All posts by Greg David

Prior to becoming a television critic and owner of TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for TV news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks from hundreds of television series from Canada, the U.S. and internationally. He is a podcaster, public speaker, weekly radio guest and educator, and past member of the Television Critics Association.

Bell Media and Pageboy Productions ink co-development deal for new series

From a media release:

Bell Media and PAGEBOY Productions, founded by acclaimed actor, producer, and advocate Elliot Page, announced today a new partnership to develop bold, original scripted series for Crave and CTV. Under this agreement, their collaboration will explore content opportunities, with a joint dedication to spotlighting untold stories.

“Canada holds a special place in our company’s story, and is an integral part of PAGEBOY’s identity,” said Matt Jordan Smith, Head of Development and Production. “Through our partnership with Bell Media, we look forward to deepening our roots here, while showcasing multifaceted stories that resonate globally. This collaboration marks an important step in our mission to create groundbreaking, authentic, and compelling content worldwide,” continued Smith. He is joined by Director of Development, Tuck Dowrey.

“Partnering with Bell Media feels like a natural evolution for PAGEBOY Productions,” added founder Elliot Page. “We’re excited to create captivating content that amplifies voices that deserve to be heard. This collaboration will allow us to tell powerful, genuine stories that challenge perspectives, and inspire audiences both at home and internationally.”

“PAGEBOY Productions brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to content creation,” said Sean Cohan, President of Bell Media. “This pact signifies a shared commitment to fostering Canadian creativity, telling stories from different perspectives, and delivering impactful storytelling to  audiences.”

With the new agreement, Bell Media continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in creating premium original content, fostering a pipeline of innovative projects for Canadian audiences and beyond. Past commitments include a development deal with Point Grey Pictures, and Lionsgate, as well as a licensing and distribution pact with FOX Entertainment Global.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Blue Ant Media greenlights five new originals and four renewals for 2025

From a media release:

International production studio, rights business and channel operator, Blue Ant Media, announced today from Prime Time a robust originals slate consisting of five new greenlights and four renewals. The slate spans mystery, paranormal, nature, wildlife and lifestyle genres. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media, the slate will roll out on the company’s Canadian specialty TV channels, T+E and Cottage Life, in 2025, followed by its global free streaming channels—HauntTV, Homeful, Love Pets, and Declassified—at a later date. Blue Ant Studios will oversee global pre-sales and licensing opportunities for all titles in the slate.

The latest slate includes Ghost Lands (w/t, image above), a chilling, hour-long documentary that presents Indigenous ghost stories rooted in various Indigenous cultures and mythology. Created, written and produced by Winnipeg-based Métis producer Jessica Landry, the project was developed and greenlit as a direct result of Blue Ant Media’s RFP Initiative, in partnership with imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, the Reelworld Film Festival and Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. The process called for pitches focused on paranormal series from Indigenous and racialized producers for Blue Ant’s linear channel T+E and its FAST channel, HauntTV.

Additional greenlights include You Can’t Deny It, a compelling new documentary series exploring the power of corroboration; Vet Detective, which spotlights Vancouver-based veterinarian Dr. Lauren Adelman’s pioneering work in veterinary medicine; Engineering from Above, a spin-off of the Mysteries from Above franchise exploring awe-inspiring engineering marvels; and Birthplace of Hallowe’en (w/t), a one-hour documentary filmed in Ireland with T+E’s fearless female trio—Kelly Ireland, Corine Carey and Leanne Sallenback— paranormal investigators hailing from British Columbia, known for History’s Most Haunted and Haunted Gold Rush.

Following their ratings performances and global appeal, Blue Ant has ordered a fourth season of the hit franchise Mysteries from Above, as well as second seasons of My Haunted Hometown, Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy and Wild Rose Vets. My Haunted Hometown ranked in the top 5 with total viewers and A18+ in its first run on T+E, with repeats continuing to perform in the top 10 with A25-54 and women 25-54. Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy also ranked in the top 5 with all the key demos and total viewers in its first run on Cottage Life and remains in the top 10 for total viewers, A18+, and women 25-54 in its second run. Finally, all three seasons of Mysteries from Above ranked as top programs with key demos and total viewers A18+ and A25-54 on Cottage Life. Wild Rose Vets, Season 1 will premiere this spring on Cottage Life.

New Greenlights:

Ghost Lands (w/t) (1 x60)
Producer: Jessica Landry
World broadcast premiere scheduled for fall 2025 on T+E during the channel’s free preview event, followed by HauntTV
Ghost Lands is a gripping, hour-long documentary that delves deep into true Indigenous ghost stories, passed down through generations and told by those with a profound connection to the spirit world. Rooted in various Indigenous cultures and led by an Indigenous cast and crew, the documentary brings these timeless tales to the forefront. Ghost Lands offers a hauntingly fresh perspective in the paranormal documentary space, leaving audiences both terrified and captivated.

Birthplace of Hallowe’en (w/t) (1 x60)
Producer: Small Army Entertainment
World broadcast premiere scheduled for fall 2025 on T+E during the channel’s free preview event, followed by HauntTV
Audiences will join fearless paranormal investigators from British Columbia—Corine, Leanne and Kelly (History’s Most Haunted, Haunted Gold Rush)—for a Hallowe’en special on T+E, as they journey through Ireland’s most haunted locations to uncover the dark and twisted stories that have haunted the country for centuries. From ancient druidic sites to blood-soaked castles, Ireland’s rich history of murder, torture, and ghostly encounters provides a backdrop for some of the world’s most terrifying hauntings.

You Can’t Deny It (6×60’)
Producer:
Blue Ant Studios
World broadcast premiere scheduled for fall 2025 on T+E during the channel’s free preview event, followed by HauntTV
A compelling, new documentary series explores the power of corroboration. Each episode features multiple survivors who have experienced life altering paranormal encounters at the same location. Each has come face to face with the terrifying entities that dwell within. One by one, they return to these locations to tell their stories – verifying the harrowing details, until they come together in the end to share the undeniable similarities of their experiences. Finally, there is tangible affirmation that they’re not alone.

Vet Detective (6×60)
Producer:
Big Time Decent
World broadcast premiere scheduled for spring 2025 on Cottage Life during the channel’s nationwide free preview event in Canada, followed by Love Pets
A gripping series spotlighting Dr. Lauren Adelman’s pioneering work on veterinary medicine’s most puzzling cases. Set in Vancouver, each episode follows desperate pet owners turning to Dr. Adelman for answers about their sick pets after months of uncertainty. With time ticking and stakes high, Dr. Adelman and her internal medicine team methodically reevaluate every detail, conduct tests, and explore new theories hoping to uncover overlooked clues. Each pet investigation brings unexpected twists and turns until Dr. Adelman and her team crack the case and bring a healthy pet back to their loving owner.

Engineering from Above (8×60’)
Producer:
Blue Ant Studios
World broadcast premiere scheduled for summer 2025 on Cottage Life, followed by Declassified
Engineering from Above, a spin-off of the popular Mysteries from Above franchise, explores awe-inspiring engineering marvels across the globe. The visually striking series spotlights iconic modern landmarks, such as Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium, the Burj Khalifa and the Millau Viaduct. Using state-of-the-art technology, the show offers fresh perspectives and uncovers hidden secrets through the use of dynamic graphics. Each episode focuses on four marvels connected by a compelling theme, guided by authoritative experts in engineering, history, and science.

Returning Unscripted Titles:

Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy, Season 2 (8×60’)
Producer:
The Holmes Group
World broadcast premiere scheduled for fall 2025 on Cottage Life, followed by Homeful
The series sees construction pioneer Mike Holmes return to his foundational “make it right” roots and mentor his kids, Michael and Sherry, to carry on his legacy of helping deserving homeowners. A reboot of the classic Holmes on Homes series, the show delves deeper into the Holmes family dynamic, with cameras following the trio as they work side-by-side to create life-changing renovations for deserving homeowners, while also capturing heartfelt behind-the-scenes family moments with Mike and his kids.

Mysteries from Above, Season 4 (8×60’)
Producer:
Blue Ant Studios
World broadcast premiere scheduled for spring 2025 on Cottage Life during the channel’s nationwide free preview event in Canada
The hit franchise series takes to the skies to unlock Earth’s greatest mysteries and dramatically change how we see the world. From the vantage points of drones, satellites and aerial photography, the series explores unique buildings and structures — both natural and artificial, curious creatures and lost ancient civilizations, revealing fascinating insights and never-before-seen footage to the viewers.

My Haunted Hometown, Season 2 (8×60’)
Producer:
Blue Ant Studios
World broadcast premiere: Fall 2025 on T+E, followed by HauntTV
My Haunted Hometown takes viewers inside the real-life haunted homes of North American residents. These ordinary people, who have laid down roots in their communities, now feel trapped and tormented by vengeful spirits. Room by room, the residents guide viewers through their homes, recounting the eerie paranormal experiences that have shattered their sense of safety. With harrowing testimonies and unsettling footage, the series reveals the frightening supernatural activity plaguing these small towns and their inhabitants.

Wild Rose Vets, Season 2 (13×30′)
Producer:
Wapanatahk Media in partnership with Great Pacific Media
A Blue Ant Media and APTN Co-production
Scheduled to premiere in fall 2025 on Cottage Life
A heartwarming and culturally-unique docuseries following the behind-the-scenes adventures of three Indigenous veterinarians in the prairies as they rescue and rehabilitate a wide range of household pets and exotic wildlife. The daily experiences of these young vets in very different urban clinics could not be more varied but they are each driven and connected by their love of animals. The series will also broadcast and stream on APTN, APTN Languages and APTN lumi in Canada (date TBC).

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Nominations for the 2025 WGC Screenwriting Awards announced

From a media release:

Recognizing the talent behind the most engaging and powerful Canadian-made series, films, and shorts, the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) is pleased to announce the nominations for the 29th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards. The Awards will take place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Monday, April 28, co-hosted by Andrew Phung and Jonathan Langdon, and written by Anthony Q. Farrell.

In contention for the 2025 awards are scripts from Late Bloomer (Lakna Edirisinghe, Jagjiwan Sohal, Shebli Zarghami), Allegiance (Anar Ali, Sarah Dodd, Mark Ellis, Penny Gummerson, Stephanie Morgenstern), Open Season: Call of Nature (Mike Girard, Joel Buxton, Tom Berger), Popularity Papers (Kyah Green, JP Larocque, Vivian Lin), Wilfred Buck (Lisa Jackson), Sharp Corner (Jason Buxton), and many others.

Please see the complete list of categories and nominees below.

In addition to the 10 featured screenwriting categories, one WGC member will be awarded the prestigious Showrunner Award, a special prize honouring a recognized showrunner who has demonstrated great writing and leadership skills. Other special prizes will be awarded, including the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize, and the Sondra Kelly Award, which is generously supported by AFBS.

New this year, the Margaret Collier Award will be presented as part of the WGC Screenwriting Awards, with supporting partner, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (the Canadian Academy). Started in 1986 by the Canadian Academy at the annual Gemini Awards, and then as part of the Canadian Screen Awards in 2013, the Margaret Collier Award honours a Canadian writer or team of writers for their outstanding body of work in film or television. This distinguished award is named after Margaret Collier, who began her career at ACTRA in 1964, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Writers Guild of Canada, serving as its first Executive Director from 1991 to 1994.

CHILDREN’S

  • Camp Snoopy, “Sally’s Tooth” | Written by Carly DeNure
  • Hamsters of Hamsterdale, “The Potato King” | Written by Madeleine Patton
  • Open Season: Call of Nature, “Cash Camp Pt 1 & 2” | Written by Mike Girard
  • Open Season: Call of Nature, “Squirrel Down” | Written by Joel Buxton
  • Open Season: Call of Nature, “What a Chinook” | Written by Tom Berger
  • Zokie of Planet Ruby, “Los Muchos Amores de Earl” | Written by Dan Dillabough

COMEDY SERIES

  • Children Ruin Everything, “Bedtime” | Written by Andrew De Angelis
  • Don’t Even, “Skidmark, My Heart” | Written by Eva Thomas
  • Late Bloomer, “Heat Check” | Written by Lakna Edirisinghe
  • Late Bloomer, “The Turban” | Written by Jagjiwan Sohal
  • Late Bloomer, “Turn Down for What” | Written by Shebli Zarghami
  • Sort of, “Sort of Hospital Again” | Written by Tricia Fish

DRAMA SERIES

  • Allegiance, “8 x 6” | Written by Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern
  • Allegiance, “The Legacy” | Written by Penny Gummerson
  • Allegiance, “Pilot” | Written by Anar Ali
  • Allegiance, “Safe Harbours” | Written by Anar Ali & Sarah Dodd
  • Murdoch Mysteries, “Rhapsody in Blood” | Written by Christina Ray
  • Wild Cards, “The Infinity Thief” | Written by Michael Konyves

DOCUMENTARY

  • Altona | Written by Heath Affolter, Nathan Affolter, Thomas Affolter, and Jon Affolter
  • Botanical Jungle, “Peony Extravaganza” | Written by Thomas Conway & Michael Sykora
  • Wilfred Buck | Written by Lisa Jackson

FEATURE FILM

  • The Invisibles | Story by Andrew Currie/Screenplay by Andrew Currie & Colin Aussant
  • Out Come the Wolves | Story by Joris Jarsky, Adam MacDonald, and Enuka Okuma/Screenplay by Enuka Okuma
  • Sharp Corner | Written by Jason Buxton
  • We Forgot to Break Up | Story by Pat Mills & Zoe Whittall/Screenplay by Noel Baker

MOW & MINISERIES

  • Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers | Written by Keri Ferencz
  • Guess Who | Written by Matt Wells, Ian Carpenter, and Aaron Martin
  • Legend of the Lost Locket | Written by Michelle Ricci

PRESCHOOL

  • Dylan’s Playtime Adventures, “Dylan the Firefighter” | Written by Emer Connon
  • Go Togo, “Arctic Chill” | Written by Celeste Koon
  • Let’s Go, Bananas!, “Yelloween” | Written by Brandon Hackett
  • Let’s Go, Bananas!, “Papa the Daddy” | Written By Aaron Eves
  • Luna, Chip & Inkie Adventure Rangers Go, “Lights, Camera, Save Eagle Creek!” | Written by Shelley Hoffman & Robert Pincombe
  • Luna, Chip & Inkie Adventure Rangers Go, “Who’s Your Mama?” | Written by Tony Tran
  • Vida the Vet, “Kipp’s Dizzy Mystery” | Written by Gillian Pike

SHORT FILMS (UNDER 60 MINUTES)

  • Jim Henson’s The Storyteller – The Seven Ravens | Written by Simon Racioppa
  • Let Me In | Written by Joel Buxton
  • Memento Mori | Written by Emily Hurson & Andrew Moodie

SHORT SERIES (EPISODES UNDER 15 MINUTES)

  • Get Up Aisha, “Exercise” | Written by Nisha Khan, Rabiya Mansoor, and Marushka Almeida
  • Near or Far, “The Phone Call” | Written by Duana Taha
  • Nesting, “Money” | Written by Rosa Laborde
  • Space Janitors, “Clones War” | Written by Brendan Halloran
  • Stories from my Gay Grandparents, “Dodging Balls” | Written by Perrie Voss & Scott Farley

TWEEN & TEENS

  • Davey & Jonesie’s Locker, “Orange is the New Snack” | Written by Evany Rosen
  • Media Stamped, “What’s in a Frame?” | Written by Nicole Stamp
  • Popularity Papers, “Let’s Sick Together” | Written by JP Larocque & Vivian Lin
  • Popularity Papers, “Odds Squads” | Written by Kyah Green & Vivian Lin
  • Popularity Papers, “The Wonderful Wizard of Mapleview Part 2” | Written by Vivian Lin
Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Indigenous stories, characters and cast front and centre in CBC’s charming North of North

It’s hard to re-invent yourself, especially when you live in a small town, where everyone knows you. How can you convince a community that you shouldn’t be pigeonholed or dismissed? And how do you do it with an air of positivity and humour?

That’s the premise behind North of North, CBC’s newest comedy.

Airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem (and the spring on Netflix), North of North stars Anna Lambe (True Detective, Trickster) as Siaja, a young Inuk mother who strives to be something other than the wife of her self-absorbed husband, Ting (Kelly William). So, she exits her marriage, moves herself and her daughter in with her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper), and chases down a job at the community centre in fictional Ice Cove, Nunavut.

With so much upheaval in her life, one could assume North of North is dark and dour. It’s anything but. Created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald (Qanurli, The Grizzlies) and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk, The Grizzlies) and produced alongside executive producer Miranda de Pencier (Anne with an E, The Grizzlies), North of North is jam-packed with quips and comedy, largely due to lead Lambe, whose presence jumps off the screen.

“I was honestly so terrified of comedy,” Lambe says during a recent interview. “So much Indigenous film and television [is drama-based], and I think that’s important and necessary, but comedy was one of those things where it was either going to hit or it’s going to miss so bad that maybe it will be funny.” Add to that the fact the series was filmed in Iqaluit, Lambe’s hometown, and surrounded by background cast that knows her, and the pressure was on.

She need not have worried. Lambe’s Siaja is charming and fun to watch on screen. Siaja’s repartee with Neevee is funny and irreverent (their relationship seems more sisterly than mother-daughter), innocent flirting with the handsome Kuuk (Braeden Clarke) smile-inducing and awkward conversations with Alistair (Jay Ryan), laugh-inducing.

Yes, there are nods to colonialism and residential schools in the dialogue, but they are often used for comic effect in scripts and storylines.

“There was a real challenge to finding what the final tone of the show was going to be and having someone fail so publicly,” Lambe says. “But one of the things I love so much about the show is how authentic it is about how we get through life.

“The only way out of a bad situation is through the bad situation and why not laugh along the way? Why not try to find those funny moments?”

North of North airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem.

Images courtesy of CBC.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Buffalo Gal Pictures sparks a global “Fiasco” on 30th anniversary

From a media release:

Celebrating 30 years of industry acclaim, Buffalo Gal Pictures proudly announces the launch of sister enterprise Fiasco Global Media. A new television development company dedicated to creating rich, character-driven stories rooted in the spirit of working-class communities and rural prairies, Fiasco is designed to connect with viewers across the globe.

Headquartered in Winnipeg and Los Angeles, the company is poised to expand Buffalo Gal’s international reach while staying true to its creative roots. 

Fiasco Global Media is led by Jennifer Beasley (above), a former writer-turned-seasoned executive producer whose credits include Less Than KindCra$h & BurnThe Spencer Sisters, the hit comedy Acting Good, and the 2024 horror satire Rumours, starring Cate Blanchett. Fiasco, under Beasley’s leadership, will focus on characters and stories that immerse audiences in compelling worlds and create cultural touchstones.

Fiasco’s slate is growing, with the company picking up IP that will attract talent and deliver a mix of escapism and resonance. Early projects include a rural half-hour family workplace comedy series from acclaimed writer Garry Campbell (North of NorthKids in the HallLess Than Kind) and a comedic two-hander police procedural from Hollis Ludlow-Carroll, creator of Wong & Winchester.

Joining Beasley as Consulting Head of U.S. Series Development is Burrad Marsh, whose career began at ICM as a literary agent before he transitioned into television development. Marsh has held key executive roles at Alchemy, Shed Media, Outright Distribution, and Amaze Film & TV, developing and producing series for broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. He also consults for the Canadian Consulate on cross-border content initiatives.

For more information, visit fiascoglobal.com.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail