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.
Frontier, Industry News

Discovery announces 2017/18 original programming slate; Canadian hits headline network’s 2017 fall lineup

From a media release:

Discovery, primetime’s most-watched entertainment specialty network in Canada among total viewers and key adult demos, announced its 2017 fall lineup today, headlined by an unrivaled 2017/18 original Canadian programming slate. Discovery’s primetime schedule continues to be underpinned by an unprecedented array of wildly popular homegrown programs for fall and winter, produced both in-house and in partnership with some of the country’s most successful independent production companies. In all, Discovery features six brand new programs joining 13 returning original series to headline its schedule for the 2017/18 broadcast year.

New to Discovery’s production slate are character-driven series LAST STOP GARAGE, airing Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT beginning Oct. 23; ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD (Winter 2018); and HELLFIRE HEROES (Spring 2018). These series are complemented by one-of-a-kind original specials, including the Exploration Production Inc. (EPI)-produced SATURN: INSIDE THE RINGS (Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT), featuring DAILY PLANET’s Dan Riskin, as well as the cutting-edge mystery solver from Discovery’s popular “DRAIN” series, DRAIN ALCATRAZ, coming this November.

Following the network’s first foray into original scripted drama last fall, Discovery features the exclusive and thrilling world debut of FRONTIER’s second season, airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT beginning Oct. 18. Featuring international film star and Canadian Screen Award nominee Jason Momoa (Justice League), the new season sees new alliances threatening to topple the established power dynamic, as loyalties shift and old wounds fester.

But first, the Fall 2017 schedule kicks off with Season 23 of Discovery’s flagship series DAILY PLANET – currently enjoying its most-watched year in series history –continuing to go where no one else dares. Kicking off a new season with “Boldly Go Week”, airing Monday, Aug. 28 through Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, the original series currently reaches more than 1.4 million viewers each week, and continues to win its 7 p.m. ET timeslot versus other Canadian entertainment specialty channels among key adult demos.

The 2017 fall season follows a highly successful broadcast year for Discovery’s original Canadian programs, which featured the debut of HEAVY RESCUE: 401 in January as the #1 original Canadian series launch of the season on entertainment specialty television, followed by last fall’s world debut of the network’s new scripted series FRONTIER. In 2016/17, Discovery was also home to the most-watched unscripted specialty series in Canada among A18-34 and A18-49, CANADA’S WORST DRIVER.

Winning three of seven nights per week in primetime among A25-54 viewers – more than any other entertainment specialty network – Discovery also claims four of the Top 10 series on entertainment specialty television in the current broadcast year withCANADA’S WORST DRIVER, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, GOLD RUSH, and HIGHWAY THRU HELL.

Looking forward to Discovery’s 2017/18 original programming slate, below are key programming highlights in chronological order:

Fall 2017 Original Programming Highlights

  • Internationally recognized winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best News or Information Series, DAILY PLANET returns for its 23rd season – Monday-Friday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT beginning Aug. 28.
  • Top 10 Entertainment Specialty program HIGHWAY THRU HELL returns for Season 6 – Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT beginning Sept. 5.
  • Investigating the stories and science behind major aviation crashes, Season 17 of MAYDAY – Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT beginning Sept. 8.
  • Exploring the genius of flight technology with the aid of high-end CGI is Season 4 of MIGHTY PLANES – Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT beginning Sept. 10.
  • Long-time international favourite, HOW IT’S MADE returns for Season 30 –Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT beginning Sept. 11.
  • Traveling the world to explore how everyday objects can be deconstructed and reimagined in incredible ways, MADE BY DESTRUCTION returns for Season 2 – Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT beginning Sept. 11.
  • **NEW SPECIAL** As its final act, Cassini – the largest interplanetary spacecraft NASA has ever built – will dive into Saturn’s atmosphere, collecting unprecedented science to end its 13-year mission orbiting the ringed jewel of the solar system. The one-hour special SATURN: INSIDE THE RINGS(Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) unveils the engineering of the mammoth spacecraft, while shining a light on the team that responsible for a range of incredible discoveries.
  • As new alliances threaten to topple the established power dynamic, loyalities shift and old wounds fester in the thrilling second season of FRONTIER (Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT beginning Oct. 18), headlining Discovery’s fall schedule with a six-episode broadcast event.
  • **NEW SERIES** LAST STOP GARAGE (Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT beginning Oct. 23) follows the often hilarious antics of CRB Automotive, the sole auto repair shop at the end of the only road left before hitting the most remote North American wilderness.
  • Discovery’s most-watched original series among key adult demos, CANADA’S WORST DRIVER (Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT beginning Oct. 23) enters its 13th season.
  • Season 2 of TOUGHER THAN IT LOOKS (Mondays at 11 p.m. ET and 11:30 p.m. ET/8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. PT beginning Oct. 23) stars CANADA’S WORST DRIVER’s Andrew Younghusband in search of wildly different experiences in each episode.
  • **NEW SPECIAL** The world’s most infamous prison was also its most inescapable. But why? Many have tried to solve this mystery, but none have searched beneath the waves…until now. DRAIN ALCATRAZ (November 2017) uses cutting-edge CGI and sophisticated technology to “drain” the seas and scrub the sediments, revealing once and for all why Alcatraz was so difficult to escape.
  • **NEW SPECIAL** Inspired by the best-selling book from author and DAILY PLANET co-host Dan Riskin, MOTHER NATURE IS TRYING TO KILL YOU (Fall 2017) takes viewers on a lively romp through the underbelly of the natural world. With a unique combination of animation and live action footage, Mother Nature has never looked so twisted. The one-hour special brings to life the sordid tales of insects, animals, and creatures behaving in such shocking fashion that viewers will surely never think of nature in the same beautiful, pleasant way again.
  • Long-running international hit MIGHTY SHIPS (December 2017) sets sail on a new high-stakes voyage for Season 10, taking viewers on the journey and below the surface to explore places and technologies that are usually off-limits to land lovers.

Additional NEW Original Series Coming in 2017/18

  • ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD (Winter 2018) takes viewers on an action-packed journey to discover an extraordinary Canadian way of life, meeting everyone from off-gridders whose sole source of resupply is the rail to the hardy crews who do whatever it takes to keep these extreme railroads running.
  • Character-driven docuseries HELLFIRE HEROES (Spring 2018) gets up-close-and-personal with firefighters who’ll do just about anything to keep their community safe in the bullseye of the forest fire danger zone, Alberta’s remote Slave Lake.

Additional Returning Original Canadian Series Coming in 2017/18

  • Last season’s most-watched Canadian program debut, HEAVY RESCUE: 401(Winter 2018) returns for a second season to follow Heavy Rescue operators as they keep some of North America’s busiest highways moving.
  • Following the adventures of the jade-mining Bunce Family in northern B.C. is Season 4 of JADE FEVER (Winter 2018).
  • Season 31 of HOW IT’S MADE (Winter 2018) returns for a second helping this broadcast year, continuing to look behind the scenes at how everyday things are manufactured during Season 31.
  • Returning to investigate more major aviation disasters is Season 18 of MAYDAY (Winter 2018).
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Killjoys

Link: Thom Allison Talks About Killjoys “The Lion, The Witch, and The Warlord”

From Heather M. of TV Goodness:

Link: Thom Allison Talks About Killjoys “The Lion, The Witch, and The Warlord”
“When I actually read it, I was absolutely delighted. As you saw [watching it], reading it was surprise after surprise after surprise. It’s lovely and amazing of them to think of Pree and give him his moment. It was an embarrassment of riches.” Continue reading.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

CBC News announces new Sunday morning talk show starring Wendy Mesley

From a media release:

CBC News today announced a new Sunday morning talk show to be hosted by award-winning journalist Wendy Mesley. Launching in early 2018, the interactive program will focus on the intersection of media, technology and politics and be broadcast live on CBC and CBC News Network every Sunday morning, with further details to be confirmed at a later date.

In the new program, Mesley will put players from both media and politics in the spotlight as she pushes for answers and transparency, and provides critical analysis on how the newsmakers of the week are delivering their messages. The show will broadcast live from CBC in Toronto and feature a wide range of Canadian and global contributors and guests.

Mesley began her broadcast journalism career in 1979, first with CTV’s CFCF in Montreal before moving to CBC as a legislative reporter for local news and The National, based in Quebec City. During this six-year period, she covered the first referendum on sovereignty and some of the most fascinating politicians of our times, including René Lévesque and Pierre Trudeau. In 1985, Mesley moved to Ottawa as CBC’s first female correspondent to cover the prime minister from the parliamentary press gallery for The National. During this intensely political time, Mesley reported on such stories as the battles over free trade, the GST and the constitution, and soon after became the anchor of The National on Sundays. In 1994, Mesley helped create and hosted CBC’s award-winning news program Undercurrents, which examined the media and marketing world. Mesley currently hosts The National on Friday and Sunday evenings, and is also the host of CBC’s acclaimed documentary program The Passionate Eye. Mesley has won multiple Gemini Awards and this year won Best News Host or Interviewer at the Canadian Screen Awards. In 2006, Mesley was honoured with the John Drainie Award for her contribution to Canadian broadcasting.

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Featured, Killjoys

Killjoys moves to the next step in the Hullen war

Man, did I love last week’s episode of Killjoys, “The Lion, the Witch and the Warlord.” Getting a chance to delve into Pree’s back story was a particular treat, as was the unending back and forth between Zeph and Johnny. Speaking of Zeph, she’d managed to open the Remnant, but closed it back up without telling anyone. Why would she do that if she’s such a devoted member of this team?

Perhaps Zeph’s actions will be explained in Friday’s episode, “Attack the Rack,” written by Shernold Edwards and directed by Jeff Renfroe. Here’s the official plot synopsis via Space:

The Killjoy rebels take drastic measures to clean house: a secret ops attack against their own RAC. Thanks to Aneela’s schemes and a mole among them, not everyone will make it out alive.

And, as always, more info from us after watching a screener.

Corner Gas‘ Tara Spencer-Nairn guest stars
We’ve seen Spencer-Nairn do comedy on Corner Gas and drama on Saving Hope. How does she do in the sci-fi realm? Swimmingly. She portrays a woman with a deep history and an uncanny way of healing from wounds. Thanks to her, Dutch and Turin devise a way to distinguish good guys from bad. Also appearing this week: Rookie Blue‘s Noam Jenkins in a devious role, and Pure‘s Gord Rand as a snide asshole. (Oh, how I miss Pure.)

Erik Knudsen returns!
Yup, he does. He, Dutch and D’avin are locked and loaded and going … somewhere. He may not have made the A-team but Knudsen’s McAvoy makes up some deeply important RAC backup. Speaking of returning folks, Fancy makes an appearance too. We’ve missed his face … and sarcasm. Fancy has a bit of a sit down with Spencer-Nairn’s character, and it’s something to behold.

Professional etiquette is key
Turns out there IS a bad time to bust in on someone you’re tracking. Thanks to D’avin, we find out when that is.

Aneela is still scary
Back when I saw Episode 1 of Season 1, I likened Killjoys to Star Wars in its tone and look. Something Aneela does during Friday’s episode certainly hearkens back to a key Star Wars villain’s abilities. I got chills. (There are actually two Star Wars references I picked up on.) And the budding relationship between Aneela and Delle Seyah Kendry blossoms more this week. I was a little wary of the pairing, but I’m all in now.

Killjoys airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Space.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

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Wynonna Earp

Links: The Wild Summer of Wynonna Earp’s Varun Saranga + SDCC

From Andrew Parker of The Gate:

Link: The Wild Summer of Wynonna Earp’s Varun Saranga
“It’s been a whirlwind ride! I can’t really even adequately describe it. When I first got the role, I had no expectations about the show because I didn’t really have any insight as to how large or how loyal its fan base was, but as soon as I started everyone prepared me and told me that this was a very big thing that meant a lot to a lot of different people.” Continue reading.

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Wynonna Earp: Emily Andras credits fans with that Season 3 renewal
“We really love our team both onscreen and off. We have a great team of producers and we love our executives at Syfy and Space. It’s so awesome to get to do it again with this team of people. To see that the cast genuinely loves the show and wants to make more Wynonna is the most gratifying thing to me personally.” Continue reading.

From Brittany Dailey of Starry Mag:

Link: Tamara Duarte & Tim Rozon – Wynonna Earp – Comic Con 2017
“There is so much of the storylines that come together and then break apart and then come together again. Everyone gets an arc. Everyone gets to shine and that’s her thing. Everyone gets to do their thing.” Continue reading.

From Jessica Mason of The Mary Sue:

Link: SDCC 17: Wynonna Earp Cast Finds Inspiration and Strength in Diverse, Inclusive Stories
““You have to put your money where your mouth is, you just have to be prepared to honor that commitment if you’re a feminist. I just can’t have her holding an increasingly large series of laundry baskets. I wanted her to kick some ass.” Continue reading.

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