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

MasterChef Canada reveals the Top 14

Well, two out of three ain’t bad. We’re two weeks into MasterChef Canada, and Mary and Michelle—two home cooks interviewed by TV, Eh?—are still in the hunt. Both ladies are now part of the Top 14 revealed on Sunday night. The former earned her apron in Week 1, while the latter added to her wardrobe by creating a baked apple tart in just 30 minutes.

Michelle was smart to try a tart. It was a big gamble, of course, but Claudio Aprile, Michael Bonacini and Alvin Leung are impressed by moxie and cooking. Not to mention baking is a difficult skill. The odd man out was Travis (with regard to TV, Eh?), who despite going into MasterChef Canada with confidence was eliminated in Sunday’s final test.

And what a final test it was. First, the final 18 were tasked with doing mise en place (break down a chicken into eight pieces, clean and devein shrimp, shuck six cobs of corn, julienne three sweet peppers, separate the yolks from the whites of two dozen eggs, peel and core an apple) in just 15 minutes, something that no one was able to complete. For the record, I might have gotten the chicken, corn, peppers and eggs done. Sean, a.ka. “Headband Guy,” Julia, Matthew and Jacqueline were all awarded aprons, leaving the remaining home cooks with a final decider: create a dish using any of the mise en place items in 30 minutes. Surprisingly, almost every one of them chose to use chicken as their main protein, something that takes longer than shrimp to prepare. I would have made fresh linguine and added peppers, corn and shrimp with a light tomato sauce.

It’s too early in the competition to say who, besides Michelle, has a good chance at becoming a long-term competitor. That said, I’m impressed with Doctor Shawn and carpenter David. On the other side? I was turned off by Veronica’s confidence-bordering-on-arrogance and if next week’s teaser is any indication, her attitude gets her into trouble.

Who are your favourites so far?

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

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Industry News

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) Announces U.S. Sister Network

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From a media release:

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), a Canadian based cable channel dedicated exclusively to indigenous content, has committed to launching All Nations Network (ANN) in the U.S. ANN will be the first network to bring both native and non-native audiences in the U.S. a 24-hour network providing native news, sports, scripted, lifestyle, feature-length movies and children’s programming written, produced, and directed by Native Americans, among others. Network distribution in the U.S. is being represented by Castalia Communications.

In the midst of the discourse over the lack of diversity in Hollywood, some of entertainment’s top stars and creators have joined to endorse ANN’s U.S. entrance. From Robert Redford to Oscar nominated actor Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves), Robbie Robertson (The Band) and acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch they have joined in endorsing the network. Their voices echo the Golden Globes speech by actor Leonardo Dicaprio who thanked the First Nations people in his acceptance speech for his award for “The Revenant.”

For more than 15 years, APTN’s award-winning programming in Canada has reached a staggering 92% of Canadian households and commercial establishments, and has strong traction with both First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and non-Aboriginal communities. Over 80% of Aboriginal men and women in Canada find content on APTN a source of pride. ANN will provide an opportunity to bring reflective, contemporary, compelling, and original content to consumers of all cultures in the U.S.

The network will be headquartered in New Mexico. Native American filmmaker Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals and NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”), is a Sundance Film Festival and Director’s Guild of America award-winner who will be working closely with All Nations Network to launch in the United States.

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Bitten, Featured

Bitten: Which family will Elena choose?

Bitten isn’t wasting time in its last season. Where some television series would have dragged out the final showdown between Eduardo and Jeremy for at least a half-season—or even as a season-ender—this program ain’t. Sure, part of that may have to do with it being the closing episodes, but still … these wolves were running around like a pack of dogs after a favourite chew toy.

On one side was Eduardo who, instead of evading Jeremy, decided to go head-on at him. It ever-so-briefly appeared as if the plot may work—getting Bucky on-side and inside was a masterstroke—but Jeremy and Steve figured out what was going on and called Clay. That lead to one heck of a double dust-up in the living room between Bucky and Clay and Elena vs. Eduardo in the kitchen. (Note to self: cast-iron frying pans are great for cracking skulls and making griddle cakes.) Both members of our pack came out on top, with Bucky stabbed like a prize hog and Eduardo trussed like one and stored in the cage.

bitten3_sm_ep3012_day9_-127

If that wasn’t enough, Sasha continued to leverage his way into Elena’s heart, explaining how he’d smuggled her out of the Soviet Union, pointed to her birthdate tattooed on his arm and pleaded to be part of her life. At this point, I’m as unsure of Sasha’s motives as Elena is. He’s saying all of the right things to win her over, and Jeremy’s all-or-nothing attitude is pushing her further away from him and towards the Russian with the puppy-dog eyes. Further confusing the issue? Sasha telling Elena that Roman—while we saw him Hulk out and make ground beef out of Eduardo—killed Alexei and Katia’s mother because he was hunting Sasha.

This, of course, puts Elena in one heck of a bad position. If she protects Sasha, Alexei and Katia from Roman, she threatens to piss off Jeremy … and in the mood he’s in he’s liable to give Elena an ultimatum: choose Sasha or her pack. What will she do? What would you do?

Bitten airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Space.

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Anne of Green Gables, Featured, Saving Hope

Comments and queries for the week of February 19

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YTV’s Anne of Green Gables celebrates family

When I heard of a new Anne of Green Gables film, I wondered why someone felt the need to produce it. I watched the premiere airing, and wondered why even more.

Sara Botsford and Martin Sheen? Really? They don’t fit their characters at all, and their acting skills are limited. Little Ella Ballentine tried, but the three will always be measured against the wonderful 1985 trio of Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth. Not to mention Dame Wendy Hiller in the 1987 sequel.

Not only was the acting in the new film inferior, we also had strange anachronisms such as references to a welfare system and child services, which Canada did not have in 1908 when the novel was written. Trying to update a classic is often a fool’s game. It takes away from the whole texture of the piece.

I realize I’m comparing a movie and a mini-series, but it’s the quality that concerns me. To be measured against an Emmy Award-winning mini-series (followed by the sequel, two years later, which is of equal quality) is a tall order. It would be like trying to remake Citizen Kane or Casablanca. Leave well enough alone.

What should be done is to rebroadcast the 1985 and 1987 series, perhaps every couple of years. They would build a new and growing following, much as films such as It’s a Wonderful Life and The Wizard of Oz have done. —Robert

Saving Charlie on Saving Hope

I think it might have hit Maggie… —Norah

I so HOPE there is HOPE that neither Alex or Charlie ended up dead! I can’t believe that guy could get the information from the receptionist as to where Alex and Charlie were. No receptionist would ever have done that (I know from whence I speak.). The show was so fabulous and so shocking for me at the end! And me, all by myself, with my dog and cat. This show is at the top of my list of shows to watch. I’ll be waiting for Season 5 on tenterhooks. Absolutely love you all for such a good series. Now I am waiting
for the first show of the next season, to see what the next twist is re: Charlie or Alex, or…? —Robin

I think Alex will be shot. Charlie’s already been through quite a bit in terms of “OMG, will he make it??” situations. On another note, I’d love to see more Sydney (Stacey Farber) next season. She and Maggie make a nice fit. —Jordan

I feel like it would be too obvious and redundant to have Alex or Charlie end up in a coma again. Maybe he missed and the bullet passed them and hit someone behind. @Jordan, I agree! Saving Hope needs more Sydney Katz/Stacey Farber. —Flora

I agree with you both. Stacey Farber needs to come back and she should’ve been in the season finale. —Carly

You’re right. I had to re-watch the end of the episode on CTV.ca to see that the woman was behind Alex, facing Charlie, so that proves Charlie may still have his “gift.” In terms of angles as shown on the final shot, I would be more inclined to think we are being misled. However, we will have to wait and see. —Christopher

I don’t know who the ghost was (but Charlie saw her, yay!), she said to him “It’s time to go.” That could mean a whole host of things. I think Crenshaw shot Charlie. It was Charlie he was after, and I think the gun went slightly in Charlie’s direction right before the cut. Did Crenshaw escape, or did he win his appeal? If he won, would he be that pissed about spending a few extra months in prison, only to be put back after this incident? Revenge may be sweet but it makes people idiots. And now the long wait. —Hallie

 

Got a comment or question about the Canadian TV industry? greg@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

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Featured, Vikings

Vikings returns with more murder and mayhem

Like a viking raid, there was a lot going on during Vikings‘ Season 4 return on History. “A Good Treason” had a lot of ground to cover, and for the most part was successful. Season 3, of course, concluded with a grievously-injured Ragnar being transported back to Kattegat, Rollo left behind as a representative in Paris and Floki realizing Ragnar knew he murdered Athelstan.

Thursday’s return caught up with everyone an untold amount of time later, though enough time had passed that Ragnar’s sons were significantly older, Ragnar was on the mend and Rollo was wed to a very unhappy Princess Gisla. (Quick note: I appreciated seeing the symbolism surrounding the gates of Valhalla and them closing in front of Ragnar to represent him going back to the land of the living, but the scene was a little too long.)

Meanwhile, Aslaug—clearly tired of Ragnar’s ways—approached The Seer and asked if a woman will lead Kattegat after Ragnar was dead. The Seer, who loves to speak in circles, answered in the affirmative, though I doubt it’s the current Queen he was speaking of. No, my money is on Lagertha, who returned to Hedeby with her own plunder. Kalf, who is quickly becoming a favourite character of mine, announced he and Lagertha will rule the outpost together, drawing the ire of Einer, who immediately plotted to oust the shield maiden from the town for good. Unfortunately for Einer, Kalf had a backup plan and—with the help of Erlendur, who was armed with a bunch of French crossbows—eliminated the threat. (I had to turn away when Lagertha cut off Einer’s genitals. Don’t ever cross that shield maiden.)

As for Floki, he’s in tough thanks to an over-eager Bjorn, who had Ragnar’s most loyal friend and brilliant ship and siege tower builder arrested. As a convalescing Ragnar reminded his eldest son, now he has to deal with Floki sooner rather than later. Bjorn, smarting from the comment, announced his intention to go off on his own and survive, proving to Ragnar he is able to shoulder responsibility. Pair the fact Bjorn didn’t tell his father about the map of the Mediterranean and the sudden Boy Scout field trip, and I’m betting Bjorn’s next ask is to put oars in the water and lead a group in search of the sea. (Those Bjorn vs. bear images floating around the Internet suggest the ursine challenge is coming soon.)

Finally, new Canadian cast member Dianne Doan made a brief appearance, first being purchased by Aslaug and then when Ragnar noticed her in the great hall. I can’t wait to see where that storyline goes.

More Vikings runes

    • I love the newish opening credits with flames, blood and Kattegat
    • Kattegat has expanded inland and the fleet is much larger
    • Ragnar had a right to be upset with Bjorn for leaving Rollo behind. He knows his brother will turn against him when presented with a position of power.

Vikings airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History.

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