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.

Creators of Hit Epic Meal Time Make the Jump to CBC

From a media release:

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) is pleased to announce that Elebrity, a series by Montreal-based production company NextTime Productions and creators behind thesmash hit YouTube series Epic Meal Time, has been picked up for a development deal with the CBC. This deal was made possible through the inaugural Jumping Screens Comedy Workshop, Canada’s first-ever enhanced pre-development lab for online creators who want to migrate their talents to television and other screens. NextTime Productions will co-develop the series with Toronto-based independent content production company Aircraft Pictures, the official production partner of the program.

Elebrity explores the notion of becoming a celebrity overnight. It follows Herschel Bock, an eternal slacker, as he attempts to navigate his newfound celebrity status in the digital influencer world or risk losing it all to return to his regular life.

Brothers Darren and Harley Morenstein co-founded NextTime Productions in 2011. Since then, the production company has created and produced several web series, three YouTube channels and two cookbooks, and has amassed more than 7 million subscribers. Their flagship show, Epic Meal Time, has grown to be the number one online cooking show in the world.

NextTime Productions was selected for a TVseries deal out of three YouTubers/YouTube teams who participated in the inaugural Jumping Screens Comedy Workshop, including singer/songwriter and comedian Mikey Bustos, and the award-winning web series Convos With My 2-Year-Old, from creator and star Matthew Clarke and fellow star David Milchard. Mikey Bustos and the team behind Convos With My 2-Year-Old are currently pursuing various opportunities to develop their respective TVseries concepts developed through the Workshop with Aircraft Pictures.

The Jumping Screens Comedy Workshop was a five-month part-time program created by CFC Media Lab, in collaboration with the CBC and Aircraft Pictures, which experimented with a novel approach to series creation. From June to November 2015, the Workshop offered the three aforementioned digital creative teams the opportunity to refine their writing, story structure and characterization skills, and gain valuable experience navigating the Canadian entertainment ecosystem under the mentorship of CBC creative executives, the CFC Media Lab and its mentors, and the experts at Aircraft Pictures. The three YouTube teams debuted their individual series concepts at a VIP screening and reception in late November 2015.

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Link: Is TV Becoming A Drag?

From Jim Bawden:

Is TV Becoming A Drag?
Is it just me or has TV become a drag? No, I’m perfectly serious about this after sampling the new series Delmer & Marta.

I mean every week I’m watching Mrs. Brown’s Boys (starring Brendan O’Connor) on BBC Canada. And there’s Dame Edna from times back who keeps making farewell tours.

And now it’s APTN’s Delmer & Marta which premieres Wednesday night at 10 p.m. Continue reading. 

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Link: I, Pedophile dares to empathize

From Martin Knelman of the Toronto Star:

I, Pedophile dares to empathize
Matthew Campea knew it wouldn’t be easy to persuade viewers to welcome pedophiles into their living rooms. Yet I, Pedophile is so riveting and enlightening, you can’t stop watching it. It premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. on CBC’s doc series Firsthand.

Camp’s goal, bound to be controversial, was to bring empathy to troubled men who rarely get any. Continue reading. 

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Link: ‘SCTV’ 40th Anniversary Special May Happen, Says Eugene Levy

From Michael Malone of Broadcasting & Cable:

‘SCTV’ 40th Anniversary Special May Happen, Says Eugene Levy
With its 40th anniversary approaching, legendary sketch comedy show SCTV may be getting the reunion treatment, as Saturday Night Live did a year ago. Eugene Levy, an original cast member, says he’s been in talks with other SCTV principals about marking the milestone in style. Continue reading.

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Amazing Race Canada, Marilyn Denis topline Night 1 of Canadian Screen Awards

The Amazing Race Canada, The Marilyn Denis Show, Income Property and Still Standing were among the winners on Night 1 of the Canadian Screen Awards.

The non-broadcast fête from Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle saluted the sports, factual, talk, documentary and news categories. The spectacle was hosted by comedian Seán Cullen, whose eclectic humour kept those in attendance on their toes from the start.

“I watch Survivorman because in this business you never know when you’re going to be eating grass clippings and ants,” he quipped in his opening monologue. Later, a cringe-worthy segment boasted Cullen singing to such Canadian celebrities in the audience as Ben Mulroney, CTV’s Michelle Dubé, Marilyn Denis and CBC’s Ian Hanomansing.

The big winners of the night were the crew of CTV’s The Amazing Race, which not only took home Best Reality/Competition Program or Series but the photography, picture editing and directing categories as well. The Marilyn Denis Show captured a win for Best Talk Program or Series.

“I’m so lucky to have a second chance, a second go-round with this show. Please go and watch TV, it’s worth it,” Denis said upon accepting the trophy. Other winners included HGTV’s Income Property starring Scott McGillivray and CBC’s road trip project Still Standing.

Here are the winners in some key categories from Night 1:

Best Lifestyle Program or Series
Income Property

Best Talk Program or Series
The Marilyn Denis Show

Best Reality/Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada

Best Documentary Program
Sol

Best History Documentary Program or Series
Vietnam: Canada’s Shadow War

Best Factual Program or Series
Still Standing

Best Live Entertainment Special
The JUNO Awards 2015

Best News Anchor, Local
Andrew Chang, CBC News: Vancouver at 6

Best News Anchor, National
Ian Hanomansing, CBC News

Best Local Newscast
CTV News Vancouver at 6

Best National Newscast
CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme

Here’s the complete list of winners.

The Canadian Screen Awards gala airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBC.

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