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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: Bonacini’s Italy brings the tastes of 15 food regions to Gusto

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Did you catch Michael Bonacini’s Gusto special, Christmas at the Farm? If not, you missed a fantastic hour packed with tasty recipes and Bonacini’s charm.

Luckily, the folks at Bell Media were smart enough to sign on the restaurateur and resident MasterChef Canada judge for a whole new series of 15 instalments. This one, Bonacini’s Italy—debuting Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT on Gusto, which is in a free preview until June 26—picks up with Bonacini as he cooks his way through 15 Italian regions, exploring the flavours and textures that make each unique through an entire meal, from antipasto, soup, or salad, to primo, secondo and dolce.

On Monday, Bonacini transports viewers to Tuscany for a menu jam-packed with peasant food. Gone is the sprawling, snowy farm from this holiday special, swapped out for the clean lines of a what looks like a condo kitchen complete with a sun-coloured bike hanging askew on the wall. Simplicity and freshness are the rules of the day in Tuscan cooking according to Bonacini, as he roughly dices perfect heirloom tomatoes, preps crusty bread, cores and chops cucumber, slices red onion, tears basil and pours out red wine vinegar and olive oil to create a bread salad. Gnudi with ricotta and spinach are equally tantalizing, followed by a Tuscan beef stew with just seven ingredients and a shockingly simple baked fish and potatoes.

Aside from the charm I mentioned when previewing Bonacini’s holiday special, he brings an air of supreme calm to Italy. Bonacini delivers his lines softly and succinctly, exuding the same confidence and surety that has made him a successful restaurateur and MasterChef Canada judge and coach. By the end of Episode 1 of Bonacini’s Italy, not only was I hungry but I had the confidence to try out the recipes for myself.

Bonacini’s Italy airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT on Gusto. Gusto is in a free preview until June 26.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.

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Comments and queries for the week of June 1

InnerSpace was the only reason I had Space Channel at all. My kids and I used to turn on the TV just for this show. I’m gutted. It was the highlight of my day. And no, that is not a commentary on the quality of my days. —The Zleaguer

Well, I hate to see InnerSpace go. It’s been a part of my weekdays for ages now. Still, though, the writing’s been on the wall for quite a while. The budget cuts were obvious. I just wish Bell had shown a little more class. Would it have killed them to finish out the week and give the show a chance to say goodbye? —DMK

This is terrible, a real lack of knowing what the people enjoy watching in both cases Daily Planet and InnerSpace. It really shows the I.Q. of the people who made their mind up to cancel these two programs. —Jim

No kidding! The same thing with Daily Planet over on Discovery Channel. Both shows were simply cut off immediately. No respect for either the people working on the show or those of us who enjoyed watching them for all the years they were on. I have little interest in most of the reruns they now show on Space. At least change it up now and then and give us something different like Battlestar Galactica or maybe some Babylon 5. But no, it’s Star Trek over and over and over and over and over … with the occasional Andromeda tossed in, a series that only had one decent season and the never-ending recycling of Stargate. —Robert

Very sad! It’s the only talk show I watch. Keeps me up to date and in the know. I’m really going to miss seeing Teddy, AJ and Morgan every day – they are very entertaining. —Cathy

I dearly hope that they reverse the decision to cancel InnerSpace. I watched it every night like the news … the geek news. How will we find out all those things important to us in the geek community? Secondly, it now puts a good number of people on the unemployment line. I understand bottom lines but this is a hard pill to swallow. I wish everyone at InnerSpace good luck in their futures. Yet another reason why I’m not a Bell fan. —Darren

 

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

 

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Featured, Private Eyes

Preview: Private Eyes goes medieval

So, Private Eyes, fans, how do you feel about the way Angie and Shade’s relationship has shaken out so far? Clearly, Angie is still hurting from seeing Mel over at his house, hence the thinly-veiled jabs at him. For his part, Shade seems for the most part clueless, though he’s picking up on a certain vibe from his business partner.

In this Sunday’s new episode of Private Eyes, Angie and Shade head to Medieval Times. Here’s what Global says about “Long Live the King,” written by Thomas Pound and directed by Charles Officer:

Shade and Angie are hired by the “King” from Medieval Times after he believes he’s been poisoned. Initially doubtful of the King’s story – and weary of his refusal to break character – they soon get onside once they go undercover and see just how cutthroat the Middle Ages can be.

And, as always, a few more tidbits of info from me after watching a screener.

Samantha Wan kills with her comedy
Adding Zoe to Everett Investigations was the best decision Angie and Shade have made so far. Samantha Wan’s frantic portrayal of Zoe is hilarious and her comic timing is perfection; both are showcased this week. And her Sticky Note game is strong.

Rob Ramsay in a role fit for a King
I’ve been a fan of Rob Ramsay’s since I saw him on Blue Mountain State and then on The Thundermans. Here he’s super-annoying—and sidesplitting funny—playing Bob Sterling, a.k.a. King Lucien, the Medieval Times monarch who refuses to break character, frustrating Angie and Shade during their investigation.

Double entendres aplenty
This being a medieval setting, Thomas Pound’s script boasts plays on words, double entendres and discussions about men’s longswords. Yes, I laughed. Yes, I am 47 years old.

Private Eyes airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

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Preview: Wishfart shakes up Saturday mornings on Teletoon

I grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons. Scooby Doo, Sylvester and Tweety, Bugs Bunny and the Pink Panther were all mainstays at my house. Now, decades later, I’m adding a new one to my Saturday morning viewing: Wishfart.

Debuting this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Teletoon, the outrageous, hilarious Wishfart shakes up the airwaves in this country. After premiering in the UK, Italy, Africa and Belgium already—and headed to the Ukraine and Russia soon—Wishfart finally bows in its home and native land. It’s about time.

Created and produced by John Hazlett, Lienne Sawatsky and Dan Williams, the founders of Wishfart Productions, each episode of the animated project focuses on Dez (voiced by Mac Haywood), a teen leprechaun who is just getting used to his wish-granting powers. Alongside his friends—a ghost named Akiko (Grojband‘s Stephany Seki) and a puffin named, well, Puffin (Flashpoint‘s Sergio Di Zio)—Dez tries to fix wishes that have gone horribly wrong, a.k.a. wishfarts.

In Episode 1, “Cartwheel, Cartwheel, Cartwheel,” Dez gets into major trouble when he grants Akiko her wish of becoming human again. She’s overjoyed to have feet and be able to feel things—she’s positively giddy when she licks a cactus and studs her tongue with thorns because she can register pain—but Dez’ actions have a disastrous effect. The King of the Underworld emerges and commands Dez to reverse the wish before it brings an end to the world. Wishfart‘s scripts are tight, the voice actors are stellar and the animation, while current, is definitely reminiscent of the classics I tuned in to. Check it out.

Wishfart airs Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Teletoon.

Image courtesy of Wishfart Productions.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: Gusto’s Dog Tales Rescue is a show that will touch your heart

Being a dog lover all my life, I was very excited to watch the new TV show from Gusto called Dog Tales Rescue. Though my dog is not a rescue puppy, when I was little I always wanted to adopt one. Even if it is hard to accept that you can’t save every animal, you still can try. And that’s what Dog Tales Rescue is about: love, care and respect for our little friends.

Dog Tales Rescue—debuting Thursday, May 31, at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT—is a touching and heartwarming docu-series that follows the lives of rescue animals from Canada’s creatures to internationally unique animals. Danielle Eden-Scheinberg and Rob Scheinberg run their Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary out of King City, Ont. supported by a team of more than 50 helpful staff. Their main goal is to make animals feel loved, and of course provide them with all necessary medical and training care.

The first episode introduces viewers to Danielle and Rob, who treat their animals like their own kids. Danielle gets a call that a lot of chihuahuas are arriving at the sanctuary. The happiness on her face and the staff’s faces says it all; these people care so much and they are going to do everything to find these dogs new and safe homes.

Dog Tales Rescue is not only a dog rescue sanctuary but one for horses as well. Ilana is a head horse handler and, in addition to saving the horses are from slaughter, is the one who helps them to reconnect with nature. The new horse they receive in Episode 1 is very frightened because of all of the other horses in the sanctuary. Eventually, she gets along with them very well.

Each episode of Dog Tales Rescue is an emotional one. You could cry from sadness or happiness. Looking to adopt a dog or sponsor a horse? Head to Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary’s website for details.

Dog Tales Rescue airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m PT on Gusto.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

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