TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Featured, The Office Movers

Crave original comedy series The Office Movers lands early renewal ahead of Season 2 premiere

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From a media release:

Crave announced today that its award-winning, original comedy series THE OFFICE MOVERS is returning for a third season. The news comes as Season 2 drops tomorrow, with all six episodes available at once.

The series is distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus.

Created by and starring comedic writer-producer duo Jermaine “Jae” and Trevaunn “Trey” Richards, THE OFFICE MOVERS follows two brothers navigating Toronto’s commercial office moving industry, and features the trademark Toronto slang the Richards brothers are famous for. Season 2 also features special appearances by Jae and Trey’s longtime friend and collaborator, Drake (pictured above).

“THE OFFICE MOVERS is a hilarious slapstick comedy that also has some heart,” said Justin Stockman, Vice President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “Jae and Trey’s sharp, culture-savvy comedy keeps the show perfectly tuned to the pulse of the moment, and we’re ecstatic they’ve landed a special appearance by one of Canada’s most iconic cultural ambassadors.”

The series is produced by Counterfeit Pictures in association with Crave. The series is created by brothers Jermaine and Trevaunn Richards, who also serve as executive producers through their creative studio, Random Order Studios, along with Clara Altimas and Counterfeit’s Dan Bennett, Shane Corkery, and Anton Leo. Sebastian Cluer and Clara Altimas serve as directors. Chantal Kemp and Counterfeit’s Chris Kelley are producers.

For Bell Media, Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; ; Alexis McLaren is Production Executive; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Justin Stockman is Vice-President, Content Development & Programming.

Jermaine and Trevaunn Richards are represented by Odd Projects and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

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Featured, Rookie Blue, Saving Hope

Peter Mooney continues to solve crimes—and celebrate the holidays—in Season 2 of Mistletoe Murders

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Peter Mooney fought to keep the streets of Toronto safe for close to 50 episodes of Rookie Blue as Officer Nick Collins.

Now he’s back on the beat, albeit in a very different setting.

Returning for the second season of Hallmark’s Mistletoe Murders as Detective Sam Wilner, Mooney (Saving Hope) is fighting crime while juggling romance, espionage and decorating the Christmas tree.

Mistletoe Murders, airing Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on W Network and StackTV, is based on the Audible podcast of the same name. Created by Ken Cuperus (Hudson & Rex), the six-episode season follows Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), the owner of Under the Mistletoe, a year-round Christmas-themed store. When she’s not running the shop, Emily is solving crimes and keeping a secret: she is a former spy who has been given a new name and started a new life in the small town of Fletcher’s Grove.

During the course of Season 1, Emily and Sam tackled whodunnits, got close and, ultimately (spoiler alert), kissed. The season finale’s smooch was followed by an awkward conversation. Sam asked Emily to reveal her secret, and she refused, leaving a cliffhanger that could have been the series’ final scene if Mistletoe Murders wasn’t renewed.

“It is a gamble,” Mooney admits about the cliffhanger. “The way these stories are written, with a self-contained mystery over two episodes, there is the bigger overarching mystery of, ‘Who is Emily Lane?’ And the reality, with what Ken has cooked up in his head, is going to take a while to figure out. We knew we were gambling on a Season 2 and, luckily, it went our way.”

When we catch up with Emily and Sam on Friday’s return, that conversation continues, seemingly giving closure—for now—on their budding relationship while kicking off a new mystery. Fans begging for more of Emily’s backstory rejoice: Friday’s return peeks back at her first days as a young student. As for Sam, Season 2 finds him continuing the adventure that is raising teenage daughter Violet (Sierra Marilyn Riley) while not letting Emily’s reluctance to answer his questions stop him from doing digging of his own.

Filmed on location in Toronto and on the former small-town set built for Season 1 of Reacher, Mistletoe Murders is the perfect blend of cozy crime drama, made popular by Midsomer Murders, Grantchester and Father Brown, and the Hallmark holiday movie genre filled with baubles, bows, candy canes and cookies that has become a seasonal (and year-round for some) sensation.

“It does really feel like a family,” Mooney says of being in the Hallmark stable of talent. “So many of the people have longstanding relationships with Hallmark and know and have worked with each other. It’s a really lovely and inclusive bunch of people.”

Mistletoe Murders airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on W Network and StackTV.

Images courtesy of Corus.

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Featured, Haven, Industry News, Wild Cards

Blink49 Studios and Piller/Segan ink multi-year joint venture to develop and produce premium content across all genres

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From a media release:

Piller/Segan and Blink49 Studios, have entered into a multi-year joint venture agreement that will see both companies contribute financial and creative resources for the development and production of a slate of premium scripted and unscripted content.

The partnership builds on a long-standing creative relationship between Blink49 Studios CEO John Morayniss and Piller/Segan partners Lloyd Segan and Shawn Piller, who previously collaborated on hit series Private Eyes and fan-favorite Haven during Morayniss’ tenure at eOne. The companies are currently producing Season 3 of Wild Cards (CBC/The CW), which has also been ordered for Season 4.

Designed as a hub for bold new projects, the joint venture will take an open-door approach to building long-term IP and franchises across genres, encouraging crossover opportunities for concepts that can thrive in multiple formats. Building on the strength of its existing creative team, Piller/Segan will expand its development capacity with the addition of a seasoned executive dedicated to sourcing and shepherding projects under the joint venture, working closely with Blink49 Studios leadership.

“This joint venture is a natural evolution of the trust and creative synergy we’ve built over many years,” said Morayniss. “With our combined financial commitment and infrastructure, Blink49 Studios and Piller/Segan are well-positioned to deliver globally resonant storytelling and provide creators with the resources they need to succeed.”

“We’re thrilled to formalize this next chapter with John and the incredible team at Blink49 Studios,” added Segan. “This venture gives us the reach and flexibility to champion a wide range of projects — from supporting established voices to cultivating fresh talent. Together, we’re building a dynamic environment where creators can take risks and bring ambitious ideas to life.”

The venture reflects both companies’ shared mission to empower creators, invest in innovative storytelling, and deliver high-quality programming to a global marketplace.

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Featured, Industry News

APTN expands its presence across digital platforms

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From a media release:

APTN is expanding its reach and offering new ways to connect with Indigenous stories in the digital era, including a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, in-flight entertainment on Air Canada and the transition of the network’s streaming platform from APTN lumi to APTN+.  

APTN Beyond, a paranormal FAST channel now available on The Roku Channel and Pluto TV in Canada, invites viewers into a world of unexplained phenomena, haunting encounters and ancestral spirits. APTN Beyond features APTN’s most gripping supernatural series: The Other Side (10 seasons), Ghost Hunters of the Grand River (4 seasons), Spirit Talker (5 seasons), Indians and Aliens, Lands Enchanted, Red Earth Uncovered, Shadow of the Rougarou and Tales from the Rez. 

Select APTN programs are also now available on Air Canada flights commercial-free, including Indigenous Art Adventures, APTN Investigates and more. This new feature allows passengers to discover and enjoy Indigenous programming throughout their travels.  

This fall, APTN lumi is becoming APTN+, a new name that improves the platform’s visibility and reaffirms APTN’s commitment to making Indigenous stories more accessible. 

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New Production “Stand Up For Canada Starring Rick Mercer” goes to camera this week

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From a media release:

Producers Bruce Hills Entertainment, Counterfeit Pictures, and Hemmings Films are pleased to announce that they will go into production on Stand Up For Canada Starring Rick Mercer, a new one-hour comedy special set to premiere on CBC and CBC Gem. Timing for the premiere will be confirmed at a later date.

Set to film in front of a live audience in Saint John, New Brunswick on October 17, the special will capture a night on Rick Mercer’s wildly successful coast-to-coast comedy tour, which continues through October 2025, and is presented by MRG Live and Bruce Hills Entertainment. Mercer is joined by Canadian comedians Sophie Buddle, Mayce Galoni and Julie Kim, and performed 28 shows across 20 cities, with 24 sold-out venues and more than 40,000 tickets sold.

The Stand Up For Canada Starring Rick Mercer special promises to deliver a funny, insightful and heartfelt celebration of Canada through the comedy of one of the country’s most beloved voices, as well as a new generation of rising stand-up stars. Together, Mercer, Buddle, Galoni and Kim will shine a light on the diverse perspectives, stories and humour that make Canada’s comedy scene one of the richest in the world.

Stand Up For Canada Starring Rick Mercer is produced by Bruce Hills Entertainment, Counterfeit Pictures, and Hemmings Films, in association with CBC.

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