Everything about Amazing Race Canada, eh?

He Said/She Said: The Academy asked, we answer

Join Greg and Diane every Monday as we debate what’s on our minds. This week, we pillage the polls at the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television’s Fanzone for some silly summer fodder.

She said:

The poll that caught my eye was “Which Orphan Black clone do you most identify with?” because come on, how can you watch that show and not think about whether you’re a Sarah, Alison, Cosima, or — god forbid — Helena or Rachel? (I love that one of the options in the multiple-choice poll is murderously unhinged Helena but not heartless power-hungry Rachel.) After all, how many brain cells did women burn discussing whether we were Carries, Samanthas, Charlottes, or Mirandas? (I’m totally a Miranda.)

I’m way too sane to identify with Helena,  much as I adore her, and my overdeveloped sense of guilt means Rachel is not in the cards. If she had any sense of guilt she’d have poked her own eye out long ago.

Alison was my least favourite clone at the beginning, but she’s grown to be a favourite as her defenses have dropped and the twerk-ready soul behind her starched appearance emerged. But identify with her? No, just an admiration that someone so seemingly straight-laced and OCD could be such a hot mess.

Cosima in all her quirky, brainy glory was always one of my favourite clones, but her hardcore-geek puts my geek-like tendencies to shame, and I could never pull off that hairstyle.

I’d love to be more like Sarah — tough as nails, never met an ass she wouldn’t attempt to kick, yet caring and vulnerable too — but I’m nowhere near as brassy and ass-kicky. Still, she’s the clone I most identify with partly because we’ve seen so much of the story through her eyes, but also because she has the strength to be the heroine of her own story while constantly being knocked off course by forces beyond her control. Her derailments just happen to involve a few more corporate conspiracies and homicidal villains than your average woman’s.

Bell Media

He Said:

I decided to answer the pretty timely “Who’s your favourite Reality TV host?” because The Amazing Race Canada rolls out for another season on Wednesday. To judge the four in this category is a lot like what Diane went through to get to the bottom of the Orphan Black clone she most identifies with. Like the Leda clones, each of these hosts has a different personality to fit with the shows they head up.

Jon Montgomery would be my homer pick, a likeable dude who won an Olympic gold medal and then drank from a pitcher of beer to celebrate. He brings that affable attitude to The Amazing Race Canada each week, calmly and playfully explaining each challenge before and welcoming the pairs to the mat at the end of each episode. He even looks sad when a squad is eliminated. Jon’s job isn’t to command the stage, but to serve as a bridge between series and contestants.

Arisa Cox is big and brash, all smiles and personality. It’s a tough gig — she has to balance hosting Big Brother Canada with interviewing the eliminated players and playing to a live audience — but she pulls it off. I’m not a huge fan of BBC, but I appreciate with Arisa brings to the table every week.

Like Arisa Cox, Jessi Cruickshank has a lot to do as host of Canada’s Smartest Person. She has to interact with the contestants — most of them sporting huge egos — mug for the live audience, throw to stats man Jeff Douglas and talk straight into he camera at those playing the game at home. She has an infectious personality that can be a little overbearing — and her wardrobe causes me to scratch my head sometimes — but you need a high-energy person to handle the three-ring circus that is Canada’s Smartest Person.

My favourite? Andrew Younghusband, host of Canada’s Worst Driver. Worst Driver is just one of three Discovery shows Younghusband hosts (Don’t Drive Here and Canada’s Worst Handyman), but he’s at his best here. Equal parts TV host, therapist and no-nonsense friend, Younghusband doesn’t just revel in bad, bad drivers but goes lengths to educate them in what they’re doing wrong. Yes, Andrew gets frustrated with lunkheads to the point he’ll berate them on camera. Sure, those sidelong glances he makes at the camera is a silent mockery between he and the viewer. But he does it all with Newfoundland charm and you can’t help but love him for it.

That’s why he’s my favourite reality TV show host.

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Link: Transgender participant is an Amazing Race first

From the Toronto Star:

Transgender participant is an Amazing Race first
Hamilton Elliott never doubted for a second that he was man enough to enter The Amazing Race Canada. The 20-year-old, Centreville, N.S., resident and his fiancée, Michaelia Drever, make up the youngest team in the race. They are one of 12 teams competing in the third season of Canada’s most popular homegrown TV series, which returns Wednesday at 9 p.m. on CTV. The others include professional wrestlers, police officers, soldiers, a UFC fighter and a CFL Hall of Famer (Neil Lumsden). Continue reading.

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Amazing Race Canada reveals Season 3 teams

From a media release:

As announced on CTV’s THE SOCIAL this afternoon, the final round of teams for CTV’s THE AMAZING RACE CANADA were revealed for the upcoming third season.

Up from 11 teams last season, a total of 12 teams will race to win more than $1 million dollars in prizes and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA.

The 12 teams who will compete in the THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are:

  • Gino and Jesse – Brothers – Hamilton
  • Hamilton and Michaelia – Engaged – Centreville, N.S.
  • Dana and Amanda – Co-workers – St. John’s, N.L.
  • Nic and Sabrina – Dating – Montréal
  • Brent and Sean – Brothers – Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S.
  • Dujean and Leilani – Exes – Toronto and Halifax, N.S.
  • Susan and Sharnjit – Co-workers – Vancouver
  • Nick and Matt – Wrestling Teammates – Newmarket, Ont. and Stouffville, Ont.
  • Neil and Kristin – Father and daughter – Burlington, Ont..
  • Simi and Ope – Father and daughter – Burnaby, B.C.
  • Brian and Cynthia – Married – Winnipeg
  • Max and Elias – Dating – Toronto

In the end, only one team can win THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and receive the life-changing grand prize valued at close to $1 million dollars, which includes “gas for life” from Petro-Canada, a $250,000 cash payout, the opportunity to fly for a year anywhere Air Canada flies worldwide in Business Class, plus two Chevrolet Colorado Trucks – the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year. Teams are also competing for special pit stop prizes courtesy of Air Canada and Petro-Canada, to be revealed during the broadcasts.

The third season of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is back with brand new teams and fresh, exciting, nail-biting challenges. Canada’s most-watched television series on record now has 12 teams, meaning more action, more challenges, and more at stake as the racers travel across Canada in the hopes of being the first team to cross the finish line. Hosted by Olympic champion and Canadian hero Jon Montgomery (@jonmonty), Season 2 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA garnered four 2015 Canadian Screen Award wins including Best Reality/Competition Program or Series. Viewers are encouraged to follow @AmazingRaceCDA and stay tuned to THE AMAZING RACE CANADA Facebook page for updates.

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TV, eh? podcast episode 183 – Greg est perdu

Greg is on the injury list with a bad cold, so Anthony and Diane cover the Great Canadian TV Playoffs alone. It’s Durham County of the 2000s versus SCTV of the 1970s in the battle for the cup? Who will prevail, and will Anthony have anything to say about it first?

We also talk about cancellations (bye Remedy), renewals (hello again Bitten), returning shows (Amazing Race Canada), the deluge of award shows and other Canadian TV news.

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The Amazing Race Canada returns July 8

From a media release:

Season 3 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA Headlines CTV’s Summer 2015 Schedule, Beginning July 8

CTV’s summer programing was finalized today with announcement of the return of the most-watched television program in Canada last summer, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, headlining the network’s Summer 2015 schedule with its third season premiere Wednesday, July 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO. Canada’s most-watched Canadian series is joined by previously announced blockbuster summer event series ZOO, airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, beginning June 30.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (Season 3) – *NEW SEASON*
Wednesdays at 9 p.m., beginning July 8
Available live and on demand on CTV.ca and CTV GO
Returning to CTV this summer with all-new teams and exciting, edge-of-your-seat challenges, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is back for a third season of action-packed adventure. Hosted by Olympic champion and Canadian hero Jon Montgomery (@jonmonty), Season 2 was once again the most-watched television program in Canada last summer with an average audience of 2.8 million viewers. Fans are encouraged to follow @AmazingRaceCDA and stay tuned to CTV’s Facebook page for updates.

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