From Chris Jancelewicz of Huffington Post Canada:
Best Canadian TV Of 2014: Shows And Moments That Ruled The Small Screen
Every Canadian knows it’s true: our homegrown TV has a horrible reputation, both here and abroad. The first things that pop into people’s minds are snow, period pieces, and low production values — hardly the stuff of legendary entertainment. But something has been happening over the past few years. Slowly, steadily, Canadian TV shows are getting better. Continue reading.
From a media release:
With its third season set to air on Global in Spring 2015, Big Brother Canada kicks off its coast-to-coast houseguest search this Sunday, October 19 in Vancouver and Calgary followed by stops in Regina, Halifax, St. John’s, Montréal and Toronto. Fans of the raucous reality series can also rejoice over news that the Big Brother Canada Side Show is returning to Slice™ in 2015, with series host Arisa Cox and co-hosts Peter Brown and Gary Levy in a new one-hour format. The schedule for Big Brother Canada and the Side Show will be revealed in the New Year.
The Big Brother Canada Side Show reached over 4.5 million viewers (V2+)* in its inaugural season, which ranked in the Top 10 of all specialty entertainment programs (excluding sports) for the full broadcast year among W25-54 and W18-49*. With its candid water cooler conversations, exclusive interviews, and expert hosts, the Big Brother Canada Side Show will feature more must-see content and behind-the-scenes footage than ever before.
Big Brother Canada is looking for the biggest and boldest personalities in Canada to star in its third season. Those interested in applying for the show can either apply online by November 24, 2014 at BigBrotherCanada.ca with a short video about why they would make the perfect houseguest, or in person at open casting calls in select cities. Applicants must be Canadian and at least 19 years of age by March 1, 2015.
Open casting calls will be held in the following cities from 8am – 2pm.
More information is available online at BigBrotherCanadaCasting.ca.
Vancouver, British Columbia: Sunday, October 19 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel
Calgary, Alberta: Sunday, October 19 at Ranchman’s
Regina, Saskatchewan: Friday, October 24 at Queensbury Convention Centre at Evraz Place
Halifax, Nova Scotia: Friday, October 24 at The Lower Deck
St. John’s, Newfoundland: Wednesday, October 29 at the Avalon Mall
Montréal, Québec: Thursday, October 30 at the Montréal Forum
Toronto, Ontario: Sunday, November 23 at the John Bassett Theatre
From a media release:
Insight Productions produced two of the biggest ratings hits of the year with CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada and Shaw Media’s Big Brother Canada.
With confirmed numbers now in, blockbuster hit The Amazing Race Canada is the most-watched Canadian program of the year with an average audience of 2.8 million viewers on CTV; the #1 Summer series overall; and the #2 television series in Canada behind only CTV’s The Big Bang Theory.* More than three million Canadians tuned in to see Mickey & Pete’s pantless victory lap in the season finale.
Shaw Media’s Big Brother Canada’s second season, which debuted last March, is the most-watched reality program across all specialty channels.** The show’s rabid fan base ensured that the Big Brother Canada finale outshone even hockey playoffs across specialty channels.*** Coming off the heels of a stellar second season, Big Brother Canada makes the move to Global for Season 3, debuting next year.
“Broadcasters and sponsors alike know that Insight shows deliver viewers week after week,†said John Brunton, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Producer of both series. “That so many Canadians connected so passionately to these shows is a testament in part to Mark Lysakowski and Erin Brock’s phenomenal storytelling ability and exacting standards.â€
As previously announced, casting for both Big Brother Canada and The Amazing Race Canada is now underway. For Big Brother Canada, visit www.bigbrothercanadacasting.ca. In person open casting calls begin on October 19 in Vancouver and Calgary, followed by stops in Regina, Halifax, St. John’s, Montréal, and Toronto.
From a media release:
Following a record-breaking sophomore season, Big Brother Canada is gearing up for its national casting call for season three, airing on Global in 2015. Canadians 19 years of age and older can apply online at BigBrotherCanada.ca beginning today, and in person this fall at open casting calls across Canada. The online submission deadline is November 24, 2014.
“Our Canadian edition of the beloved Big Brother franchise has quickly become one of the most acclaimed productions in the world and with its move to Global this year, Big Brother Canada’s third installment is looking for the biggest, boldest personalities in Canada to entertain our audiences three nights a week on-air and 24/7 online,†said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President of Content, Shaw Media.
Big Brother Canada is looking for Canucks from all corners of the country; from superfans and strategists to drama kings and queens. As part of Endemol’s worldwide hit franchise, Big Brother Canada’s secret recipe for raucous reality is in its eclectic crew of houseguests. They boldly compete for a grand cash prize through a gruelling series of weekly challenges that test both brain and brawn.
“Big Brother Canada season two was a blockbuster for the franchise with a perfect storm of personalities pitted against each other inside the Big Brother house and cut off from the outside world,†said John Brunton, Chairman & CEO, Insight Production Company Ltd. “The bar has once again been raised and we know our BBCAN Superfans will bring their A-Game to the casting calls this year.â€
Those interested in applying can either apply online at BigBrotherCanada.ca with a short video about why they would make the perfect houseguest, or in person at open casting calls throughout October and November. Applicants must be 19 years of age by March 1, 2015. Additional information about the casting calls in select cities will be released in the coming months.
Open casting calls will be held in the following cities:
Vancouver, British Columbia – Sunday, October 19
Calgary, Alberta – Sunday, October 19
Regina, Saskatchewan – Friday, October 24
Halifax, Nova Scotia – Friday, October 24
St. John’s, Newfoundland – Wednesday, October 29
Montréal, Québec – Thursday, October 30
Toronto, Ontario – Sunday, November 23
Coming exclusively to Global in spring 2015, Big Brother Canada season three plucks a group of hand-picked strangers from their homes, sequesters them from the outside world, and places them inside a house outfitted wall-to-wall with cameras and microphones that capture their every move. Each week the houseguests compete in a series of challenges that give the houseguests power or punishment, voting each other out until the fate of the final two is decided by a jury of fellow houseguests.
From a media release:
CALLING ALL FANS: BIG BROTHER CANADA SEASON TWO NATIONAL CASTING CALL NOW OPEN
Hot on the heels of the epic first season of Big Brother Canada, the country’s biggest specialty reality series of the year, Shaw Media and Insight Productions announced today that the national casting call for season two is now open. Canadians 19 years and older are invited to apply online at www.bigbrothercanada.ca and this fall in person at open casting calls in select cities across Canada. The submission deadline is October 25, 2013.
Big Brother Canada is looking for all interested Canadians – strategists, wall flowers, drama queens, nerds and dreamers and schemers alike are all encouraged to apply. For all those keen to live in a house stacked with big personalities, big competition and hundreds of cameras and microphones catching your every move, Big Brother Canada wants to hear from you.
Applicants can either apply online at www.bigbrothercanada.ca with the option to include a short video expressing why they should be chosen to live in the Big Brother Canada house, in person at open casting calls throughout September and October, or can opt to do both. Additional information about the casting calls in select cities will be released in the coming months.
Open casting calls will be held in the following cities:
Vancouver, British Columbia – September 8 at Metropolis at Metrotown
Edmonton, Alberta – September 14 at West Edmonton Mall
Halifax, Nova Scotia – September 20 at Halifax Shopping Centre
St. John’s, Newfoundland – September 21 at Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland
Montreal, Quebec – September 27 at Le Centre Montreal Sheraton
Toronto, Ontario – October 19 at John Bassett Theatre
Coming exclusively to Slice in winter 2014, Big Brother Canada Season Two will hand pick a diverse group of houseguests to live in the Big Brother Canada house outfitted wall to wall with cameras and microphones to capture all the action. Each week the houseguests will compete in a series of challenges and vote each other out until one claims victory and takes home the grand prize.
Fans can catch Big Brother 15 Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on Global and Big Brother After Dark seven days a week from 4-6am ET on Slice.