TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Crave orders Project Runway Canada, with Coco Rocha and Jeanne Beker

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From a media release:

Crave announced today a 10-episode order for PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA, the Canadian adaptation of the globally renowned fashion competition series, which sees some of the country’s most exciting designers competing in a captivating series of challenges for their ultimate industry breakthrough. The series, which is set to return to Canadian audiences, is produced in collaboration with Fashion at The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Production begins this summer, and the series is slated to debut on Crave later this year.  Canadian powerhouses Coco Rocha (host and judge) and Jeanne Beker (judge) are set to join PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA, helping determine who truly has what it takes to make it in the fashion industry, with additional cast to be announced soon.

Casting is now open, and designers are invited to apply at www.ctv.ca/projectrunwaycanada.

“Canada’s fashion culture and industry deserves to be celebrated, and this is the perfect moment to spotlight homegrown designers,” said Carlyn Klebuc, General Manager, Original Programming, Bell Media. “PROJECT RUNWAY is already an iconic franchise, and we can’t wait to give it a distinctly Canadian twist.”

Michela DiMondo, EVP, International Distribution, Fremantle Canada, said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners at Bell Media to launch PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA. PROJECT RUNWAY has had a profound effect on the fashion industry and is known globally for launching careers. We can’t wait to see PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA open doors for some of the country’s most inspiring fashion designers in this international renowned fashion series.”

“Fashion at The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University is thrilled to collaborate on PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA, an exciting initiative that supports the development, visibility, and long-term success of fashion in Canada. As the country’s leading fashion school, we’re proud to contribute our expertise and facilities in downtown Toronto to help spotlight Canadian talent and strengthen the creative industries,” said Joseph Medaglia, Chair, Fashion at The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University.

The PROJECT RUNWAY format is licensed for Canada from Fremantle.

When PROJECT RUNWAY debuted in 2004, the series broke new ground and helped revolutionize the reality competition genre. Since then, PROJECT RUNWAY has aired in more than 125 countries and has had a profound effect on the fashion industry, launching the careers of prolific designers, including Christian Siriano, Austin Scarlett, Leanne Marshall, Irina Shabayeva, Michael Costello, and Bishme Cromartie, among many others.

PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA is produced by Bell Media Studios. Jennifer Couke and Michelle Crespi are Executive Producers. Coco Rocha also serves as Executive Producer. Charles Falzon, Dean, The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University, is Executive Producer. Nicholas Vasil is Series Producer.

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Featured, Industry News

Legendary creator Chuck Lorre to deliver keynote at 2025 Banff World Media Festival

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From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is thrilled to announce that award-winning creator, executive producer, and writer Chuck Lorre will be a keynote speaker for its 2025 BANFF Summit Series. The 46th annual event will take place June 8–11, 2025, at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

The BANFF Summit Series, launched in 2019, has become the festival’s flagship program, spotlighting transformative thinkers and leaders shaping the future of media and entertainment.

“Chuck Lorre is a prolific creator who is behind some of the most memorable series and characters in modern history,” said Sean Cohan, Chair of the Board of Directors, BANFF, and President of Bell Media. “His groundbreaking work has shaped generations of storytelling, and we are excited for him to share his unique insights and experiences with the global media community at BANFF.”

Lorre is the creative force behind some of the most successful and beloved series in television history. Based at Warner Bros. Television for the last 25 years, the prolific Lorre’s series for the Studio include the long-running global blockbuster hit comedy The Big Bang Theory, its highly acclaimed spinoff Young Sheldon, and the third show in the Big Bang universe, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which is network TV’s #1 comedy of the 2024–25 season. His slate also features the highly anticipated upcoming comedy Leanne, starring Leanne Morgan, for Netflix. Additional Lorre series from WBTV include Bookie, Bob♥Abishola, The Kominsky Method, Mom, Mike & Molly, and Two and a Half Men, among others. Prior to his association with WBTV, Lorre created hits such as Cybill, Dharma & Greg, and Grace Under Fire, and he also served as co-executive producer on Roseanne. His contributions to television have earned him widespread recognition, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

As previously announced, this year’s Summit Series speakers include Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi and Keith Le Goy, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television. Previous Summit Series speakers have included industry luminaries such as Rob Wade, Channing Dungey, Bela Bajaria, George Cheeks, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Ted Sarandos and Maverick Carter.

For the first time, the prestigious Banff Gala Awards and the Rockie Awards International Program Competition will unite in a single, must-attend event. This milestone celebration will honour both the entertainment industry’s most influential talent and business leaders, as well as the most exceptional content from around the world. Korea has been named the inaugural Country of Honour and will receive a special tribute at the Rockie Awards, further highlighting the nation’s growing global influence in entertainment. Additionally, multiple Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer will be presented with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Rockie Awards and will participate in an exclusive “In Conversation” panel session alongside notable composers from Bleeding Fingers Music, the multiple Emmy Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer collective he co-founded in 2013.

BANFF is renowned for its vibrant mix of thought leadership, networking, and deal-making opportunities that take attendees behind the scenes of the industry’s most talked-about appointments, projects, and pivots, as well as over 1,200 networking sessions and 25,000+ meetings, connecting global media professionals to foster partnerships and spark new collaborations.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

CBC’s Ghosting with Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan returns to spotlight more creepy Canadian locations with celebrity friends

When I’m planning a day trip, I always research the food options. Where has John Catucci eaten that I should visit for a meal after that museum or art gallery visit? But now, thanks to Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan, I should include potentially haunted Canadian locations on that list.

The duo have returned for Season 2 of Ghosting with Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan on CBC Gem, investigating the most haunted properties in Canada—and the stories surrounding them—with a help from their celebrity friends.

Part history lesson, part gossip-fest, part paranormal investigation, Hutchie and Finlan are determined to showcase parts of this country where spooky goings-on have occurred.

“The concept of the show was, ‘How do you essentially rebrand Canada to not seem like the side-chick to the United States?'” co-creator and co-executive producer Hutchie says during a recent chat. “Season 2 really does sell you on the glitz and the glamour and the grandeur of the show.”

Where the debut go-round stayed within Ontario, visiting locations like Picton, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Baden and Cornwall, the sophomore eight storylines led them to Nova Scotia, British Columbia and the Yukon. Joining Hutchie and Finlan this season are Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka (pictured above with Finlan and Hutchie), Veronika Slowikowska (Ezra), Nikki Roumel (Ginny & Georgia), Percy Hynes White (Wednesday), Krista Nazaire (Hell of a Summer), Joel Oulette (Trickster) and more.

Luke Hutchie, Veronika Slowikowska and Matthew Finlan

One of the highlights in Season 2 is Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. Built by wealthy coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, it is reportedly haunted in a trio of spots. After a quick history lesson on Dunsmuir and the castle by Hutchie and Finlan, the pair meet up with Percy Hynes White as the lights go down.

I watch a lot of paranormal series. And, like them, Ghosting rolls out REM pods, SLS cameras, EMF detectors and the Ovilus 5, all technologies that are purported to capture the movements, thoughts and voices of the supernatural. What sets Ghosting apart from those programs is the chemistry, friendship and teasing between Hutchie, Finlan, and their friends. There are truly laugh-out loud, outrageous moments, usually delivered by Hutchie (sometimes the only thing missing is him looking right into the camera, fully breaking the fourth wall), but lots of jump-scares as well.

At the end of each instalment, Hutchie, Finlan and their guest each decide if the location is “haunted” or “not haunted.”

“We’re trying to prove if the ghost story is true or not,” Hutchie says. “This season, it’s more, ‘the claims are this, we didn’t get that, so the story’s not true.'” But in some cases, strange things occurred that weren’t part of the ghost story; Hutchie points to Lunenberg Academy as a place where he can be heard muttering, “what the…” under his breath.

To me, whether the locations are truly haunted isn’t the point. In a show like Ghosting with Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan, the fun is in the journey.

Season 2 of Ghosting with Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan is available now on CBC Gem.

Images courtesy of Blue Ant Media.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

One quadruple amputee, one first-time caregiver, one beaten up old motorhome, and one cross-continent crusade. What could go wrong? (Spoiler alert: a lot.)

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From a media release:

Crip Trip, AMI and TVO Docs’ new road trip docuseries, takes viewers on a journey of hilarity, friendship and hope, while shedding light on glaring holes in support systems for members of the disability community.

Who: Daniel Ennett, a filmmaker who is a quadruple amputee, and Frederick Kroetsch, Daniel’s best friend and new caregiver. These guys are polar opposites: Daniel is a social justice warrior, and Fred is a high-strung but fun-loving axxhole.

What: A road trip from Edmonton to New York City in a 1983 RV, pimped out for their specific needs. Daniel and Fred set out to find permanent, full-time work for Daniel, to prevent him from falling through the cracks of a broken government support system. Fred is quickly thrust into the role of full-time caregiver for someone with a disability – something he was absolutely not prepared for.

When: Beginning April 25, 2025, Crip Trip airs Fridays at 9 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. The series can be streamed on demand, for free, on AMI+. The series will also be coming to TVO in late 2025.

The rollicking journey is filled with memorable ups and downs, including breakdowns, couple’s therapy, ghost hunting, stand-up comedy attempts and discussions about disability you’ve never heard before. They don’t shy away from showing the world what caregiving is really like, from inaccessible bathrooms to the dreaded stairs. Every obstacle in their path requires a creative solution.

The result? A “punk-rock, gonzo, road trip, buddy comedy” with a serious and heartfelt message: members of the disability community need more employment opportunities and support systems.

Watch the teaser trailer!

The stakes are high: Daniel requires expensive around-the-clock care, or he could be forced to live in a long-term care facility. Will they succeed?

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Featured, Industry News

Korea named inaugural country of honour at the 2025 Banff World Media Festival

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From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) proudly announces Korea as the first-ever Country of Honour at the 2025 festival, marking a historic milestone in the event’s esteemed history. This distinguished recognition highlights Korea’s global influence on the entertainment industry and its trailblazing producers, media companies, and content creators. The 46th annual event will take place June 8–11, 2025, at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

In partnership with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a distinguished delegation of Korea’s top producers, industry leaders, and acclaimed talent will attend the festival to forge international partnerships and strengthen global collaboration. The festival will feature exclusive showcases, networking opportunities, and special programming spotlighting Korea’s excellence in storytelling and content production across television, digital media, and more.

As part of the celebration, K-Content will be a focal point throughout the festival, culminating in a grand tribute at the Rockie Awards on Monday, June 9. This celebration will honor Korea’s groundbreaking creativity and cultural impact on the global media landscape.

“We are thrilled to recognize Korea as our inaugural Country of Honour,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, BANFF. “Korea has emerged as a powerhouse in global entertainment, captivating audiences worldwide with its innovative storytelling and world-class productions. We look forward to welcoming Korean creators to BANFF and fostering new opportunities for international collaboration.”

“Korea’s presence at BANFF underscores the strength and appeal of K-Content on a global scale,” said Yoo-Hyun-seok, Acting President of KOCCA. “We are excited to showcase the depth and diversity of our creative industry while building meaningful partnerships that will shape the future of entertainment.”

BANFF extends its gratitude to Esther Song of Song Group and Banff Television Festival Foundation Board member Jeniffer Kim for their pivotal role in making this initiative a reality.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Canadian Rockies, the Banff World Media Festival is a premier destination for media industry professionals, offering over 1,200 networking sessions, unparalleled access to deal-making, and industry insights as well as 25,000+ meetings, connecting global media professionals to foster partnerships and spark new collaborations. This year’s festival promises to be a landmark gathering, featuring forward-thinking panels and high-profile keynotes with Tubi’s CEO Anjali Sud and Sony Pictures Television Chairman Keith Le Goy.

Image courtesy of Fairmont-Banff-Springs.

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