From Robert Rorke of the New York Post:
The best new comedy of the new year is on a network you’ve never heard of: Pop TV.
It’s the rebranded TV Guide Network, and they were onto something when they booked “Schitt’s Creek†into their winter schedule. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Uncovering the truth behind aviation disasters from around the world, Discovery’s original Canadian series MAYDAY returns for its 14thseason, airing Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT beginning March 6. But first, on the eve of the anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and on the heels of the declaration that it was an accident, the program’s new season launches with a feature episode MAYDAY: MH370, airing at a special time on Sunday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. The season premiere examines possible scenarios for the cause of the flight’s disappearance – one of greatest aviation mysteries in history – drawing on the expertise of leading accident investigators to reveal a chilling portrayal of the final hours of the plane that never landed.
The one-hour MAYDAY: MH370 premiere special examines all existing data to explore the five leading theories as to what could have caused the disappearance of Flight 370. While it’s possible no one will ever know exactly what happened aboard flight MH370,MAYDAY explores how, in the end, the evidence clearly points to one logical and horrifying scenario.
MAYDAY is produced by CIneflix (Mayday 14) Inc. production in association with Discovery Canada. Executive Producer is Alex Bystram. The series producer is Alix MacDonald. Bruce Glawson is Production Executive, Discovery Networks. Edwina Follows is Director of Commissioning, Discovery Networks. Ken MacDonald is Vice-President, Programming, Discovery Networks.
From a media release:
After experiencing record-breaking success with the reality tween dramaThe Next Step, Family Channel is teaming up with Temple Street Productions and creator Frank van Keeken on a new half-hour show, The Music Room. A tween drama featuring an entirely original soundtrack, the series follows a group of young performers who are members of an elite music program. Family has ordered 26 episodes with production slated to start this Spring. Â
The Music Room follows the lives of a group of musicians who are part of an exclusive after-school music program. Each year, in order to get in, students audition for the group’s current members who select a small number of performers to join their ranks. Ultimately the group’s leader, Mr. T., has the final say on new members, as well as who will have the opportunity to go on the annual live tour. He can’t guarantee that the members will have a music career when they’re finished at The Music Room, but the experience will help them become accomplished musicians.
Family has experienced great success with its production partners at Temple Street Productions. The popular series The Next Step, which returns for its third season on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, has received national recognition with such notable honours as the 2013 Shaw Rocket Prize and both the 2013 Digi Award and 2014 Canadian Screen Award for Best Cross-Platform Project – Children’s and Youth for The Next Step Interactive. The show is currently nominated for three 2015 Canadian Screen Awards: Best Children’s or Youth Fiction Program or Series, Best Writing in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series, and Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series.
Created by Frank van Keeken (The Next Step, Wingin’ It, Billable Hours), The Music Room is produced by Temple Street Productions and is executive produced by Frank van Keeken, Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Orphan Black, Being Erica, The Next Step).
From Bill Harris of the Toronto Sun:
Imagine if you’ve already met virtually everyone you’re going to meet in your life.
The only exceptions being, any new offspring that you create, or the offspring of the 600 or so people who are clustered with you on a spaceship. Continue reading.
A young woman is murdered, shot aboard a spaceship were no weapons of any kind are allowed. How is was possible and who did it are just two questions posed in Ascension, debuting Monday on CBC.
A co-production between Syfy and CBC, the six-parter is a unique blend of retro science fiction meshed with the classic locked door whodunnit. Viewers are quickly brought up-to-date with the premise of the series, a century-long space mission to find a new world for the human race. Launched over 50 years ago by President John F. Kennedy at the height of Cold War tensions, Ascension the series (it’s also the name of the ship) catches up with the grandchildren of those who first stepped onto the vehicle and launched into space.
Among those aboard are Captain William Denninger (Brian Holt, Cougar Town), Dr. Juliet Bryce (Andrea Roth, Rescue Me), chief steward Viondra Denninger (Tricia Helfer, Battlestar Galactica) and Harris Enzmann (Gil Bellows, Ally McBeal), the son of the man who created the Ascension project.
“When I got this script, it was original and substantive in a way that I felt would not only be a great idea to launch a show but sustain itself for a very long time,” Bellows says. “I love the character that I get to play.” That character, Harris, is driven to continue the work his father started on Ascension at whatever cost; at one point, Harris uses the word “god” to describe what he’s doing.
The investigation into the death of Lorelai (Amanda Thomson, Totally Amp’d), found dead on the ship’s fake beach, is met with confusion. Guns aren’t allowed on board, so where did it come from? And how did the killer enter the beach area and elude being captured on any of the security cameras trained on that part of the ship? It doesn’t take long for several suspects to come under the scrutiny of Denninger and his officers. Those characters are as colourful as the setting they’re placed in; because Ascension was launched in 1963 all of the clothing, furniture and other stylings have remained unchanged and serve as a visual contrast to the washed-out greys and blues that make up Harris’ earthly storyline.
A major plot point early on in the mini-series raises a ton of questions, and Bellows couldn’t be happier a show like Ascension is willing to go in a bold storytelling direction, especially on a network like CBC.
“Quality is important, originality is important and provocative ideas are important to share,” he says. “Not everything needs to be folksy and appropriate.”
Ascension airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.
