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.
Children's Programming

Come to Writers Talking TV: The Next Step

From the Writers Guild of Canada:

Writers Talking TV focuses on writing TV for a young generation, with Frank van Keeken, creator of the popular show, The Next Step. The evening begins with a screening of an episode, followed by an interview, and an audience Q&A.

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox
When: June 30, 7:30 p.m.
Free, and open to the public.
Please RSVP to Elaine Jacob e.jacob@wgc.ca to reserve your seat.

Audience members will also be treated to a sneak preview of an excerpt from Frank van Keeken’s upcoming show, The Music Room, currently in production. If you’re interested in writing television for children and youth, make sure to come out to Writers Talking TV: The Next Step.

The Next Step, show description from Temple Street Productions:

The Next Step follows the lives of a group of elite dancers at The Next Step Dance Studio as they strive to win the regional dance competition. The tightly knit team of dancers train, rehearse and hang out together within a well-established social order led by star dancer Emily and the E-Girls, her band of dancers that are currently used to running the studio. When talented new girl, Michelle, joins the school, the alliances and social balance of the studio are threatened as secrets, emotions and cliques are exposed and challenged. With the regional championships fast approaching, the A-Troupe needs to come together and resolve their issues and work as a team if they want to win and qualify for the national title.

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Motive, Remedy

Motive, Remedy and Ice Pilots NWT capture Leo Awards

From Francois Marchand of the Vancouver Sun:

Motive, the “whydunnit” television show where detectives piece together the storyline that links a killer and his victim, walked away with top honours in the Dramatic Series category, landing the title of Best Dramatic Series, Best Direction (David Frazee), Best Screenwriting (Katherine Collins), and Best Lead Performance (Louis Ferreira) Sunday night at a gala held at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

The series was nominated for 21 awards in total. It had already received a Best Picture Editing nod during the technical awards handed out on June 6. Continue reading.

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Featured, Orphan Black, Saving Hope

Comments and queries for the week of June 12

When does Season 4 of Saving Hope start? —Terri

Production on Season 4 of Saving Hope began June 1 in and around Toronto and continues until December. The season is comprised of 18 episodes with Kim Shaw and Max Bennett joining the cast. Rookie Blue star Travis Milne will pop in for a four-episode arc.

Now to answer your question: CTV announced last week that Saving Hope returns to Thursdays this fall, but an actual date has not been revealed. Here’s a teaser on what to expect when Season 4 does return:

“Season 4 picks up nine months after the devastating accident, as the Hope Zion staff continue to deal with the aftermath of the death of their colleague and friend, Dr. Joel Goran. Alex is back at work following maternity leave, trying to balance motherhood and a busy O.R. Meanwhile, Dr. Charlie Harris continues to be haunted by his ghost-seeing abilities and the looming question of whether or not he is Baby Luke’s biological father.”

Martin Sheen to star in new Anne of Green Gables TV-movie

This series should have been left alone and the movies could have expanded on Anne’s later life. It’s too early to do remakes of this movie when it has already been done and was done very well. There’s no reason why kids of today cannot enjoy what was already made. —Mel

Review: Orphan Black – The Six

You’ve mentioned Cosima dying a couple of times now. The Internet also seems awash with speculation that Delphine is a goner. (Nooooo!) However, I have a theory I thought I’d toss out here just on the off chance it’s correct: why not kill Alison?

My reason for considering it is that OB needs to up the stakes with the death of a core clone. Sarah can’t go, obvs, and Cosima is such a fan favourite (and a lesbian—there’s a sad history of killing lesbians on TV) that it seems OB would risk a ratings tank it can’t afford with her death. Also, who could step into her needed science role? Delphine and Scott could sadly carry on without her, but there is no clone available to take her place in both function and tone.

But with Alison, there is now Krystal. Assuming she can be saved, exploring Krystal’s world instead of Alison’s would offer the same light-hearted tone but perhaps in a lower-key Kimmy Schmidt-way rather than the Desperate Housewives/Weeds-way Alison’s world employs.

And Alison has been delving into some deep doo-doo (I feel she would use that word) with murders and drugs for three seasons now, and it’s all been played for laughs. I think she has some reality coming her way and most would never see it coming.

As for Kristian Bruun, let him stretch and get out of the constant comedy mode and play the shocked and grieving husband. He can have comedy again later (platonically with Helena or Krystal or whomever).

Anyway, I’m sure I’m wrong, but killing Cosima seems too obvious and too difficult to recover from. Plus, like I said, there’s no clone replacement standing by for her. So maybe she’s a great big red herring (complete with red coat). Alison has gotten away with a lot and lived in her own world, which more and more seems to have no connection to the central plot. Killing her would finally make her relevant and shake everyone up for S4 and S5, which is supposedly the last season.

Go ahead, tell me I’m crazy! LOL :)—Ellie

 

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg@tv-eh.com or via @tv_eh.

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Killjoys

Link: The case for ‘Killjoys’: Why you’ll love it and what it means for Syfy

From Entertainment Weekly:

The case for ‘Killjoys’: Why you’ll love it and what it means for Syfy
What makes Killjoys work, first and foremost, is the world-building. Like some of my favorite sci-fi properties (namely Firefly and Star Wars), there’s no big preamble or introduction. You’re pretty much dropped into the world and expected to hit the ground running, which I personally love. The world of Killjoys, which takes place within The Quad, is already realized, so all you need to do is step in with the characters and inhabit it. Continue reading.

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