Yearly Archives: 2017

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

HGTV Canada superstars flying high in Season 2 of Home to Win

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It’s pretty impressive how HGTV Canada has assembled such a large group of homegrown stars. Scott McGillivray, Mike Holmes, Sarah Richardson and Bryan Baeumler continue to be top draws for the channel while newbies like Sebastian Clovis and Sarah Keenleyside are quickly becoming fan favourites. The aforementioned are among the 30 contractors and designers assembled for Season 2 of Home to Win.

Returning Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada, Home to Win‘s formula is simple: the 30 renovate and decorate a home for one Canadian family. Want to be the folks who could win the home? Go to the show’s website to find out how you can audition. What drew me into Season 1 was, of course, seeing someone win the property, but I was equally interested in seeing how HGTV’s talent would work together. Some, like Holmes, McGillivray and Baeumler, have interacted on other projects before, but for many, this was the first time they’d collaborated. It made for fun viewing.

Danielle Bryk and Tiffany Pratt

Sunday’s return pairs fan favourites Baeumler and McGillivray as they choose the home to be renovated. I like the producers’ decision to have the property chosen ahead of time by these two rather than the way they did it in Season 1, but having teams present a trio of properties and deciding the best fit. This way saves time and gets right to the meat of the show: the renovation. Part of the fun is, of course, watching McGillivray and Baeumler walk through homes, discussing what could be done to improve the places and voicing concerns. After picking the property they think is the best for location and enjoyment—you’ll have to tune in to see which one they agreed on—the group gets to work.

And, while the builders get to work on the outside, the designed convene inside to come up with a cohesive plan for turning the house into a stellar home. Yes, there are issues and conflicting opinions right out of the gate, proving Season 2 of Home to Win will be as entertaining as the first.

Home to Win airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

Images courtesy of Corus.

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Flashpoint, X Company

Link: 5×5 With The Hook: Hugh Dillon

From You’ve Been Hooked:

Link: 5×5 With The Hook: Hugh Dillon
“The writing on that show was so good it transcended language barriers/cultural differences and has stood the test of time. And it is amazing how we can drop all the walls we put up when we recognize the truth and beauty in the stories. Sometimes it’s a song a show or even a sport that provides that moment of connection, and life is good and you’re in the moment and you’re connected; can’t beat it!” Continue reading. 

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Industry News

Links: Margaret Atwood

From Hermoine Wilson of The TV Junkies:

Link: Why iconic author Margaret Atwood is killing it on TV right now
“I think that is one of the effects that series like this can have because each one is centred on a letter and learning letters and how they fit into words of course helps children read. But I don’t think it was in my mind anyway. If your primary purpose is didactic, the story will often be boring.” Continue reading.

From Victoria Ahearn of the Canadian Press:

Link: Margaret Atwood on alliteration, new Wandering Wenda show, being a teen puppeteer
“Kids think it’s funny and when the parents read the books, they often get mixed up and kids think that’s funny too. The Bs and Ds are particularly difficult for kids with dyslexia, and the Rs are particularly difficult with some people from other countries who are learning English. So in fact the R book has been used as a teaching aide in language classes for that reason.” Continue reading. 

 

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Russell Peters is the Indian Detective, The Indian Detective

After shooting in South Africa and India, CTV’s new dramedy The Indian Detective starring Russell Peters wraps production in Toronto

From a media release:

CTV along with producing partners Big Light Productions and Blue Ice Pictures announced today that production has wrapped on THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, following international production in Cape Town, South Africa and Mumbai, India earlier this year. The four-part, one-hour, comedic drama, starring international comedy sensation Russell Peters in his first scripted TV series, is set to premiere as part of CTV’s 2017/18 schedule.

THE INDIAN DETECTIVE follows Toronto cop Doug D’Mello (Peters) as he becomes embroiled in a murder case while visiting his father, Stanley (Anupam Kher), in Mumbai. The investigation leads Doug to uncover a dangerous conspiracy while dealing with his own ambivalence towards a country where despite his heritage, he is an outsider.

As THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, Peters is a charming, smart, ambitious Toronto cop of Indian heritage whose dreams of becoming a homicide detective are put on hold when he is unjustly suspended.

Additional cast members also confirmed today include Canadian icon William Shatner (STAR TREK), who wrapped filming in Cape Town earlier this year playing a billionaire property developer from Toronto who may have ties to the criminal underworld.

Additionally, award-winning actor and Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher (Silver Linings Playbook, Bend It Like Beckham) stars as Stanley D’Mello, Doug’s father, a retired airline pilot who moved back to India after the death of his wife. He’s a lovable rascal, trying to reconnect with his son in his golden years. Christina Cole (Casino Royale. SUITS) plays Constable Robyn Gerner, Doug’s tough, beautiful all-Canadian partner. Mishqah Parthiepal (Snake Park) stars as Priya Sehgal, an earnest and dedicated lawyer, born into an upper-middle class family in Mumbai; Priya has chosen to dedicate herself to serving the legal needs of the poor of the Annapuri Slum.

Equal doses comedy and high-stakes drama, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE is executive produced by Golden Globe®-winning and Emmy®-nominated Frank Spotnitz (THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, THE X-FILES) of Big Light Productions and Lance Samuels and Daniel Iron (MADIBA, THE BOOK OF NEGROES) of Blue Ice Pictures.

THE INDIAN DETECTIVE is a co-production between Big Light Productions, Blue Ice Pictures, Wonder Films, and Bell Media. The series was created, executive produced, and written for Russell Peters by Spotnitz and Smita Bhide (HUNTED, TRANSPORTER: THE SERIES). The series is directed by BAFTA award-winner Sandy Johnson (BENIDORM, JONATHAN CREEK) and produced by Trevor Hopkins (FORTITUDE, CUFFS). It is executive produced by Blue Ice Pictures’ Daniel Iron and Lance Samuels (MADIBA, THE BOOK OF NEGROES), Wonder Films’ Mark Burton (Water, Tallulah), Russell Peters (HIP-HOP EVOLUTION), CPI Pictures’ Clayton Peters (Breakaway, RUSSELL PETERS VERSUS THE WORLD), and Paul Canterna. Co-executive producer is Sharon Remmer (THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE).

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