From Victoria Nelli of The TV Junkies:
Link: Top 5 Reasons we’re totally obsessed with Workin’ Moms Anne
One character in particular stands out on the female dominated series: the sarcastic, exceedingly entertaining, Anne Carlson, fearlessly brought to life by the INSANELY talented Dani Kind. Anne’s witty remarks and deadpan delivery take every joke or humorous scene to the next level. Continue reading.
From Anita Elash of PRI.org:
Link: Native Americans don’t have their own TV channel. A Canadian network wants to change that.
In Canada, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network has been telling stories about Native Canadians for nearly 20 years. Now, its owners want to expand into the United States. If they succeed, they promise to bring some innovative programs to US airwaves. Continue reading.
Somehow I totally missed covering Season 4 of Yukon Gold. No matter, the guys and gals who seek out the shiny precious metal in the most inhospitable of places—the Yukon—have stuck with it and return on Wednesday with Season 5 of the History program.
“Strike While the Iron is Hot” kicks off the new season at 10 p.m. ET/PT with a quick recap of what’s happened since we last visited the hardscrabble territory. And while folks like Big Al McGregor and Nika Guilbault and Chris St. Jean are back for this bunch of storylines, Karl Knutson, Bernie Kreft and Ken Foy and Guillaume Brodeur are no longer a part of Yukon Gold. No matter, there are more than enough interesting people sluicing. And with gold at a five-year high—$1,700 an ounce—there’s urgency to find the stuff and fast before the 16-week season ends.
Big Al has set himself a lofty goal, aiming to dig up 1,000 ounces (over $1.7 million). But Al’s infectious laugh and positive attitude hides his two-year struggle, first with the death of his wife, Colleen, and then cancer that caused him to lose feeling in his hands and legs. The result? He’s walking with the aid of canes and soldiering on in Colleen’s memory. You can’t help but hope he’ll get those ounces he’s dreaming of.
Meanwhile, young Whitehorse prospectors Ed and Riley are getting into the big game for the first time. Their first task? Transporting their $250,000 sluice plant through the mountains to their claim on Rabbit Creek. A rookie mistake shuts down their convoy for a bit, cutting into precious work hours but providing viewers with awesome, sweeping camera shots of the rugged Yukon terrain.
They may come from different backgrounds and have different levels of success mining, but everyone featured on Yukon Gold agrees on one thing: they deeply love where they are. The allure of living in the wilderness, eking out a living with the bare minimum and removed from the issues a big city presents is an intoxicating cocktail they simply can’t pass up. And having a little bit of gold is just gravy.
Yukon Gold airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History.
From a media release:
William Shatner, Star Trek’s original captain, examines the impact of the iconic television series on science and space exploration in the new original feature documentary THE TRUTH IS IN THE STARS. Commissioned by Bell Media’s The Movie Network, the documentary debuts Sunday, March 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET, featuring Shatner as he embarks on a journey to interview famous innovators, celebrities, and thought-leaders. Following its television premiere on The Movie Network, the documentary will be available on TMN GO and The Movie Network OnDemand.
THE TRUTH IS IN THE STARS features interviews in incredible locations, including: NASA mission control rooms, Ivy League Campuses, the USS Space Shuttle Enterprise, and Shatner’s own horse ranch. Insights from Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Stiller, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Seth Macfarlane, and Michio Kaku prepare Shatner for his intimate conversation with Professor Stephen Hawking in Cambridge, England.
In association with Bell Media, THE TRUTH IS IN THE STARS is produced by Ballinran Entertainment and White Pine Pictures. Peter Raymont, William Shatner, and Craig Thompson are Executive Producers. The documentary is written, directed, and produced by Craig Thompson.
Yes, First Dates Canada is back. Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood is once again the setting for Slice’s reality series as over 600 single folks auditioned to find love in a restaurant environment … and with reality cameras capturing every moment.
Returning on Tuesday with back-to-back instalments, Episode 1 begins with exotic dancer Madelaine. Rather than attracting men, her job repels them;Â Madelaine is hoping to find an Agent Mulder a.k.a. David Duchovny, a strong man in a nice suit. Producers were paying attention when reading Madelaine’s wish list because they throw, tall masculine stuntman Jason her way. The pair share laughs over ill-advised tattoos until she reveals her profession … and Jason doesn’t flinch. Will they find love by the end of the night?
Masseuse Megan, meanwhile is—as the narrator intones—”looking to get her hands on Mr. Right.” (Subtle, First Dates Canada is not.) Megan is looking for a manly man who will build a fire and shelter for her if the need arose. She gets Rob, who has been referred to as a Renaissance Man by folks. At first glance, it appears Megan and Rob have absolutely nothing in common and their night will end early. (Her, “Please don’t let that be my date,” under her breath as he approached is a major hint.) You’ll have to stay tuned through the awkward conversation and borderline offensive dinner discussion to see if things pan out.
I was unabashedly cheering for were Landon and Tyler. The former, who is deaf, was hoping to find someone who cared deeply enough for him to learn sign language. The latter had his fingers crossed a husband was in his future. The fact Tyler knows some sign language gains him instant points with Landon.
Adding to the First Dates fun are off-hand comments in Episode 1 made by maître d’ Michel (second from the right in the above image), who comments on one participants’ shoes and opines on the stresses of a first date. In fact, producers have included select staff to talk about their own dating experiences.
First Dates is highly enjoyable if you’re looking for pure guilty pleasure entertainment. It’s the perfect program to sit and watch with friends so that you can laugh, poke fun at—and perhaps commiserate—along with for an hour.
First Dates Canada airs Tuesdays at 8 and 8:30 p.m. ET on Slice.
