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Children's Programming

YTV uncovers its new original family mystery series, The Hardy Boys, premiering on Friday, March 5

From a media release:

Mystery, family secrets, and the pursuit of the truth collide in the new YTV Original series, The Hardy Boys (13x60min) premiering Friday, March 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Based on the books by Franklin W. Dixon, the series is produced by Lambur Productions and Nelvana, in association with Corus Entertainment. The story follows Frank and Joe Hardy as they arrive in the small town of Bridgeport and set out to uncover the truth behind a recent tragedy. Filmed in Toronto and Southern Ontario, the much-anticipated Canadian premiere of The Hardy Boys on YTV follows the series’ highly praised U.S. debut in December 2020 on Hulu. Canadians can also stream The Hardy Boys live and on demand on STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels.

The series unfolds after a family tragedy strikes, when Frank Hardy (Rohan Campbell), 16, and his brother Joe (Alexander Elliot), 12, are forced to move from the big city to their parent’s hometown of Bridgeport for the summer. Frank and Joe’s quiet summer quickly comes to a halt when they discover their dad, detective Fenton Hardy (James Tupper) has taken on a secret investigation, leading the boys to take it upon themselves to start an investigation of their own, and suddenly everyone in town is a suspect.

The all-Canadian cast also includes Keana Lyn (as Callie Shaw), Linda Thorson (as Gloria Estabrook), Bea Santos (as Aunt Trudy), Adam Swain (as Chet Morton), Atticus Mitchell (as J.B. Cox), Riley O’Donnell (as Biff Hooper), Cristian Perri (as Phil Cohen), Rachel Drance (as Stacy Baker), Jane Porter (as Laura Hardy), and Stephen R. Hart (as The Tall Man).

The Hardy Boys is executive produced by Joan Lambur, Peter Mohan, who also serves as Head Writer, and Jason Stone, who also serves as Lead Director. Madeleine Lambur serves as Creative Producer and Paula Smith is Supervising Producer.

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Children's Programming, Industry News

marblemedia goes into production on the third season of All-Round Champion

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From a media release:

marblemedia, one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, announces today the continued growth of their unscripted division with the early green light and start of production on the third season of the widely successful ultimate sports competition series, All-Round Champion (11×60).

Off the back of delivering season 2 to BYUtv/TVOkids/Knowledge, the award-winning production company has been commissioned for a third season of the adrenaline-filled sports competition series that sees ten of the best teen athletes compete against each other in a range of sports other than their own speciality. Production is underway in Toronto and will continue through to late December with broadcast set for late 2021.

Leaders in creating original competition series content, marblemedia’s unscripted team has had great success with the critically acclaimed glass-blowing competition hit Blown Away on Netflix, the cinematic travelogue series Restaurants on the Edge on Netflix; and their upcoming sand sculpting challenge series, Race Against the Tide on CBC.

Returning as host for the third season is Canadian Olympian and World Champion Hurdler, Perdita Felicien. This latest season will feature guest appearances from 4-time MLS Champion and 2011 League MVP, Dwayne De Rosario and the foremost doubles players in tennis history and Olympic Champion, Daniel Nestor.

A total of 10 sport stars will coach and encourage this season’s cohort of teen athletes as they overcome challenges and conquer their fears in sports including Track Cycling, Gymnastics, Inline Skating, Soccer, Tennis, Trampoline, Pole Vault, Competitive Dance, Sport Climbing, and Boxing.

The concept for All-Round Champion was originally conceived from Norwegian public broadcaster NRK’s International Emmy® Kids award-winning series, Best I Mest before marblemedia was granted formal rights to create a North American version from Beta Film.

Executive Producers for the series include Matt Hornburg, Mark J.W. Bishop, Steve Sloan, and Co-Executive Producer Donna Luke (marblemedia); Executive Producers for BYU Michael Dunn, Andra Johnson Duke, Melissa Puente and Jim Bell; and Executive Producer for TVO Marney Malabar.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Children's Programming, Industry News

marblemedia starts production on two new family sitcoms, The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker 

From a media release:

Award-winning media production and distribution company, marblemedia, in association with award-winning creator Beachwood Canyon Productions, announces today production is set to begin later this month in Toronto on series, The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker (20 eps x 30 mins), two brand-new scripted family single-camera sitcoms that follows the life of one bi-racial family, blended by marriage.

In this completely new and innovative concept, the series will enhance traditional TV storytelling by creating two stand-alone comedy series, The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker, each with their own storylines and episodes, while still connected by larger overarching plotlines tying the two independent series together. The Parker Andersons follows the warmly comedic antics of a newly blended family, while Amelia Parker centers around the quietest member of the family, a tween girl navigating the world around her.

The Parker Andersons follows Tony Parker, a British widower and father of two (Nathan and Amelia), who moves to North America where he meets and marries Cleo Anderson, the mother of two kids (Victoria and Charlie). Altogether, they quickly discover that sometimes being ‘blended’ feels a lot like being in a blender.

Amelia Parker centers around the quietest member of the Parker Anderson family, a tween girl who is coming into her own. After her mother died, Amelia became selectively mute, figuring that before she participates in the world again, she better figure some things out. In confessionals, we see that Amelia is actually an opinionated, vivacious girl, who openly explains her hopes, anxieties and fears in virtual conversations with her deceased mom.

Anthony Q. Farrell takes over as Showrunner for both series. Farrell has written for NBC’s The Office, CBC’s Little Mosque on the Prairie, and Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans and has developed TV series for CBS Studios, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network amongst others. He is the creator of Secret Life of Boys, the BAFTA-winning CBBC series, which is in its fifth season. Anthony joins the series bringing unparalleled talent, humour and leadership to really form the true essence of both shows.  He has assembled a richly talented and diverse team of writers and directors to assist him in ensuring that the stories for both shows are not only entertaining but also authentic. Leading by example through collaboration and providing an opportunity for the next generation, Anthony Q. Farrell is reimagining show running for the next wave.

The series has been commissioned by BYUtv in the U.S. to debut in 2021 as part of their focus on inspiring family programming and will launch in Canada later in 2021, with a Canadian broadcaster to be announced soon.

The Parker-Andersons and Amelia Parker will star Arnold Pinnock as Tony Parker (Cardinal, Coroner, Baroness Von Sketch), Kate Hewlett as Cleo Anderson (The Stanley Dynamic, Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Girlfriend Experience), Millie Davis as Amelia Parker (Odd Squad, Dino Dana, Orphan Black), Agape Mngomezulu as Nathan Parker (Best Intentions, The Twilight Zone, Supernatural), Devin Cecchetto as Victoria Anderson (Ginny & Georgia, The Craft), Charlie Zeltzer as Charlie Anderson (The Handmaid’s Tale, Anne with an E), Sandy Jobin- Bevans as Roger Anderson (Designated Survivor, Just Like Mom and Dad, Good Witch, Baroness Von Sketch Show) and Akiel Julien as Nick Parker (Utopia Falls, The Boys, What We Do in the Shadows). Additional cast members will be announced in the coming weeks.

Executive Producers for the series include Mark J.W. Bishop, Matt Hornburg, Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy, and Co-Executive Producer Donna Luke (marblemedia); Executive Producers Frank van Keeken and Yolanda Yott (Beachwood Canyon); Executive Producer and Showrunner Anthony Q. Farrell and Producer Jim Corston; Executive Producers for BYUtv Michael Dunn, Andra Johnson Duke, Melissa Puente and Jim Bell.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Children's Programming

Rotating Planet Productions’ Zamzoom’s Animal Adventures comes to TVOkids

From a media release:

TVOkids and Montreal-based Rotating Planet Productions proudly present Zamzoom’s Animal Adventures—an imaginative, educational and hilarious new television program for ages five and up.

A 2D animation/live-action hybrid series (21 episodes X 4 minutes), Zamzoom’s Animal Adventures takes kids on an unforgettable wildlife adventure across planet Earth. In each episode, we join Zamzoom, an enthusiastically impulsive space-alien explorer, and Orbie, his sharp-as-a-whistle robot partner, as they spin the globe, point and go! Light years from home, they land in some of Earth’s most stunning landscapes, such as the expansive grasslands of East Africa and the humid rainforests of South America. Coming face-to-face with an eclectic cast of real-life animals, Zamzoom and Orbie learn about what makes each species unique—from the secret language of marmots to the diving skills of northern gannets. They also answer questions such as “Why do hyenas laugh?” and “How do bees make tasty honey?”

Though they’re very different from one another, Zamzoom and Orbie make one intrepid duo! While Zamzoom jumps into any and all experiences without reservation, Orbie accesses Earth’s database to provide amazing facts and vital information that keeps Zamzoom out of trouble. (Although sometimes Orbie resorts to physically yanking Zamzoom out of trouble with the extendable robo-arm!) Together, Zamzoom and Orbie provide bite-sized brain snacks of science and loads of laughs as they embark on an intergalactic expedition of a lifetime!

Colourful, vibrant and entertaining, Zamzoom’s Animal Adventures captures the excitement of nature and wildlife and the sense of exploration and curiosity that comes hand-in-hand with growing up. Anything is possible, and the universe is open to be discovered!

Rotating Planet Productions, based out of Montreal, Quebec, produces and distributes a vast catalogue of wildlife and social documentaries, TV series, short films and children’s programs. Ari A. Cohen, producer and director, has created award-winning and internationally-acclaimed programs for more than twenty years, collaborating with the writers of Zerby Derby and The Adventures of Napkin Man! to bring this new Canadian series to life.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Children's Programming

Family Channel enrols at Malory Towers

From a media release:

This summer, WildBrain Television’s Family Channel will be brimming with midnight feasts, oceanside swims, lacrosse, pranks, sweets, and lasting friendships as the charming new Malory Towers series launches with a two-episode premiere event on Wednesday, July 1 at 11 am ET/PT. Set in post-war Britain on the sun-drenched cliffs of the Cornish coast, Malory Towers is based on Enid Blyton’s hugely popular novel series and follows the adventures of 12-year-old Darrell Rivers, played by newcomer Ella Bright, as she leaves home to attend an all-girls’ boarding school.

Co-produced by WildBrain and the UK’s King Bert Productions, Malory Towers explores universal experiences such as shifting cliques, FOMO, bullying, crushes, peer pressure, and self-doubt. The girls keep an eye on each other and, like a family, are forever connected by their shared experiences. During the double-episode premiere event, Darrell Rivers settles in for her first day at Malory Towers. Always in the thick of it, Darrell has a hairy start at the train station and when odd sounds are heard in the dorm, she learns about the ghost of Lady Jane Malory! However, in awe of her brilliant new surroundings, she keeps her past at her old school, St. Hilda’s, a closely guarded secret.

In the second episode, a jealous Gwen is determined to find out more about Darrell’s past and leaves the school in pursuit of the truth—will Darrell be able to find her before her secret is revealed? Tune in on July 1st to find out! Those who can’t enrol on Canada Day, can enjoy an encore screening of episodes one and two at 6pm ET/PT on July 7th and 8th. From July 9, brand new episodes will run from Tuesday to Friday at 6pm ET/PT, so you won’t have to wait to enjoy all of this wonderful series!

Malory Towers also stars Jennifer Wigmore (Anne with an E) as Headmistress Miss Grayling; Imali Perera (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Miss Potts; and Ashley McGuire as Matron. Rounding out the cast are Zoey Siewert, Twinkle Jaiswal, Danya Griver, and Natasha Raphael alongside newcomers Sienna Arif Knights, Beth Bradfield, Saskia Kemkers, and Imogen Lamb.

An official Canada-UK treaty co-production, Malory Towers is adapted for television by Rachel Flowerday and Sasha Hails. Executive producers for WildBrain are Josh Scherba, Anne Loi, and Michael Goldsmith, with Jo Sargent serving as executive producer for King Bert Productions. The series is produced by King Bert’s Grainne McNamara and WildBrain’s Angela Boudreault, and directed by Rebecca Rycroft (Evermore Chronicles, So Awkward) and Bruce McDonald (Creeped Out, Heartland, Dark Matter).Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail