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.
Industry News

Corus brings Cooking Channel to Canada; rebrands W Movies

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From a media release:

Corus Entertainment, the leader in specialty entertainment with six of the top 10 specialty channels in Canada, announced today that it is introducing Cooking Channel, a 24-hour network that caters to avid food lovers, in Canada on December 12, 2016. From the creators of Food Network, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing appetite for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension; from global cuisines to international travel, to food history and unconventional how-tos. A perfect pairing to Food Network Canada, Cooking Channel expands Corus’ dominance in the food and lifestyle genre and joins the company’s roster of lifestyle channels including: Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, W Network, Slice, DIY Network and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Canada.

The launch of Cooking Channel in Canada is an extension of Corus’ long-term partnership with Scripps Networks Interactive, leading developer of engaging lifestyle content whose media portfolio includes: Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network. Since Scripps Networks’ launch of Cooking Channel in the United States in 2010, ratings and impressions have grown exponentially for core demographics (A25-54 / W25-54), averaging gains of more than 50% to date while growing its distribution to US households by 20%. The network most recently wrapped Q3 2016 notching its highest-rated, most-watched quarter to date marking 15 consecutive quarters of quarter-to-quarter growth.

Cooking Channel in Canada is a rebrand of W Movies.

A few of the highly-anticipated series confirmed for launch include:

Man Fire Food
Man Fire Food stars Canadian chef Roger Mooking and features the inventive ways to cook with fire. From small campfires to creative custom-made grills and smokers, they visit home cooks, pitmasters and chefs who are fascinated by fire and food. The smoke signals take Roger Mooking across the country, including the American South for different styles of regional barbecue, the Pacific Northwest for a tribal salmon bake and New England for a unique seafood feast. Man Fire Food celebrates the passion for building and cooking with fire.

Dinner at Tiffani’s
Tiffani Thiessen invites her celebrity friends over for good company, great stories and delicious food. With guests like Jason Priestley, Seth Green, her White Collar co-stars and more, it’s a wonderful blend of dinner, drinks and fun. Come for the party, stay for the food.

Unwrapped 2.0
Unwrapped 2.0 is a fun and fascinating look at the amazing processes, great stories and interesting people behind the creation of some of the most popular snacks. Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, Unwrapped 2.0 features everything from classic childhood treats to the latest candy crazes. Whether you like your snacks sweet or savoury, crispy or gooey, Unwrapped 2.0 offers behind-the-scenes access to get you a front row seat to see them made.

Cake Hunters
The perfect party needs the perfect cake, and that’s where Cake Hunters comes in! From weddings to family reunions and more, party hosts meet with three cake designers who present their jaw-dropping concepts to make the perfect complement to their big bashes. And once the winning design is picked, will the cake make it to the big day on time and in one piece?

Unique Sweets
Unique Sweets is an insider’s peek into innovative eateries that are creating the most unique and exciting desserts today. These sweet spots cover the gamut: restaurants with revolutionary pastry chefs; candy shops inventing eye-popping confections; chocolate boutiques with wild artisanal flavours and bakeries producing one-of-a-kind pastries, cakes and cookies in the middle of the night. Wherever there are gooey, crunchy, sticky and sweet treats that you won’t find anywhere else, Unique Sweets will take you there.

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The Romeo Section

Link: Juan Riedinger Talks The Romeo Section + A Preview of “A Rigged Game”

From Heather M. of The Televixen:

Link: Juan Riedinger Talks The Romeo Section + A Preview of “A Rigged Game”
“Rufus is a pretty shrewd guy and he’s got really good instincts; he’s really good at reading people. I feel like he’s smart enough to know what happened based on the way Red is acting.” Continue reading.

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Industry News

Link: Internet price hikes could be coming as Ottawa reviews cultural policy, critics warn

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From Sophia Harris at CBC:

Link: Internet price hikes could be coming as Ottawa reviews cultural policy, critics warn
Like it or not, your internet bill might soon go up to help pay for something you may not care all that much about — Canadian content.

The federal government has launched a massive review of Canadian-made content in the digital age that will include who should be footing the bill.

One option on the table: a mandatory contribution or so-called tax on internet service providers (ISPs) to help fund home-grown programming. Continue reading. 

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Kim's Convenience

Link: Kim’s Convenience and Canadian television’s diversity problem

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From Lucas Costello:

Link: Kim’s Convenience and Canadian television’s diversity problem
What makes Kim’s Convenience unprecedented is largely who is telling these stories. The show centres on a convenience store run by a Korean-Canadian family in Toronto’s Regent Park — a neighbourhood that, due to its many intersections of race, class and faith, gives Kim’s Convenience opportunities to engage in broad conversations about identity, place and belonging. Continue reading.

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Bachelorette Canada, Featured

Shocker: The Bachelorette Canada eliminates a contender

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And just like that, one of the early favourites to win Jasmine’s heart has been eliminated from the competition. Yup, the man known as Sexual Tongue on Night 1 of The Bachelorette Canada—a.k.a. Thomas—got the short end of the stick at the closing of a dreaded two-on-one date with Mike. Thomas’ only crime was having a gypsy lifestyle full of international modelling gigs and Jasmine couldn’t figure out where she fit with that.

Instead, the rose went to Mike, who offers a more stable life for Jasmine and something she’s craving. I was sad to see Thomas go; not only was he a good-looking dude with a sense of humour, but he had a thought in his head too. But I was happy Mike remained and has a real chance of being around until the end.

Meanwhile, the next Bachelor Canada could very well be Drew. After not receiving a rose at the cocktail party, he went on an expletive-filled rant, calling Jasmine an idiot and vowing the show’s ratings will tank once he’s gone. He did, however, express interest in starring in The Bachelor Canada.

Frankly, the rest of Tuesday’s episode in Marrakesh, Morocco, was a bit of an emotional let-down. Benoit, the frenetic Frenchman, had his first-ever one-on-one date with Jasmine and was given a rose, but that wasn’t a surprise, really. Jasmine has liked him from Day 1 and her only worry going into tonight was whether or not Benoit had any concrete plans for the future. Once he assured her he was in for the long haul, she handed him the coveted flower.

Of course, no episode of The Bachelorette Canada would be complete without Drew acting up and he didn’t disappoint. The V.P. of sales boasted about the attention being on the program would get him and that it will lead to business deals. He also opined he’d like to score some acting gigs. Ug.

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A rainy day tea date wth Drew, Kevin W., Mikhel and Kevin P. went well enough and they learned how to do the tall pour. Kevin W. reacted badly to sharing Jasmine with the others and Drew spent a lot of his time with her … talking about himself. When Kevin W. did get some one-on-one time with Jasmine, he admitted she was the only thing worth sticking around for. By the time the tea had gone cold, Jasmine had handed a rose to Mikhel.

The rose ceremony was a flurry activity, with Drew stealing Jasmine away immediately … to talk about himself. Kevin P. used his time wisely, lowering some emotional walls and collecting his first smooch of the season. Kevin W. hates cocktail parties almost as much as group dates and made that known before complaining Mikhel was given a rose instead of him. It was very interesting to see Jasmine put Kevin W. in his place and explain he wasn’t any more special than the other guys.

By the time the dust had settled Kevin P. and Kevin W. got the final two roses, bringing Drew’s reign of terror to an end. I only wish had stuck around long enough to see it.

Were you glad to see Drew sent home? Comment below!

The Bachelorette Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on W Network.

Images courtesy of Corus.

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