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.
Big Brother Canada

Big Brother Canada opens Season 3 casting

2 Comments

BigBrotherCA Logo on White

From a media release:

Following a record-breaking sophomore season, Big Brother Canada is gearing up for its national casting call for season three, airing on Global in 2015. Canadians 19 years of age and older can apply online at BigBrotherCanada.ca beginning today, and in person this fall at open casting calls across Canada. The online submission deadline is November 24, 2014.

“Our Canadian edition of the beloved Big Brother franchise has quickly become one of the most acclaimed productions in the world and with its move to Global this year, Big Brother Canada’s third installment is looking for the biggest, boldest personalities in Canada to entertain our audiences three nights a week on-air and 24/7 online,” said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President of Content, Shaw Media.

Big Brother Canada is looking for Canucks from all corners of the country; from superfans and strategists to drama kings and queens. As part of Endemol’s worldwide hit franchise, Big Brother Canada’s secret recipe for raucous reality is in its eclectic crew of houseguests. They boldly compete for a grand cash prize through a gruelling series of weekly challenges that test both brain and brawn.

“Big Brother Canada season two was a blockbuster for the franchise with a perfect storm of personalities pitted against each other inside the Big Brother house and cut off from the outside world,” said John Brunton, Chairman & CEO, Insight Production Company Ltd. “The bar has once again been raised and we know our BBCAN Superfans will bring their A-Game to the casting calls this year.”

Those interested in applying can either apply online at BigBrotherCanada.ca with a short video about why they would make the perfect houseguest, or in person at open casting calls throughout October and November. Applicants must be 19 years of age by March 1, 2015. Additional information about the casting calls in select cities will be released in the coming months.

Open casting calls will be held in the following cities:

Vancouver, British Columbia – Sunday, October 19

Calgary, Alberta – Sunday, October 19

Regina, Saskatchewan – Friday, October 24

Halifax, Nova Scotia – Friday, October 24

St. John’s, Newfoundland – Wednesday, October 29

Montréal, Québec – Thursday, October 30

Toronto, Ontario – Sunday, November 23

Coming exclusively to Global in spring 2015, Big Brother Canada season three plucks a group of hand-picked strangers from their homes, sequesters them from the outside world, and places them inside a house outfitted wall-to-wall with cameras and microphones that capture their every move. Each week the houseguests compete in a series of challenges that give the houseguests power or punishment, voting each other out until the fate of the final two is decided by a jury of fellow houseguests.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Seed

City cancels Seed

1 Comment

It’s the end of the road for homegrown comedy Seed. Rogers made the decision official on Thursday morning via email.

“We are extremely proud of Seed and the two seasons that we were able to bring to our viewers,” the statement reads. “It was a privilege to work with the immense talent behind both the cast and creators involved in this quality Canadian production. It was a difficult decision, but, despite critical acclaim, the series was unable to connect with the audience it needed to continue. We thank Canadians for their support for Seed over the last two years and look forward to bringing them more original content in the future.”

The writing was on the wall. Late last month The CW–which had acquired it and CTV Extend series Backpackers for summer broadcast on the U.S. network–announced it was pulling both off the air for Arrow repeats and the next cycle of America’s Next Top Model. That move erased any chance of grabbing Seed some seed-money to help fund a third season.

Seed starred Adam Korson as Harry, a sperm donor who became involved in the lives of the three families he helped spawn. The cast included Carrie-Lynne Neales, Amanda Brugel, Stephanie Anne Mills, Laura De Carteret, Matt Baram, Vanessa Matsui, Abby Ross and William Ainscough.

Seed was created by Joseph Raso, who served as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside Mark Farrell, John Ritchie, Rob Bromley, Gillian Lowrey, Karen Wentzell and Paula J. Smith. Seed was produced by Force Four Entertainment and Waterstar Entertainment.

Rogers does have original comedies waiting in the wings. Package Deal returns for Season 2 next month, Meet the Family will be back in the coming broadcast season and the company has greenlit production of Sunnyside, a sketch comedy series created by Gary Pearson and Dan Redican and starring Pat Thorton, Lauren Ash and Kathleen Phillips.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Amazing Race Canada, Featured

Review: Racers remember the fallen in France

Tuesday’s episode of The Amazing Race Canada was notable for three reasons. From a purely competition standpoint, Olympians Natalie and Meaghan reclaimed their top spots during the Leg after blasting through the Detour and never looking back.

Meanwhile, Ryan and Rob were plagued by the disorientation bug. Sure, they were able to complete challenges in a fast manner, but they spent tons of time lost and unable to find the locations of the challenges. Luckily for them it was a non-elimination Leg and the two friends are still racing.

But the most notable part of Tuesday’s instalment was the backdrop of Normandy, France, and what show producers did to recognize the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the role Canada had on Juno Beach during D-Day in the Second World War and the role our soldiers have played ever since. Sure there were challenges involving the alcohol content of Calvados, braiding horse manes and reconstructing segments of the Bayeaux Tapestry, but those all took a back seat to stops in Bèny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery and the Juno Beach Centre.

In the first, all teams stopped by the pristine cemetery where 2,000 Canadian soldiers are interred. The Amazing Race Canada was forgotten as everyone paused to remember. Natalie and Meaghan and Pierre and Michel and Sukhi and Jinder were all shown breaking down in tears as the past was put into perspective.

Leg-Winners-Natalie-Meaghan-with-Jim-Parks-and-JM

“People look at Olympic athletes and they think we’re heroes, but what we do doesn’t even come close to what Canadian soldiers have done for us and continue to do for us,” Meaghan said.

The Pit Stop for the Leg found host Jon Montgomery accompanied by Jim Parks, a former Canadian soldier who stormed Juno Beach. (In a must-see extra posted on The Amazing Race Canada website, Parks recalls swallowing water as he jumped into the ocean alongside his comrades on D-Day and Race executive producer John Brunton explains the thought that went behind Tuesday’s Leg.)

Rather than run across the sand to the mat, every team made their way slowly, realizing what they were doing paled in comparison to what Canadian soldiers have done in conflicts around the world.

Here’s how the teams finished:

  • Natalie and Meaghan
  • Pierre and Michel
  • Mickey and Pete
  • Sukhi and Jinder
  • Alain and Audrey
  • Ryan and Rob (non-elimination Leg)

The Amazing Race Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV.

What did you think of the episode? Comment below!

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Uncategorized

City greenlights original sketch comedy series Sunnyside

1 Comment

citytv_tor(2)

From a media release:

– Sketch-comedy series is created by award winners Gary Pearson and Dan Redican and stars top Canadian comedic talent, including Kathleen Phillips Lauren Ash, and Pat Thornton –
– Homegrown series to be co-produced by Toronto-based Counterfeit Pictures and Winnipeg-based Buffalo Gal Pictures –
Welcome to Sunnyside, the not-so-typical neighbourhood where anything can happen, and almost always does. City has greenlit the all-new original sketch-comedy series from award-winning creators Gary Pearson (This Hour Has 22 Minutes,The Ron James Show) and Dan Redican (The Kids in the Hall, The Jenny McCarthy Show). With principal filming on the six-episode, half-hour series slated to get underway this September in Winnipeg, the all-Canadian cast features one of the industry’s brightest and hottest comedic talents, Kathleen Phillips. Developed and commissioned by Rogers, to be co-produced by Counterfeit Pictures and Buffalo Gal Pictures, Sunnyside will air mid-season on City. Additional broadcast details to be announced at a later date.
“Canada loves comedy, but the raw, unpredictability of a homegrown sketch-comedy series is something we feel audiences just aren’t getting enough of on their prime-time schedule,” said Nataline Rodrigues, Director of Original Programming, Rogers Media. “City is proud to be working with some of the country’s top comedic talent to bring this format back to prime time and deliver this fresh brand of comedy to viewers.”
Sunnyside is a quirky neighbourhood in transition, where residents aren’t always what they seem and surprises lurk around every slightly dingy corner. Featuring people from all walks of life – from hipsters and young professionals to yoga moms and romantic crooks – Sunnysideis brought to life by a talented ensemble cast, led by the hilarious Kathleen Phillips. See below for full cast biographies.
 
Sunnyside Cast
Kathleen Phillips
Phillips is a rising star who has quickly become a staple of Toronto’s comedy scene. Originally from Keswick, ON, she was recently named NOW Magazine’s Best Character Comedian. She has written and starred in a series of one-woman shows, including The Loner Show andKathleen Phillips Is A Haunted House. Phillips has been a regular contributor, as both a writer and performer, to the radio program This Is That, and has had recurring roles on Howie Do It,Dan for Mayor and, most recently, Mr D.
 
Lauren Ash
Ash is a recent alumnus of both the Second City Chicago and Toronto Mainstages and recently starred alongside Rebel Wilson and Liza Lapira in the City comedy series Super Fun Night. Originally from Belleville, ON, she is a two-time Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Female Improviser and two-time nominee for Canadian Comedy Person of the Year.
 
Pat Thornton
Thornton is an established stand-up and sketch performer, appearing at festivals such as SXSW, Just For Laughs, and JFL Toronto. He is also a founding member, former head writer, and one of the stars of Sunday Night Live with his troupe, the Sketchersons (for which they won a 2007 Canadian Comedy Award). A Kingston, ON native, Thornton has acted in comedy series such as Satisfaction, Punched Up, and The Jon Dore Show.
Patrice Goodman
Goodman is an established star of the stage and small screen. Her TV credits includePlatinum, produced by Sofia Coppola and John Ridley, Road Crew, Maximum Dimensions, and most recently, The Firm, in which she starred alongside Josh Lucas. Born in Toronto, Goodman’s extensive stage credits include 18 years with Little Red Theatre Company, the lead role in Touch the Sky at Young People’s Theatre, and, most recently, a role in the award-winning New York City stage play First Hand Woman. 
Alice Moran
Hailing from Oakville, ON, Moran spent 2013 touring the United States as a writer and star of both Spank! (Official Selection: “Just For Laughs” 2013) and Hungry Hungry Games. She is a regular improv performer, having appeared in such shows as Provocateur, The Video Game Show, Whedonesque, and Throne of Games (Official Selection: Toronto Next Stage Festival 2013). Moran can be seen on episodes of Space Janitors, The Next Step, and Too Much Information, as well as on YouTube as one half of the comedy duo “Wildcats” with Jon Blair.
 
Kevin Vidal
Vidal is currently starring on The Second City Mainstage and drawing rave reviews for his performances in shows such as We Can Be Heroes and Sixteen Scandals. A Toronto native, he started his sketch and improv career in 2009 with a University of Toronto group called Skule Nite and with classes at The Second City Training Centre. Vidal’s recent credits include RENT(Fallen Rock and Lower Ossington Theatre), and Hairspray (Curtain Call Players).
 
Rob Norman
Norman is an acclaimed screenwriter, director, actor, improviser and Canadian Comedy Award winner. Originally from Markham, ON, his writing credits include The Beet Party, Versus Valerie, Sexy Nerd Girl, Guidance, and the animated feature film The Nut Job, starring Will Arnett. Norman is currently a member of “MANTOWN” (2013 Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Improv Troupe), and a performer with Toronto’s Just for Laughs festival.
 
The original series is produced by Counterfeit Pictures and Buffalo Gal Pictures. Anton Leo, Shane Corkery, and Dan Bennett from Counterfeit Pictures and Phyllis Laing from Buffalo Gal Pictures serve as Executive Producers. For Rogers, Nataline Rodrigues is Director of Original Programming, and Hayden Mindell is Vice President of Television Programming & Content.
Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured

Don’t Drive Here host puts his life on the line

I’m guessing it’s pretty safe to say no one yells “Shotgun!” when Andrew Younghusband is behind the wheel of an automobile. At least anyone who has watched him on Don’t Drive Here.

The lanky Newfoundlander stars–and writes and produces–the Discovery series, navigating the roads of the world’s most dangerous driving towns in the world. Younghusband could be pulling a cart of vegetables along a muddy thoroughfare, biking exhaust-choked roundabouts or guiding a city bus alongside a busy market. Season 2 finds the Canada’s Worst Driver host (he tells us Season 10 has been shot) visiting six more cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; La Paz, Bolivia; Rome, Italy; Sao Paolo, Bazil; and Monday’s first stop, Nairobi, Kenya.

Younghusband once again literally puts his life on the line all in the name of entertainment, and has had some very close calls along the way.

“I love it,” he exclaims. “There is a lot at stake, but at the same time the show was created around it because I like this kind of foolishness. So getting to go to these exotic places and living the way locals live and meeting all these people that do these jobs I find endlessly fascinating and I’m thrilled to be back making the show. But it’s incredibly stressful for my mother.”

Nairobi was a huge challenge for Younghusband; the sheer number of people who walk where they need to go means other modes of transportation are battling pedestrians for space on the roadways. That leads, viewers learn, to countless injuries, maimings and an average of five deaths every day. Though surprising, Younghusband says those statistics were’t the most shocking part of the African city.

“The most shocking thing is that a guy who pulls a handcart 20 kilometres a day for less than 10 bucks is happier than I probably am,” he admits. “That guy [in the episode] Harrison is loving life and that to me, in my Western ways, was the most shocking to me.”

Those glimpses of humanity are something Younghusband strives to include in each episode , spotlighting the people who do these dangerous jobs as well as the gigs themselves. Younghusband says he has a skeleton crew of five with him on production, a few handlers on the ground in each city. Each seven-day shoot is a guerrilla-style affair of research, interviews and recording done at a brisk clip to keep costs down.

Have the skills Younghusband acquired for survival on the planet’s most dangerous roads primed him for driving in Toronto? Absolutely.

“I drive a bicycle in Toronto and I’m constantly weaving in and out of traffic going , ‘This would be a great shot!'” he says with a laugh. “I do bring a lot of these skills from this and Worst Driver. What I do bring home from Don’t Drive Here is how easy we have it here. When people are upset I kind of roll my eyes at them.

“And when a cab driver from India honks his horn, I realize that it’s culturally appropriate for them to do that.”

Don’t Drive Here airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail