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, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Murdoch Mysteries, “Manhunt”

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A familiar face re-visits the world of Murdoch Mysteries on Monday night, as Nigel Bennett returns as Inspector Giles. Fans will recall that Giles was imprisoned for his role in the death of Constable Finch.

Here’s what the CBC has revealed as the storyline for “Manhunt,” written by Paul Aitken and directed by Yannick Bisson:

Murdoch pursues Inspector Giles after he escapes from prison to vindicate a murderer.

And here are more notes and thoughts from us after watching a screening copy of the episode.

Nigel Bennett is awesome
Bennett is one of my favourite-ever frequent guest stars on Murdoch Mysteries. It’s always a pleasure to see him and Yannick Bisson’s William sparring on the small screen and they don’t disappoint on Monday. And the entrance Giles makes? Truly memorable. And, he’s not the only former copper from the past to make an appearance in the episode.

Julia delivers a spike or two
Costume designer Joanna Syrokomla and her team have outdone themselves again with a stunning array of outfits for everyone, in particular the Murdoch ladies, who don stripes for a game of mintonette, a.k.a. volleyball.

A new career for Effie?
After a traumatic experience at the hands of the Ernst sisters, one would understand it if Effie wanted to take a step back from her law practice. But what will she do?

A very special guest appearance
It took me until minute 35 of “Manhunt” to identify someone close to Yannick Bisson in real life. See if you do it before I did. I’m sure you will.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Family Law, Featured

Family Law’s Eden Summer Gilmore: “It’s fun to play a smart and manipulative character”

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Eden Summer Gilmore first cut her acting teeth as a baby in a Gerber baby food commercial. But it wasn’t until she stepped onto the set of Riverdale, playing little Betty, when she was bitten by the acting bug.

“It was my first-ever speaking role, so I didn’t really know what to expect when I got onto the set,” Gilmore says. “I just remember the crew being so incredibly nice and it was the first time I was on-set, playing with my scene partner… getting to tap into the character made me realize that I wanted to tap into other characters too.”

Gilmore’s latest character is Sofia Bianchi, daughter to Abby (Jewel Staite) in Global’s Friday night legal drama Family Law. When viewers first meet Sofia, they witnessed a teen daughter who is not happy with her mother’s recent life choices—recovering alcoholic Abby very publicly threw up in a courtroom and has been separated from her husband, daughter and son as part of her probation, in addition to working in her father’s law office alongside her half-brother and half-sister—and is downright hostile at times.

That’s totally understandable, Gilmore says, because no part of Sofia’s life is a refuge.

“Going to school could be an escape from being at her house,” Gilmore explains. “But that’s not the case, and home isn’t safe either. Dealing with what she is, specifically, just makes it 10 times harder.”

Gilmore immediately connected with the character as soon as she read the first script, both because she and Sofia are almost the same age, and related to her so much.

“I also clicked with her because, if I saw Sofia on-screen, I would have fallen in love with her too,” she explains. “I want to be that for other girls. And it’s fun to play a smart and manipulative character.”

Family Law airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

Image courtesy of Noah Asanias.

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Industry News

CTV Comedy Channel orders original comedy series, Acting Good

From a media release:

As announced today from Content Canada’s Digital Summit, CTV Comedy Channel has ordered the all-new original scripted comedy, ACTING GOOD, loosely based on the life of stand up comedian Paul Rabliauskas (THE STAND UP SHOW WITH JON DORE). Produced by Kistikan Pictures Inc., the series was co-created by Rabliauskas, who is also set to star in the series, Amber-Sekowan Daniels (DIGGSTOWN), Eric Toth (STILL STANDING), and Pat Thornton (FILTH CITY). The hilarious 10-part, half-hour comedy follows self-conscious and gullible Paul (Rabliauskas), who falls flat on his face in the big city and tries to slip back into life on his fly-in rez as if nothing happened. But his eccentric family is having none of it. ACTING GOOD is set to shoot on location in Manitoba early next year, with production and additional casting details to be announced in the coming months.

ACTING GOOD is set in the fictional fly-in reserve of Grouse Lake First Nation in Northern Manitoba, a community that lives by its own set of rules. The series is inspired by Paul Rabliauskas’ own isolated reserve of Poplar River First Nation, and the family and friends that inhabit the community. Pat Thornton, Amber-Sekowan Daniels, and Eric Toth are co-writers for the series along with Rabliauskas.

This all-new comedy series joins Bell Media’s robust 2021/22 development and production slate that includes drama series SULLIVAN’S CROSSING and LITTLE BIRD, as well as scripted comedy series DU ME A FAVOR and LETTERKENNY spinoff series, SHORSEY.

ACTING GOOD is produced by CTV Comedy, in association with Kistikan Pictures Inc. Producers are Tina Keeper (Kistikan Pictures) and Jennifer Beasley (Buffalo Gal Pictures) with Phyllis Laing (Buffalo Gal Pictures) as Executive Producer. Amber-Sekowan Daniels, Pat Thornton, and Eric Toth serve as co-showrunners.

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Your Morning

Ben Mulroney announces departure from Your Morning

From a media release:

As announced today on CTV’s YOUR MORNING, Co-Host Ben Mulroney is departing the national morning show to focus on a new career developing scripted and unscripted projects, following a 20-year career with the broadcaster. Mulroney’s last day on YOUR MORNING will be this Friday, October 1 on CTV.

“After 20 years, I have made the difficult decision to leave CTV and YOUR MORNING to pursue a career as a producer, developing unique projects for both Canadian and global audiences,” said Mulroney. “I have had an incredible run at CTV, but it’s time to take the leap and fulfill what has been a life-long dream for me. I look forward to connecting with Canadians in this new way and for the opportunity to develop ideas with Bell Media in the future.”

“Ben is regarded as one of Canada’s premier TV hosts, a broadcaster who helped to put Canada on the map in the world of entertainment news,” said Karine Moses, Senior Vice President, Content Development and News, Bell Media. “As Ben transitions from reporting on stories in front of the camera to telling stories from behind it, we look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Ben again, and we wish him nothing but the best in his new venture.”

Ben joined CTV as an entertainment reporter for CANADA AM in October 2001, before joining ETALK in its debut season as Co-Host in 2002. Ben was also a member of the broadcast team for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, reporting on entertainment news for CTV, and was the host of CTV’s CANADIAN IDOL for six seasons, which at the time was the most-watched English-language Canadian television show on record. He became Co-Host of YOUR MORNING when it debuted in 2016.

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Jann

Links: Jann, Season 3

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Jann Arden previews Jann’s chaotic Season 3 world
Get ready, because JANN is back! Bigger, bolder, and wilder than ever before, Season 3 of the CTV original comedy series JANN returns for its third season on Monday, September 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Continue reading.

From Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald:

Link: Third time’s a charm: Jann Arden is back for more abuse in Season 3 of the hit CTV comedy Jann
Given that Jann Arden is now in the third season of headlining her own TV series, you might think she would finally embrace what has long been clear to everyone else: She is an actress. Continue reading.

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Jann’s Zoie Palmer previews Max’s emotional parental journeys
“You have to manipulate yourself and go to places that are uncomfortable or really interesting. That’s the job and what so many actors love about it.” Continue reading.

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