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.
Blackstone

The fifth and final season of APTN’s Blackstone premieres on Nov. 3

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From a media release:

Prairie Dog Film + Television announces that the fifth and final season of the award-winning prime time drama Blackstone will feature the characters moving towards hope, healing and retribution – and will conclude with a dramatic finale on Dec. 22. Blackstone season five (8 x 60’) airs Tuesdays starting November 3 on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) (check below for exact times per region).

In the new season of Blackstone, there is hope in the midst of adversity as the Blackstone First Nation strives toward a better life by building a stronger community. Panicked and grief-stricken, the Stoneys fight for the authorities to expand the search for Wendy.  Meanwhile, Andy tries to work his usual channels to stay out of jail. Chief Victor’s lack of leadership has left the Blackstone community struggling. Leona gets close to a foster child, but is left seeking justice when tragedy strikes. A sober Gail searches for a new identity and a new path while coping with Wilma’s failing health. Smokey moves back to Blackstone to serve the community, and Daryl makes a business decision that pulls him and Gina deeper into a criminal world.

Blackstone airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on APTN HD and APTN East starting Nov. 3; Tuesdays at 10 p.m. MT on APTN West starting Nov. 3, and Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. CT on APTN North starting Nov. 7.

The award-winning predominately Aboriginal cast has roots across Canada including Carmen Moore (Arctic Air, Godiva’s), Eric Schweig (Last of the Mohicans), Michelle Thrush (Arctic Air, Jimmy P.), Steven Cree Molison (Brokeback Mountain, Fifty Shades of Gray), Ashley Callingbull (the newly crowned, Mrs. Universe), Jennifer Podemski (Degrassi), Glen Gould (Mohawk Girls) and Tantoo Cardinal (Legends of the Fall, Dances with Wolves).

Canadians can catch-up on seasons one, two, three, and four on http://aptn.ca/blackstone/. In the US, viewers can watch season one, two, and three on Hulu.com and Hulu Plus. Season one and two are also available for purchase on iTunes Canada and will soon be available on iTunes in the U.S.

Blackstone is produced by Prairie Dog Film + Television, with Ron E. Scott as executive producer, writer and director, Jesse Szymanski as co-executive producer, and Damon Vignale as writer/producer. The series currently broadcasts in Canada on APTN, in the United States on Hulu and HuluPlus, in New Zealand on Maori Television, and in Australia on SBS/NITV.  Blackstone has been nominated for 86 awards including Best Dramatic Series, and Best Dramatic Writing at the Canadian Screen Awards.

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Industry News

BNN’s The Disruptors returns for Season 2

From a media release:

Uber creating cabbie riots. Facebook and Google redefining the advertising market. Over-the-top services that turn every device into a TV. And apps that turn every home into a hotel. The pace of disruption is accelerating at breakneck speed, and the only way to stay on top of it is to know what’s next before it hits. Airing Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. ET beginning Oct. 8, THE DISRUPTORS returns to BNN for its second season, charting the latest emerging technology trends and tracking game-changing innovations like no other television program in Canada. BNN Anchor and Reporter Amber Kanwar, along with digital pioneer and entrepreneur Bruce Croxon, return to helm the weekly, half-hour program.

Each week, the duo reviews pitches from Canadian start-ups, providing expert advice, insight, and analysis. In addition to identifying the big tech trends rocking the worlds of information, transportation, finance, and workplace, THE DISRUPTORS introduces an exciting new interactive component, allowing viewers to vote for Top Disruptor. The start-up that is chosen will get a chance to be spotlighted on the program and given the opportunity to pitch Croxon’s investment company, Round 13.

Each week, THE DISRUPTORS speaks with CEOs of Canadian and international technology companies who share their own success stories, along with their thoughts on the risks faced by start-ups fighting for traction.

Long before social networking became an underpinning of modern society, Croxon was making his mark as a digital pioneer, co-founding the dating website Lavalife in 1987, consequently revolutionizing how people connect. Under his direction, Croxon grew this early tech start-up from four to 600 employees, creating a marquee brand of online dating with more than 200 million users and nearly $100 million in revenue. Since then, Croxon has earned success as an investor and advisor in early-stage companies in the technology and hospital sectors. A familiar face to Canadian viewers, Croxon was a judge on the hit television program DRAGONS’ DEN from 2011 to 2014. His latest endeavor is as Principal in Round 13 Capital, a firm investing in the Canadian high-tech field looking to find and create the next wave of disruptors.

BNN’s Kanwar specializes in equity markets and is constantly digging for stocks flying under the radar, recognizing trends that are about to emerge, and curating research to make it accessible to viewers. Kanwar has interviewed CEOs from across the continent, from BlackBerry’s John Chen to Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, and brings the day’s biggest business stories to viewers on BNN, CP24, and CTV News Channel. She’s an expert at finding the big deals before they are announced and bringing those scoops to viewers.

THE DISRUPTORS is produced by BNN, with additional research provided by BetaKit, the nation’s foremost source for Canadian start-up news and tech innovation.

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Between, Dark Matter, Killjoys, Orphan Black

The allure of escapism: Canadian sci-fi TV series reach 10% of population

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From a media release:

Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) today released the reach figures for Canadian science-fiction productions on the occasion of the spotlight on homegrown talent at MIPCOM, the world’s largest entertainment content market in Cannes (October 5-8, 2015). The data is based on research provided by Canadian audience measurement organization Numeris,

During the 2014-2015 broadcast year Canadian TV sci-fi series Orphan Black on CTV (4.3 million viewers*), Dark Matter on Space (3.7 million), Between on City Total and Killjoys on Space (both 3.2 million) each reached roughly 10% of the Canadian population. In addition, these shows performed above their respective channel averages in the very desirable 18-34 demographic.

During the 2014-2015 broadcast year Canadian sci-fi series also performed above their respective channel averages in the key 18-34 demographic.

Performance for 18-34 demographic

Between (City Total)

31%—significantly above channel average of 19% for this demographic

Dark Matter (Space)

28%—above the channel average of 23% for this demographic

Killjoys (Space)

25%—above the channel average of 23% for this demographic

Orphan Black (CTV)

32%—significantly above channel average of 19% for this demographic

 

Canadian sci-fi at MIPCOM
On October 5, stars of Canadian science-fiction programs will walk the red carpet for the MIPCOM Opening Gala, namely Jesse Carere and Justin Kelly (Between) as well as Hannah John-Kamen and Aaron Ashmore (Killjoys). On October 6, Telefilm and the CMF will hold the industry conference The Allure of Escapism: Engaging Millennials. Producers of Between(David Cormican, Executive Vice-President, Business Development & Production and Partner, Don Carmody Television) and Killjoys (John Young, Managing Director, Temple Street Productions), as well as cast members of those two productions, will discuss the challenges related to writing and producing sci-fi TV series and what makes this genre so appealing for millennials.

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This Life

This Life Links: Torri Higginson brings her own take to This Life

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Torri Higginson brings her own take to This Life
Canadian actress Torri Higginson may be best known for playing Dr. Elizabeth Weir for years on the science fiction series Stargate: Atlantis, but this fall she’ll tackle the role of single mother on CBC’s new family drama This Life. The 10-part series premieres Monday, October 5 at 9 p.m. and will see Higginson’s Natalie Lawson receive a terminal cancer diagnosis and spend the first season exploring how this affects her, her three teenage children and her close-knit family. Continue reading.

From Brendan Kelly of the Montreal Gazette:

No looking back as Torri Higginson takes the lead in CBC drama This Life
Higginson certainly impresses in the lead-off episode of This Life, bringing remarkable force to the small screen from the very first scene when she learns the bad news from her doctor. But it’s essential to underline that like Nouvelle adresse, This Life is not just a dark, depressing exploration of a woman facing death. It’s also the story of her family – her three teen kids that she’s raising as a single mom and also her siblings and her parents. Continue reading.

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