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.
Featured, Masterchef Canada

Astronaut Chris Hadfield blasts on to MasterChef Canada

The devil is, as they say, in the details. And, on a night when the home cooks were flying high after a visit from Colonel Chris Hadfield, it was Terry who came crashing down to earth and exited MasterChef Canada.

Terry was humble in his defeat, admitting fault after he and Shawn mixed up the filling in one hors d’oeuvre, and tearfully said goodbye. It was unfortunate to see Terry eliminated that way because it was a plating issue rather than one of taste. And Terry’s elimination was another instance of a plan backfiring on the contestant who set it up. Matthew stunned everyone (including himself, I think) by winning the Mystery Box challenge after Col. Hadfield and the resident judges deemed his smoked salmon parfait to be the best of the bunch constructed of space age ingredients. Matthew, who was awarded immunity for the week, paired up his competitors, putting Jeremy with Mary to slow her down and Shawn with Terry to help them out. Instead, Jeremy and Mary won the tag team and the other two faltered.

I must say it was pretty cool to see Col. Hadfield appear in Sunday’s new episode “Out of this World.” Not merely there for his star power, Hadfield helped taste and judge the plates and interacted with the home cooks while offering insight into how meals are prepared in space: a needle injects lukewarm or hot water into the plastic packets to rehydrate the contents.

As for the Elimination Challenge, I was impressed the home cooks were able to plate all 15 bites, let alone anything that would taste good. There were miscues when it came to mirroring the example set out by the judges, but nothing major. At least, not until the wrong filling was put in Terry and Shawn’s coronets. Now, with just six homes cooks remaining, it really is anyone’s season to win now that Terry is not longer in the hunt.

Next week, Mary and Jeremy are team captains for a Restaurant Takeover that, if evidenced by Alvin’s yelling, is tough for everyone.

MasterChef Canada airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

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Trailer Park Boys

Link: Judge dismisses battery charge against ‘Trailer Park Boys’ star Michael Smith

From Kate Morawetz of ET Canada:

Judge dismisses battery charge against ‘Trailer Park Boys’ star Michael Smith
A judge has rejected the domestic battery case against “Trailer Park Boys” star Michael Smith.

Known as the loveable, but dim-witted Bubbles on the long running comedy, Smith’s dismissal is a result of insufficient evidence, TMZ reports. Continue reading.

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Wynonna Earp

Link: Wynonna Earp: Emily Andras talks “Diggin’ Up Bones”

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Wynonna Earp: Emily Andras talks “Diggin’ Up Bones”
“He’s the Anna Wintour of demons! Because he’s fashion first and he’s Bobo Del Rey and he knows what works for him. I like that he’s committed. He’s has hundreds of years to figure out what works for him fashion-wise so he’s going classic wool fur coat. I like that.” Continue reading. 

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Houdini & Doyle

Links: Houdini & Doyle

From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:

Houdini & Doyle: A mystery series with Canadian sensibility
At first glance, Houdini & Doyle has similarities to Canada’s own Murdoch Mysteries that go beyond the merely superficial. Both are TV series depicting turn-of-the-century detectives and populated by historical figures. They are both produced by Shaftesbury.

Parts of Houdini & Doyle, which premieres on Global Monday at 9 p.m., were shot in Canada. And the executive producers happen to be Canadian. Continue reading.

From Jay Bobbin of the Gwinnett Daily Post:

Fox’s Houdini & Doyle makes icons a detective duo
One created methods of escape. The other created Sherlock Holmes. And though it’s not widely known, they formed a potent team. Michael Weston (“Six Feet Under”) and Stephen Mangan (“Episodes”) are “Houdini and Doyle” in a Fox mystery series premiering Monday, May 2. Continue reading. 

From Rebecca Murray of ShowbizJunkies:

Houdini & Doyle: Michael Weston on playing Houdini, ghosts and fluffy sheep
“There was a lot of torture. First, we were living in Manchester, which is not torture, but it is definitely north of London. It was cold and I was often wet and in weird situations, like off the docks and in weird rivers, and hanging upside in tanks and buried alive. But I signed the fine print, so I knew what I was getting into. If you’re going to play this guy, you have to be willing to do that.” Continue reading.

From Joe Belanger of The London Free Press:

Pearson graduate stars in UK mystery drama
Well, hello, Rebecca Liddiard. Londoners may not know much about the 25-year-old actor, but that will soon change as she stars in a new TV series, Houdini & Doyle, now on British television and premiering on Global in Canada and Fox in the U.S. May 2 at 9 p.m. Continue reading.

From Bill Harris of Postmedia Network:

Houdini & Doyle: Rebecca Liddiard gets the deciding vote in new series
Perhaps the complex role came with merely a one-word description: “Tiebreaker.” In the new series Houdini & Doyle, which debuts Monday, May 2, on Global and Fox, Rebecca Liddiard’s character, Constable Adelaide Stratton, often finds herself in the pivotal “two-thirds majority” position. Continue reading.

From Katie Awad of Hypable.com:

Houdini and Doyle team discuss a mysterious, magical menagerie
“In 1901, the fuel sources were still coal and gas. Electricity is a very new thing, so we still have candles and lampposts, and it was a very dark world, and…there’s a lot of scary things lurking in the shadows. There’s a lot of shadowy, unexplained moments…a lot of moments where people just aren’t quite sure what they’re seeing, and that’s where a lot of the debate comes from.” Continue reading. 

From Rebecca Murray of ShowbizJunkies.com:

Houdini & Doyle producers on the cast and the story
“The fundamental concept of the show is about belief, what we believe and why. That’s never been more relevant than now. You have 50% of Americans believing in aliens, UFO abductions, devils, angels… 50% believe that there are actual angels, physical beings.” Continue reading.

From Neal Justin of the Star Tribune:

In Houdini & Doyle, pop culture icons make the best TV detectives
It’s a novel idea, though one that’s not terribly bothered by accuracy. While the show is set in 1901, the two actually didn’t meet until nearly 20 years later, and the notion that two of the most famous people on the planet could wander in and out of crime scenes without being mobbed by fans requires a high degree of disbelief. But never let logic get in the way of TV’s desire to find a new spin on “The Odd Couple.” Continue reading.

From Victoria Ahearn of The Canadian Press:

Houdini & Doyle series like the Victorian X-Files, says star
They were unlikely friends in the early 20th century: Brash American illusionist Harry Houdini, a paranormal debunker, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the prim and proper British Sherlock Holmes creator who believed in spirits. Continue reading.

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

Houdini & Doyle is tosh, but terrific tosh
As such, the show is a clever concoction of silliness – a kind of rock ’n’ roll Murdoch Mysteries. (There’s a good rock and blues soundtrack, which isn’t actually disconcerting.) Mind you, it wouldn’t be truly fun, touchy TV if there weren’t a sensible woman to corral Houdini and Doyle and correct their amateur sleuthing. Continue reading. 

From Emily Gage of Cinefilles:

Houdini & Doyle’ & Adelaide: Rebecca Liddiard on playing London’s first female constable
“Doing this series, I definitely feel a little more confident as a professional. Going in, I was very nervous, but I had so many conversations with the women involved in this project. It’s mostly about how unapologetic they were. Like, yeah, sometimes it is difficult and sometimes it would be easier if I was a man, but we just have to be the best and not apologize for what we are and what we are is actually what makes us so good.” Continue reading. 

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