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

Stingray Digital Group to acquire Juicebox, MuchLoud, MuchRetro, and MuchVibe from Bell Media

From a media release:

Bell Media today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Montréal-based Stingray Digital Group Inc. (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B) for the sale of four of its specialty services: Juicebox, MuchLoud, MuchRetro, and MuchVibe.

“These services are a perfect complement to Stingray’s strong multiplatform music portfolio,” said Mary Ann Turcke, President, Bell Media. “Divesting these channels enables us to focus our resources on Bell Media’s leading slate of specialty services while maintaining our Music First commitment with our portfolio of radio, TV, and digital platforms, including the upcoming launch of iHeartRadio in Canada.”

“Both Bell Media and Stingray recognize the tremendous potential for Canadian content services operated by broadcasters of all sizes. This transaction helps foster a more competitive broadcast environment and ultimately creates more choice for consumers by capitalizing on both companies’ strengths.”

Upon completion of the transaction, the channels will be rebranded by Stingray. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2016. Financial terms will not be disclosed.

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

MasterChef Canada winner plans her future

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Mary Berg won Season 3 of MasterChef Canada, but she’s only beginning her culinary adventure. The energetic insurance broker from Pickering, Ont., captured the grand prize on Sunday night by beating Jeremy Senaris with her cohesive three-course creations. But winning the series, a trophy and $100,000 is just a launch pad for Berg, who plots to run her own catering business … and perhaps return to television.

“I have a project in development with Bell Media and Proper Television and we’ll see where that goes,” Berg says with a smile during an interview Monday afternoon. “I met with Proper Television and was showing them some photos and they sat me down and approached me.” Berg is mum on anymore details regarding the potential television project, but does plan to continue catering. Sunday’s season finale broadcast didn’t stop her from catering an event for 29 on Saturday night.

Regarding her three-course finale of golden beet borscht, surf and turf and blueberry financier, Berg plotted the meal once she’d made the Top 5 so she’d be prepared, using the inspiration of her family as the basis for her choices. Being prepared was never an issue for Berg, but being too adventurous was. Case in point? Deciding to create four different eclairs in an Elimination Challenge that put her on the cusp of going home.

“As soon as I started that challenge I thought, ‘Mary, you idiot, why are you doing this?’ but I had decided and once you make a decision like that you just have to go with it,” she says with a laugh. “And even though I look frazzled, I get it done.” Berg was in the bottom two a second time this season after leaving a bone in the fish she’d prepared; she still has that piece of bone.

But that’s all in the past. Berg is eying future prospects … and finally getting her hands on the trophy after it was taken away at the conclusion of filming.

“I know where I’m going to put that,” Berg says. “In my house, on the speaker for my record player. It’s very central. I don’t have trophies, this is my first, and I’m going to place it somewhere noticeable.”

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Children's Programming

Production on Season 5 of The Next Step begins

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From a media release:

DHX Television’s Family Channel and Radical Sheep Productions, a division of Boat Rocker Studios, announced today that principal photography has begun on the fifth season of the award-winning global tween series, The Next Step. The fan-favourite series, which follows the lives of an elite group of dancers that train at the Next Step studio, has become a worldwide phenomenon, sparking three Canadian tours, international tours through Europe, the UK and Australia, a feature film, and spin-off series. Production on the 20-episode order begins this summer in Toronto, with the fifth season slated to premiere on Family Channel in 2017.

Season five opens a new chapter for The Next Step dance studio. The studio is expanding and attracting a lot of fresh faces and the dancers are looking to step up their game. The dance world is a tight family, but competition will put old friendships and new relationships to the test, as the dancers try to strike a balance between individual talent and dedicated teamwork. This season asks the question: How far would you go to make it to the top?

In addition to returning fan-favourites from previous seasons of the show, season five of The Next Step will introduce fans to a new group of talented young dancers including: Dylan Ratzlaff as Jacquie; Jessica Lord as Lola; Milaina Robinson as Zara; Julian Lombardi as Ozzy; Hanna Miller as Heather; Noah Zulfikar as Kingston; Dawson Handy as Josh; and Julian Elia as Elliot.

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

MasterChef Canada’s Season 3 winner is …

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After 14 weeks of toil, MasterChef Canada crowned its Season 3 winner. Mary Berg triumphed over Jeremy Senaris to not only claim the title, but the $100,000 grand prize. She is the first female winner of MasterChef Canada.

“This trophy represents everything I’ve learned and that is about to happen,” Berg said moments after judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile handed her the trophy; she was surrounded by her family.

“Mary really deserves this, and I’m happy for her,” Senaris said. “I made it this far and I’m really proud of what I did. Second ain’t so bad.”

Berg had been a frontrunner all season long, proving being a vegetarian wasn’t a disadvantage as she prepared meat dishes that won consistently high marks from the judges. She proved that once again in Sunday’s season finale by featuring beef tenderloin in her modern take on surf and turf, pairing the seared protein with fried oysters drew raves from the celebrity chefs. The trio deemed Berg’s three-course menu of roasted golden beet borscht, surf and turf and blueberry financier to be a little more cohesive than Senaris’ bison takaki, sushi boat and milk tea panna cotta.

Unlike Berg, Senaris improved week to week throughout the competition, winning over the judges quietly but confidently, and showing he could create innovative and thrilling plates. His Achilles heel was presentation, though that didn’t hurt him in the finale. If anything, he saved his most beautiful plating for Sunday night, especially his multi-coloured, multi-layered dessert.

Season 4 of MasterChef Canada is happening now.

Were you happy Mary won Season 3 of MasterChef Canada? Comment below.

Check out our exclusive interview with Mary and her plans for the future.

Flash back to last July, when Mary auditioned in Toronto:

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Russell Peters is the Indian Detective

Link: Russell Peters was willing to wait for his own TV series

From Bill Brioux of the Canadian Press:

Link: Russell Peters was willing to wait for his own TV series
Russell Peters isn’t modest when it comes to how much he makes for a living.

When he was being honoured at the Banff World Media Festival last week, he was introduced by Elaine (Lainey) Lui, co-host of The Social, as the Canadian comedian who made $20 million last year. Continue reading.

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