Whistler returns tonight

From a CTV media release:

CTV Hits the Slopes of Whistler For a Second Season of White-Hot Drama, Sept. 29 on CTV

• Recently nominated for three Gemini Awards including Best Dramatic Series
• Five hot new actors join the Whistler cast
• Whistler soundtrack features a rockin’ roster of Canadian artists
  including Jets Overhead and Yoko Casionos
• New episodes and Whistler extras available on demand
  on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca

Get ready to rip it up and catch some air! Fresh off its Gemini nomination for Best Dramatic Series, CTV hits the half-pipe for a second run of its sizzling original production Whistler, premiering Saturday, September 29 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times). With fresh moguls to battle and avalanches to avoid, the action-packed drama rides through the passions and personal politics found in the world famous resort town for which the series is named.

Six months after the mystery of Beck’s (David Paetkau) death is solved, Season 2 opens with the McKayes, Varlands and Millers moving on, striving to build new lives and achieve new goals. Snowboarding culture plays a prominent role as a number of young Whistler athletes struggle to make the podium and take a run for Olympic gold. With mountains, music, lust and love triangles, Whistler is packed with new drama that will keep viewers wondering what’s going to happen next.

“The youthful energy and sophisticated glamour of Whistler has multi-generational audience appeal,” says Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group.

Five talented up-and-coming and established actors join the cast of Whistler this season. New series regulars include: Tamara Hope (Shall We Dance, Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story) as Leah, a talented snowboarder and love interest for Quinn; Diego Klattenhoff (Supernatural, Mean Girls) as the young police officer Derek who heats up Jen McKaye’s love life, much to the dismay of her son; Kim Hawthorne (Commander in Chief, DaVinci’s Inquest) as Jordan Temple, who sweeps in to take over the Varland Resort empire; Tommy Lioutas (72 Hours, Obituary) as Griff, a competitive snowboarder and new love interest for Carrie; and Ryan Kennedy (Ogre, Road to Redemption) as hot shot snowboarder Travis, who always took second place to Quinn’s brother, Beck.

In the Season 2 premiere entitled “Homecoming” (Sept. 29), the emotional rollercoaster of Whistler hero Quinn McKaye (Jesse Moss) sets the tone for a fast-paced season. Quinn returns to Whistler to attend the dedication of an Olympic training center in honour of his brother, Beck and at the last moment decides to try out for the Village Snowboard Club, demonstrating a natural talent to ride the bowl. Will Quinn stay and follow his dream or will he run away from the challenges waiting for him in Whistler?

“We’re definitely expanding on the conflicts and intrigue of our first season,” said Executive Producer Noreen Halpern (for Blueprint Entertainment). “We have a dynamic cast, compelling love stories ripe with emotional conflict and sexual tension, an exciting theme around the snowboarding culture ramping up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, and of course, there’s that spectacular setting,” added Executive Producer Janet York (for Boardwatch Productions).

The first season of Whistler was recently nominated for three Gemini Awards including Best Dramatic Series, Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series and Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role Dramatic Series (Brandy Ledford). Nominated earlier this year for eight Leo Awards, Whistler took home the prize for two including Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series (Amanda Crew) and Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series (Jesse Moss). Whistler was also nominated for a 2007 Director’s Guild of Canada Award.

To catch up on all of the Whistler drama, viewers can visit The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca to tune into Season 1 episodes. Each episode of Whistler Season 2 will be made available on demand on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca following its television broadcast on Sundays beginning September 30. Whistler also extends its brand with 10, new, scripted webisodes to complement Season 2, along with 10 extra scenes, all available on demand on The CTV Broadband Network.

Music continues to be an essential element of Whistler. Sourced from Canada’s dynamic indie and alternative music scene, the soundtrack for the series is expanded in Season 2 with “live” performances by bands playing on stage in the series’ Last Run tavern. Among the artists featured in this season’s impressive needle drop soundtrack are all-Canadian acts The Yoko Casionos, TV Heart Attack, Kill the Lights, The February March and the JUNO-nominated Jets Overhead.

Season 2 also showcases the breathtaking beauty of Whistler and its unique geography. From the hustle and bustle of life in the village, to the aerial acrobatics of boarders flying down the halfpipe, viewers will see more of Whistler in Whistler this upcoming season. Watch for authentic halfpipe and backcountry scenes featuring awesome performances by some of Canada’s finest athletes, including Olympians Crispin Lipscomb and Brad Martin, as they double for Whistler snowboarders.

Returning for Season 2 is rising star Jesse Moss (The Outer Limits, Final Destination 3) as Quinn, an emerging hero whose dreams and struggles are at the heart of Whistler. Reprising their roles are Amanda Crew (She’s the Man) as Carrie Miller, the ex- girlfriend of both Quinn and the late Beck McKaye; David Paetkau (Alien vs Predator AVP2, CSI:Miami) as the ghost of Beck McKaye; Holly Dignard (The L Word, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG-1) as Nicole Miller, Carrie’s older sister; and Adam J. Harrington (Da Vinci’s Inquest, Show Me Yours) as Quinn’s roguish uncle Ryan. Established veteran Ingrid Kavelaars (Dreamcatcher, Final Run) returns as Quinn’s beautiful mom, Jen, while Chris Shyer (Monk, Traffic) continues as fallen mogul Adrien Varland.