From the Canadian Press:
CBC-TV’s edgy drama ‘Strange Empire’ cancelled after single season
CBC’s dark western “Strange Empire” has been cancelled. The public broadcaster says the rookie series, which premiered last October, is ending, but gave no further details. The network is set to announce future programming plans later this week. Continue reading.
The Book of Negroes was a stunning success for CBC, getting 1.4 million viewers to tune in to the mini-series adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s critically acclaimed novel. Last year’s Best Laid Plans, based on Terry Fallis’ book, was less of a ratings winner, but did just earn star Jonas Chernick a Canadian Screen Award. Some of my favourite television memories involve Anne of Green Gables and other shows based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s imagination.
Since The Book of Negroes 2 is unlikely, and the Canadian industry was scooped on Life of Pi, what work of Canadian literature do you think CBC should adapt next?  There’s too much to choose from for a multiple choice poll, so put your suggestions in the comments … and may the best book win.
19-2, Bravo – “Property Line”
Housing evictions pit the squad against a community in crisis.
Murdoch Mysteries, CBC – “High Voltage”
The electrocution of a man leads Murdoch back to inventor Thomas Edison.
Ascension, CBC – Episode 4
Christa becomes the focus on mysterious happenings on Ascension and Krueger gets closer to the truth about the project.
Gangland Undercover, History
Chronicles infiltrator Charles Falco’s mission inside one of America’s most notoriously violent outlaw motorcycle gangs and gives a rare look inside this historically infamous organized crime gang through the eyes of an undercover investigator
Join Greg and Diane on Mondays as we debate a TV-related issue that’s on our minds. This week: CraveTV vs shomi vs Netflix.
She said:
This could be my shortest She Said ever: Netflix. Because it’s the only one available to me.
But to expand, CraveTV has the HBO and Showtime libraries which give it a great competitive advantage over shomi … except you have to have cable TV with a select few providers in order to subscribe. They’re also doing smart things like streaming original series the day before they’re broadcast.
shomi is more expensive than CraveTV, but you can be an internet or cable TV subscriber with Rogers or Shaw in order to subscribe, and rumour has it eventually it will be available more widely. In its collection are shows previously unavailable in Canada, such as Amazon’s Transparent and The CW’s Jane the Virgin.
Streaming rights have an expiration date and many TV shows I saw on Netflix are now on one or the other of the Canadian streaming services. I expect as time goes on — if CraveTV and shomi both survive — we’ll see the libraries both swap rights and grow.  If I had a cable provider, I wouldn’t change based on the streaming service given the offerings might not outlast my contract.
Neither CraveTV nor shomi are likely to create truly original series as Netflix does, either. Since they’re owned by Canadian broadcasters with CanCon rules, their homegrown shows are likely to air on both the networks and streaming services.
None of that matters to me, since I’m back to where I began: Netflix is the only one available to me, so Netflix wins. Because of its HBO and Showtime library, CraveTV is the one I most wish were open to all, but it would be a supplement to rather than replacement for the movies and original series of Netflix.
He said:
I’m in the same boat as Diane in that I prefer Netflix over the other two offerings, but as a Rogers subscriber I do have access to shomi. As a television critic I’ve also gotten the chance to try out CraveTV.
Netflix will always be head and shoulders above the other two just because I have more international tastes in television and that’s a hole Netflix fills nicely. Sure there is House of Cards — which I plan to binge-watch ASAP — but U.K. series like Happy Valley, Hinterland, Silk and The Bletchley Circle keep me entertained. Add in European offerings like Wallander, Lillyhammer, Dicte and the original version of The Bridge give and I have access to wide range of programming I can’t get on conventional TV or PBS.
Unfortunately, shomi just doesn’t cut it for me. It’s nice to have access to Jane the Virgin and Transparent — programs I plan to watch eventually — but there is nothing on it that I haven’t already seen or causes me to think, “I’ve got an afternoon to kill … I wonder what’s on shomi?” I’m happy to see the original Star Trek and The Twilight Zone available, but much of its stable of TV programs contain seasons of shows I’ve already watched. I love Sons of Anarchy, but the most recent season isn’t there. Same goes for Vikings. Yes, I’m already up to date on both, but the point is, why would I bother watching a series like SOA if I know the latest season isn’t there for me to tune into?
As for CraveTV, I’ve loved what I’ve seen on it so far. The Showtime and HBO back libraries bring incredible value to CraveTV, as well as the wonderful cop drama Bosch, which I blew through over the past week. CraveTV feels exciting and bingeworthy and less like a catch-all for old shows like shomi’s vibe is. The sad part? Since I’m not a Bell subscriber, I won’t be able to enjoy CraveTV for much longer and I’m unwilling to drop my cable service just for that. And that’s a pity, because if I was able to have CraveTV and Netflix, I would be close to cutting the cable completely.
Where do you sit in this discussion? How do Netflix, shomi and CraveTV rank for you? Comment below or via @tv_eh.
MasterChef Canada suffered its first call for medics on Sunday night, and it had nothing to do with the high-flying folks of Cirque du Soleil’s show Kurios: A Cabinet of Curiosities. Instead it was frontrunner/former Canadian military member Line who needed medical attention, though not because she cut or burned herself.
Turned out the stress of her Blue Team losing to Andrew’s Red Team during the Team Challenge and a lack of ingesting enough liquids caused the curly-haired home cook to collapse moments after saving herself from the Pressure Test. (Line is fine and returns next week according to the tease for next Sunday’s episode.) Would you have saved yourself from the Pressure Test? Though former CFLer Jon was quick to jump on Line for doing that, I’m pretty sure I would have done the same if I was in her position. After all, MasterChef Canada is a competition, not a summer camp.
Sunday’s “Juggling Act” marked the show’s first Team Challenge, and the all-important first peek at who is rubbing everyone the wrong way. That person is always the last to be picked on a team, and when Jennifer was the one I wasn’t surprised. She’s either super-annoying or being edited that way and was added to Line’s squad last.
It didn’t take long for Jennifer to grate on Line’s nerves because she didn’t know how to use a mandolin; the resulting comments from her team leader left Jennifer in tears and Alvin warning Line that she was being too hard on Jen. Andrew’s team was the polar opposite, a squad full of free thinkers and free-wheeling, a recipe that often results in disaster but in this case secured Andrew and the Red Team a win.
Back in the MasterChef Canada kitchen, the Red Team was tasked with making the French Canadian treat tourtière for the judges. And, after Blue saved Jennifer from elimination and Line took a tumble after saving herself, the remaining cooks got down to business. Having experience making tourtière myself, I know it’s important not to over-season with herbs and cloves and to make sure the meat filling is thick and juicy. Unfortunately, Debra’s wild boar offering was too dry and she left a bay leaf fragment inside, a major no-no. Tammy, meanwhile, foundered because she added too much apple and rosemary to the middle, drawing the attention away from her protein.
In the end it was Debra who was forced to hang up her apron and depart the MasterChef Canada kitchen.
Note and quotes
MasterChef Canada airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET on CTV.
