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.
Kim's Convenience

Link: Kim’s Convenience mines Korean grocery store for laughs

From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:

Link: Kim’s Convenience mines Korean grocery store for laughs
Growing up in Toronto, Ins Choi worked at Jug City and Minute Mart.

What he didn’t know was that the frenetic world of the convenience store would eventually become his Walden Pond, an unlikely place of literary inspiration.

“It was my first high school job. I didn’t know it was research back then,” laughs Choi, the creator of Kim’s Convenience. Continue reading. 

The real store that became Kim’s Convenience
When Yong and Kyung Chung started a variety store business on Queen St. E. near Sherbourne St., they didn’t bother to take the old sign down.

So, almost 30 years later, Mimi Variety remained a thriving business, even though there was no one named Mimi.

“Oh, it wasn’t a big thing,” says Kyung, 53.

So it wasn’t a big deal either when a CBC location manager chose their store for the exterior shots, or that the store would be renamed Kim’s Convenience. Though it still took a little convincing. Continue reading.

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Industry News

Link: Trudeau government OK’s tax credit for TV talk shows

From Elizabeth Thompson of CBC News:

Link: Trudeau government OK’s tax credit for TV talk shows
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has quietly moved to make talk shows eligible for a lucrative tax credit, CBC News has learned.

While her office can’t say how much the retroactive tax credit will cost Canadian taxpayers, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is praising it as a move that will create jobs. Continue reading.

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Orphan Black

Link: Orphan Black producers see bright future for Canadian TV

From Simon Houpt of The Globe and Mail:

Link: Orphan Black producers see bright future for Canadian TV
“There wasn’t enough money in the [Canadian] system to make great shows. Now, we’re in an era where there’s way more buyers, and Canadian broadcasters are much more inclined to support higher budget shows, because it’s actually in their own interests.” Continue reading.

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This Life

Link: This Life writer on the challenges of deep character dramas

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: This Life writer on the challenges of deep character dramas
“As a writer of character drama we really have to have an empathy gene to us. We talked about our lives but also talked about the lives of people we knew. But more than writing our own experiences, it was bringing these characters alive so that they felt like they existed.” Continue reading.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Murdoch Mysteries gets fired up for Season 10

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The wait is over, Murdoch Mysteries fans and we’re plenty thankful Season 10 is finally here. After a dramatic Season 9 finale, “Cometh the Archer,” that saw a final showdown between Julia and Eva Pearce, the series returns on Monday to tackle one of the biggest events in Toronto history: the Great Fire of 1904.

It all begins with “Great Balls of Fire, Part 1″—written by showrunner Peter Mitchell—and a debutante ball where a handful of the city’s most notable single ladies vie for the affections of bachelor Rodney Strong (Kyle Cameron). Among the gals are Elizabeth Atherly (Wynonna Earp‘s Dominique Provost-Chalkley) who has the unwavering support of her mother, Lady Suzanne (Downton Abbey‘s Samantha Bond).

Here are some other non-spoilery episode notes to get you primed for Monday night.

Crabtree is a gossip hound
George always has his finger on the pulse of the latest “thing” in society, and the debutante’s ball is no different. A very funny scene between Crabtree and Murdoch has the former educating the latter about who—and who doesn’t—have a shot at winning Rodney’s heart.

Julia isn’t herself
The events of “Cometh the Archer” has affected Julia in a very dramatic way, and while those closest to her try to help, Julia is in a fragile emotional state. I personally like the fact Eva’s death isn’t just glossed over, and that Brackenreid steps forward to help the good doctor.

Who started the fire?
A certain constable has picked up a dirty, smelly habit, and may very well be the person who starts the conflagration that consumes part of Toronto.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Related—Videos: Unlock the Mysteries of Murdoch: The Ultimate Insider Conference

 

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