From Jim Bawden:
I usually get to interview Ron James once a year when his TV series comes back on CBC. And once is enough for me –the guy is wickedly funny and once my ribs hurt a bit after a nonstop telephone chat filled with his joking.
This year it’s different.
James’s well liked series is gone from CBC-TV because a new administration is trying to remake the schedule to its own liking. Continue reading.
The bulk of this week’s comments had to do with the results of our year-end poll where Lost Girl came out on top as your Favourite Canadian TV Show of 2014.Â
You name some great shows. Have you tried watching Lost Girl? And Big Brother is the same American or Canadian and supports us Canadians. The point of these polls is so we can get Canadian shows out there so people are like, “I’m going I binge on this Canadian show.”–Chelsea
Canadian dramas are not glitzy like most U.S. shows, but that’s what’s great about them. I watch most–Heartland, Blackstone, Arctic Air etc.–it’s like I’m walking out my front door and right into them … real, believable people. Heartland is at times is a bit “corny” but if it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, you’re not human!–John
And a few fans had something to say about the most recent episode of Saving Hope too.
I find it hard to believe that Joel fought hard for Alex all this time and when he had her, he messed up like that. I know Daniel Gillies is juggling two shows but it was unbelievable. They should have found another way to break them up.–Evelyn
Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or head to @tv_eh.
From Tara Deschamps:
After eight seasons of hearing zany and clever pitches from entrepreneurs hoping to make it big with products dreamed up in basements and garages across the nation, the stars of CBC show Dragons’ Den know a good idea when they see it.
The hit show features five self-made millionaires who listen to pitches from wannabe tycoons soliciting dollars for a slice of their companies. Continue reading.
From Joanna Adams:
Canadians are hungry for reality TV, apparently. In fact, their appetite is pretty ravenous.
For the second year in a row, “The Amazing Race Canada” is the most-watched Canadian TV show in the country. Its sophomore season went international, scored an average rating of 2.8 million weekly viewers for CTV, and casting for its new edition is under way. Meanwhile, “Big Brother Canada 2” was such a big smash for Slice, its next installment will go prime time (for the first time) on sister station Global in 2015. Continue reading.
And just like that, Blackstone‘s Debbie Fraser is no more. In the final seconds of last week’s episode, Debbie drove into the path of a tractor trailer while on the phone with Alan, leaving a cliffhanger regarding her health.
“Discovery” by Damon Vignale opened with Andy sitting silently in prison, clearly numb at the news and unable to do anything before heading to Deb’s memorial, where Alan was getting hammered in a vain attempt to block out the pain. He has a lot to feel pained about: he’d shown nothing but contempt and hatred for Deb and he was the reason she was behind the wheel in the first place. Alan coming unglued on the Shale executives was an exercise in uncomfortableness.
With just one more episode to go in this fourth season, storylines were quickly wrapping up. Gail began her journey of healing with help from Dr. Crowshoe, who explained that Gail needed to grieve the death of those she loves as well as own up to the mistakes she’s made. She did just that, first saying sorry to Greg and then confessing to Leona that her relapse was her own fault and not something that Leona should be beating herself up for.
Things were looking very, very dire for Jumbo. He’d managed to elude Jack’s thugs for a bit, but they finally caught up with him and said he had just hours to pay back the cash he owed. After a lot of grousing, Daryl came through and paid Jack the money Jumbo owed. I’ve really enjoyed Daryl’s storyline this season. Aside from his growing relationship with Gina, he’s kept the club running smoothly and has very much been a father figure to Alan while Andy’s been in the clink. Speaking of the clink, did anyone else find the timing just a little too good in that the Shale folks came sniffing around Daryl and Andy’s land at the exact same time Andy’s bail needed to be posted? I’m sure it was all part of advancing the story, but it was just a little too smooth for me.
Next week’s Blackstone season finale episode is called “There Will be Blood,” and I can’t help but feel dread. After all, Darrien just escaped from prison and is hitching his way back to Blackstone. What will he do when he gets there? I’m not sure, but I’m betting he’s not planning on letting the past slide when it comes to Gail.
Blackstone airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on APTN.
