From Susan Krashinsky of the Globe and Mail:

• NBC joins forces with Global to launch TV series
  The Firm, based on the John Grisham novel previously adapted for the 1993 movie starring Tom Cruise, only secured financing in recent weeks, when NBC decided to come on board. It was a big decision: The network had to commit to an entire season, but in return it got the boost of Mr. Grisham’s name – and a chunk of Canadian money. Read more.

From Andrew Ryan of the Globe and Mail:

• Spenny sans Kenny, looking for love
  No more mean tricks for Spencer Rice. The kinder and gentler half of Kenny vs. Spenny moves into more civilized comedy territory on the new series Single White Spenny. Read more.

From a media release:

GLOBAL’S SUMMER LINE-UP SIZZLES WITH FOUR HOMEGROWN HITS

Anchored by a strong roster of Canadian original productions, Global’s jam-packed line-up proves that summer is a terrific season for great TV. From as far away as Afghanistan to as close as the nearest police station, Global will take viewers on a journey they won’t soon forget.

Set in a hospital inspired by the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit (MMU) at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan from 2006, Combat Hospital (formerly known as The Hot Zone) is the network’s latest original drama that makes its world premiere Thursday, June 21 — 10pm ET/PT in simulcast with ABC. This powerful and compelling series charts the frantic lives of the hospital’s resident doctors and nurses from Canada, America, the UK and other allied countries as they experience relentless life and death battles on the surgeon’s table. Combat Hospital stars Elias Koteas (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), Michelle Borth (“Hawaii Five-0”), Luke Mably (“The Gates”), Deborah Kara Unger (“The Hurricane”), Terry Chen (“Sanctuary”) and Arnold Pinnock (“The Listener”). Combat Hospital is currently filming on location in Toronto.

After premiering last year as the most-watched debut season of any scripted Canadian TV series in two decades, Rookie Blue is back with Season 2 Thursday, June 23 — 10pm ET/PT in simulcast with ABC. The personal and professional lives of Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), Dov Epstein (Gregory Smith), Chris Diaz (Travis Milne), Traci Nash (Enuka Okuma) and Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan) continue to collide. On and off the job, these rookies still have a lot to learn.

Intense drama continues with Global’s encore presentation of The Kennedys, which was a huge hit on History Television this past spring. Returning in eight, one-hour episodes Monday, July 4 – 8pm ET/PT, this revealing series provides a glimpse of the most fabled political family in American history during one of the most turbulent periods of the modern age. The Kennedys stars Greg Kinnear (“As Good As It Gets”, “Little Miss Sunshine”), Katie Holmes (“Batman Begins”, “The Ice Storm”), Barry Pepper (“Saving Private Ryan”, “Enemy Of The State”) and Tom Wilkinson (“In The Bedroom”, “John Adams”).

Later this summer, Global is sure to strike a chord with reality fans across the country with its one-of-a-kind competition Canada Sings, debuting Wednesday, August 10 — 9pm ET/PT. Canadians are challenged to form workplace glee clubs to battle it out in a competition that answers the question: Can an office that works together sing together? Canada Sings follows each team as they struggle to transform from co-workers to cast members with the help of professional choreographers and vocal coaches. This leads to the ultimate performance in front of a panel of judges that includes Jann Arden, Pierre Bouvier (Simple Plan) and Rob Van Winkle, AKA Vanilla Ice.