From Bill Harris of Postmedia Network:
Degrassi coming back on Family Channel?
Degrassi may get adopted by a new Family.
In this odd era of TV where it seems no show ever really is dead, there are rumblings that long-running Degrassi – which just got cancelled by Bell Media – will re-emerge in some form on another Canadian broadcaster. Continue reading.
From a media release:
The eagerly-anticipated two-hour original movie Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables from Breakthrough Entertainment will debut on Corus Entertainment’s YTV in early 2016.
Now in production in several locations throughout Canada, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, based on the classic Anne series of novels, is beautifully reimagined by Breakthrough in association with the author’s granddaughter, Kate MacDonald Butler who serves as an Executive Producer. John Kent Harrison will direct the movie special based on a script by Susan Coyne.
True to the beloved tale that has enchanted fans for over a century, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is the story of Anne Shirley, a fiercely imaginative little girl who touches the lives of everyone she meets. Taken from an orphanage to serve in the household of an older couple, Anne becomes the charge of strait-laced Marilla Cuthbert. Though Marilla is determined to bring discipline to the irrepressible Anne, neither has any idea as to the profound impact they will soon have on each other’s lives.
First published in 1908, Anne of Green Gables remains an iconic work of Canadian literature, which has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The eight classic Anne of Green Gables novels set in P.E.I. have attracted generations of readers inspired by the adventures of the spirited redhead Anne Shirley, who comes to stay at Green Gables and wins the hearts of everyone she meets.
Taking the starring role as Anne Shirley is 13-year-old actress Ella Ballentine who started her film career in Hallmark TV movie starring Casper Van Dien (Baby’s First Christmas, 2012) and has since played leading and supporting roles alongside such distinguished actors as Susan Sarandon (The Calling, 2014), Ryan Reynolds and Rosario Dawson (The Captive, 2014), and Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane (Standoff, 2015). Addtionally, she recently completed filming one of the two starring roles in the feature film Against the Wild II: Surviving the Serengeti. Films in which Ballentine has appeared have been screened at a number of film festivals, including Cannes in 2014 and she has also appeared in television series including  the historical fantasy Reign and the medical drama series Saving Hope.
Highly regarded for his directorial work in the international miniseries format, John Kent Harrison’s television credits include the Emmy Award-winning The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, The Lois Wilson Story, which received a SAG nomination for Winona Ryder, and William Faulkner’s Old Man, winner of two Emmy Awards, the Humanities Prize, the Christopher Medal and a Golden Reel. Celebrated as one of the co-creators and co-stars of the award-winning Slings and Arrows television series, script writer Susan Coyne has amassed a number of high-profile writing credits including series Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays and The Best Laid Plans. Executive Producers for Breakthrough Entertainment include Nat Abraham, Joan Lambur, Ira Levy, Michael McGuigan, and Peter Williamson with Ross Leslie acting as Producer and Lindsey Hermer-Bell as Production Designer.Â
From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:
The Next Step creator behind new Family Channel series about music students
Temple Street Productions and DHX Television are aiming to do for music what tween dramaThe Next Step has done for dance.
New series The Music Room (its working title) is from Frank van Keeken, who created The Next Step, a hit for the Family Channel about a group of students at an elite dance studio.
Like Next Step, Music Room will be a “reality-style drama†about young people in an elite music program. It’s expected to premiere in winter 2016. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Production has begun on season two of Breakthrough Entertainment’s hit kids’ live-action comedy series Max & Shred announced Joan Lambur, Executive Vice-President, Family Entertainment for Breakthrough Entertainment, and an Executive Producer on this series.
Breakthrough will produce 13 all-new episodes of the buddy comedy which airs on YTV (Canada) and Nickelodeon channels globally.  In addition to YTV and Nick, Max & Shred has scored with kid audiences in countries worldwide, including Africa, Australia, Columbia, Italy, Portugal, Russia and the U.K., all of whom are primed for the series’ second season.
The internationally successful buddy comedy chronicles the hilarious and unlikely friendship between Max Asher played by Jonny Gray, (Annedroids, Paranormal Witness 3), a celebrity snowboarder, and Alvin “Shred†Ackerman played by Jake Goodman (Life with Boys, Saving Hope), a science whiz-kid, who become roommates and instant “bros†when Max moves to Colorado to train for the Winter Cup.  The show centres on the boys’ odd couple relationship as they help and hinder each other through the trials of teenage life.  Returning also for a second season are Emilia McCarthy (Zapped, Hemlock Grove) as Alvin’s driven older sister Abby, and Saara Chaudry (DeGrassi, Isabelle Dances into the Spotlight) as Howie, Alvin’s super smart eight-year-old protégé.
Max & Shred is executive produced by George Doty IV, whose extensive writing credits include the hit Nickelodeon live-action series iCarly, Victorious, and the beloved buddy-comedy Drake & Josh. Doty also served as story editor on the iconic animated series Scooby Doo. Additional executive producers for Max & Shred include Breakthrough Entertainment’s Joan Lambur, Ira Levy, Peter Williamson, Nat Abraham and Michael McGuigan. YTV executives are Jocelyn Hamilton, Vice President, Programming and Jaime Piekarz, Director, Content, Corus Kids. Nickelodeon Executives are Bronwen O’Keefe, Senior Vice President, Content Strategy and Zuri Rice, Vice President, Development and Production, East Coast.
From a media release:
Awarding-winning content creator marblemedia is pleased to announce that its hit live-action preschool series, Hi Opie! returns to production for a second season (39×7’). Developed in partnership with TVOKids and produced in association with The Jim Henson Company, the series has been renewed by TVO (Ontario), City Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan) and Knowledge Network (British Columbia). Start of principal photography has commenced in Toronto for Season 2.
The series centres around the social, emotional and intellectual escapades of Opie, a puppet custom-built by the experts at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™. As a kindergartner, Opie helps to show kids how to make the transition from home to school, teaching them skills needed to have a successful start in their educational careers. With each new day, Opie learns more about himself, his real kid friends and his teachers. Each story marks a new chapter in his personal growth as he learns through the process of play – having fun, asking questions, learning the consequences of one’s actions and of course, being curious.
Season 2 is set to have new interactive elements that will expand on the popularity of the current website (www.hiopie.com) and feature new activities including games and a mobile app.
The series will be produced by marblemedia in association with The Jim Henson Company under Executive Producers Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg. Other Executive Producers include Marie McCann, TVO’s Executive In Charge, Children’s & Parents Media, creator Barbara Slade (Angelina Ballerina, Rugrats) and The Jim Henson Company’s Halle Stanford, Executive Vice President of Children’s Entertainment. Returning for Season 2 is Co-Producer Lowell Dean of Lolofilms Productions Inc., series Producer Lawrence S. Mirkin(Fraggle Rock) and Executive Story Editor Kate Barris (Max & Ruby, Captain Flamingo). marblemedia’s Mik Perlus will also serve as Co-Executive Producer on the series.
Season 1 of the series was recently licensed to Netflix in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Worldwide distribution is handled by The Jim Henson Company, other than in Canada, Australia and France, which is administered by Distribution360, a marblemedia company.
