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.
Letterkenny

CraveTV’s first-ever original Letterkenny to launch Super Bowl Sunday

From a media release:

− All six episodes to debut at once, exclusively on CraveTV –
− World premiere of LETTERKENNY to screen at Canadian International Television Festival (CITF) November 20 −
− LETTERKENNY to premiere Spring 2016 on The Comedy Network −

It really is a great day for hay. CraveTVTM announced today that its original comedy series everyone’s been yapping’ about, LETTERKENNY, will begin streaming on Sunday, Feb. 7, otherwise known as Super Bowl Sunday (pretty huge day for TV bud, so watch ‘em all before kickoff). Commissioned by CraveTV, in partnership with The Comedy Network, the entire six-part, half-hour series launches exclusively on CraveTV  a coupl’a weeks after the premium TV streaming service goes direct to consumers in January 2016, and will be followed by its specialty debut on Comedy in Spring 2016.

Created by hotshot Jared Keeso of Bravo’s hit original drama 19-2, LETTERKENNYis based on the Internet sensation Letterkenny Problems, Keeso’s series of shorts which have raked in more than 10 million views and landed a Canadian Screen Award nomination in 2014 for Best Web Series. LETTERKENNY is executive produced, directed, and co-written by Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky).

To get everyone cranked up about the new series CraveTV has acquired Letterkenny Problems and will begin streaming the shorts on Friday, Nov. 20, the same day LETTERKENNY receives its world premiere at the Canadian International Television Festival (CITF) at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox. As a tribute to the fans that have made Letterkenny a cult hit, CITF will screen LETTERKENNY’s debut episode “Ain’t No Reason to Get Excited” as well as provide a panel discussion with creator, co-writer, star, and executive producer, Jared Keeso. Executive producers Mark Montefiore and Patrick O’Sullivan of New Metric Media will be on hand for panel discussion, but no chirpin’ please and thanks.

CraveTV also confirmed today that building on the success of Letterkenny Problems, six brand-new shorts will accompany each episode streamed on the service. Beauty.

LETTERKENNY revolves around the dustups Wayne (Keeso) and his buds get into with their small-town Ontario rivals. There’s The Hicks, the Skids, and the Hockey Players, who get at each other about the darnedest things, often ending with someone getting their arse kicked. Wayne, his best bud Daryl (Nathan Dales, KING & MAXWELL), and Wayne’s free-spirited younger sister Katy (Michelle Mylett, ASCENSION) are all Hicks. On the ready to take the piss outta Wayne and Daryl,Dylan Playfair (Mr Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story) and Andrew Herr (also, Mr Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story) reprise their roles as The Hockey Players, “Jonesy” and “Reilly,” from Letterkenny Problems. Tyler Johnston (MOTIVE) stars as lead Skid, Stewart; Stewart’s “sideskid” Devon is played by Alexander De Jordy (19-2); Lisa Codrington (COPPER) stars as Modeen’s bartender, Gail; Jacob Tierney as the Christian Leader Glenn; and K Trevor Wilson stars as Wayne’s buddy, Dan.

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Industry News

Steve Nash, Insight and CBC team to develop basketball drama

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From a media release:

Insight Productions has partnered with Steve Nash of Meathawk Productions to develop Hardwood at CBC, a one-hour, character-driven drama series set in the world of youth basketball, Shannon Farr, Vice President & Supervising Producer, Insight Production Company Ltd., announced today.

Hardwood (working title) follows a flashy, big-city entrepreneur who opens an elite youth basketball academy in a sleepy farming town in exurban Toronto. Skander Halim (Pretty Persuasion, 18 To Life) created the series and is writing the pilot.

Farr (Falcon Beach and The Jon Dore Television Show) recently opened Insight’s Los Angeles office – a move that is part of Insight’s strategy to increase its scripted development and production slate as it looks to grow the company and expand its global business.

Hardwood is executive produced by Insight Production’s John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby, alongside Steve Nash and Ezra Holland of Meathawk Productions and Skander Halim. Shannon Farr is Supervising Producer.

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Featured, Heartland

Heartland’s bear-y scary situation, Part 2

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When the “Previously on Heartland” intro rolled before last night’s episode, I was pretty sure that darned grizzly bear was going to show up and cause trouble. I was wrong, but Sunday’s instalment wasn’t without danger.

Seeing Ty tumble off the cliff was certainly dramatic, and he’s lucky he escaped with just a large bump on his head. (Kudos to the producers for making sure they covered the whole concussion thing rather than assuming he was all right.) The male bald eagle rescue itself may have gone without a hitch—I did wonder how he or Amy would get to the top of the tree if the situation called for it—but getting back to the truck didn’t. Note to self: always carry a bag of trail mix with you. Also? Make sure you have a horse like Bear along. The newest equine member of Heartland seems destined for a future on the Calgary Police Force, and that’s a pretty cool gig if you ask me. (Those hoping Amy and Ty will have a baby soon had to make do with the two cradling a male bald eagle rather than a sprite of their own.)

Aside from the drama out on the trail with Amy, Ty and the horses, “Over and Out”—written by Pamela Pinch—had some heart-stopping moments at the ranch and the Reserve. After bonding during their own near-death experience—telling Bob they trashed the ATV—Adam and Georgie seem headed for romance. After all, why else would they be texting after-hours? And how will Stephen react when he returns from the summer? The fact Adam hinted his mother is exerting pressure on him to succeed will likely cause he and Georgie to bond and, perhaps, share a first kiss before the fall leaves fly.

I always enjoy it when Lisa is kicking around the ranch—her feisty attitude leads to some great moments—so I was glad to have plenty of scenes with she and Jack, Katie and Lou. With Lou struggling to keep her packed calendar in order, Lisa stepped in to try and help and a defensive Lou got her back up. The thing with Heartland is, grudges never last long; by episode’s end the ladies were on the same page and Lou even got some alone time with her daughters.

Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.

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Blood and Water

Link: Cross-cultural concept lured Steph Song back to TV for Blood and Water

From Glen Schaefer of The Province:

Cross-cultural concept lured Steph Song back to TV for Blood and Water
For a while there, actor Steph Song had the market cornered for Vancouver-themed stories in film and TV.

After a five-year break to marry and have a baby, Song is back on the small screen for another of those stories, as a police detective investigating the death of a rich man’s wayward son in the cross-cultural eight-part mystery series Blood and Water.

“They lured me back with a great concept,” Song said of the show, whose Asian and white characters speak a mixture of English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Continue reading.

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Blood and Water

Link: Blood and Water a crime drama that reflects urban reality

From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:

Blood and Water a crime drama that reflects urban reality
In OMNI’s original crime drama Blood and Water, Vancouver has never looked more exotic. At least from the lens of television.

The victim in the show is Asian. The lead detective in the show is Asian. Her boss is Asian. Virtually all the protagonists, apart from Toronto actor Peter Outerbridge, are Asian.

If you’ve lived in Vancouver, which has a substantial Chinese-Canadian presence, hearing Mandarin on the street isn’t unusual. And the hypothetical situation of seeing an Asian cop and an Asian police lieutenant isn’t far-fetched. Continue reading.

 

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