From a media release:
SOME OF YOUR “FAVOURITE THINGS†ON CBC THIS SUMMER
OLYMPICS, MARIA, OTHELLO, THE HOUR ‘EXCLUSIVES’ AND COMPELLING DOCUMENTARIES
The search to cast Maria von Trapp in How Do You Solve Problem Like Maria?, the television adaptation of Othello, Beijing 2008: The Olympic Games and Test the Nation: Sports are some of the new programs on CBC Television’s exciting summer schedule. Add great movies and documentaries to make this a sizzling season.
New series and specials
The coveted role of Maria von Trapp, made famous by Julie Andrews in the musical The Sound of Music, is up for grabs as 48 talented young hopefuls sing, dance and try to win the hearts and votes of Canadians on How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? Premiering Sunday, June 15, at 8 p.m., and running for seven weeks, the winner will play the pivotal role in a new stage production of The Sound of Music in Toronto, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish.
Hot-blooded lust and murder come to the screen on Sunday, June 15, at 9 p.m., when the two-hour theatrical television adaptation of Othello: The Tragedy Of The Moor, based on William Shakespeare’s Othello, raises this riveting drama of love and betrayal to new levels as a psychological thriller. At the heart of the story are: Othello (Carlo Rota, Little Mosque on the Prairie), a noble Moor and general; Desdemona (Christine Horne, The Stone Angel), his loving wife; Cassio (Graham Abbey, The Border), his loyal lieutenant; and Iago (Matthew Deslippe, Across the River to Motor City), his ensign. This presentation is insightfully shaped and adapted for the small screen by co-writers Zaib Shaikh (Little Mosque on the Prairie) who also directs, and Matthew Edison (Nero Wolfe). The duo’s adaptation focuses on the characters in this epic story of love, betrayal and ultimately, prejudice and racism.
Factual and Regional Programming
Sports fans of all ages finally have a chance to bring their A-game to a high stakes event that pits athletes against couch potatoes against NHL mascots in a new, no-holds-barred contest in Test The Nation: Sports. CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada front man Ron MacLean joins host Wendy Mesley to stick-handle Canada’s largest sports trivia event, bringing two hours of non-stop, wall-to-wall suspense—and fun—to CBC Television, Sunday, May 25, at 8 p.m.
Coming up on The Hour, before the season wraps this June, an amazing array of guests to round out a simply stellar year. Upcoming guests range from journalistic icon Barbara Walters, to the incredibly knowledgeable Alex Trebek, and the stunning and talented Kim Cattrall. The Hour will also host exclusive interviews with television and comedic superstars Jason Alexander and the legendary Bob Newhart. Internationally renowned novelist Salman Rushdie and, soon to retire from the Armed Forces, Canadian General Rick Hillier will also be on set. Airing on Friday, June 6, at 11 p.m., will be The Hour’s all-access, exclusive, full-hour TV special with U.K. rock sensation Coldplay. Catch George in one-on-one chats and some unpredictable, unique moments with the band, all captured in this recently shot U.K. special.
The nine-episode series Mitsubishi City Chase is a series premiering Monday, June 30, at 8:30 p.m. Filmed at City Chase Events in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, the series takes viewers across Canada through this part obstacle course, part scavenger hunt race, highlighting tension and exhilaration as teams search for the next challenge. Each city will be featured in two half-hour episodes, and will conclude with a one-hour finale.
Movies and miniseries
Continuing the summer tradition of great movies and miniseries, CBC Television offers the premiere of two Canadian movies and top-notch American feature films. Quality of Life: A Dominic Da Vinci Movie telecasts Saturday, June 14, at 9 p.m., with Nicholas Campbell reprising one his most famous roles. As mayor of Vancouver, he is being pressured to run for Premier and he finds himself having to walk the razor’s edge between morality and the abyss of political compromise. The stellar all-Canadian cast includes Mary Walsh (This Hour Has 22 Minutes), Michael Murphy (Away From Her) and Hugh Dillon (Durham County).
Everest, filmed in the Rocky Mountains, in and around Calgary and Nepal, tells the story of the October 1982 adventure of Laurie Skreslet and Pat Morrow, who became the first Canadians to set foot on the highest point on earth—the summit of Mount Everest. The four-hour miniseries makes its premiere on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m., and concludes Monday, Sept. 1, at 8 p.m. Jason Priestley (Don’t Cry Now, 90210), Leslie Hope (Never Back Down, 24) and William Shatner (Boston Legal, Star Trek) headline an ensemble cast, telling the drama, tragedy and triumph of that 1982 expedition. Eric Johnson (Smallville, Flash Gordon) stars as Laurie Skreslet, Gord Rand (Mayerthorpe, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye) as Pat Morrow, John Pyper-Ferguson (Brothers & Sisters, Highlander) as Roger Marshall, Vincent Gale (Last Wedding, Firewall) as John Amatt and Zachary Bennett (The Border, Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion) as Blair Griffiths.
