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.
After the beverage update, Greg and Anthony get right down to business, covering upcoming show returns via the calendar (plus some breaking news from Bell Media).
Then it’s on to the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, Arlene Dickinson’s return to Dragons’ Den, more Canada: The Story of Us controversy and three web series—Forgotten Corpses, Save Me and My Roommate is an Escort—that were recently written about. Finally, we talk about the death of Guy O’Sullivan and what that means for reality television in Canada.
Being a fisherman off the coast of Newfoundland is a dangerous career. Being injured by machinery or a sharp object is always a concern. If something bad happens, you might be hours away from shore. And if things go really bad, you’re dead.
Filming what goes on aboard a fishing boat off the coast of Newfoundland is just as dangerous. Just ask showrunner Maria Knight, whose small team captures dramatic and triumphant footage for Cold Water Cowboys, returning for Season 4 this Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Discovery.
“It’s not easy for my guys on a lot of levels,” says Knight. “They’ve all received emergency training—they can’t get on the boat without it—and they’re on a boat. It may look majestic on TV with them on the ocean, but there’s not a lot of space and it’s constantly moving. It puts the guys through a major workout.” Each boat has two men capturing footage for Cold Water Cowboys and keeping track of possible story angles for the season. And while other series have the crew heading home or to a hotel after a long day of work, these guys sleep on the boat, below with the crew. It might not be comfortable, but Knight says it builds trust between her team and the men on board.
Capt. Paul Tiller (right) and the crew of the Atlantic Bandit
In Tuesday’s Season 4 debut, a trio of tales keeps viewers engaged. Capt. Rick Crane wonders if he’s returned to the job and Crane’s Legacy too soon following the death of his grandfather … and rubs first mate Rope the wrong way; Capt. Paul Tiller takes the Atlantic Bandit the furthest he’s ever gone in search of crab; and pack ice threatens to tear up Capt. Morris Anstey’s equipment and The Sebastian Sails before the season even gets started.
Knight joined Paperny Entertainment after stints at Warner Bros. and CNBC in Los Angeles, and MasterChef Canada and was immediately drawn in by Cold Water Cowboys.
“I was captivated by it, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen,” she says. “I used to be a documentary producer at CBC, so that really resonated with me. But it’s exciting as well. You have the excitement of Deadliest Catch with the factual documentary style.” She’s right. That mix of danger, alternating with the colourful characters (and language) from Newfoundland makes for a wildly entertaining series. But’s it’s a logistical nightmare for those who make it. Five boats means five crews of two are at sea filming. Each of the eight episodes spotlights three boats and three storylines. That means a trio of story editors and editors piecing a ton of footage together to tell an engaging narrative that makes sense.
“You have to make sure all the trains are leaving the station on time,” Knight says with a laugh. Or, in the case of Cold Water Cowboys, the boats all leaving the dock.
Cold Water Cowboys airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Discovery.
Link: Mary Kills People Scoop: Shining the Spotlight on Jay Ryan
“It was refreshing to receive a pre shooting script in such tight form, with a sensational female protagonist that I had never seen framed in such a light before – it oozed a tone like no other and I felt this really was truly ‘Original’ content from the mind of a very talented individual.” Continue reading.
I’ve had a couple of readers comment they don’t like the up and down between Alex and Charlie during this final season of Saving Hope. They’ve commented about Alex smooching with Manny and how Charlie is being left in the cold. Well, Charlie gets his smooch on this Sunday courtesy of guest star Kristen Lehman, who plays someone from Charlie’s past. She’s not the only guest on Sunday: What Would Sal Do? co-star Jennifer Dale drops by in a memorable role as Martha, Alex’s mother.
Here’s what CTV says about Sunday’s episode “Doctor Robot,” written by Adriana Maggs and directed by James Genn:
When Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) gets a call that her alarm is going off, she arrives home to an unexpected surprise. Then, with one of the participants in her cancer trial with Dr. Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) not responding to medication, Alex and Maggie are forced to turn to Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks), the newly-appointed Chief of Surgery, for his opinion when they can’t agree on a method of treatment. Meanwhile, Dr. Zach Miller (Benjamin Ayres) is reluctantly transitioning the E.R. to an Urgent Care facility, until a patient who challenges societal conventions persuades Zach not to settle for second best.Â
And, as always, a few more hints from us.
We love Jennifer Dale
If you haven’t seen her in CraveTV’s hilarious What Would Sal Do?, check her out there before Saving Hope on Sunday. She makes an immediate impact on Alex’s life in a surprising and funny way—she has opinions about Charlie—before things get very serious.
Cassie and Dev are having troubles
He wanted to keep things casual between them, but now that’s he’s gotten his way he’s not happy with that either. Dev needs to seriously make up his mind. Meanwhile, Thomas has got big plans for Cassie, but is she interested?
A patient makes an impact on Charlie
A man who is acting very unlike himself causes Charlie to rethink his decisions of late.
Link: Corner Gas reinvented as a cartoon
“None of this was what we expected at all. I remember thinking, ‘Well, this is cool. Somehow we tricked them into letting us do a show. And we’ll do 13 episodes over the summer. Then, we’ll all go our separate ways. Nobody will watch.’It just became this thing unto itself.” Continue reading.
