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.

Chris Haddock’s The Romeo Section in production

From a media release:

Haddock Entertainment started production late last week on their highly anticipated new series for CBC-TV, THE ROMEO SECTION. Shooting in and around Vancouver, the 10-episode x 1-hour drama will continue its production until October 20, 2015.

From the creative mind of acclaimed showrunner Chris Haddock (Boardwalk Empire – Producer / Writer; Intelligence and Da Vinci’s Inquest – Creator / Showrunner), THE ROMEO SECTION is a taut drama about espionage in the Pacific Rim, set in contemporary Vancouver. The show centres on a seasoned handler fronting as a university professor to recruit a roster of informants, who use their powers of seduction to extract secrets from state intelligence targets.

The talented ensemble cast includes Andrew Airlie (Cedar Cove; The Killing; 50 Shades of Grey; Big Eyes), a familiar face to audiences worldwide across both big and small screens, Andrew takes on the lead role of Wolfgang McGee; Jemmy Chen (USA Network’s Rush; an upcoming role in Star Trek 3) is a star on the rise adding to her repertoire of characters as Wolfgang’s colleague, Professor Lily Wong; multiple-award winning actor Juan Riedinger (Smallville; Continuum; Covert Affairs; Jennifer’s Body) has been cast as the conflicted Romeo spy, Rufus; well-established actor Eugene Lipinski (Sophie’s Choice; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; Fringe) deftly portrays Al, Wolfgang’s confidant in the world of espionage; and Vancouver born and raised talent, Stephanie Bennett (Big Eyes; CW series IZombie; Lifetime series UnReal) is Dee, an unhinged and unpredictable individual who is not afraid to stir up some trouble.

The series follows spymaster Professor Wolfgang McGee, an academic who secretly manages a roster of espionage assets. These assets, referred to as Romeo or Juliet spies, are informants engaged in intimate long or short-term relations with state intelligence targets. Wolfgang is a semi-retired Romeo operator, having worked his way up from youth in an unnamed and officially deniable “service” under the umbrella of Canada’s Intelligence Community.

Wolfgang falls into an obsessive relationship with one of his recruits, and discovers he has found himself a contemporary Mata Hari, and she has found, àla Pygmalion, a mentor to both dominate and liberate her. Over the course of the season, she emerges as an apt pupil threatening to overshadow her teacher.

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Spun Out returns Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on CTV beginning July 14

From a media release:

– Comedian Russell Peters guest stars as Nelson’s DJ-ing brother in season premiere –

– Dave Foley back as boss to lead exceptional ensemble cast –

– SPUN OUT Season 1 received impressive four CSA nominations –

CTV’s original Canadian comedy series SPUN OUT returnsTuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, beginning tomorrow, July 14, with guest star Russell Peters, it was confirmed today. The gang from DLPR resume their adventures in public relations, setting the tone for a new season full of laughs. The series will encore Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Two and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network and can be found on demand on CTV.ca and CTV GO. Additionally, Season 1 will begin streaming Wednesday, July 15 on CraveTV™, while subscribers can also watch Season 2 episodes one day ahead of their CTV premiere with CraveTV’s “first look” for Canadian series, beginning with Episode 2.

SPUN OUT centres on Dave Lyons (Dave Foley, KIDS IN THE HALL), the head of an established PR firm, staffed with people who can spin everyone’s problems but their own. New this season, Beckett (Paul Campbell, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) tries to execute the perfect casual relationship with a documentary filmmaker, Dave goes head to head with his ex-wife from a rival PR firm, and Stephanie (Rebecca Dalton, THE L.A. COMPLEX) must work with an old sorority sister whose oversized yoga line, “Blue Whale,” lands her in hot water.

In the Season 2 premiere of SPUN OUT, entitled “My Brother’s Speaker” (Tuesday, July 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), when Nelson’s (Al Mukadam) DJ-ing brother Ray (Red, White, and Brown) stops by, Nelson plans a big industry showcase for him. Ray shows up hours late, and Nelson learns his brother’s true passion may not be music at all. Beckett is over the moon when Dave wants to spend time with him outside of work, but there’s more to Dave’s motives than meets the eye. Stephanie and Abby (Holly Deveaux) plan a poker night with Gordon (Darcy Michael) and Bryce (J.P. Manoux), but when the guys end up winning, the girls think they’ve been hustled.

 

 

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Link: Erin Karpluk goes for laughs in Riftworld: Chronicles

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Erin Karpluk goes for laughs in Riftworld: Chronicles
Erin Karpluk has done a lot during her various acting jobs on the small screen. She starred for four seasons on Being Erica and has guest starred on hit television shows Rookie Blue and Saving Hope. There is one thing however that she hasn’t done much of: comedy. Thanks to the CBC’s Riftworld: Chronicles she can now cross that one off the list. Continue reading.

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Link: Back to deep space with Dark Matter director Amanda Tapping

From Sabrina Furminger of Westender:

Back to deep space with Dark Matter director Amanda Tapping
“I think the industry is changing, and I think there are more opportunities for women than there were,” says Tapping.

“The statistics, yes, are abysmal for women behind the camera, but there is more public accountability,” she says. “It’s the fact that we’re talking about it. It’s not changing very quickly, but I believe it is changing.” Continue reading.

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Link: The ‘Reelside’ of Science Fiction with Graeme Manson

From Melissa Girimonte of The Televixen:

The ‘Reelside’ of Science Fiction with Graeme Manson
I quite enjoyed Episode 4, “Science Fiction”, which featured director/screenwriter Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice), writer/producer Graeme Manson (Orphan Black, Cube), and actor Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica, Teen Wolf). I chatted with Graeme Manson about that episode, and he had some great insight into the creative process, as well as some thoughts on how it has changed since the advent of social media. Continue reading.

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