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.
Saving Hope: 11 Tidbits to tide you over until the premiere
It was no question that Joel’s death would be a real game changer for the show, and with the show’s driving force, the love triangle between Joel-Alex-Charlie now gone it looks like the path is clear for other storylines to open up a bit as the show moves toward more of an ensemble format. We already know that as the season progresses new characters will be added and we will see well known guest stars. From what we’ve seen so far this season may just be Saving Hope‘s best one yet. Continue reading.
After 48,500 km, Season 3 of The Amazing Race Canada crowned its winners as Gino and Jesse Montani captured a year of travel for two in business class anywhere Air Canada flies, two Chevy Colorados, gas for life from Petro Canada, $250,000 and winners of The Amazing Race Canada.
“Here’s to you, Canada. Cheers!” was an orgy of Canadiana in Vancouver, from riding a bike along a metal beam on BCE Place to visiting the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre for a map challenge and a ski matching test in Whistler.
And it was anything but and easy Leg for the final three teams. I honestly thought Brent and Sean’s luck had finally run out when Brent took 20 tries to wobble his way across the beam in downtown Vancouver. Jesse and Matt conquered the Road Block in their first tries, giving their squads an early lead. Those leads were cut down thanks to Brent and Sean’s tenacity … and a major blunder by Jesse and Gino. The brothers from Hamilton were so stressed out the wrestlers successfully finished the map challenge ahead of them they neglected to completely eras their whiteboard … Brent and Sean merely had to write the final answer on their board and they’d completed the task. Racing tip: worry about what you’re doing and not the other teams.
A somewhat simple task at the Bearfoot Bistro—removing the tops from champagne bottles using a sabre and champagne flute—was nonetheless a symbolic one: these teams had battled hard through 12 Legs and were celebrating ever-so-briefly with a quaff of bubbly.
The editing made it look as though Jesse and Gino were mere minutes arriving on the mat in front of Jon Montgomery ahead of Matt and Nick on the 12th hole at the Nicklaus North Golf Course. Either way, the siblings were first and the wrestlers, who had placed in the Top 3 during nine Legs had to settle for second place.
“We never doubted each other,” Jesse told Montgomery. “This is the most beautiful country in the world. You don’t need to travel anywhere else.”
Overall, I’ve been impressed with Season 3 of The Amazing Race. A series of incredibly hard challenges forced some teams to sit out and take time penalties but for the most part they gamely soldiered on. I’ve never been a fan of the Race leaving Canada, but I’m OK they keep the continent jumping to a minimum and begin and end in the greatest country on the planet.
Here’s how the final three finished:
Jesse and Gino (winners)
Matt and Nick
Brent and Sean
Notes and quotes
“Brent and I are from the east coast and prefer our mussels with garlic butter.” — Sean
How great was that callback to Monty’s gold medal Winter Olympics win by handing him a pitcher of beer?
What have you thought of this season of The Amazing Race Canada? Will you audition for Season 4?
Saving Hope’s Erica Durance teases Season 4
“If you’re going to play somebody pregnant, it’s helpful to be pregnant. It’s kind of seamless that way. But it was an exhausting year. I’ve never been so tired in my life. It’s something that I wanted to do for my real life, and they were gracious enough on the show to let that be a part of the story.” Continue reading.
CBC’s ultimate competition series, CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON returns for its second season on Sunday, October 4 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), hosted by Jessi Cruickshank and featuring an all-new roster of competitors and exciting celebrity guest judges. Thousands of Canadians applied and underwent a series of rigorous tests for the chance to compete in this epic intelligence showdown. Each week, a diverse group of Canadians including a CFL player, cheerleader, Youtube star, matchmaker, police officer and more battle it out for the chance to be crowned “Canada’s Smartest Person.”
In the season premiere, 16-year-old wunderkid Maya Burhanpurkar of Orillia, ON, rapper Anthony Craparotta(aka iLLvibe) of Toronto, ON, diversity executive Richard Pinnock from Montreal, QC and new mom Jessica Joy of Golden, BC go head-to-head, competing  for a spot in the finale and their chance to take home the coveted title. Amber Marshall star of CBC’s hit family-drama HEARTLAND is the season’s first celebrity guest star.
CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON is an innovative, original competition series based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Each week, four participants compete in a series of challenges in six areas of intelligence (linguistic, logical, visual, physical, musical and social) that redefines smart. This season features even more action-packed competition marked by bigger, bolder, mind-bending challenges that push participants to their limits. It also includes an all-star line-up of celebrity judges including CBC sports host Scott Russell, comedian Mary Walsh (This Hour Has 22 Minutes), celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, actor Alan Thicke (Unusually Thicke), choreographer Sean Cheeseman, comedian Steve Patterson (The Debaters), actor Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek), sports anchor Dan O’Toole (Fox Sports), singer Jully Black, Toronto International Film Festival artistic director Cameron Bailey, chef Mark McEwan and the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Sean O’Neill (Crash Gallery).
Each week, viewers can play along in real-time with the ground-breaking CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON app, available for iOS and Android devices. The app syncs to every broadcast allowing viewers to participate with each challenge in the show in real time. During the week, viewers can try their hand at a series of bonus challenges and new this season, is Head2Head, which allows players to dual against their family and friends.
CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON airs Sundays at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC-TV beginning October 4.
Earlier this month, we asked which three Canadian television series you were most excited about returning—congratulations Murdoch Mysteries fans—and now it’s time to gauge interest in the rookies stepping up to bat over the next two months.
From Canadian comfort food to spies, from Tornado Hunters to Ice Racers, which three (3) new programs are you planning to watch? We’ve included summaries of each series below the choices to help you decide; check out our handy calendars to see when they debut.
(Vote by clicking the box next to your three choices and then selecting the Vote box to the right of Tornado Hunters.)
Which new Canadian fall TV shows are you planning to watch?
Tornado Hunters, CMT (54%, 344 Votes)
Crash Gallery, CBC (10%, 66 Votes)
The Romeo Section, CBC (8%, 48 Votes)
Ice Racer Showdown, CMT (7%, 42 Votes)
This Life, CBC (6%, 41 Votes)
Keeping Canada Alive, CBC (6%, 38 Votes)
Great Canadian Cookbook, Food Network (5%, 33 Votes)
Incredible Food Race, Food Network (4%, 24 Votes)
Total Voters: 482
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Crash Gallery In this competition program, a trio of Canadian artists have just minutes to create an original piece of art using outrageous mediums in front of an audience who vote for the best piece. Hosted by the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Sean O’Neill.
Great Canadian Cookbook
Celebrity chef Lynn Crawford and Carnival Eats host Noah Cappe travel across the country, meeting Canadians who are passionate about the local dishes they prepare and celebrating the cultural mosaic of those recipes.
Ice Racer Showdown
Five drivers risk life and limb race vehicles through an icy obstacle course. Hosted by The Road Hammers’ Clayton Bellamy.
The Incredible Food Race ET Canada‘s Rick Campanelli and celebrity chef Corbin Tomaszeski star in this culinary competition where two Canadian families compete to create a kid-approved meal.
Keeping Canada Alive
Narrated by Kiefer Sutherland, this documentary series spotlights a 24-hour period in Canada’s health care system.
The Romeo Section
Created by Chris Haddock (Intelligence, Da Vinci’s Inquest), The Romeo Section explores the life of Wolfgang McGee (Andrew Airlie), a professor who secretly manages a group of spies. Jemmy Chen, Juan Riedinger, Stephanie Bennett and Eugene Lipinski also star.
This Life
Adapted from the French series, Nouvelle Adresse, This Life stars Torri Higginson as Natalie Lawson, a lifestyle columnist and single mother whose cancer diagnosis affects her and her family. Lauren Lee Smith, Christopher Turner, Rick Roberts, Rachael Crawford and Peter MacNeill also star.
Tornado Hunters
Cameras capture Greg Johnson, Chris Chittick and Ricky Forbes as their put their lives in danger to capture study North America’s tornadoes.
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