Review: Schitt’s Creek – “Ronnie’s Party” – Game on!

“Those two are not as simple minded as we thought.” This was Moira to Johnny after Roland and Jocelyn brought them “table scraps” from the party they hosted to raise support and funding for Jocelyn’s campaign.

Moira will not be outdone by the likes of them. She asks Ronnie if she will support her, saying, “I want you to put your weight behind me – your political weight…(awkward pause)…I now realize ‘clout’ was the word I was looking for.” It might not seem funny when you read it, but watching Moira is very funny. It’s all in the delivery. There are great lines in this show, but the delivery is what makes it.

Ronnie agrees to host a party and tells Moira she has a chance to get a key demographic on her side. For most of the evening Moira assumed the demographic was “women without husbands.” She finds out just before giving her campaign speech that the demographic is entrepreneurs. Watching her replace the word “lesbian” with “business” from her speech is entertaining.

Meanwhile, David gets stuck babysitting his boss’ stepdaughter. We see him outside the motel walking towards the office to talk to Stevie about it. He’s wearing black pants with big pink flowers. Not something you see every day. In the last episode he was wearing white gloves at work, much like someone working with priceless art would wear. It’s attention to details like these that paint a picture of the character. Subtle and brilliant.

Alexis has also joined the working force. Her start at the vet clinic was a bit rocky, but in the end she did manage to contribute. It seems that all of the Roses are stepping out and taking part in their new community.

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Amazing Race Canada, Marilyn Denis topline Night 1 of Canadian Screen Awards

The Amazing Race Canada, The Marilyn Denis Show, Income Property and Still Standing were among the winners on Night 1 of the Canadian Screen Awards.

The non-broadcast fête from Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle saluted the sports, factual, talk, documentary and news categories. The spectacle was hosted by comedian Seán Cullen, whose eclectic humour kept those in attendance on their toes from the start.

“I watch Survivorman because in this business you never know when you’re going to be eating grass clippings and ants,” he quipped in his opening monologue. Later, a cringe-worthy segment boasted Cullen singing to such Canadian celebrities in the audience as Ben Mulroney, CTV’s Michelle Dubé, Marilyn Denis and CBC’s Ian Hanomansing.

The big winners of the night were the crew of CTV’s The Amazing Race, which not only took home Best Reality/Competition Program or Series but the photography, picture editing and directing categories as well. The Marilyn Denis Show captured a win for Best Talk Program or Series.

“I’m so lucky to have a second chance, a second go-round with this show. Please go and watch TV, it’s worth it,” Denis said upon accepting the trophy. Other winners included HGTV’s Income Property starring Scott McGillivray and CBC’s road trip project Still Standing.

Here are the winners in some key categories from Night 1:

Best Lifestyle Program or Series
Income Property

Best Talk Program or Series
The Marilyn Denis Show

Best Reality/Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada

Best Documentary Program
Sol

Best History Documentary Program or Series
Vietnam: Canada’s Shadow War

Best Factual Program or Series
Still Standing

Best Live Entertainment Special
The JUNO Awards 2015

Best News Anchor, Local
Andrew Chang, CBC News: Vancouver at 6

Best News Anchor, National
Ian Hanomansing, CBC News

Best Local Newscast
CTV News Vancouver at 6

Best National Newscast
CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme

Here’s the complete list of winners.

The Canadian Screen Awards gala airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBC.

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Slice scores second season of original series First Dates

From a media release:

Shaw Media has greenlit a second season of Slice™’s scintillating series First Dates, with production and casting underway now. The First Dates matchmakers have begun an extensive search for a diverse mix of singles looking to be paired up on a blind date in hopes of finding that special someone. Produced by Force Four Entertainment and Remedy Canada Productions, in association with Shaw Media, First Dates is a docuseries that sets single men and women up on a first date with cameras capturing all their real and romantic moments. The second season of First Dates will air on Slice in 2016 and the entire first season can be watched online at slice.ca along with exclusive digital extras.

First Dates is looking for Canadians of all genders, orientations, ages, backgrounds, and professions who are single and actively looking, or at least open to the prospect of finding someone special. The series will be filmed in Vancouver this Spring, and all Canadians are welcome to apply. The casting site also allows people to nominate friends or family for the show through the same online application process. Online applications for First Dates can be filled out by visiting slice.ca/casting-call. Applicants must be 19 years of age or older, available for filming in the Vancouver area, and must provide a headshot of themselves.

Hailed as “wonderful” and “utterly beguiling” by The Globe and Mail, First Dates gives viewers a gripping look at the hope, charm, attractions, awkwardness, heartaches, connections, and the stakes of a first date. Each episode showcases a restaurant of singles who have been hand matched for a blind date with someone they’ve never met. The restaurant is fitted with 35 fixed-rig cameras capturing every moment, from potential sparks to awkward small talk, flirtatious glances, and sometimes forced smiles. In Season 1, the First Dates restaurant hosted over 300 first dates, which led to 50 smooches and 100 second dates.

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TV Eh B Cs podcast 42 – In the Write Room with Denis McGrath

DMcDenis McGrath has been nominated for multiple Canadian Screen Awards, including a 2016 writing nomination for the penultimate episode of season one of X Company. He has been nominated for a Writers Guild of Canada award for his work on Less Than Kind, and won the same award for his miniseries Across the River to Motor City in 2007. Recent credits include Aftermath, X Company, Continuum, Bitten, Less Than Kind, The Border, and Stargate: Universe.

Anthony and Denis discuss X Company in particular — including how he became “Dieppe boy” — and the writers room in general.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

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Link: X Company’s Dustin Milligan on growing tension in the team

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

X Company’s Dustin Milligan on growing tension in the team
“Tom is trying to rally the troops and what he experienced with getting shot and heading back to camp for awhile is that ‘yes, things are hard, things are real now and it’s not just about these ideals we have.’ Tom has never been one who has wanted to pull the trigger, but he sees the reality in that and now he sees how he can play an integral role in this final mission, reminding the team of what’s really important here, ‘yes, we have our differences but ultimately there’s something much greater than us that needs our absolute focus and attention.’ Otherwise all could be lost.” Continue reading. 

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