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.
This Life

Link: This Life’s Kristopher Turner gives us the truth behind Oliver

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

This Life’s Kristopher Turner gives us the Truth behind Oliver
“Oliver is the one who has isolated himself from the family. We’ve all got our eccentricities and Oliver’s connection to that is that he’s a very open and loving man. When he came out as gay to his parents, it didn’t go over well. It’s not that they were particularly mean to him about it, it’s that it made them uncomfortable enough that it made Oliver unsafe in that environment. As someone who loves so passionately and openly, he had to get away because it was shutting him down.” Continue reading.

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Featured, Heartland

Heartland says goodbye to an old friend

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Dear Paint,

I know everyone at Heartland is going to miss you, but I will too. I’ve only been watching Heartland for a few years now, but I know the relationship between you and Jack has been strong for longer than that.

You were given to Jack as a retirement gift when he quit the rodeo, and the two of you struck up an incredible and enduring friendship that, sadly, ended Sunday night. The first time that you went down, I willed Ty, Amy and Jack to pull you upright. The second time you went down, I knew that was going to be the end. I’m glad Jack chose to have Ty send you on your final journey, and that you dreamed of sweet grass and sunshine on your back as you drifted away.

Your days of herding cattle with Jack is over, and you can rest overlooking the fields you worked and played in. You certainly were, as Jack said, a good boy. You were loyal, standing by Jack when he suffered a heart attack, and you were patient too. You did everything Jack asked of you, and he, your Heartland family and viewers will never forget you.

I’m closing my letter by writing out Konrad Lorenz’s quote, altered by Georgie:

‘The fidelity of a horse is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a horse is as lasting as the ties of the earth can ever be.’

Rest well, Paint. I’ll miss you.

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

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Lost Girl

Link: Lost Girl Talk: Michael Grassi on the series finale “Rise”

From Emily Gagne of Cinefilles:

Lost Girl Talk: Michael Grassi on the series finale “Rise”
“Our goal was to honour, and in some ways return to, the root of this incredible series that Michelle Lovretta created five seasons ago. With that in mind, we wanted to tell not only the biggest Lost Girl story yet, but in many ways, the most quintessential. When we met Bo in the first episode of Season 1, she was struggling to control her succubus power and questioning whether or not she was worthy of love and friendship. In this final episode, we’re back to the central question of the series: Can Bo live the life she chooses, or is the fate her father has planned for her more powerful?” Continue reading.

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Awards, Industry News, Open Heart, Orphan Black, Schitt's Creek, Vikings

The Directors Guild of Canada Honours the Best in the Business at the 14th Annual DGC Awards

From a media release:

The Directors Guild of Canada handed out 19 awards tonight honouring the best work created by Members this past year in a star-studded, elegant event. Three special career acknowledgments were also handed out during the evening, including the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award to filmmaker David Cronenberg.

Arisa Cox and Sean Cullen co-hosted the Awards Gala which was held at The Carlu in Toronto.  Presenters included this country’s hardest working filmmakers and actors; Megan Follows, Jerry Ciccoritti, Jason Priestley, Catherine O’Hara, Helen Shaver, Dan Levy to name just a few.

Below is a full list of the awards presented at the 2015 DGC Awards Gala:

DGC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Presented by Shaftesbury
David Cronenberg

DON HALDANE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Mark Reid

DGC HONOURARY LIFE MEMBER AWARD
Presented by BellMedia
Peter Leitch

BEST DIRECTION – FEATURE FILM
Presented by Deluxe
Charles Binamé – Elephant Song 

BEST DIRECTION – TELEVISION MOVIE/MINI-SERIES
Presented by Panavision
Clement Virgo – The Book of Negroes 

BEST DIRECTION – TELEVISION SERIES
Presented by William F. White International
Kari Skogland – Vikings, Blood Eagle 

BEST FEATURE FILM
Presented by Technicolor
Mommy

BEST TELEVISION MOVIE/MINI-SERIES
Presented by Vanguarde Artists Management
The Book of Negroes

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Presented by PS Production Services Ltd. and SIM Digital
Orphan Black, By Means Which Have Never Yet Been Tried

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – FAMILY
Open Heart, Last Things First 

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY
Schitt’s Creek, Our Cup Runneth Over 

ALLAN KING AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DOCUMENTARY
Presented by Rogers Group of Funds
Super Duper Alice Cooper

BEST SHORT FILM
Made in Bali

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – FEATURE FILM
Presented by Pinewood Toronto Studios
Carol Spier – Maps to the Stars

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – TELEVISION MOVIE/MINI-SERIES
Jason Clarke – The Book of Negroes, Episode 5 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – TELEVISION SERIES
Brendan Smith – Schitt’s Creek, Our Cup Runneth Over

BEST PICTURE EDITING – FEATURE FILM
Michele Conroy – Pompeii

BEST PICTURE EDITING – TELEVISION MOVIE/MINI-SERIES
Susan Shipton – The Book of Negroes, Episode 6

BEST PICTURE EDITING – TELEVISION SERIES
Don Cassidy – Vikings, The Lord’s Prayer

BEST SOUND EDITING – FEATURE FILM
Pompeii - Kevin Banks, Stephen Barden, Fred Brennan, Alex Bullick, J.R Fountain, Rose Gregoris, Kevin Howard, Jill Purdy, Tyler Whitham

BEST SOUND EDITING – TELEVISION MOVIE/MINI-SERIES
The Book of Negroes, Episode 1 – Andrea Cyr, Claire Dobson, Martin Gwynn Jones, Joe Mancuso, David McCallum, Brennan Mercer, Brent Pickett, David Rose

BEST SOUND EDITING – TELEVISION SERIES
Vikings, The Choice - Andrew Jablonski, David McCallum, Steve Medeiros, Brennan Mercer, Dale Sheldrake, Jane Tattersall, Rob Warchol

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Canada’s Worst Driver careens into Season 11

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You’d think that, after 11 seasons on the air, host Andrew Younghusband would throw up his hands and drive away from Canada’s Worst Driver. After all, instead of slowly improving the way this country’s drivers are, they seem to be getting worse. Then again, Worst Driver is more about entertainment than education, no matter what Cam Woolley, traffic expert and former OPP sergeant; Philippe Létourneau, professional high-performance driving instructor; expert driving instructor Tim Danter; and registered psychotherapist Shyamala Kiru may say. And ratings don’t lie: Season 10 was the most-watched show on Discovery.

Returning Monday to Discovery, Younghusband gamely welcomes nine Canadians and their nominators to the series’ top-secret driving location—not really, it’s Dunnville, Ont.—where they’re put through the paces for the next eight weeks before one is saddled with the dubious title of Canada’s Worst Driver.

This season, challenges will be faster, and all take place in a super-charged Dodge Charger (a beautiful car mistreated by all) in recognition that cars continue to perform at a brisker pace. And in a series first, Younghusband dons a racing suit to introduce higher-speed versions of classic Worst Driver challenges like “Eye of the Needle” and the “Water Tank,” as well as new tests to demonstrate the real-life risks of high-speed driving and its effect on precision and judgment.

As with previous seasons, the producers give viewers a chance to get to know each of the competitors as they drive to Worst Driver‘s track. There’s Renee, who freaks out if she drives over 60 km/h and throws on her four-way flashers to encourage everyone to go around; distracted driver Jordan; lead-footed Tina, who quaffed a vodka cooler and shooter before driving to the show; inadvertent speeder Cameron; angry driver Alex; grandmother Polly; crier Jillian; and siblings Sholom and Shmuel. Yes, Worst Driver is fun to watch, but it’s also damned scary. All of these folks are more focused on texting, eating, drinking and updating their Facebook profiles than they are on the road; what does that say for the people around me on the road every day?

Sure, Worst Driver is about those behind the wheel and loved one’s riding in the backseat or shotgun, but Younghusband is a bona fide star. You can’t help but laugh at his quick wit and expressive face, especially when he’s incredulous at what these competitors do.

It only took me half of Monday’s return to have a grave dislike for Tina. She saw no problem with drinking before hitting the road and confronted Younghusband when he lightly suggested she might have a bad attitude. Still, it is early days, and she may—along with the others—realize the err of her ways and improve. If not? She’ll be Season 11’s Worst Driver.

Canada’s Worst Driver airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on Discovery.

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