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, Haven

Review: Getting hinky in Haven

We’re four episodes into this latest season of Haven, and I’m getting a little impatient with the whole changing-Mara-back-to-Audrey thing. Sure, now Duke and Dwight know what Nathan already does–if you talk directly to Audrey she can fight off Mara for a bit–but this storyline has become one-note. As if reading my mind, Dwight admonished Nathan for being a broken record about it. Still, there were a few bright spots in Thursday’s newest, “Much Ado About Mara.”

The good
Duke’s gibberish Trouble
I laughed out loud at lines like “Mousie nudged my smelly belly,” “Froggie leg cream,” “Slip the drink in the pink” and “Delicious taco!” which were all lines of gibberish uttered by our favourite scallywag thanks to the Trouble Mara brought out to ease the pressure on Duke’s body. I wonder how many takes Eric Balfour needed to land those bon mots? I only wish the Trouble had lasted all episode.

Dave’s back story
I’m thrilled that we’re learning more about Dave and Vince this season. Viewers were given more insight into Dave’s past. Yes, he was adopted and is originally from the other side, but by episode’s end we learned something came through the doorway–something evil–and the only hint to what it is came via a time loss and the word “Croatoan” scratched on the therapist’s notepad. Croatoan, for those who don’t know, is part of a real-life mystery: the word was carved into a post on Roanoke Island in 1587 after a British colony there disappeared. The idea a historical mystery may be incorporated into Haven has got me jazzed.

The Troubling
Nathan and Mara
This is getting tedious. Nathan’s blind faith that Audrey can fight off Mara is admirable, but he needs to stop with the constant begging to everyone that Mara be saved from death. I sincerely hope the internal showdown between the two women happens soon … and once and for all. If the producers drag this storyline out all season long I’m going to be upset.

The Guard
I’m all for posturing and over-the-top shows of strength on my sci-fi/fantasy shows, but The Guard is becoming comic in their tough talk. I can only assume that once Audrey wins out over Mara they’ll back the heck off too.

Haven airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showcase.

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Bachelor Canada, Featured

Review: Tears and tequila on The Bachelor Canada

After last week’s drama in The Bachelor Canada mansion–Kaylynn’s tears and jealousy–it was time for a change of scenery and what better place to let your hair down than in Los Cabos, Mexico? Things started off happily enough, with the remaining ladies all excited to be basking in the sun, reclining near the ocean and imbibing all things alcoholic before Tim put a damper on the end of the week by announcing four women–not two as originally announced–would be going home.

Everything started off sunny, with Lisa scoring the first one-on-one date with a horrifying, gut-twisting affair involving a contraption that swung she and Tim out into space. (The gals left behind complained Lisa wasn’t his type, but how is he supposed to know that unless he goes on a date with her??) A shared near-death experience led to a lip-lock between the two and a rose handoff over dinner as the sun set.

Meanwhile, back on the beach, Kaylynn tried to make nice with Martha over her actions at the cocktail party, an ill-advised move that just led to more crying and bully talk from the emotional ballerina.

A four-girl group date tested everyone’s dance moves in front of a Mariachi band, with the best dancer nabbing a one-on-one dinner with Tim. After a public performance that celebrated the cheesiness of the situation–and The Bachelor Canada–Tim chose Sachelle, she of two left feet, as his date. Sachelle revealed over dinner that she’d been cheated on twice and Tim had that happen once before, and the two shared a smooch.

Kaylynn once again jeopardized her spot on the show by heading over to Tim’s room when she learned she was the only person who wasn’t getting some date time with him. Instead of blowing her off, Tim listened to what she had to say and remarked he was frustrated with the speed of the show. Ugh. Tim threw a wrench in production by, rather than having a beach volleyball match with six girls, decided to just hang out with everyone. Natalie (who I chose to be around for the finale) decided to put all her cards on the table by explaining she may come off as a nice girl, but she can be bad too. It was a desperation move, and I worried it would scare Tim off. Speaking of being scared, April Brockman broke down in tears and went off by herself, which caused Tim to head over to chat with her and eventually he carried her into the ocean.

“I need to spend time with people that there’s a connection with next week and I don’t feel like I can do that with this many people here.” Tim’s bombshell announcement caught everyone off guard and Trish was sure she’d be one of those leaving. She needn’t have worried; she along with Kaylynn, Sachelle, April Brockman, Natalie (YES!), Dominique and Rileigh all received roses. Martha, April Borgnetta, Jenny and Christine were eliminated from the competition.

Next week the group heads to the Bahamas, where it looks like Lisa shows her claws.

The Bachelor Canada airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on City.

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Video: Corner Gas: The Movie teaser trailer

Corner Gas: The Movie will roll out as a multi-platform event beginning with an exclusive Cineplex Front Row Centre Events theatrical debut across Canada, December 3 to 7, 2014, it was announced today. The theatrical premiere will feature in-theatre cast appearances across the country, a CORNER GAS Tweet Up, giveaways and a special pre-event show including a special message from Brent Butt, CORNER GAS trivia, and excerpts from the Canada-wide CORNER GAS Sing-a-long.

Check out the just-released teaser trailer:

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Canada’s Worst Driver returns for Season 10

PIM_0943_media

From a media release:

With aluminum and tin as the traditional 10th Anniversary gifts, heaps of twisted automotive metal isn’t far off the mark! Celebrating a decade, CANADA’S WORST DRIVER returns to Discovery for Season 10, premiering Monday, October 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. With more than 7,000 worst driver nominations, 64 horrific drivers, 198 challenges, 50 seriously wrecked cars — and just one really brave host, Andrew Younghusband – the past nine seasons have tackled the hazards of winter driving, adapted high-performance tips from the racetrack, and manouvered through big city gridlock. And now, for Season 10, CANADA’S WORST DRIVER contends with the most rampant challenge on the roads today: Distracted driving.

As Discovery’s most successful program ever, Season 10 has the potential to change bad behaviours behind the wheel of eight new participants – and indeed the driving habits of viewers across Canada. Season 9 reached 9.8 million Canadians (2+) and increased its audience by 12% over Season 8. And since it launched in 2005, Canadians have consumed over 123 million hours of CANADA’S WORST DRIVER – that’s more than 3.5 entire episodes on average for every man, woman and child (P2+) in the country!

To the relief of drivers and pedestrians across Canada, series host and writer Andrew Younghusband has hauled eight disastrous drivers off the road and safely sequestered them at the now-familiar Driver Rehabilitation Centre. CANADA’S WORST DRIVER follows the drivers, each nominated by a friend or family member, as they are put through their paces in a controlled driving environment and evaluated by a panel of driving experts. Each episode features the tried-and-tested challenges viewers have come to love, each designed to push the drivers to their limits and teach them crucial safe driving skills – all with an eye to eliminate driver distraction. Each driver must master basic training and more advanced techniques before graduating from Rehab. Week by week, the most improved driver will claim their keys, leave Rehab, and merge back into the driving lane until only one driver – the worst – is left standing.

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Corner Gas film release dates announced

corner

From a media release:

Corner Gas: The Movie will roll out as a multi-platform event beginning with an exclusive Cineplex Front Row Centre Events theatrical debut across Canada, December 3 to 7, 2014, it was announced today.

The theatrical premiere will feature in-theatre cast appearances across the country, a CORNER GAS Tweet Up, giveaways and a special pre-event show including a special message from Brent Butt, CORNER GAS trivia, and excerpts from the Canada-wide CORNER GAS Sing-a-long. Fans are encouraged to show off their hometown’s CORNER GAS pride. Beginning today fans can visit cornergasthemovie.com and Light Up the Map of Canada. By casting their vote online, fans have the opportunity to bring Corner Gas: The Movie to their hometown theatre.

Immediately following its theatrical release, the 90-minute feature will make its network broadcast debut in December on CTV and CTV GO, following a special preview for The Movie Network and TMN GO subscribers. The movie will also air on The Comedy Network in December (all broadcast dates to be announced), complemented by a special collector’s edition DVD available for purchase before the holidays. 

Headlined by creator and comedian Brent Butt, Corner Gas: The Movie stars the original award-winning ensemble cast including Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Fred Ewanuick, Janet Wright, Lorne Cardinal, Tara Spencer-Nairn, and Nancy Robertson. Written by Brent Butt, Andrew Carr, and Andrew Wreggitt, and directed by David Storey, who served as key director on the series, the movie was shot in Saskatchewan from June 22 to July 22, 2014.

It’s been five years, and there’s still not a lot going on 40 kilometers from nowhere. But that’s all about to change as the fine folks of Dog River, Saskatchewan, face their biggest crisis ever. Brent and the gang discover that the town’s been badly mismanaged, leaving residents with little choice but to pack up and leave. As residents make one last rally to save Dog River as they know it, they discover a devious plan by a corporate giant that would change life for Dog Riverites forever.

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