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.
Featured, Remedy

Review: Proposals and PTSD on Remedy

“You come to a hospital to get better, not worse.” Firefighter Renee Hudson certainly had grounds to say that to Mel. She had been carted in with severe abdominal pain and would be leaving needing therapy after Jerry mixed up her medication and Renee was partially awake during her surgery. I didn’t even know that was a thing; now it has vaulted to the top of my “Things I Hope Never, Ever Happen to Me” list.

That it could happen was shocking enough—I can only imagine how traumatic that must have been—but it left Jerry’s career up in the air and his relationship with Mel in shambles. She had, after all, admitted she may not have forced him to admit to the mistake if he was a family member. That was grounds for a break-up just hours after Jerry confided in Sandy he was going to propose to Mel over dinner that night. That clearly ain’t happening, and it opens the door for Mel to find solace in Peter Cutler.

Peter has definitely made an impact on Beth-H, first with his breezy confidence and then with his memorable back-and-forths with Allen during “When You Awake.” The former hospital head-turned-ER doc had plenty of advice for the young whippersnapper and without that I fear pro wrestler “Pitbull” Danko would have gone down for a permanent three-count. It’s early days, but I already like the fact that Allen is in the ER in those blue scrubs and shaking things up. There were, of course, the early stumbles of not wearing the correct shoes and messing up the intubation, but overall I think he’s going to be just fine, and the perfect salve to Peter’s spiciness.

Meanwhile, bedbugs—they’re on my list too, but lower down—served as the unlikely formula for Griff and Zoe to finally decide to move in together. Personally, I think it’s a little too soon after Lonnie’s death for this to happen but I totally get their thinking that he’ll support her through that and she’ll be there when if/when he considers relapsing back into drug use.

Notes and quotes

  • How does Niall Matter get that perfectly-sculpted stubble?
  • Welcome back to the ER, Allen! Here’s an elbow in the gut courtesy of a pro wrestler.
  • Shirtless Griff count: 1

Remedy airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

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Schitt's Creek

Link: Schitt’s Creek: A Welcome New CBC Hit

From James Bawden:

Schitt’s Creek: A Welcome New CBC Hit
A very demure friend of mine in Ottawa told me she’d just have to phone me back.

“Right now I’m watching my favorite series Schitt’s Creek,” she said before hanging up. And then there was the check out girl at Sobeys who said she adjusted her hours “So I can get home, make dinner and watch Schitt’s Creek.”

In a season where CBC-TV has been pounded by falling revenues from the federal government as well as the future loss of NHL hockey there’s been one bright shining ray of hope.

Yes, It’s Schitt’s Creek. Continue reading.

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Industry News

CMF Announces 2015-2016 program budget, guidelines and deadlines

From a media release:

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today announced Program Guidelines for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. It also announced the program budget for 2015-2016 set at $375.2M.

The CMF is committing $375.2M to support Canada’s television and digital media industry in 2015-2016. Underspending in some 2014-2015 programs, revenues from tangible benefits and one-time adjustments of revenues from broadcast distribution undertakings (BDU) in 2014-2015 contributed to achieving this program budget.

The program budget is also supported by revenue forecasts for the coming year based on contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors, and CMF recoupment revenues from funded productions. The program budget reflects a conservative estimate of expected BDU contributions to the CMF for the year to come and includes an expected stable contribution from the Government of Canada.

The breakdown of the 2015-2016 Program Budget can be viewed on the CMF website. Please click here.

CMF Programs
Changes and updates have been made to existing program guidelines for 2015-2016. Complete Program Guidelines, application deadlines, and a summary of changes are available on the CMF website cmf-fmc.ca.  All applications for funding will be processed through eTelefilm, a simple and secure website that provides applicants with updated information about the status of their application.

As a result of Corus Entertainment’s acquisition of Historia, Séries+ and TELETOON and in accordance with the CRTC’s Tangible Benefits Policy, the CMF and Corus Entertainment are pleased to announce the Page to Pitch Program. This program is devoted to funding creative and business activities during the development of eligible live-action and animated television projects. The 2015-2016 Page to Pitch Program budget is set at $1,163,750 and will fund eligible costs related to script development or the acquisition of pre-sale financing.  Projects will be evaluated and chosen through a selective process and successful applicants may receive amounts of up to $25,000. Guidelines for the Page to Pitch Program can be accessed on the CMF website by clicking here.  The deadline for this program is May 5, 2015.

The CMF will host webcasts on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 to provide an overview of changes to the programs and to field questions.  The French webcast will be at 11 a.m. ET, the English webcast will be at 2 p.m. ET. Details on how to join the webcasts will be communicated shortly.

Performance Envelope Program
Factor Weights for 2015-2016 remain unchanged, while changes have been made to genre allocations. This information can now be accessed on the CMF website under Performance Envelope Calculations. The CMF will be sending broadcaster agreements outlining the amounts allocated for the upcoming year to individual broadcasters in early April, 2015. Details about each broadcaster’s Performance Envelope will be posted on the CMF website in mid-April, 2015.

In 2015-2016, the CMF will continue to work on adapting its policies and programs, particularly in light of the upcoming results of the program evaluation of the CMF by Canadian Heritage, the impact of the CRTC’s Let’s Talk TV decisions, as well as a formal and inclusive consultation with industry stakeholders and funders planned for fall 2015. Details on the nationwide consultation will be made available at a later date.

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Schitt's Creek

Link: Dan Levy on why the most provocative thing about Schitt’s Creek isn’t the name

From Cassandra Szklarski of Canadian Press:

Dan Levy on why the most provocative thing about Schitt’s Creek isn’t the name
About halfway through the first season of Schitt’s Creek, it became clear that the most provocative element of the CBC sitcom had nothing to do with its name.

Instead, it was the unusual relationship quietly brewing between fashion-obsessed David, played by Dan Levy, and his snarky clad-in-plaid buddy Stevie, played by Emily Hampshire. Their quippy odd-couple banter somehow leads to an envelope-pushing friends-with-benefits fling. Continue reading.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Slice’s Emergency goes behind the scenes in Vancouver’s ERs

From a media release:

A visit to the emergency department can be an emotional experience for the patient and for the loved ones that accompany them.  The new documentary series Emergency (14 x 30) gives viewers an intimate look at the lives of patients in some of Canada’s busiest emergency departments. Narrated by award-winning musician and author Jann Arden and produced by award-winning producers Force Four Entertainment, Emergency airs Thursdays at 9 & 9:30 p.m. ET/11 & 11:30 p.m. PT with back-to-back episodes beginning April 16 on Slice.

Each episode of Emergency interweaves the personal stories of three to four patients, each facing their own medical emergency, ranging from heart and respiratory ailments to broken bones and work-related accidents. With a heart-felt focus on relationships, the series focuses on the patients and their loved ones, their hopes and their fears, and just how their trip to the emergency department could impact their future. Emergency also showcases the relationships between patients and the medical staff who work tirelessly and urgently to unravel the mysterious illness or injury that brought the patient to the emergency department.

EPISODE 1
Thurs., April 16 at 9 p.m. ET/11 p.m. PT
A father and son fishing trip is reeled in by excruciating back pain. A mom convinces her young construction worker son to get treatment for a boil under his arm. A grandmother forgets to take her medication and requires a jolt to slow her racing heart.

EPISODE 2
Thurs., April 16 at 9:30 p.m. ET/11:30 p.m. PT
Doctors assist a patient with two life threatening conditions at the same time. A captivating couple seeks a solution to their ring problem. An anxious woman fears the worst when her heart rate suddenly accelerates.

Emergency departments featured in the series are all part of the Fraser Health network of hospitals.

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