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.
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Dogs find their forever homes in Bell Media Studios’ Dog Tales Rescue, May 31 on Gusto

From a media release:

Hot on the paws of today’s National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Gusto announces the premiere of new docu-series DOG TALES RESCUE, Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT beginning May 31.

Following the day-to-day operation of King City, Ont.’s Dog Tales Rescue and Horse Sanctuary, the 10-episode, half-hour series features sanctuary co-founders and animal lovers Danielle Eden-Scheinberg and Rob Scheinberg as they care and rehabilitate sick, elderly, and abused animals. Along with a dedicated team of 50 passionate staff, the sanctuary accepts local surrenders and works with shelters both domestically and abroad searching for animals in need of help. DOG TALES RESCUE also debuts this fall in Québec on Canal Vie.

Furthering its commitment to delivering diverse quality lifestyle content, Bell Media Studios and partner Motion Content Group also confirm today that DOG TALES RESCUE has been renewed for a second season, joining the recently announced multi-season commitment of series WHERE TO I DO?.

In the series premiere of DOG TALES RESCUE, Thursday, May 31 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT, Rob and Danielle introduce the Dog Tales Rescue and Horse Sanctuary. The team puts together a creative photo shoot to help boost adoption rates, and Lead Horse Handler Ilana tries to integrate a new horse with the herd. Potential new adoptive parents Shelley and Emmanuel come to meet dog Samuel after seeing a social media post in which he was featured. Before they can adopt Samuel, they must bring their dog Phoebe to Dog Tales to see if the two dogs will hit it off.

Founded in 2004, the Dog Tales Rescue and Horse Sanctuary is a world-renowned dog rescue and horse sanctuary set on 50 acres in King City, Ont. The Dog Tales property includes kilometers of walking trails, a therapy pool, a grooming spa, a pig mud bath, a horse paddock, a fenced play area, and a splash pad for the dogs. Dog Tales provides rescue animals with medical care, training, and, of course, lots of love!

DOG TALES RESCUE is a co-production between Motion Content Group and Bell Media Studios. Melanie Darlaston is Executive Producer for Motion Content Group. Jennifer Couke and Michelle Crespi are Executive Producers for Bell Media Studios.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Home to Win: Bryan and Sarah Baeumler and Sangita Patel preview Season 3

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are no strangers to working together. The pair, in addition to being married and with a passel of kids, the home builder and interior designer are business partners too. Viewers have seen that both in House of Bryan and most recently in Bryan Inc. But the pair is still getting used to working with the massive group of HGTV Canada talent assembled for Season 3 of Home to Win.

Returning Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada, Home to Win once again reunites 26 of this country’s biggest names in builders and designers with host Sangita Patel to renovate one piece of property for one deserving Canadian. But unlike the last two seasons of Home to Win, the home is only up for grabs for a first-time homebuyer (get details on how to audition). And, in the bursting Southern Ontario real estate market, that’s huge.

“It was a great concept, a great idea,” Sarah Baeumler says alongside Bryan and Patel during a press junket at Corus Entertainment headquarters. “When we’re talking to people that want to buy a house and what to look for, the idea and cost right now is a very difficult thing to talk about because it’s out of most people’s realm. To be able to do this and have somebody win their first-time home is spectacular.”

As with last season, Sunday’s return follows Bryan Baeumler and Scott McGillivray as they walk through a trio of homes that are potential projects. The show’s producers hit a home run when they paired the veteran builders together for the task; as contributor Tanya writes in her preview, Baeumler and McGillivray share a similar sense of humour and get on like gangbusters.

“We show up, have fun and have a laugh,” Bryan Baeumler says. “I’ll be honest, nobody laughs at me as hard as I laugh at me. Scott’s the same. We don’t get a lot of time to hang out when we’re not [filming] because we’re both very busy with family, kids and work, so it’s nice to just hang out with the brother I never wanted and have some fun.”

We won’t give away which of the three homes Baeumler and McGillivray choose as the one to be made over (well, that, and we’re not allowed to say), but it’s a great choice. And one with plenty of challenges. Still, folks like Brian McCourt, Sarah Keenleyside, Kortney and Dave Wilson, Drew and Jonathan Scott, Sabrina Smelko, Jo Alcorn, Carson Arthur, Danielle Bryk, Kate Campbell, Sebastian Clovis, Mike Holmes, Mike Holmes Jr., Paul LaFrance, Tiffany Pratt and Samantha Pynn are up to the test. With Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe coming up with the overall design style of the home, the over two dozen-strong team gets to work.

“This is one of the most important things about this season and what we learned from [making] the last two seasons,” Sarah says. “We didn’t take the time to come up with a cohesive plan, we went off and were creating all of these things. Being able to stand together and say, ‘OK, what does everyone feel?’ You pick something that is sort of neutral ground. Somebody like me, who is into neutral colours and white, can wrap my head around it. We all came to a consensus on the overall feel and then go off on our own little tangents.”

Are you hoping to be one of the Canadians in the running to win the home? Patel has some advice when it comes to the audition process and making your video.

“Just be real,” she advises. “Be yourself in your audition tape. Don’t do anything crazy. Tell us why you need this house and why you want to get this house.”

Home to Win airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

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Featured

Comments and queries for the week of April 27

1 Comment

Someone has to tell this new host she needs to stop interrupting her guests. This is off-putting in the extreme. I watch Power and Politics regularly, record it daily, however, I am considering stopping recording and watching as Vassy Kapelos’ constant interruptions makes her interviews more frustrating than the benefit of the political discussions. —Janet

I do wish Hollywood would go back to good stories, mysteries and subjects. They rely too much on scandalous sex, crude language and violence as well as fantasy and just weird content. Most of the U.S. detective shows are corny or dumb except for Law & Order: SVU. Or, they just do reality TV, which is getting old. Although the actors on Murdoch Mysteries are attractive, the show doesn’t just rely on over-plasticized, fake beauty like Hollywood does. It is about the characters, the plot and the excellent writing. I am so glad other countries like Canada, the UK and Australia to keep these kinds of mysteries coming. —Makeup Girl

I live in the U.S. and am a Murdoch addict. I don’t really like Julia. I wish Murdoch had stayed with Anna. So happy about Season 12 that I can hardly wait! —Patricia

I live in the U.S. (Mississippi) and I am really, really, really glad to hear that Murdoch will be back for Season 12. Words can not express how much I love this show and there is nothing on the air in the States, right now, that is as great as MM, in my opinion. While the show is set in Canada, the themes and societal issues it tackles are universal. Gender equality, abortion, civil rights, issues of racism, classism, religion, homophobia, etc. These are universal to people living around the world and MM examines these without judgment or taking sides, leaving the concluding analysis to the viewer. All of that, in addition to, a really great mystery. This is something that is rarely found in a lot of TV shows today. My hat’s off to the writers, producers, cast and crew for the blood, sweat, tears and HANDIWORK that you put into every episode. Believe me, it shows. Impatiently waiting for Season 12. Oh, Shaftesbury and AcornTV please don’t make me wait toooooo long. :-) —Daphne

Although we in the U.S. and are about two months behind with current airing via AcornTV, still happy to know Murdoch and team will be coming back for Season 12, just hope their holiday special is as good as their first in Season 9—didn’t really like holiday episodes for 10 & 11. Also, while I love Murdoch and Julia, there has been way too much focus on their relationship and not enough on the actual crimes, let’s go back to what worked in Season 1–9. —Lisa

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

 

 

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Industry News

Link: Netflix orders sci-fi drama series ‘Another Life’ starring Katee Sackhoff

From Nellie Andreeva of Deadline:

Link: Netflix orders sci-fi drama series ‘Another Life’ starring Katee Sackhoff
Battlestar Galactica alumna Katee Sackhoff is going back to space as the lead of Another Life. Netflix has given a 10-episode order to the sci-fi drama series, from Alias Grace producer Halfire Entertainment.

Created by Aaron Martin (Slasher, Saving Hope, Degrassi: The Next Generation), who also serves as showrunner, Another Life centers on astronaut Niko Breckinridge (Sackhoff) who is focused on searching for alien intelligence. She leads a crew on a mission to explore the genesis of an alien artifact. As Niko and her young crew investigate, they face unimaginable danger on what might very well be a one-way mission. Continue reading. 

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Media Headquarters announces greenlight of daring wilderness expedition series ‘The Brigade’

From a media release:

Media Headquarters announces a greenlight for THE BRIGADE, a groundbreaking new expedition competition series produced for Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks (World Fishing Network, Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel). Thrill-seeking and adventure-loving men and women from across the U.S. and Canada are encouraged to apply at thebrigadetv.com for their chance to join the ultimate trek and win prize money up to $1 million. THE BRIGADE is slated to debut in spring 2019.

THE BRIGADE will retrace an epic 2,600-mile fur trade route that links waterways from the coast of Oregon, traversing through two states, four Canadian provinces, two mountain ranges and five river systems before ending at the icy shores of Hudson Bay in Manitoba. Originally called “The York Factory Express,” it’s a thrilling and dangerous paddling odyssey unlike any other. THE BRIGADE must work together to navigate fierce whitewater, portage over mountains, and fish and hunt for sustenance all without fuel or GPS. There are no eliminations. Instead the competition relies on the collective strengths of its cast to hang on against all odds. Those who complete the expedition have the chance to share prize money up to $1 million.

THE BRIGADE is a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. Adventurers who have expedition experience, strong paddling skills, a multitude of outdoor abilities, and also possess willpower, strength and determination, should apply at thebrigadetv.com. Casting is now open through to May 15, 2018.

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