From CBC:
Leading up to the Writers Guild of Canada awards on April 23, TV, eh? is posting a series of interviews with some of nominees. Ken Cuperus earned one of three nominations for My Babysitter’s a Vampire in the Children and Youth category, for the “Blood Drive†episode.
Can you describe the episode, and how it fit into the My Babysitter’s a Vampire season?
“Blood Drive” takes place early in the season as Sarah struggles to keep herself from drinking blood, which would turn her from a fledgling into a full vampire. But temptation comes knocking in the form of a school blood drive, and Erica is piling on the peer pressure to get Sarah to drink. Everything gets more complicated when it is revealed that the two nurses who are running the blood drive are, in fact, vampires themselves… and the blood drive is a long-running scam to stock up on fresh blood. Rory and Erica try to steal the blood from the blood truck, but get captured by the vamp nurses — and Ethan, Benny and Sarah are forced to give chase, to rescue their pals. That’s where the title comes from. It’s a blood drive … but also they are driving in a blood truck. Forget the script, the title alone is award worthy, right? (crickets)
What about this episode are you particularly proud of?
Did I mention how clever the title is? I mean, it’s a blood drive, right? But also … there’s the driving of a truck that contains actual blood. Rarely is an episode as aptly titled as this one. Also, I managed to cram in a “Sarlacc Pit” reference, which will be mildly interesting to Star Wars fans and nobody else.
What does this recognition mean to you?
It’s really great to have my work recognized, and I love that I am up against some of my favourite people in the industry. I’ve been working alongside both Ben and Alice since my earliest days as a preschool writer, and I would be thrilled to see either one of them take home the award. I don’t know Evan, but I have no doubt he is equally deserving, and I’m rooting for him as well. Of course, if I do win, I will rub it in all of their faces mercilessly.
And finally (imagine my best Joan Rivers impression): what will you be wearing to the ceremony?
Probably the same outfit I wear to every single event ever. I mean, I own maybe three pairs of pants. And my “good” shirt has holes in the sleeves. I’m not what you’d call a sharp dresser. If it wasn’t for my wife, I’d probably just show up in my pajamas. I have serious issues.
Anthony and Diane announce the winners of the TV Ehwards and chat about the Junos, Strombo’s Vancouver trip, Arctic Air’s record season, and the CBC budget cuts.
Episode 88: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed
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Leading up to the Writers Guild of Canada awards on April 23, TV, eh? will be posting a series of interviews with some of nominees. Ben Joseph nabbed one of three nominations for My Babysitter’s a Vampire in the Children and Youth category, for the “Friday Night Frights” episode. He shares his interesting back story …
“I was hired as a story editor on the show when it first got started. I wrote the first episode that got approved. I wrote a first draft … and then they fired me. Sure I was peeved but things happen — they just wanted to go in a different direction. Or so I thought. They never really gave me a good reason. Then 8 months later when I saw the actual episode, it was pretty much exactly the way I wrote the first draft. So that made me angry. So getting a nomination for a first draft that got me fired is kind of a nice karmic middle finger. That being said I wish the show well because I know most of the writers and they are quality people and all talented.”
Can you describe the episode, and how it fit into the season?
My episode revolves a ghost gym teacher who returns to the school and wants to finally win a trophy. He wants Ethan (the star of the show) to win it in wrestling – or this ghost coach will haunt him forever!
What about this episode are you particularly proud of?
I’m proud that all those years “researching” professional wrestling has finally paid off! R.I.P. Macho Man.
What does this recognition mean to you?
Getting a nomination is fun and all but it’s not like my scripts are curing cancer. Unless they are. Then I should probably get paid more.
And finally (imagine my best Joan Rivers impression): what will you be wearing to the ceremony?
I like to have fun at these events — I’ve gone as “Thriller” Michael Jackson, Belloq from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and last year as The Joker from the animated “Batman” series. This year I have something special cooked up but I don’t want to ruin the surprise (or have someone show up wearing the same outfit!).
The Juno Awards, CTV
Canadian icon William Shatner hosts THE 2012 JUNO AWARDS live from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. The Canadian artists set to perform throughout the star-studded broadcast include Blue Rodeo, City and Colour, deadmau5, Feist, Hedley, Hey Rosetta!, K’NAAN, Lights, MC Flipside, Nickelback and Simple Plan. Also, THE BORGIAS’ Francois Arnaud, THE L.A. COMPLEX star Cassie Steele, DEGRASSI’s Annie Clark, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Ron Sexsmith, Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan and Olympians Alexandre Despatie and Jennifer Abel are set to appear. An encore presentation of THE 2012 JUNO AWARDS will air at midnight on CTV.
Spelling Night in Canada, CBC
It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s not your typical spelling bee. It’s Spelling Night In Canada – a one-hour prime-time event that will celebrate the country’s youth and keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Spelling Night In Canada takes the spelling bee format to the next level with a fast-paced game-show style, and celebrity hosts and commentators.
