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.
Industry News

First Generation Films developing Essex County for CBC

From a media release:

First Generation Films (FGF) announced today it has optioned Jeff Lemire’s critically acclaimed and best-selling graphic novel ESSEX COUNTY to adapt into a scripted television series. Writer Aaron Martin has been signed to pen the pilot script and showrun the series currently in development with the CBC.

Based on award-winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire’s much-loved graphic novel trilogy, published by Top Shelf Productions, this series intricately weaves the genealogy of a family’s origins across generations. The novel is an intimate study of an eccentric community and a tender meditation on family, memory, grief, secrets, and reconciliation.

Ted Adams, Chris Staros, Jeff Lemire and Aaron Martin will Executive Produce along with Christina Piovesan of First Generation Films.

ESSEX COUNTY has won multiple literary awards including the American Library Association’s Alex Award, the Doug Wright Award, and the Joe Shuster Award.

New York Times bestselling author Jeff Lemire is currently writing Marvel Entertainment’s “The Extraordinary X-Men”, as his original graphic novel series “Descender” is being adapted into a major motion film by Sony Pictures.

Award-winning screenwriter Aaron Martin’s previous credits include CTV’s “Degrassi: The Next Generation”, CBC’s “Being Erica”, CTV’s “Killjoys” and most recently Super Channel’s Slasher”.

Today’s news comes less than three months after FGF announced the launch of the television division.

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Continuum, Dark Matter, Industry News, X Company

Link: Women behind Canadian TV: Amanda Tapping

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Women behind Canadian TV: Amanda Tapping
“I don’t know. It’s like why are the numbers so horrible for female showrunners? Is it just that we haven’t been represented so people coming into the industry don’t expect that that’s something they would be able to do. Like Stephanie [Morgenstern] said in her interview, without representation there’s no ‘Well I’m going to do that. I’m going to be like her,’ because there was no “her” to be like. Now it’s changing and now you’ve got Stephanie Morgenstern (X Company) and other amazing women showrunning. It’s happening, but it’s still a small number. I think it will become more and more prevalent to see women in positions of power because we are actually making the change that needed to be made and highlighting it.” Continue reading.

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Industry News

CHCH-TV implements major restructuring to remain on the air

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From a media release:

CHCH-TV and its parent company, Channel Zero, have implemented a restructuring that will allow the channel to remain viable and for it to continue to deliver local news in the Greater Hamilton area. Channel 11 L.P., the entity that has created local news for CHCH since 2009, has in turn filed for bankruptcy effective today. CHCH is not ceasing operations or going off the air. CHCH and Channel Zero remain committed to the delivery of local news. Starting Monday, CHCH, joined by many of the familiar on-air personalities, will continue to broadcast the local news that viewers have been watching for over 60 years.

CHCH will continue to broadcast with a new format that keeps the core news broadcasts intact, but contains fewer overall hours of local news. Starting on December 12, CHCH will transition to a new schedule that includes CHCH’s popular 6pm and 11pmweekday news broadcasts, and starting Tuesday, Morning Live will return. In addition to the familiar faces, viewers can expect to see the same high quality local news programming that CHCH has delivered to the region for over 60 years.

CHCH will continue to exceed the CRTC local broadcasting requirements as part of its commitment to its license and the Region. Furthermore, CHCH and its parent company, Channel Zero, are financially unaffected by this filing. Channel Zero looks forward to participating in the CRTC’s upcoming hearing on the policy framework for local and community television programming in the New Year.

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Industry News

Link: CHCH TV cancels tonight’s newscast; station future uncertain

From Susan Clairmont of the Hamilton Spectator:

CHCH TV cancels tonight’s newscast; station future uncertain
CHCH news staff is waiting to find out the fate of their station after being told there will be no 6 o’clock newscast tonight.

An announcement to staff is expected at 4 p.m., by email, sources inside the CH newsroom say. The fear is the station is shutting down or being dramatically reduced. Continue reading.

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Children's Programming

Link: Family Channel’s ‘Next Step’ is teen music drama Lost & Found

From Bill Brioux of the Canadian Press:

Family Channel’s ‘Next Step’ is teen music drama Lost & Found
What’s the next step after The Next Step? For a group of Toronto producers in the tricky business of reaching TV’s toughest audience — “tweens” — it’s Lost & Found.

Family Channel and Temple Street Productions had an instant hit on their hands when The Next Step premiered to a hefty — in specialty terms — 574,000 viewers in 2013. The series was a cross between Fame and So You Think You Can Dance, and made stars out of young Canadian performers such as Brittany Raymond and Trevor Tordjman. The series is set to launch a fourth season. Continue reading.

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