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.
New Eden

First images of killer Crave comedy New Eden unearthed

From a media release:

Never-before-seen images strongly suggest production has begun on the Crave Original Comedy, NEW EDEN, ending months of speculation. The fly-on-the-wall photos, seemingly taken in the late 1970s, offer clues to a story that’s never been told; about the most notorious women the world’s never heard of; orchestrating a utopia that never happened.

Spanning the 70s, 80s, and 90s over eight half-hour episodes, NEW EDEN is a hilariously complex, true crime parody that begins in 1977, when Katherine Wryfield (Kayla Lorette) and Grace Lee (Evany Rosen) attempt to start a large scale feminist utopia, “New Eden.” While intentions for this would-be utopia were noble, in the inexperienced hands of Lee and Wryfield, the community quickly devolves into drug addled, alien-goddess worshipping chaos…and murder. Definitely some murder.

In addition to Rosen and Lorette, NEW EDEN stars Tony Nappo as a small town sheriff with a grudge against “New Eden,” and Caitlin Howden as a former member of the commune. The series is directed by Aleysa Young. Rosen and Lorette serve as showrunners.

NEW EDEN is currently in production in North Bay, Ont, with production slated to conclude in Brampton and Hamilton in mid-August. Developed in partnership with Peacock Alley Entertainment,NEW EDEN hails from the brilliant comedic minds of its creators, showrunners, and stars Evany Rosen (PICNICFACE, BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW) and Kayla Lorette (KIM’S CONVENIENCE, SPACE RIDERS). NEW EDEN is slated to premiere on Crave later this year.

NEW EDEN joins Crave’s growing slate of comedic and factual original series which includes: DRAG RACE CANADA which begins production this fall; a new six-pack of the smash-hit LETTERKENNY set to debut on October 11; four all-new Crave Original stand-up specials taping at the upcoming Just For Laughs Festival in Montréal; the new documentary series WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE; a second season of MUCH STUDIOS PRESENTS: MIKE ON MUCH IN CONVERSATION WITH…; and two new series from Bell Media Studios, the UNTITLED ELAINE “LAINEY” LUI series featuring Lui as she dishes on some of Crave’s most buzz-worthy programming, and HEALTHY IS, showcasing a variety of healthy living tips from Chloe Wilde’s highly successful website, Healthy is Hot.

NEW EDEN is produced by Peacock Alley Entertainment Inc. in partnership with Crave, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund and Bell Fund. Carrie Mudd (TRAVELERS, SANCTUARY) is Executive Producer. Rosen and Lorette serve as writers and showrunners.

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Featured, Flashpoint

Comments and queries for the week of July 12

1 Comment

I would love to see Flashpoint come back. I always watch the re-runs. Excellent series. Great cast. Miss it! —Diana

Us too, Diana. Us too.

A group of people run toward the camera.I liked the self driving shifts and that the grandfather came in third. Another Express Pass, so that’s the standard three. Interesting that Nicki and Aisha seemed to have lost due to bad directions from a local. What is a Double One Way supposed to be? I caught the premiere as well; quite a shock Jet and Dave were first out, especially when compared to how veteran teams just did on TAR 31 in the U.S. I wonder if that’s why they aren’t promoting the “Second Chance” angle after looking for it in casting as opposed to how much they over-hyped “Heroes Edition.” It’s been a while since we had a “villain” team on any of the seasons though Irina yelling at the clue lady to hurry up was funny. She’s self-aware with the “most hated couple in Canada” bit so I don’t think she really cares how it will play for TV; and they actually reside in the UAE which makes them more international then the actual show. —DanAmazing

Your opinion about Irina is right on. Also, her comment about the other teams not being so bright. And the comment made by Dave about being the hated couple is also right on. I do hope they go home soon. —Mary Ann

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

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Anne with an E, Industry News

Northwood Entertainment and Canadaland partner to develop Thunder Bay TV series

1 Comment

From a media release:

Northwood Entertainment (ANNE WITH AN E, THE GRIZZLIES) has partnered with the producers of the Canadaland podcast ‘Thunder Bay’ – and together they are developing the podcast into a drama series. Miranda de Pencier’s Northwood Entertainment will co-produce the series alongside Anishinaabe comedian, writer, & podcaster Ryan McMahon, and journalist & Canadaland founder/publisher, Jesse Brown. Executive producers McMahon, Brown, and de Pencier are currently considering showrunners for the series.

Hosted and co-written by McMahon, the serialized, true crime podcast examines the systemic racism, corruption, and crime that runs rampant in Thunder Bay and the factors that make the city amongst the most dangerous for Indigenous youth in the world. THUNDER BAY plans to bring all of these issues to light in a searing and riveting drama series that considers not who killed nine Indigenous high school students, but what killed them. The series begins with an examination of nine deaths and goes on to explore the broader impact of colonialism and racism.

THUNDER BAY executive producers are Miranda de Pencier, Ryan McMahon, and Jesse Brown. Northwood Entertainment and Canadaland will co-produce the series.

Image courtesy of Christopher Wahl.

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Holly Hobbie

Family Channel’s Holly Hobbie renewed for Season 2

From a media release:

Aircraft Pictures(2018 Academy Award®and Golden Globe Award-nominated producers of the animated feature film The Breadwinner) in association with Cloudco Entertainment (creators and producers of Care Bears: Unlock the Magic)announced today that leading US premium streaming service Hulu has commissioned a second season of the original live-action series Holly Hobbie. Production on the 10-episode order is currently underway in Toronto, with the second season slated to debut on Hulu later this year and on Family Channel in Canada.

Holly Hobbie is a modern revival of the classic, girls’ character brand which was hugely popular in the 1970s and 80s.  The series centres on 14-year-old Holly Hobbie, played by Ruby Jay (Tangled: The Series and CBS’s upcoming primetime comedy The Unicorn),a small-town girl with a big heart and even bigger dreams. Holly’s a singer-songwriter who saves her grandmother’s Calico Café by starting open mic nights and performing original songs to bring her community together.  Holly’s world – and her songwriting – evolves in Season 2 as Holly is cast in a musical  but clashes with its challenging director (Jake Epstein; Degrassi: The Next Class and Designated Survivor), and sparks fly with the arrival of the talented Oscar (Tomaso Sanelli; Titans and Suits), a contemporary of Holly’s who is also a potential music rival and crush.

The season 2 order comes on the heels of an announcement from the Warner Music Group securing the rights to the original music from both seasons of the series and its June 21strelease of the first single from the show, “Be The Change”. The show premiered last autumn on Hulu in the US as a Hulu Original Series, and Family Channel in Canada. CBBC, the leading children’s channel in the UK, will launch the show’s Season 1 this summer with additional market debuts set to be announced shortly including another major market, France.

Holly Hobbie is produced by Aircraft Pictures (The Breadwinner, Bruno & Boots: This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall) in association with Cloudco Entertainment (Care Bears: Unlock The Magic, Tinpo) and Wexworks Media (D.N.Ace, Paw Patrol) with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund.  Sarah Glinski (Degrassi: Next Class, Degrassi: The Next Generation) returns as showrunner.

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