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.
Murdoch Mysteries

Link: Murdoch Mysteries investigates the holidays with ‘A Merry Murdoch Christmas’

From Bill Harris of Postmedia Network:

Murdoch Mysteries investigates the holidays with ‘A Merry Murdoch Christmas’
Gold, frankincense and “myrrh-doch.”

Sounds like a festive combination for the holidays.

Of course, one could argue that Christmas came for Murdoch Mysteries a few years ago, when the long-running series was picked up by CBC. Murdoch Mysteries simply has been a far better fit on the public broadcaster than it was on City, and the ratings have proven it was a good move. Continue reading.

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Industry News

Link: Melanie Joly says the CBC should take more Vice-like risks

From CBC:

Melanie Joly says the CBC should take more Vice-like risks
Canada’s new heritage minister Mélanie Joly says the Trudeau government will increase funding to “battered” arts and cultural institutions — including the CBC.

“I really believe a public broadcaster is relevant and important, but it needs to be adapted to our times,” she told q host Shadrach Kabango in a wide-ranging conversation about the importance of the arts, and a broader ecosystem that supports them.  Continue reading and listen to the interview.

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Cracked, Remedy, Rookie Blue

Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Ellen Vanstone

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Women Behind Canadian TV: Ellen Vanstone
“Rookie Blue was a hit because it had such a terrific showrunner in Tassie Cameron. She brought her own sensibility to shape that show into the charming success that it was, and it just so happens she’s a woman. It’s the way men take for granted how they bring their sensibilities to a show–for better or worse–so when a woman, or a bunch of women, do that, the same thing happens, for better or for worse.” Continue reading.

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Featured, This Life

Comments and queries for the week of December 18

1 Comment

This Life closes out stellar first season

Is the CBC paying for this site? The show was painfully boring and poorly produced. Our standards for television are higher now, and a show with stylistic sensibilities in line with early ’90s television is not acceptable or even watchable. This Life is abysmal, nobody watched it, the opening scene is offensive to anyone who’s actually experienced illness, and it should never come back. —Tim

I disagree with Tim.

I live with illness. Both parents died of cancer, both were rare complicated cancers, and one involved a clinical trial. I have a rare illness classified the same as cancer, open to many, many clinical trials, of which I’ve had to decide whether to participate.

My siblings were five in total (similar to this show) and as dysfunctional (more probably) as portrayed in this series.

This is very real and done very well. It’s not easy to have a show about cancer or life and death issues involving kids, adults, families, lives going on at the same time, and what it does to everyone. This show does it all very well. Maybe not perfect but pretty close from my experience.

And if you’re not interested in cancer or illness and prefer a good drama that has a nice balance of life, comedy, drama, sadness, ease, with good acting, watch it. The cancer angle is light in the first season and so many other stories in life are handled well, very interesting modern day life stories both for the kids and the adults. —Carrie

My wife and I are very much enjoying this series. A very refreshing take on a non-vanilla family. I hope we get a Season 2. —Dave

The Top 10 Most Irritating Canadians of 2015 (TV-related)

Why does John Doyle always have to focus on the negative? Why didn’t he count down the Top 10 Canadian people or institutions that did great things in Canadian TV? Here is a list that I can come up with off the top of my head:

1. Murdoch Mysteries for surviving and becoming a cult-like show.

2. CBC for continuing to survive the tax cuts and still delivering quality shows like This Life and X Company.

3. Bell Media (yes, Bell Media) for at least trying to offer some sort of Canadian content. Out of all of the private companies, Bell offers at least one CanCon program every season.

4. The creators and cast of Sunnyside on City. One very funny show. Give it a chance to survive.

5. The Marilyn Denis Show for not trying to disguise itself as an American show. Any show that doesn’t try to disguise itself as an American show.

6. The Degrassi franchise (although I haven’t seen it in years) for constantly reinventing itself and living so long.

7. The new Dragons on Dragons’ Den. They have reinvigorated that show.

8. The cast and writers of 22 Minutes. It seems funnier this season. The Christmas episode was great!

9. Every actor doing corny commercials trying to make a living as an actor in Canada. It ain’t easy.

10. TV, eh? for giving Canadians a place to go to see what’s new in CanCon. —Denis

 

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

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Jade Fever, Mayday and Cold Water Cowboys return to Discovery

From a media release:

Fresh on the heels of December’s “Holiday Bash” schedule filled to the brim with premiere programming, Discovery today unveiled the network’s 2016 winter schedule. Canada’s most-watched primetime entertainment specialty network rings in the New Year with an abundance of fresh hit programming, including the season premieres of ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE (Jan. 4), RAILROAD ALASKA (Jan. 5), and MAYDAY (Jan. 15) right out of the gate, along with HOW IT’S MADE (Feb. 22), JADE FEVER (Feb. 23), and COLD WATER COWBOYS (March 8),  premiering through the winter. Also set to debut in January is a slew of new episodes from current seasons of hit series, including GOLD RUSH (Jan. 5),MOONSHINERS (Jan. 6), and ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTER (Jan. 10). Viewers can also catch up on full episodes of Discovery series live and on demand on the Discovery GO app and at Discovery.ca.

Also in January, Discovery raises a glass for a special goodbye toast to Co-Hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage as they stage their final gonzo experiments during the concluding season of the perenial favourite, MYTHBUSTERS, beginningSunday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, Discovery’s jam-packed winter schedule also features the  previously announced “Future Tech Week” on DAILY PLANET(Jan. 4-8), followed by returning Canadian turbo favourites VEGAS RAT RODS andMEGASPEED headlining Thursday nights,beginning Jan. 7.

Discovery’s full suite of top entertainment brands also features extensive winter schedule highlights and happenings beginning Jan. 5, including:

Free Previews:

Viewers are invited for an extended stay in Animal Planet’s backyard jungle to explore the extraordinary relationship between humans and animals. Viewers are also welcome to park in Discovery Velocity’s lot – Canada’s only home for Factual Turbo programming – for all things automotive, as well as diverse travel, survival, and cultural world content. In the holiday spirit of giving, Discovery today announced a nationwide 36-day free preview from Jan. 20 – Feb. 24 of both Animal Planet andDiscovery Velocity, available to subscribers of participating television service providers.

Animal Planet winter highlights:

Animal Planet brings in the New Year with an all-star, all-adorable cast returning on Super Bowl Sunday for Animal Planet’s pup-culture phenomenon PUPPY BOWL. Viewers can expect a winning combination of terrier tackles, canine touchdowns, puppy penalties, and Fido first downs on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. The canine entertainment continues with live coverage of WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 140TH ANNUAL DOG SHOW, Feb. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. ET. New series 100 MILES FROM NOWHERE (Jan. 24) and AFRICA (Feb. 14), make their debut. Returning favourites ALASKA MONSTERS (Jan. 5), RUGGED JUSTICE (Jan. 5),NORTH WOODS LAW (Jan. 7), ICE LAKE REBELS (Jan. 8) premiere. TANKED(Jan. 6), REDWOOD KINGS (Jan. 6), TREEHOUSE MASTERS (Jan. 6), FINDING BIGFOOT (Jan. 7), and PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES (Jan. 8) return with all-new episodes.

Discovery Velocity winter highlights:

Discovery Velocity buckles up, leaves last year in the dust, and takes off to Scottsdale, Arizona for BARRETT-JACKSON, the world’s greatest collector car auctions, Jan. 26-31. Additional turbo programming takes a spin with all-new seasons of HOW IT’S MADE: DREAM CARS (Jan. 5), BITCHIN’ RIDES (Feb. 4), GEAR HEADS (Feb. 5), CAR FIX (Jan. 4), WHEELER DEALERS USA (Jan. 4), and new episodes of CHASING CLASSIC CARS (Jan. 4).

Investigation Discovery winter highlights:

New Year’s resolutions for 2016: less crime and more justice? Investigation Discovery’s fresh start includes new seasons of FATAL ENCOUNTERS (Jan. 5),TRUE NIGHTMARES (Jan. 9), DISAPPEARED (Jan. 13), HOUSE OF HORRORS: KIDNAPPED (Jan. 14), NIGHTMARE NEXT DOOR (Jan. 15), and new episodes of HOMICIDE HUNTER: LT. JOE KENDA (Jan. 5).

Discovery Science winter highlights:

Questioning everything in the New Year, Discovery Science dives deep into 2016 with new series ALL-AMERICAN MAKERS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (Jan. 4), season premieres of HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS: EXPANDED EDITION (Jan. 5), MONSTERS INSIDE ME (Jan. 22), STRIP THE CITY (Jan. 27), STRIP THE COSMOS (Feb. 15), and new episodes of HOW DO THEY DO IT? (Wednesdays) and GHOST STALKERS (Fridays).

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