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.

Emily Hampshire, Meaghan Rath among Golden Maple Award winners

From a media release:

The Academy of Canadians in Sports and Entertainment – Los Angeles (ACISE-LA) just held the inaugural 2015 Golden Maple Awards at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles on Canada Day, July 1, 2015.

The event was hosted by Erin Karpluk from the upcoming Riftworld Chronicles who stepped in for Lauren Ash due to a sickness.

During the event former NBA basketball player and Canadian actor Rick Fox, was honored with the 2015 Maple of Excellence for Outstanding Athlete/Actor Crossover award and Canadian CrossFit champion Lucas Parker with the 2015 Maple of Excellence for Outstanding Athlete award.

Members of ACISE-LA had the opportunity to vote until June 23, 2015 for the winners in the following categories:

Best Actor in a TV series broadcasted in the US

Best Actress in a TV series broadcasted in the US

Newcomer of the year in a TV series broadcasted in the US.

The winner is: Brandon Jay McLaren - Graceland, US Network: USA for BEST ACTOR IN A TV SERIES BROADCASTED IN THE US
Other nominees were:
Adam Copeland - Haven, US Network: Syfy
Alexander Ludwig - Vikings, US Network: History Channel
Greyston Holt - Bitten, US Network: Syfy
Jonathan Keltz - Reign, US Network: CW
Lyriq Bent - The Book of Negroes, US Network: BET
Torrance Coombs - Reign, US Network: CW

The winner is: Amanda Crew - Silicon Valley, US Network: HBO for BEST ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES BROADCASTED IN THE US
Other nominees were:
Anna Silk - Lost Girl, US Network: Syfy
Caroline Dhavernas - Hannibal, US Network: NBC
Jessalyn Gilsig - Vikings, US Network: History Channel
Katheryn Winnick - Vikings, US Network: History Channel
Kathleen Robertson - Murder in the First, US Network: TNT
Missy Peregrym - Rookie Blue, US Network: ABC

The winners are: Emily Hampshire - 12 Monkeys and Schitt’s Creek, US Network: Syfy and Pop TV And Meaghan Rath - New Girl, US Network: FOX for NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR IN A TV SERIES BROADCASTED IN THE US:
Other nominees were:
Brooke Wexler - Richie Rich, US Network: Netflix
Italia Ricci - Chasing Life, US Network: ABC Family
Shailyn Pierre Dixon - The Book of Negroes, US Network: BET

Image credit: Faye Sadou

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Review: Explosive reveals on Rookie Blue

Still basking in the happiness that was Andy and Swarek’s engagement, I tuned in to this week’s episode of Rookie Blue knowing that things wouldn’t be all fun and games. Juliet throwing Oliver under the bus to IA meant bad times were coming at the precinct. Did they ever.

“Best Man,” written by Adriana Maggs and series co-star Enuka Okuma (check out her chat with The TV Junkies), was very much about Oliver. Not long after Swarek asked him to be his best man, he was under the microscope and more folks were learning of his impending fate. I like Matt Gordon a lot. His Oliver is able to successfully walk that line between goofy and serious, and he commands respect from his fellow cops. But despite the fact Oliver is just outside the core group of RB characters, Gordon is able to make the most of the lines and scenes he’s given.

His speech to Swarek, Andy and Izzy near the end of the episode, when the list of reasons he could be named the bomber was read off, was stunning and emotionally draining. Twenty years on the job, cleaning the streets of criminals and saving lives—including Evan, the autistic boy who’d disappeared and was found by he and Diaz—and he’d missed seeing his little girl grow up. So Oliver put his badge on his desk and left to play drums with Izzy.

To make that move was shocking in and of itself, though there is no way Swarek is handing over Oliver’s badge. He’s going to hold onto it until the firestorm is over.

Rookie

And what a firestorm is promises to be. Steve Peck is the man behind the bombing? That little tidbit left me reeling. Bomb dealer Chris Klem (Flashpoint‘s Sergio Di Zio) was finally tracked down by Swarek and Andy and delivered he and his daughter to Traci, who was putting them in protective custody. I never believed Oliver was the cop who’d gotten the bomb pieces from Chris—but I never suspected Steve either. I never saw outward signs that he was unhappy or held a grudge with anyone on the force. Is there something that happened in earlier seasons that I missed because I’m a relative newbie to RB? Was he upset he was passed over for Sergeant and wanted to frame Oliver? Was he forced to do it by someone else?

Either way, the fact Traci has discovered her man is the bomber sends their relationship in a whole new direction (how could she kiss him and go out to dinner after Chris identified him?) and throws the precinct into upheaval. Holy crap.

Notes and quotes

  • Does every couple go through the gauntlet of a marriage quiz when they become engaged? I’m asking for a friend.
  • “There’s nothing in this world that isn’t somewhere.” — Traci
  • “How many times have I been right? Is anyone even keeping track anymore??” — Andy

Rookie Blue airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Global.

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Link: The best bad Canadian television shows ever made

From Steve Tilley of Postmedia:

The best bad Canadian television shows ever made
There’s a voice that keeps on calling me to some of the (perhaps wisely) forgotten shows from our not-so-visionary past. Like the embarrassing family photos you keep in the back of a drawer, they’re worth revisiting for a few laughs and a lot of cringing.

As we celebrate Canada’s 148th birthday Wednesday, here’s a look back at the best of Canada’s worst TV shows from the ’70s and ’80s. Continue reading.

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22 Minutes, Mr. D, Tiny Plastic Men snag Canadian Comedy Award noms

The casts of 22 Minutes, Mr. D, Tiny Plastic Men, Rick Mercer Report and Republic of Doyle are among those nominated in this year’s go-round of the Canadian Comedy Awards.

Established in 2000, the awards celebrate Canadian comedians for their achievement in TV, film, radio the web and live performances. The 16th annual fete will be handed out on Sept. 13 in Toronto.

Here are the nominees in the TV categories:

TELEVISION / BEST TV SHOW
Meet the Family
Ryan Long is Challenged 
This Hour Has 22 Minutes XXII
Tiny Plastic Men Season 2
Too Much Information

TELEVISION / BEST DIRECTION IN A TV SERIES OR SPECIAL
Cameron Wyllie - The D.J. Demers Show – Backup Job
Derek Harvie – Meet the Family
Henry Sarwer-Foner – Rick Mercer Report – Ep 16
Mark O’Brien – Republic of Doyle – No Rest for the Convicted
Viveno Caldinelli, Michael Lewis- This Hour Has 22 Minutes XXII - Episode 20

TELEVISION / BEST WRITING IN A TV SERIES OR SPECIAL
Chris Craddock – Tiny Plastic Men, Season 2
Gerry Dee – Donor Dinner
Matt Doyle, Derek Harvie, Hannah Hogan, Brian Peco & Ron Sparks – Meet the Family
Peter McBain, Mark Critch, Mike Allison, Bob Kerr, Jon Blair, Sonya Bell, Heidi Brander, Adam Christie, Pat Dussault, Dean Jenkinson, Jeremy Woodcock, Mary Walsh – This Hour Has 22 Minutes XXII – Episode 16
Ryan Long, Jarek Hardy, Max Off – Ryan Long is Challenged

TELEVISION / BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A TV SERIES
Cathy Jones – This Hour Has 22 Minutes XXII
Ellie Harvie – Some Assembly Required
Jill Morrison – Sloppy Seconds
Leslie Seiler: 24 Hour Rental 
Susan Kent – This Hour Has 22 Minutes XXII

TELEVISION / BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A TV SERIES
Darrin Rose – Mr. D
Gerry Dee – Mr. D
Jonathan Torrens – Mr. D
Shaun Majumder – This Hour Has 22 Minutes XXII
Terry Barna – Meet the Family

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TV Eh B Cs podcast 24: Paul Mather – Tripping the 49th Parallel

Paul_MatherPaul Mather was showrunner on the iconic series CORNER GAS, the most successful sitcom in Canadian history. He also ran the internationally acclaimed commercial hit LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE. Paul co-created and co-ran the Gemini-nominated series DAN FOR MAYOR for CTV and created and ran MEN WITH BROOMS for CBC. Outside of the sitcom format, Paul was head writer and a Supervising Producer on one of the Canada’s highest-rated and most enduring shows, the news satire RICK MERCER REPORT. Since moving to the U.S., Paul has developed with CBS, and was a Supervising Producer on NBC’s THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW and on FRIEND ME for CBS.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

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