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.
X Company

Link: X Company preview: Will Alfred break?

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

X Company preview: Will Alfred break?
After a frenetic Season 2 premiere that saw the action pick up immediately, X Company shows no signs of slowing down this week. With Alfred (Jack Laskey) still in the evil hands of Franz Faber (Torben Liebrecht) and company, the big question looming over everyone’s head is whether or not he’ll succumb to the pressure and break? Sinclair (Hugh Dillon) has also arrived on the ground in France. He’s got some hard questions for Aurora (Evelyne Brochu) about how and why Alfred was able to be kidnapped alive. Will she tell him the truth? Continue reading.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Lucy Maud Montgomery drops by Murdoch Mysteries

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If George Crabtree had had his way, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved novel would have been called Dan of Green Gables.

Monday’s rollicking MM episode, “Unlucky in Love,” had a lot going on in it, what with a murdered husband, his bride among those accused in his death and Roland the cutest baby in primetime TV. Add to that a visit by Lucy Maud Montgomery and Lori Spring’s script was totally packed. In some ways that’s too bad, as seasoned actors like Leslie Hope and Mag Ruffman had to make due with limited screen time because of the massive LMM-George Crabtree B-story. An embarrassment of riches, I guess.

The latest real-life character to make their way into the lives of Murdoch Mysteries was none other than Lucy Maud Montgomery (Alison Louder), who signed up for George’s creative writing class because she’d just begun putting pen to paper on the life of a red-haired, freckle-faced girl. Trouble was, George didn’t think her story was exciting enough—or that it should even be a girl in the lead role. His suggestion that she make it Dan of Green Gables—and amp up the drama by inserting ghosts into the story—was enjoyable enough, but alleging LMM reworked the character to reflect George’s foundling background and “flights of fancy” imagination was just too good. (Did anyone else cheer when George got his smooch on with her?) It was, therefore, a wise decision by the producers to include a disclaimer the storyline was all in good fun and George didn’t really influence Maud’s tale because, well, he’s not a real guy. (As an aside, Anne of Green Gables is top of mind lately, what with YTV’s upcoming TV movie and CBC’s own Anne project in the works.)

Alas, despite Arwen Humphreys fans tweeting #MargaretMonday over the weekend, we were left with a bare few minutes of Toronto’s newest wedding planner. It’s always great to see Brackenreid’s spunky better half verbally sparring, but it all came to an end far too quickly. The lineup of potential suspects in the groom’s murder—the driver, the florist or the electrician—and eventual mastermind of the whole thing quickly pushed Margaret to the wayside. Fingers crossed she’s got more scenes coming before the end of the season.

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

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

marblemedia gets cooking with chef Chuck Hughes

From a media release:

Awarding-winning content creator marblemedia and multi-talented celebrity chef Chuck Hughes (Chuck’s Eat the Street, Chef vs. Challenge) have partnered to develop a new prime time unscripted series ahead of Realscreen Summit.

In this new show Hughes goes back to basics to become an apprentice to the world’s best chefs. In each episode Hughes takes viewers on an intriguing journey into the mind of one master chef, revealing the unbelievable secrets of their extraordinary cooking style.

Star of Food Network Canada’s Chuck’s Day Off and Chuck’s Week Off, Hughes passion for entertaining translates into unforgettable food and captivating television. He is the youngest Canadian chef to win Iron Chef America, was a celebrity chef on The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs, an expert judge on Chopped Canada and has shows on the Cooking Channel (U.S.). Hughes is co-owner and executive chef of Montreal hot-spots, Garde Manger and Le Bremner, and has best-selling books (Garde Manger, Chuck’s Day Off). He is represented internationally by All Access Productions.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Saloon Media ready to unleash more Evil

From a media release:

Building on the record-breaking success of series one, UK independent production company Arrow Media and Canada’s Saloon Media have been commissioned for a second series of See No Evil (13×60’) by Investigation Discovery US and Bell Media’s French language broadcaster Canal D, in Canada .

The production companies have continued the innovation of using real closed-circuit television (CCTV) to reveal more shocking murder mysteries – one frame at a time. Fingerprints and DNA were once the smoking gun, but now video proves to be the most useful to authorities in helping to solve crime. What will it capture: a victim’s walk to their doom or a murderer hiding all-important evidence? Using actual CCTV footage, first person interviews with family, friends and investigators, along with in-the-moment style recreations, the ground-breaking series takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride through a timeline of a crime.

At the time of its debut in 2015, the first season of See No Evil was Investigation Discovery’s #1 series. Series two will premiere with the story of Amy Lord from Boston, who disappeared after failing to show up for a meeting at work. Viewers will witness Lord’s abduction, captured by CCTV and follow the investigation team as they piece together exactly how her murder was committed.

The Executive Producer for Arrow Media is Thomas Viner. Michael Kot is Executive Producer for Saloon Media. For Investigation Discovery US, the Executive Producer is Tim Baney, the SVP of Production is Sara Kozak, the General Manager is Kevin Bennett, and the Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America, and American Heroes Channel is Henry Schleiff. See No Evil is distributed internationally by eOne.

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