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

Rogers and Vice announce new specialty channel Viceland and Canadian production studio

From a media release:

Rogers and VICE Media, the youth media brand and digital content studio, today announced details of the new 24-hour Canadian VICE channel, VICELAND, and unveiled the new VICE Canada production facility, located in the heart of Toronto.

The newest addition to the Rogers Media specialty portfolio, VICELAND will launch in Winter 2016, featuring hundreds of hours of new and exclusive programming developed and produced by the young creative minds that are the heart and soul of VICE. The license currently used for bio. will be rebranded to VICELAND. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Boasting the country’s brightest young talent and serving as an incubator for the next generation of Canadian creators, the VICE Canada studio, which operates under VICE’s creative direction and ownership, is currently in development and production on nine new, Canadian original series. Since the Rogers-VICE partnership was announced in October 2014, more than 100 writers, directors, editors, producers, and filmmakers have been hired to create sought-after, homegrown content for all screens, to be exported around the world.

VICELAND will launch with a full slate of prime-time shows, including Gaycation with Ellen Page (Freeheld) and friend and co-host Ian Daniel, and Black Market with Michael K. Williams (The Wire). Also a proud home to Canadian content, VICELAND will feature many series produced out of the VICE Canada studio, including Terror with VICE Media Co-Founder Suroosh Alvi.

Focusing on the often underreported issues and topics that matter most to today’s millennials, the world-class slate of Rogers commissioned Canadian-made programming ranges from hard-hitting documentary series – Cyberwar and RISE – to unscripted entertainment series – Abandonment Issues, Dead Set on Life, Payday, and Shroom Boom – to seminal pop culture guides – VICE Essentials Canada, VICE Guide to Comedy, and VICE Guide to Film. Additional broadcast details to be announced at a later date.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Link: Montreal producers living on the edge in CBC-TV series Interrupt This Program

From Bill Brownstein of the Montreal Gazette:

Montreal producers living on the edge in CBC-TV series Interrupt This Program
Mehchi and Fiorito like to live on the edge. They took their probe to cities that have undergone all manner of disasters, be they initiated by war, economics or forces of nature. So, the guys, perhaps taking a cue from the Vice-TV gang, headed off to Beirut, Kyiv, Port-au-Prince, Medellin and Athens, and found both culture and adventure. And, doubtless, spent many a night sleeping with one eye open.

Daring, yes, but also highly illuminating — particularly for viewers who like to limit their sense of wanderlust to the tube. Continue reading. 

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This Life

Writers Talking TV: This Life with showrunner Joseph Kay

The next edition of Writers Talking TV, the WGC’s spotlight on showrunners, features This Life showrunner Joseph Kay interviewed by fellow screenwriter Cal Coons. This edition of WTTV takes place at the Canadian International TV Festival. It’s free and open to all, but make sure to RSVP to ensure you have a seat.

WHEN: Nov. 17, 7 p.m.
WHERE: TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. West, Toronto
RSVP: Holly LaFlamme h.laflamme@wgc.ca

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Blackstone, Featured

Blackstone returns seeking happiness

It’s kind of ironic that the focus of Tuesday’s Blackstone return dealt with happiness. APTN’s drama, ending after this final fifth season, hasn’t featured a lot of lightness or positivity. Instead, it’s reflected the real issues affecting Native Canadians, from alcoholism and drug use to sexual abuse and murder. So, to hear the word happy even uttered was a little strange.

And yet there it was, used by Gail, the one person on Blackstone whose life is anything but happy. Wendy was kidnapped by Darrien and shows no signs of returning her, throwing Gail and Leona’s lives into disarray. Wilma is dying, and Gail is engaged in a daily battle with the bottle. But as Dr. Crowshoe suggested, discovering what makes Gail happy is her key to getting better. That included getting up in front of those at the band office and apologizing for her sins of the past.

Happiness was a big part of “Beginning of the End” for every major character, albeit in subtle ways. It seems like the only thing that will make Andy happy is reclaiming the chiefdom from Victor. Andy loves power and everything that comes with it—money and women—and blames Victor for Debbie’s death and Alan’s injury. But to become happy, Andy is going to make desperate, rash decisions to get there and I worry things will end badly. Nothing good can come from digging up a buried body. Daryl, meanwhile, is happy just running a successful club. If only things were as simple for others.

I know Darrien is a monster to most, but his most tender moments on Tuesday were reserved for his quiet time with Wendy. He may puff himself up like a tough guy, but Darrien clearly wants to connect with his daughter. I’m not sure kidnapping her was the right decision, but it’s where his brain went first. And then there was that little cough; clearly things aren’t right in Darrien’s lungs.

As for Victor, well … I’m sure he’d be happy if someone finds him before he dies out there in the forest.

Blackstone airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Sunnyside

Link: Sunnyside is weird, wacky and wonderfully Canadian

From Melissa Hank of O.Canada.com:

Sunnyside is weird, wacky and wonderfully Canadian
It’s true: Life really can be so sweet on the Sunnyside of the street. But it can also be twisted, random and downright weird — and not necessarily in a bad way.

Sunnyside, a Canadian sketch-comedy/sitcom hybrid airing on City, isn’t for the faint of heart. Set in an urban neighbourhood that could be Anyplace, Canada, it’s chockablock with quirky recurring characters like an evil barista named Shaytan, a trio of lady meth addicts, and a cashier who can alter reality for a price. Continue reading.

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