It was the news Remedy fans had been dreading. After two seasons, Global announced it was pulling the plug on its medical drama.
And while the show’s fans, cast and crew took to Twitter to vent frustrations and/or say goodbye, showrunner Greg Spottiswood had a different message on Monday morning. He took to social media to champion Canadian TV shows and urge people to tune in and talk them up with friends.
Will you watch more Canadian TV because of Greg’s message? Comment below or via our Twitter account @tv_eh.
I already watch a lot of Canadian tv but I do try and get other people around me to watch shows. When I really like a show I forward an article with a photo on Facebook and tell everyone to watch.
I don’t support any Canadian shows that cater to Americans. Why can’t we show the flag, or wear emblems that let other countries know it is Canadian? Orphan Black, Schitt’s Creek are a disgrace to this nation. We have awesome Canadian programming that is shown world wide, yet, we don’t promote Canada , and I agree with the CRTC, If you cannot say it is Canadian, we will not fund it. Stop trying to impress America by being neutral in our shows. It is Canadian and be proud of it. Murdoch rules, and it is in 125 countries around the world, and only on rare and selected pbs stations in the US, who cares about them.? Why are we so afraid about what America thinks?
I am a native Californian, so though I cannot speak for all, most, or perhaps even many US viewers, I can speak for my immediate circle of somewhat discerning friends… We LOVE Canadian programs!
That is, when we can find them, bleed them out of the otherwise amorphous glut of American shows, or game the web so that the Canadian shows are not blocked to us.
I have no idea who is the thinker behind the idea that US audiences need to think that a show takes place south of the US/Canadian border in order to gain a viewership. What a show needs is to be worth a damn!
BBC and other foreign programming does quite Ok.
My first real hook, Flashpoint, eventually went open with its location, which anyone paying attention already knew long before, yet remains one of the best police procedurals ever shown on US TV. Thanks to Flashpoint, I discovered the cast and began to backtrack their work as I am able, so now my default DVR programming includes anything with Enrico Colantoni, Hugh Dillon, etc. If more Canadian shows were allowed to come into the world of US streaming or broadcast… AS Canadian shows …. They might actually do BETTER than they do when trapped as one option of many among what most of us have little time to wade through on the daily dose of mediocre regular US fare.
Thanks for the feedback. I feel the same way that you do – a good show is a good show regardless of the country it comes from.
I agree completely. Many Americans wouldn’t stop watching a show if it was Canadian or if it took place in Canada. Look at Heartland. It’s incredibly popular in the U.S. and it doesn’t shy away from the fact that it’s set in Alberta. Also, British shows like Broadchurch, Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge aren’t exactly failing in the ratings on PBS. Some top execs think the setting of a show can be blurred and have the show still succeed but I think they are out to lunch for about 80% of shows (some shows can get away with it). Emphasizing or outlining a setting gives a show a great sense of identity and only attracts viewers. I’m of the opinion that a show with an interesting or attractive setting will only help it when it comes to international sales, especially in today’s market where there’s so many shows to compete with, anything that makes a show individualistic helps it stand out. Oh well, I’ve argued that thousands of times yet the Canadian tv industry continues to pump out shows trying to hide their Canadianness like they’re ashamed of it.
Well said Alicia!
I suspect that there may be some protectionist board room agreement that sacrifices great Canadian screenplays and casting on tv if they threaten to overshadow US industry profits or standings on the US market. Why else wouldn’t streaming media and mainstream broadcast and cable TV companies such as Global ensure free access to Canadian programming to US viewers, yet on the flip side Canada is bombarded by US shows?
How can we reach out to them and convince them that a good programming, with the work of both US and Canadian screen writers and actors, would benefit the business as a whole?
(And to stop dumbing us down with non-“reality” tv that takes up so much air time!)