF THINGS Season 63 (14×60) – Premieres Thursday, January 4 (9 p.m.) The new season kicks off with A User’s Guide to the Voice (January 4) as host Anthony Morgan puts his own vocal chords to the test in a rollicking exploration of the human voice, and in Mystery of the Walking Whale (January 11), host Sarika Cullis-Suzuki unravels one of the greatest mysteries of evolution – how whales lost their legs!

Feature Documentaries (9×120) – Premieres Sunday, January 7 (8 p.m.)

CBC Docs will spotlight compelling feature-length documentaries, from Canada and around the world, including the following:

SATAN WANTS YOU (directed by Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams) premieres January 7

MALCOM IS MISSING (directed by Robert Osborne and Jari Osborne) premieres January 14

THE MAN WHO STOLE EINSTEIN’S BRAIN (directed by Michelle Shephard) premieres January 21

COVEN (directed by Rama Rau) premieres January 28

WITHOUT PRECEDENT: THE SUPREME LIFE OF ROSALIE ABELLA (directed by Barry Avrich) premieres February 4

CYNARA (directed by Sherien Barsoum) premieres February 18

SKYMASTER DOWN (directed by Andrew Gregg) premieres February 25

I AM SIRAT (directed by Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja) premieres March 3

THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES Season 31 (24×30) – Continues Tuesday, January 9 (8 p.m.)

SON OF A CRITCH Season 3 (13×30) – Premieres Tuesday, January 9 (8:30 p.m.)

RUN THE BURBS Season 3 (13×30) – Premieres Tuesday, January 9 (9:30 p.m.)

BOLLYWED Season 2 (10×30) – Premieres Sunday, January 14 (7 p.m.)

PUSH Season 2 (8×30) – Premieres Sunday, January 14 (7:30 p.m.)

CBC News

MARKETPLACE Season 51 (17×30) – Continues on Fridays (8 p.m.)

ABOUT THAT WITH ANDREW CHANG (14×30) – Premieres Friday, January 5 at 8:30 p.m. on CBC TV (Weekday mornings on CBC News Explore and available now on CBC Gem)

ABOUT THAT delves deeper into daily news by expanding our understanding of the stories everybody’s talking about, featuring a blend of frank conversation, explainers and feature interviews.

THE FIFTH ESTATE Season 49 (15×60) – Continues on Fridays (9 p.m.)

THE NATIONAL – ongoing (live at 10 p.m. weekdays and Sundays on CBC TV and CBC Gem)

CBC’s flagship national newscast with Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault (Monday – Thursday) and Ian Hanomansing (Friday and Sunday)

CBC MORNING LIVE WITH HEATHER HISCOX (Weekday mornings on CBC TV and CBC News Network)

CANADA TONIGHT WITH TRAVIS DHANRAJ (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
With new host Travis Dhanraj taking the helm on Monday, January 15, CANADA TONIGHT will continue to go beyond the headlines to bring context and diverse perspectives from across the country on top news stories that matter most to Canadians, with a recently expanded time slot of two hours from 7 to 9 p.m. ET.

POWER & POLITICS (Weeknights on CBC News Network)

ROSEMARY BARTON LIVE (Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)

CBC Sports

CBC SPORTS PRESENTS – ongoing (live on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on CBC TV and CBC Gem)

CBC SPORTS brings audiences all the action from the world of high-performance sport with key competitions including: World Aquatics Championships (Doha, Qatar, Feb. 2 – 18), World Speed Skating Championships (Calgary, Feb. 15 – 18), Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Championships (Winterberg, Germany, Feb. 22 – Mar. 2), World Athletics Indoor Championships (Glasgow, Scotland, March 1 – 3), World Allround & Sprint Speed Skating Championships (Inzell, Germany, March 8 – 10) and World Figure Skating Championships (Montreal, March 18 – 24). Canada will also host international competitors at the following World Cup events: Freestyle Skiing Moguls World Cup (Val Saint-Côme, Que., Jan. 20 – 21), Freestyle Ski Cross World Cup (Nakiska, Alta., Jan. 20 – 21), Speed Skating World Cup (Quebec City, Feb. 2 – 4), Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup (Calgary, Feb. 10 – 11), Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe World Cup (Calgary, Feb. 17 – 18), World Aquatics Diving World Cup (Toronto, Feb. 26 – Mar. 3) and Snowboard Cross World Cup (Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que. Mar., 23 – 24). Visit cbcsports.ca for the full schedule.

CBC Kids

DINO RANCH Season 3 (26×22) – Premieres Saturday, January 6 on CBC Gem and CBC TV, with a new episode available weekly In a new season of the preschool animated series, the Dino Ranchers and their dinosaurs take care of their home and herds with creative problem-solving and the support of their family.

GANGNAM PROJECT New Series (10×30) – Premieres Friday, March 8 on CBC Gem, with a new episode available weekly
A new tween dramedy series set in the world of K-pop, GANGNAM PROJECT tells the story of Hannah Shin, a Canadian-Korean tween with dreams of becoming a K-pop star and connecting with her Korean heritage. One summer, she accepts a job as an English tutor at an elite K-pop training school and ends up getting much more than she bargained for.

THE NEXT STEP Season 6 (26×30) All episodes available to stream on CBC Gem beginning Friday, March 1
The Next Step has another shot at Regionals. This season, the dancers face some tough decisions as they decide whether their own aspirations are more important than that of A-Troupe as a whole.

THE NEXT STEP Season 8 (26×30) Two episodes available weekly on CBC Gem beginning Friday, March 8 (Season 7 available to stream now) Despite the odds being stacked against them, some dancers at The Next Step want nothing more than to continue on the road to Nationals, while others learn dreams can grow and change into something totally new and unexpected.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

CBC competition series Best in Miniature returns for Season 3 on December 26

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From a media release:

BEST IN MINIATURE (8×60) is back with 10 exceptionally talented miniaturists from Canada and abroad, promising a season of unrivaled creativity and innovation. Season 3 premieres Tuesday, December 26, with all episodes available to stream at 9 am ET on CBC Gem, followed by daily back-to-back episodes on CBC TV beginning Tuesday, December 26 through Friday, December 29 at 8 pm (8:30 NT) and 9 pm (9:30 NT).

This season, the 10 miniaturists will unleash their creative superpowers, crafting petite wonders in 1/12 scale, as time ticks away. In each episode, the judges will decide whose delicate dreams have come to an end, and who’s got what it takes to move forward for the chance to claim a prestigious residency and $10,000. The miniaturists better not get worked up over the minor details because if they survive the chopping block, they’ll score the ultimate prize.

Actor and stand-up comedian Aba Amuquandoh returns as host, alongside judges, UK miniature expert Emma Waddell, and esteemed Canadian interior designer and entrepreneur Micheal Lambie.

Meet the Season 3 competitors vying to be crowned Best in Miniature, including five Canadians:

Shelley Acker from Kentville, Nova Scotia has been making miniatures for almost 25 years and is the owner of Freedom Miniatures, a full-service miniatures and hobbies store. Shelley’s skills in miniatures were showcased as one of two Art Directors on the 2022 multi-award-winning documentary feature film Bernie Langille Wants to Know what Happened to Bernie Langille.

Jen Arnold from Winnipeg, Manitoba is a full-time social worker, who finds her strength in the time she spends building hand-held memories, and considers her art as her own form of self-care. Her work has been featured in The Winnipeg Free Press, Global News Morning Winnipeg, Winnipeg radio station 680 CJOB, CBC Radio Information Morning, as well as in the Lac Du Bonnet and Manitoba Clipper.

Lance Cardinal from Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta is a First Nations 2-Spirit artist, designer and television personality, who has quickly become one of the province’s leading First Nation artists and entrepreneurs. His 30-year journey has allowed him to work with world-class organizations all over Canada, including The Edmonton Oilers, IKEA Edmonton, Kunitz Shoes, Rugby Canada, Unbelts, Telus World of Science, Rogers Place, Fort Edmonton Park, and Re/Max Field.

Tiffany Monk is originally from England and now lives in Sutton, Quebec. Tiffany is a versatile multidisciplinary artist with a background in prop making, sculpting and model making for film. She has worked on a number of diverse film and TV projects in both England and Canada including John Carter, The 100 and a number of independent stop-motion animation films and projects.

Arline Smith is from the UK and now lives in Port Hope, Ontario. She is a many-faceted artist and has spent the past fifty years creating everything from a pea to an elephant. After graduating from Liverpool College of Art, she joined The Royal Shakespeare Company as a costumier and worked alongside Sir Ben Kingsley and Dames Helen Mirren and Judy Dench.

In the lead up to the Season 3 premiere, Miniature enthusiasts can catch up on Seasons 1 & 2 on CBC Gem.

BEST IN MINIATURE is produced by marblemedia, a Blue Ant Media company, in association with CBC. Matt Hornburg, Mark Bishop, Diane Rankin and Donna Luke are executive producers; Erica Lenczner is series producer; the series is created by development producer Kelsey Espensen. 

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Featured, The Squeaky Wheel: Canada

AMI and Hitsby Entertainment announce casting, writing and producing teams for The Squeaky Wheel: Canada

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From a media release:

Be Loud. Be Disabled. Be Squeaky. AMI is pleased to announce the cast, writing and producing teams for The Squeaky Wheel: Canada.

Based on Steven Verdile’s popular web publication The Squeaky Wheel and produced by Hitsby Entertainment, The Squeaky Wheel: Canada is a satirical, half-hour news format which pokes fun at the ableist society people with disabilities face every day.

Presented by Canada’s top writers and performers from the disability community, The Squeaky Wheel: Canada‘s irreverent perspective flips tropes and clichés upside down by showcasing disability in a humorous way. Its clever blend of social commentary and provocative humour will leave audiences laughing hysterically and feeling pleasurably guilty about it.

The eight-episode series introduces a fresh perspective to the entertainment landscape with its disability-led creative team, fronted by series producer Michelle Asgarali.

Directed by Lucy Belgum and Tobi Abdul, production is slated to begin filming in Hamilton, Ontario, in December. The series stars Graham Kent and Gaitrie Persaud as its lead anchors, and an ensemble cast featuring Margaret Rose, Samantha Wyss, Sivert Gorachand Das, Wesley Magee-Saxton and Yousef Abdullah Kadoura. The writing team includes D. Cole, Daniel Barra-Berger, Jenny Lee-Gilmore and Sierra Haynes, and many story contributors with diverse perspectives across the disability community.

“I am honoured that AMI and Hitsby Entertainment are taking The Squeaky Wheel in this exciting new direction,” says Steven Verdile. “I look forward to seeing where this talented group of performers, writers and producers from the disability community takes us.”

“I look forward to bringing my directing skills to this unique show,” says director Lucy Belgum. “It’s rare to get such a well-written comedy about disabilities, and I am proud to be one of the first trans women to direct Canadian TV.” 

“Being on a disabled-led project is a dream,” says director Tobi Abdul. “I’m thrilled to bring a disruptive internet publication to life and shake up the media landscape.”

The first season of The Squeaky Wheel: Canada will be broadcast on AMI-tv in 2024 and available for streaming on AMI+.

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Industry News

Paramount+ in Canada and The Shine Network Institute announce the Indigenous Producers Budgeting Intensive

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From a media release:

Today, Paramount+ in Canada and The Shine Network Institute (TSNI) announce the Indigenous Producers Budgeting Intensive, an online course and new resource to support the professional development and mentorship of Indigenous women in film, television and media. This first virtual course will be geared toward budgeting for film. It will be accessible on TSNI’s @Learnatshine platform and will launch on National Indigenous Peoples Day – Friday, June 21, 2024.

Geared toward emerging and mid-level Indigenous female producers, this first intensive course of 10 x one-hour modules offer students hands-on learning accompanied by Indigenous-framed tutorials designed to empower students as they prepare to produce their first feature film. The course will also include candid conversations with Indigenous female producers to inspire and motivate students by giving them access to industry veterans who can dispel myths and misconceptions about producing.

“Working with The Shine Network Institute on this course is truly the first step in our partnership,” said Doug Smith, SVP Streaming & Content Licensing Paramount Global, Canada. “After listening and consulting with Jennifer Podemski and her team over the past few months we are proud to collaborate on this online course which will provide tangible skills to those interested in line producing, one of the most important jobs on any set. It is also a project we can build on in the months and years to come to support even more of TSNI’s membership and the next generation of Indigenous producers.”

“I am thrilled to be partnering with Paramount + Canada for this course,” said Jennifer Podemski, President & CEO, The Shine Network Institute. “Partnerships like this allow TSNI to offer the highest level of training and mentorship while building capacity for Indigenous people within the screen sector. Although our mission at TSNI is to foster the careers of Indigenous women who are the least represented across the sector and experience the most disproportionate outcomes, this course, which will be offered on our @Learnatshine platform, is open to all Indigenous professionals working within Canada’s film, television and digital media space.”

This initiative is the third partnership Paramount+ in Canada has announced that reinforces its long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Earlier this fall, the company announced a collaboration with the Black Screen Office for the Black Creators Festival Initiative; a joint venture with BIPOC TV & Film, and the National Screen Institute Partner for the new ELEVATE program; and now TSNI’s Budget Online Intensive.

These programs are intricately connected to the mission of Paramount Global’s Content for Change initiative, which seeks to counteract narratives that enable bias, stereotypes and hate using the power of our content, the creative supply chain that powers it, and the culture that underpins everything we do.

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