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

CBC greenlights drama The Council from René Balcer

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From a media release:

CBC has greenlit THE COUNCIL (working title), a compelling international thriller woven around a remote Canadian Arctic town from Emmy® Award-winning showrunner and writer René Balcer (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) with Lark Productions and Keston International Productions. THE COUNCIL is set against the unfolding drama of our changing planet and draws inspiration from the true-to-life fight over the vast and valuable resources of the Arctic. The series traces the journey of two cops who uncover a small-town murder that is at the heart of a global conspiracy. Production kicks off this summer, shooting in Resolute, Iqaluit, London, Copenhagen and Manitoba. THE COUNCIL will debut with 10 episodes on CBC-TV in fall 2016.

THE COUNCIL begins on the edge of the Arctic frontier during the endless days of the polar summer when a young woman, a renowned environmentalist, is found ritualistically murdered near the Canadian hamlet of Resolute. An investigation is mounted by the local RCMP inspector Mickey Behrens, an outsider and new-comer to the north who is running from a derailed personal and professional life, and her partner, officer Jo Ullulaq. A soulful counterpoint to Mickey, Jo is torn between the duty to his job and loyalty to his Inuit culture. The pair quickly discovers that the mystery extends far beyond the borders of the town and to the backrooms of Canadian parliament in Ottawa, the dark corridors of U.S. intelligence in Washington, D.C., the halls of European parliament in Brussels, the airbases of world powers, and the migrant conflicts at the border of Norway and Russia. Yet it all traces back to the Arctic, as they gradually expose a complex international conspiracy to control the vast natural resources at the top of the world.

Balcer is a 20-year veteran of the Law & Order franchise, beginning as a writer and rising to executive producer and showrunner. In 2001, he left the series to create the show’s spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which he developed with creator Dick Wolf. He is also the creator of the international drama JO. Balcer has been awarded with an Emmy® Award, Peabody Award, a Writers Guild of America Award and four Edgar Awards for his television work.

THE COUNCIL will be produced by Lark Productions (Motive), with executive producers Louise Clark and Erin Haskett, in partnership with Keston International Productions’ executive producers Trevor Walton and Denis Coyne. The series is a Canada/UK Co-Production, with Nick O’Hagan’s London-based Giant Films Ltd. NBCUniversal International Distribution retains all distribution rights.

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Orphan Black, X Company

Link: ‘X Company’ star Evelyne Brochu gets lost in translation

From A.R. Wilson of Digital Journal:

‘X Company’ star Evelyne Brochu gets lost in translation
Sometimes Evelyne Brochu’s career gets lost, quite literally, in translation.

When the Montreal native first began acting in English four years ago, few people in anglophone Canada — and even fewer in the United States — knew about her impressive French-language career in Quebec, which includes not only extensive TV credits, but film work with top-tier directors Denis Villenueve (Polytechnique), Jean-Marc Vallee (Café de Flore), and Xavier Dolan (Tom à la ferme). She was viewed, she says, as a “blank slate.” Continue reading. 

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Featured, X Company

Preview: Worlds collide on X Company

I’m lucky enough to be sent screeners of X Company in advance of the CBC broadcasts. That gives me the chance to watch them and work ahead on reviews or book interviews with writers, directors, cast or crew. It also affords me the opportunity to get into Twitter conversations with fellow television critics who receive the same perks I do.

The result? Social media conversations like what happened when Bridget Liszewski, A.R. Wilson and I jumped on social media to talk about Wednesday’s new episode, “Fatherland.”

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Written by co-creators Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and supervising producer Sandra Chwialkowska, Episode 8 provides the most gripping, dramatic scenes in Season 2. That’s saying something for a program that’s already featured the Fabers killing their son and Aurora taking Rene’s life. Here’s what Bridget, A.R. and I were going gaga over.

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“Planes, Trains and Panic Attacks”
Chwialkowska tweeted that tongue-in-cheek alternate episode title, but she ain’t lying. The simple train ride Aurora and Sabine are taking to the coast to celebrate Ulli’s life turns into a nail-biter. Façades are shed, conversation turns truthful and innocence is lost forever. Those scenes—directed by Amanda Tapping—are so claustrophobic and full of emotion that I had to get up and walk away from the computer. Yeah, it’s that powerful. Want more proof? Take another look at that image of Aurora and Sabine.

Scuba Man makes his move
Scuba Man works his way into Camp X and sets his assassination attempt against Sinclair in motion while Harry, Neil and Alfred try desperately to warn their commanding officer. Meanwhile, Klaus is still struggling with his feelings. Should he support his Fatherland, Germany, and do all he can to win the war, or recognize Sinclair as a friend of his father? What he decides is the second-most dramatic scene of the episode.

X Company airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

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Awards, Featured, Podcast

TV, eh? podcast episode 202 – Wifi and the Candy

As with every other week, Diane, Anthony and Greg discuss the next two weeks in Canadian TV programming using the ever-popular calendar before breaking down this year’s Canadian Screen Award winners in the key categories handed out on Sunday night. Greg gives his thoughts on three nights of trophies from the media room.

Want to contribute to the discussion? Post links and discussion topics on our Reddit page.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

Want to support TV, eh?’s work? Become a Patreon!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

W Network’s Game of Homes returns on April 12

From a media release:

W Network’s biggest competition series Game of Homes returns for its second season with new host, Dave Salmoni and resident judges Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan. Season 2 takes place in  Toronto and follows four teams renovating rundown homes as they compete for the prize of a lifetime – a house and a plot of land to put it on. Produced by Great Pacific Media in association with W Network, Game of Homes premieres Tuesday, April 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Throughout the new season, Dave Salmoni guides four teams of skilled amateur home renovators as they compete for the chance to trade in their skills for their very own home. The teams save rundown houses from the wrecking ball and week-by-week revive them into dream homes, one room at a time. Each team works side-by-side, around the clock, to completely transform these dumps into show homes – while also living in them through the entire renovation. They will battle small budgets, tight deadlines, cramped quarters and each other for a chance to win a home and change their lives forever.

The teams include hard working married couple Kim and Harry, who want to win the house for more financial freedom and a chance to spend more time with their kids; best buddies Domenic and Michael, hoping to move out of their parents’ home; engaged couple Courtney and Tyler; and mother and son duo Shelley and Alex, looking to win the house to secure financial stability for Alex’s future.

Bringing their expertise to this season of Game of Homes, Colin and Justin will vote for their favourite room renovations based on design and workmanship, working alongside a stellar cast of celebrity guest judges including Kortney and Dave Wilson from Masters of Flip, and Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot from Love It or List It Vancouver. In the finale, both the judges and the public will casts their votes, and in the dramatic and life-changing conclusion, the winning team is awarded their spectacular new home.

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