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, Little Dog

Photo gallery: CBC’s Little Dog

I can’t wait until March. No, not because of March Break—no holidays for me—but because it means the debut of CBC’s newest comedy Little Dog.

Kicking off on Thursday, March 1, Little Dog is created by and stars Governor General Award-winning Joel Thomas Hynes as Tommy “Little Dog” Ross, a boxer on the road to redemption. Five years ago, Tommy betrayed the boxer’s code during a championship bout against Rico “Havoc” St. George (Dwain Murphy): he quit the fight, dumping a promising career down the drain. Tommy has had to live with the fallout of this decision ever since.

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Additional cast in the seven episodes include Ger Ryan as Tommy’s true nemesis and mother, Sylvia Ross; Stephen Oates as his eldest brother, Loyola “Lowly” Ross Jr; Katharine Isabelle as his sister Ginny Ross; newcomer Billy Cochrane as Ginny’s son Chesley; and Andy Jones as the wily, charming old patriarch of the family, Loyola “Lowly” Ross Sr.

Little Dog debuts Thursday, March 1, at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Comments and queries for the week of January 26

I am dismayed by the lack of [Canadian Screen Award] nominations for Murdoch Mysteries. Yannick Bisson has finally received recognition for his role. Why was Hélène Joy’s name omitted from the Audience Choice Award? She and Natasha N. were both in the Top 3 along with the talented Mr. B. Why only put his name up and leave out Hélène and Natasha? Weird. Weird. Weird. Lots of the names chosen were weird. Reality TV is now a category and included in Audience Choice? Why? —Bonnie

Just because [William and Julia] have a baby doesn’t mean the baby has to be featured in every episode. I really hate episodes that cause terrible sadness. The stories need to stay about mystery and crime. Personally, as a side story, I think it would be so funny for the Murdochs, Ruth and Henry and George and Nina to all have babies around the same time. —Linda

I fully agree with your comments about Hélène Joy and Yannick Bisson. Their work is consistently good and has been enough to keep the show going for 11 seasons so far. To pigeonhole them into competition for a single episode, albeit a two-hour special, doesn’t allow the award folks to see the range and depth of their acting as it plays out during the entire season. Regardless of whether it is the studio or others limiting them, it is grossly unfair to these two very fine actors. —Mary

 

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

 

 

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Kim's Convenience

Link: Interview: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee on acting & growing up Asian and geek

From Captain John Kirk of Pop Mythology:

Link: Interview: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee on acting & growing up Asian and geek
“Television was my gateway into storytelling and fantasy. Of course, we only had three channels when I was growing up, but the television was always on in my home. Star Trek, Lost in Space, and Space: 1999 were fixtures in my television watching. But there were other shows like Gilligan’s Island and Looney Tunes. There were epic battles between me and my Dad fighting over Hockey Night in Canada or cartoons or Star Trek! He’d always let me win, of course, because that was my dad, but even today, having the TV on in the background is such a comfort in my house.” Continue reading.

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Children's Programming, Industry News

Lambur Productions options Sophie Kinsella’s Fairy Mom and Me

From a media release:

Lambur Productions announced today that it has signed a deal to option the TV rights to internationally bestselling author Sophie Kinsella’s first book for young children  Fairy Mom and Me (published in the UK as Mummy Fairy and Me). Lambur Productions will work with Kinsella, her agents Lucas Alexander Whitley and UK based Executive Producer Helen McAleer to develop the book for a series of live-action television movies.

Fairy Mom and Me tells the story of Ella and her family’s special secret – that her Mom is a fairy! Ella’s Mom comes from a long line of fairies and can perform fantastical spells to make delicious cupcakes, create the perfect birthday party and cause chaos at the supermarket. However, unlike the other fairies in her family who win awards for their magic, Mom’s spells almost always go hilariously wrong – and that’s when Ella has to come to the rescue. A modern day take on fairies and family, Fairy Mom and Me will take audiences on a sweet and funny journey full of magic and mayhem.

This is the first major announcement for Lambur Productions since its launch in October 2017. The deal was brokered by McAleer as well as Araminta Whitley and Philippa Milnes-Smith for Lucas Alexander Whitley. Fairy Mom and Me was released worldwide in the US by Delacorte and in Canada by Puffin Canada in January 2018 and is published in the UK by Puffin in February 2018. A second title follows in the UK in August 2018 (to be published in the US and Canada in January 2019). Rights have also been sold in a further 9 languages.

Sophie Kinsella is a globally bestselling author including most recently for the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller My Not So Perfect Life (published February 2017). Her other books for adults have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 40 languages. They include the globally successful Shopaholic series and other titles such as Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess and Finding Audrey for young adults. Kinsella’s new adult novel, Surprise Me, publishes February 2018.  Fairy Mom and Me is her first work for young children.

About Lambur Productions
Launched in October 2017, Lambur Productions was established to produce the highest quality children’s and family programming. The company is helmed by industry veteran Joan Lambur, a highly respected and well established executive producer whose most recent work includes the award-winning series of three movies, Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, starring Martin Sheen, Sara Botsford and Ella Ballentine for Corus Entertainment in Canada and PBS in the US. Other series Lambur has executive produced include the British co-production RIDE and buddy comedy Max & Shred, both for Nickelodeon. Building on the strength and experience of its team, Lambur Productions works with broadcasters, creators, writers and other creative talent to develop and produce internationally successful product for partners around the globe. Visit the website at www.lamburproductions.com

 

 

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Featured, Frankie Drake Mysteries

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries explores Russian royalty

1 Comment

Last week, Frankie Drake Mysteries fans got an in-depth peek into Frankie’s life before she was a private detective. “Ghosts” delved into her service in the First World War and the effect it has had on her. It was the darkest episode of Frankie Drake yet, and I really enjoyed it.

This week’s new episode, “Anastasia,” features some new faces as well as a couple of returning ones. Here’s the official word from CBC:

Frankie is hired to confirm the identity of a young woman claiming to be a Russian princess and protect her from those who want her dead.

And, as always, a few notes from me after watching a screener of the instalment written by Michelle Ricci and directed by Cal Coons.

A Dark Matter co-star drops by
We’re still smarting over Dark Matter‘s cancellation, but it is nice to see Jodelle Ferland (a.k.a. Five) stop by 1920s Toronto to portray Anna, a young woman with a very important past. Anna’s lineage has made her famous, and a target. Frankie Drake‘s writing room has taken a key piece from Russia’s past, questioned it, and expertly weaved it into the main storyline. It was a lot of fun to do some Googling after the episode concluded.

Another Slasher: Guilty Party co-star checks in
Last week, Slasher: Guilty Party‘s Jim Watson appeared as Frankie’s war veteran friend; this week fellow Slasher co-star Sebastian Pigott guests as Sasha, a Cossack tasked with protecting Anna from harm.

Ernest Hemingway in the house!
Yup, Steve Lund reprises his role as the not-yet-famous author, trading bon mots with Frankie and generally getting under each other’s skin. Speaking of Steve Lund, we’re pretty sure the place Anna is staying was once known as Stonehaven on Lund’s last TV series, Bitten.

Fall in Ontario
My favourite season of the year looks fantastic on-screen and offers bursts of colour to complement the show’s beautiful wardrobe.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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