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.
Holly Hobbie

Production commences on Holly Hobbie™

From a media release:

DHX Television’s Family Channel and Aircraft Pictures in association with American Greetings Entertainment announced today that principal photography has begun on its Holly Hobbie™Â live-action series. The contemporary new tween drama, based on the American Greetings character first introduced in 1967, is being filmed in Toronto and Hamilton this month. The series makes its debut with 10 episodes in the US exclusively on Hulu this fall, followed by its Canadian debut on Family Channel. Universal Kids (US) has also purchased the linear rights for the series following its first window run on Hulu.

A dreamer and a doer, Holly Hobbie has lived her whole life in the small town of Collinsville. Holly’s a 13-year-old singer-songwriter who’s got her best friends and close-knit family by her side, but she’s dreaming of ways to save the world – even if it’s starting in her own backyard.

Cast for Holly Hobbie features newcomers and notable stars including: Ruby Jay (Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy) as Holly Hobbie; Saara Chaudry (The Breadwinner, Max & Shred) as Amy Abbasi; Kamaia Fairburn (Star Falls, Odd Squad) as Piper Parish; Hunter Dillon (The Exorcist, Supernatural) as Tyler Flaherty; Charles Vandervaart (The Stanley Dynamic, Murdoch Mysteries) as Robbie Hobbie; Kate Moyer (Our House, IT) as Heather Hobbie; Erin Karpluk (Saving Hope, Being Erica) as Mrs. Hobbie; Evan Buliung (Reign, Bitten) as Mr. Hobbie; and Sara Botsford (Ride, The Lot) as Holly’s grandma, Helen Hobbie.

Holly Hobbie is produced by Aircraft Pictures, with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund. Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen(The Breadwinner, Bruno & Boots: This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall) serve as producers. Karen Vermeulen, Ryan Wiesbrock and Sean Gorman of American Greetings Entertainment (Tinpo, Buddy Thunderstruck and Care Bears) and Matthew Wexler of Wexworks Media (D.N.Ace, Paw Patrol) are serving as executive producers alongside showrunner Sarah Glinski (Degrassi: Next Class, Degrassi: The Next Generation).

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Link: Reality series ‘Fridge Wars’ in the works from Global Road Entertainment

From Etan Vlessing of The Hollywood Reporter:

Link: Reality series ‘Fridge Wars’ in the works from Global Road Entertainment
Donald Tang’s fast-growing mini studio is pacting with Canada’s CBC on the global format as it expands into television.

Moving beyond its roots as an independent film powerhouse, Donald Tang’s fast-growing Global Road Entertainment is developing an original reality series, Fridge Wars, to be shopped worldwide as a global format. Continue reading.

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Carter

Links: Carter, Season 1

From the Canadian Press:

Link: Jerry O’Connell loves North Bay, talks new TV show ‘Carter’
How many American TV stars could come up to Canada and belt out our national anthem at a hockey game without a teleprompter?

Jerry O’Connell performed the task — without missing a word — while working on his new series “Carter” in North Bay, Ont. Continue reading.

From Charles Trapunski of Brief Take:

Link: Interview: Carter’s Jerry O’Connell
“I never met Kristian Bruun, I only knew him as the funny husband on Orphan Black and the creepy doctor on The Handmaid’s Tale and when I met him, he’s not creepy at all, he’s actually one of my closer friends and he’s a real find for us.” Continue reading. 

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: Jerry O’Connell is American, but he takes pride in his new Canadian show
So how does Jerry O’Connell stack up as an American actor playing a Canadian in a TV series that’s set in Ontario?

Try this for Great White North bona fides: he suggests a crossover episode between his new show, Carter, which debuts May 15 at 8 p.m. on Bravo, and CraveTV hoser hit Letterkenny, which he calls one of the best shows on TV. Continue reading.

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

Link: Canadian show Carter is inelegantly made tomfoolery
Carter is slight, silly and trying very hard to charm. It is inelegantly made tomfoolery that will, no doubt, find a few fans. They will be attracted mainly by Jerry O’Connell’s polished charisma and comic skills, and the little injections of dopey Canadiana that are rife in it. Continue reading. 

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Great Pacific Media announces “Queen of the Oil Patch” on APTN

From a media release:

Great Pacific Media is pleased to announce the release of APTN’s Queen of the Oil Patch. The documentary series follows the incredible LIVES of one man and Two Spirits… Massey Whiteknife and Iceis Rain. The eight-episode, half-hour series premieres on Tuesday, June 5 on APTN East and HD at 10:30 p.m. ET, APTN West at 10:30 p.m. MT and on APTN North at 4:30 a.m. CT.

Massey Whiteknife is an Indigenous entrepreneur from the Mikisew Cree First Nation who has built a million-dollar empire in the toughest town in Canada… Fort McMurray. In northern Alberta, most men are measured by grit, strength, thick skin, and courage. And Massey has more of that than most, he is, after all, the undisputed “Queen of the Oil Patch.”

As an openly gay man, Massey has won the hearts of thousands in northern Alberta. His determination has built a business empire that was once worth millions. But, the collapse of oil prices and a heartbreaking fire took all of that away. Where others were crushed by the double hit, Massey has vowed to dig deep inside, and rebuild his life with a little help from Iceis Rain, his courageous second spirit.

With nothing left to lose, Iceis Rain has emerged as the powerful, fearless alter ego and Fort McMurray’s reigning Queen. When Iceis puts on her makeup and dress, she instantly transforms into a woman of boundless courage. Iceis is a critically acclaimed recording artist, booking dates across the country, and was nominated at the 2014 Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards, where she also performed. One person, one body, two very different identities. Massey runs the business while Iceis rules the night. It is a tough job juggling that much personality and Massey knows he has to make a choice; continue the double life, or choose to become Iceis forever. Hard questions for anyone, but balancing family and Indigenous tradition, while working in the male-dominated world of oil rigs, may be downright impossible.

Queen of the Oil Patch is a series about a man seeking happiness and acceptance. It’s about family, love, and compassion. It’s about community and courage. It is a series that will leave you feeling inspired.

Produced by Métis Director, Neil Grahn, Kelly McClughan, and Mark Miller, the concept was developed by Kah-Kitowak Films in partnership with APTN.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Blue Ant Media brings Colin and Justin back to Cottage Life channel in new series, Great Canadian Cottages

From a media release:

Blue Ant Media, an international content producer, distributor and channel operator, today announced that it has greenlit production on Great Canadian Cottages (working title), a brand new original 8×30-minute documentary series, produced by Architect Films for the company’s Canadian television channel, Cottage Life. Presented by renowned design experts Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, the series will delve into the fascinating stories of Canadians who live in extraordinary cottages and cabins built in the Canadian wilderness. Great Canadian Cottages is set to premiere exclusively this fall on the Cottage Life channel. The series will be available for international licensing through Blue Ant Media’s distribution arm, Blue Ant International.

In each episode, Colin and Justin will travel to unique cottage country locations across Canada, giving viewers a personal tour of distinctive cottages with architectural flair. With the design duo’s trademark humour and wit, audiences will meet the owners and architects to analyse each home’s significant design features, while learning more about specific cottage country regions in Canada. The series will have a 360-degree presence across Cottage Life’s television, online and print platforms. In addition to the television debut, 16 digital videos featuring cottage-friendly tips, will roll out on Cottagelife.com. Additionally, Colin and Justin will be on hand at the Fall Cottage Life Show, taking place in Toronto from October 19 to 21, 2018, to celebrate the series and meet with fans personally.

Great Canadian Cottages is produced by Architect Films with Mike Sheerin serving as Executive Producer and Joanne Virgo serving as Series Producer. Sam Linton, Head of Original Content, Canadian Media, Blue Ant Media is overseeing the series.

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