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.
Uncategorized

City, Netflix and Shomi collaborate on Canadian original drama

6 Comments

City

From a media release:

Today, City, Netflix, and shomi™ announced a landmark partnership to bring audiences around the world a new, premium drama series, Between – an original survivalist thriller series, created by award-winning writer/director Michael McGowan (Still Mine, One Week, Saint Ralph) and starring Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat). The partnership is the first of its kind in Canada for the creation of a new, original series.

The first season of Between, featuring six, one-hour episodes, will premiere on City and shomi in Canada and on Netflix outside of Canada where the service is available. Between will come to Netflix Canada one year following the initial premiere. Additional broadcast details will be announced at a later date. The series begins principal photography today.

“We know that Canadians crave daring and distinctive original programs, and Between offers just that,” said Nataline Rodrigues, Director of Original Programming, Rogers. “Showcasing Michael McGowan’s cinematic vision on the small screen, this compelling new series, in partnership with Netflix and shomi, delivers on our promise to offer viewers world-class entertainment.”

“Teaming up with Rogers, on Between, is a tremendous opportunity to work with a creative partner in Canada to bring our global viewers top-notch content,” said Erik Barmack, Vice President of Global Independent Content at Netflix. “We’re thrilled to be working with outstanding talent behind the scenes including Canadians Don Carmody, Jon Cassar and Michael McGowan, and in front of the camera with a new generation of actors led by Jennette McCurdy, delivering a must watch event series that millions of Netflix viewers will enjoy.”

Between is the story of a town under siege from a mysterious disease that has wiped out everybody except those 21 years old and under. The series explores the power vacuum that results when a government has quarantined a 10-mile diameter area and left the inhabitants to fend for themselves.

“With the commission of Between, we are reinforcing our commitment to bring the best programming to our subscribers,” said Marni Shulman, Head of Content & Programming, shomi. “Great opportunities to build original content like this, and working with the breadth of talent, including the amazing Michael McGowan, is a perfect fit for the shomi brand.”

Between stars Jennette McCurdy and was created by Michael McGowan, who executive produces along with Don Carmody (Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Goon, Chicago), David Cormican (The Tall Man, Faces in the Crowd), and Naveen Prasad, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Elevation Pictures Corp. Emmy® award-winning director Jon Cassar (24, The Kennedys) will direct the first two episodes. The series is produced by Don Carmody Television, Mulmur Feed Co. and in association with Elevation Pictures Corp. Prasad, along with Jayme Alter (Denton’s Canada) for DCTV negotiated the deal. Elevation will oversee worldwide distribution. From Rogers Media, Nataline Rodrigues is Director of Original Programming, Hayden Mindell is Vice President of Television Programming & Content, and Navaid Mansuri is Interim Senior Vice President of Broadcast.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Heartland

Review: Heartland celebrates 125 episodes with fireworks and fistfights

8 Comments

Heartland celebrated Episode 125–making it the longest-running hour-long drama in Canadian TV history–with fireworks. As Amber Marshall told me recently, Prince Ahmed isn’t the type of guy to take “no” for an answer. So I wasn’t really all that surprised when he rode up to Amy moments after she had waved goodbye to Ty at the beginning of “Secrets and Lies.” And there really was no sugar-coating his comment that Amy looked beautiful: the Prince was there to ride off with her heart.

I can’t help but think he knew exactly what he was doing when he insisted on accompanying Amy back to Heartland; those few minutes were enough to get Tim thinking of landing deals with the Prince, Georgie upset with Amy all over again and Ty steamed his royal rival was back. Things only got worse when Ahmed asked Amy to accompany him to check out some horses; he made a side visit to a mansion he’s thinking of buying. You know, so he can be even closer to Amy. Sheesh. I have to give him credit for saying “I love you,” and getting things out in the open but I was relieved Amy nipped that in the bud and severed her relationship with him. (Things got a little dusty at my house during the conversation between Georgie and Amy about the video.)

Who else was surprised Amy, Georgie and Lou didn’t pull Tim aside when he showed up with Ahmed to tell him about that admission of love? If they had, it would have saved everyone from that super-awkward dinner and the massive “I hate you!” from Georgie. And while I was more than happy to see Ty deliver a head-butt and a punch to the Prince, I can’t help but think Ahmed will make life hell for him by laying charges on Ty or something. Or perhaps all he really wanted was to drive a wedge between the engaged couple. He certainly accomplished that.

Meanwhile, Ty’s new gig at the wildlife sanctuary has become more than a full-time job and Ben’s laid-back attitude when he was trying to woo Ty has been replaced–so far at least–by a stressed dude with an iPhone. Best moment of the night: Ty being spit on by an escaped llama. Second worst moment of the night: mama wolf dying and just one pup surviving.

Worst moment? Ty saying the following to Amy while “Say Something” played in the background: “Sometimes we lose things and no matter how hard we try to hold on, and without even knowing it, we’ve lost it.”

Thoughts on 125 episodes, and last night’s episode

  • How lucky are these folks to film Heartland in such a stunning location? I jealously pine for the foothills of Alberta every Sunday night
  • Is it just me that has the show’s the theme music stuck in their head? Between that and Murdoch Mysteries, my mind is full of CBC show tunes
  • Do you think Tim should really go on the rodeo tour? Part of me says yes, but the thought of him being away from Heartland for an extended period of time would be a bummer. Who would Jack tease?
  • “I have a sore knee today Lou. And I bet if I looked up ‘sore knee’ on the Internet I’d find a bunch of articles and opinions making me think I have to have my whole damn leg taken off at the hip.” Reason No. 456 why I love Jack
  • I’m a little conflicted over Lou making such a big deal out of whether Katie was behind on her skills. I understand Lou wanting to make sure her daughter had all the help she needed, but she was going a little overboard, no?

Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Lost Girl

Comments and queries for the week of Oct. 17

I loved Dark Angel, which has become a reference point for Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory, but I need Bo and the Lost Girl gang. We need strong, independent women and sensitive, nurturing men. We need, in these dark political times, a glimmer of hope. We need the voices that say, “I make my own choices.” Please help the millions of fans who didn’t know they could vote. Bring Bo back!!–Karen

Thanks for your support for Lost Girl, but our poll wasn’t to bring the show back, just which Canadian one you’d go into a cage match for. Production has already wrapped on the final season.

Hey Max & Shred, I’m a big fan of your show! Love, your biggest fan.–Andrea

Thanks for the note, Andrea. You can reach the boys via @JonnyGrayy, @JakeGoodman9 or @maxandshred.

Will UpTV be showing the new season of Heartland? I am in the Miami area and so far I have just seen repeats.–Patty

Hey Patty, thanks for writing in. UpTV is a little behind the CBC here in Canada: Season 7 is currently being broadcast with no plans for Season 8 yet.

I am disappointed in how the interesting scripts that deal with horses of all kinds was taken over by people drama on Oct 12th. I loved Heartland up until now, but my family members agreed that we missed all the beautiful horses this time with their stories. Something was missing in this episode and it was the horses! The part that we love! We also love the people, but everyone was having stress and problems … too much for one episode of a family show.–Andree

Got a question of comment about Canadian TV? Email me at greg@tv-eh.com!

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Haven

Review: Haven pulls off a “Switcheroo”

2 Comments

After a week away from new episodes of Haven, I was antsy to get to the latest in the Audrey-Mara-Nathan saga … and to see what the heck was hiding under Duke’s ball cap.

The first part of Thursday’s “The Old Switcheroo” delivered on both counts. Duke’s new ‘do is a tidy little swept back mane that really frames his face well. Yes, I am having a little bit of fun at Duke’s expense, but geez, I was wondering what was going on under there.

Meanwhile, the mystery with Vince and Dave continued, with the former investigating “Croatoan,” the word the latter had scratched onto a piece of paper. That led Vince to The Old Croatoan Cafe in Manteo, North Carolina, and I groaned. Would a real-life mystery I hoped would be explored within Haven’s mythology be relegated to a place you could grab a lobster roll and soup of the day?

The answer remains unanswered, though there are hints to a tie between members of the Doohan family and what they have to do with Dave. Things were waylaid a bit by the Trouble of the week, which saw Vince and Dave swap bodies and Gloria and Dwight do the same as both pairs shared secrets that made the Trouble manifest. Jayne Eastwood is hilarious as Haven’s coroner anyway, but it was great to see she and Adam “Edge” Copeland swapping bodies so he could mug for the camera for awhile. That darned Dwight has so many responsibilities that Copeland never gets to show the comic side WWE fans know him for (crotch grab, anyone?). Their back and forth about muscle size, going to the gym and taking on each other’s mannerisms–especially Copeland’s take on Gloria–was a welcome respite from the oh-so-serious stuff regarding Mara.

Speaking of Mara, the battle between she and Audrey is going into extra innings. Audrey bled through during the switcheroo investigation and pleaded with Nathan to keep addressing her as Audrey, something he’s more than willing to do. But it was Duke who had the special connection with Audrey (or was it Mara faking?) this episode, as the two recounted their kiss in Colorado and discussed who pulled away from who first. Unfortunately, that little secret between the two of them caused Nathan and Duke to swap places so Nate learned of the smooch. Not good.

Was Mara faking? Will the thinny claim Dave? Hopefully we’ll find out next week.

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

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Orphan Black

Cameras roll on Season 3 of Orphan Black

image001

From a media release:

Space, Temple Street Productions, and BBC America announced earlier today that production has begun on Season 3 of the critically acclaimed original Canadian series, ORPHAN BLACK. Season 3 sees the return of the phenomenal, Golden Globe®-nominated Tatiana Maslany, who has portrayed an astonishing, nine, distinct “Leda” clones to date, as well as the male “Castor” clones revealed in the Season 2 finale, played by series regular Ari Millen. Season 2 of ORPHAN BLACK reached a total of 832,000 viewers and more than 3.7 million unique viewers each week. Throughout its Season 2 run, Space was the #1 specialty network in audience across all key demos in its timeslot. The 10-episode, one-hour drama shoots in Toronto, on location and in studio, until March 2015, and is set to premiere in Spring 2015.

Returning in a lead role is Ari Millen, who plays the newly discovered male clones; Mark, the Prolethean cult follower and Rudy, a prisoner of war. Also back this season is Jordan Gavaris as Sarah’s fiery foster brother Felix; Dylan Bruce as Paul; an army officer working for secret forces in the clone world; Maria Doyle Kennedy as Sarah and Felix’s duplicitous foster mother Mrs. S; Evelyne Brochu as a Dyad scientist and Cosima’s lover Delphine; Kevin Hanchard as Art, a detective caught in the clone trap; Zoé De Grand Maison as Gracie, a Prolethean escapee, and Michiel Huisman as Cal, father to Sarah’s daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler).

ORPHAN BLACK’s second season brought new, more treacherous, enemies to light, culminating in a shocking finale with the reveal of the new male “Castor” clones. Season 3 plunges the clone sisterhood into unexpected territory with the realization that they’re not alone. Just when they thought they knew their enemies and allies, Season 3 reveals our clones are more vulnerable than ever before with the highly trained, identical male-soldiers complicating matters. And though Sarah, Cosima, Alison and Helena realize they are stronger together than they are apart, this season will put that bond to the test.

Adored by fans and critics alike in more than 170 countries, ORPHAN BLACK earned a Peabody Award and an outstanding 10 Canadian Screen Awards in 2014. Lead actress Tatiana Maslany has received two, back-to-back Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Actress, a TCA Award for Individual Achievement, a Young Hollywood Award, a Gracie Award, and nominations for both the Golden Globe® and People’s Choice Awards.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail