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

TVO and DHX Media team for series based on Stephen Hawking book series

From a media release:

TVO announced today that it has partnered with DHX Media on the development of a new children’s animated series based on the ‘George Greenby’ books by world-renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and his daughter, author Lucy Hawking.

The new series is geared towards school-aged kids and explores various aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), including space exploration and physics. Each episode will turn big science concepts into bite-sized information for kids, with a whimsical take on how the universe works. DHX Media will produce the series, with Pure Grass Films as executive producers, co-financers and distributors for several territories outside of Canada.

The series will tell the story of 11-year-olds George Greenby and Annie Bellis. When George and Annie say their science tutor is out of this world, they really mean it. That’s because their tutor is Cosmos, an astounding artificial intelligence app that can instantly transport them anywhere in the universe!

George_Greenby

Cosmos was built by Annie’s father, Eric Bellis, a member of the top-secret Order of Science, as a way to teach Annie about any scientific topic. But he built Cosmos a little too well…during one fateful physics lesson, Cosmos figures out a way to open a wormhole right in Annie’s living room!

 

Now Annie and George can explore anywhere in time and space and learn all kinds of cool stuff! Like what does a space smell like? And do stars live forever? It also means they can secretly help Eric with the discoveries and missions he and his fellow super-scientists at the Order are working on back on Earth…just as long as the trio makes it back before Eric realizes they’re missing!

Throughout the series, episodes will explore the wonders of physics, breaking down questions of cosmic proportions, and also looking at earthly phenomena, all while remaining grounded in the facts of cutting-edge science and their relevance to our lives.

The series is slated to have 39 half-hour episodes and will also include a robust interactive component for mobile and web. More news to follow.

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Dragons' Den

Link: Manjit Minhas and Michele Romanow join Dragons’ Den, Vikram Vij leaving

From Cheryl Brown of CBC News:

Manjit Minhas and Michele Romanow join Dragons’ Den, Vikram Vij leaving
Major changes are underway at CBC’s Dragons’ Den as the broadcaster revealed the addition of two young female entrepreneurs to its roster of venture capitalists, and announced the departure of Vikram Vij.

Calgary-born distillery and brewery owner Manjit Minhas and Toronto-born Buytopia.ca co-founder Michele Romanow are joining the hit reality TV show in season 10, the broadcaster announced Wednesday.

Vij, the celebrated Vancouver chef and restaurant magnate, has said he is leaving the den after only one season to spend more time building his own businesses, including his frozen food line. Continue reading.

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Industry News

Link: Bell head meddled in news coverage

From James Bradshaw of The Globe and Mail:

Bell head meddled in news coverage
Almost immediately, Mr. Crull called Wendy Freeman, the president of CTV News, according to sources close to the network who spoke on condition of anonymity. Mr. Crull told Ms. Freeman he was in charge of the network and that Mr. Blais was not to appear on air again that day, according to accounts of the exchange.

After the call, sources say, Ms. Freeman contacted CTV staff to tell them of the directive from Mr. Crull and not to use clips of Mr. Blais, telling some she felt she would be fired if they did not comply. Other CTV employees were concerned for their jobs, according to a source. Continue reading.

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Uncategorized

Link: I Remember Alberta Watson

From Jim Bawden:

I Remember Alberta Watson
“It’s funny, honey, but I’ve been in this crazy business for 30 years and here I am now in the lead!” And Alberta Watson let out with a cannonading cackle that hushed all spectators.

There I was in a church basement on Roncesvalles Avenue interviewing Watson, her co-star Peter Outerbridge and producer Bernie Zukderman who were shooting the pilot for a new CBC-TV series called Chasing Cain. Continue reading.

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Big Brother Canada, Featured

Review: Big Brother Canada returns with twists aplenty

It seems the only things staying the same on Big Brother Canada are the fact houseguests play, Arisa Cox hosts and there is a house for the players to stay in. Save that, everything else is up for grabs.

Full disclosure: I’ve never watched a season of Big Brother Canada, but I can tell from the get-go it will capture my interest. Taking away the houseguests’ food, personal effects and furniture and making them earn it? Genius. Forcing them to pick two players for elimination moments after arriving in the house? Brilliant.

In a case of first impressions meaning everything, no one knowing her name didn’t stop Risha from getting enough votes to put her on the block. Tall, blonde and wearing a cleavage-baring blouse put a target on that chest of hers and she was an easy pick. And since everyone knew Sindy’s name because she stressed she was “Sindy with an ‘S,'” it was equally easy for her to be chosen too. But just because they were on the block didn’t mean they were staying there. The debut Power of Veto competition saw a combined physical and mental test where Sindy used her brains to beat out poker player Brian—who blasted through the physical aspect—to win PoV and save herself from eviction.

Sindy chose Pilar to take her place on the chopping block before host Arisa Cox revealed everyone would be sleeping on the floor. And while Risha stressed she’d have to charm the houseguests into keeping her around (Hint: start with Bobby), she spent precious minutes sitting in the kitchen by herself while everyone else got to know each other. That won’t win you the $100,000.

Not that this week’s votes matter. Canada decides who is going home: go to the Big Brother Canada website to vote.

Notes and quotes

  • Why do the ladies take such high heels with them? Don’t they know there will be stairs in the Big Brother house?
  • He’s pretty annoying so far, but I’m cheering for Graig because we share the same name (though not the same spelling) and he’s labelled himself the Ginger Ninja.
  • The Big Brother set is impressive, but I got a “bike shop” feel rather than “steampunk.”

Big Brother Canada airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT and Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

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