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Awards, Featured

Orphan Black and Schitt’s Creek capture key Canadian Screen Awards

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Orphan Black and Schitt’s Creek were multiple television category winners during Sunday’s broadcast of the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards, dubbed the Candys by host Norm Macdonald in memory of the late John Candy.

“Never has there been so much Canadian talent in one place that hasn’t had to be zambonied first,” host Norm Macdonald joked in front of those assembled in Toronto’s Sony Centre on Sunday night. Orphan Black leads Tatiana Maslany and Ari Millen won in the Best Actress and Best Actor in a Drama while Schitt’s Creek‘s Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy took awards for Best Actress and Actor in the Comedy categories and the series won for Best Comedy Series. City’s off-the-wall sketch comedy Sunnyside beat out favourites Rick Mercer Report and This Hour Has 22 Minutes for Best Variety or Sketch Comedy Series.

“We’re the new kids on the block. It’s a weird show and we’re weird in it. It’s overwhelming,” Sunnyside‘s Kathleen Phillips said in the media room following their win. Gritty cop drama 19-2 outpaced Blackstone, Motive, Saving Hope and X Company for Best Dramatic Series.

Here are the winners in the television categories (denoted by blue):

Non-televised
Best International Drama
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Vikings

Golden Screen Award for TV Reality Show
The Amazing Race Canada
Big Brother Canada
Canada’s Smartest Person
Dragons’ Den
MasterChef Canada

Televised
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Adrian Holmes, 19-2
Jared Keeso, 19-2
Ari Millen, Orphan Black
Ben Bass, Rookie Blue
Aaron Poole, Strange Empire

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Brittany LaBorgne, Mohawk Girls
Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Belinda Cornish, Tiny Plastic Men

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Gerry Dee, Mr. D
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Dave Foley, Spun Out

Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble)
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
The Second City Project
Sunnyside
Rick Mercer Report

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Kristin Lehman, Motive
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Megan Follows, Reign
Missy Peregrym, Rookie Blue
Jennie Raymond, Sex & Violence

Fan’s Choice Award
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Natasha Negovanlis, Carmilla
Yannick Bisson, Murdoch Mysteries

Best TV Movie or Limited Series
The Book of Negroes
First Response
Forget and Forgive
Kept Woman
Studio Black!

Golden Screen Award for TV Drama/Comedy
The Book of Negroes
Corner Gas: The Movie
Murdoch Mysteries
Rookie Blue
Saving Hope

Best Dramatic Series
19-2
Blackstone
Motive
Saving Hope
X Company

Best Comedy Series
Mr. D
Mohawk Girls
Schitt’s Creek
Tiny Plastic Men
Young Drunk Punk

Were you happy with who won? What did you think of the broadcast and/or Norm Macdonald as host? Comment below or via @tv_eh.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Makeful’s Post My Party encourages DIY celebrations

Lynzie Kent didn’t have dreams of being a television host. She already runs Love By Lynzie, a successful wedding and event planning company in Toronto, and fronts Electric Blonde, a band that  plays weddings, events and corporate gigs. Throw in a child, and her calendar is pretty packed. But then Makeful called, and Kent found herself in front of the camera hosting Post My Party.

Debuting Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Blue Ant Media’s fledgling craft network—fellow new original Taste of the Country bows right after—Post My Party tracks Kent while she helps clients pull off cool shindigs and saving a buck by doing the decorating yourself. Far from hanging a few sad strands of crepe paper streamers with sticky tape, Kent’s creations are creative, fun and—best of all—easy and accessible. Craft and dollar stores offer untold treasures that can be transformed into playful features in any party.

“I think that there’s a little bit of a shift towards celebrations that are a little more authentic,” Kent says. “For awhile it was all about keeping up with the Joneses and spending a lot of money, but I think people are trying to bring it back to the retro idea of throwing a really sweet party inspired by the person or thing they’re celebrating. That’s a little more down-to-earth and where the handmade aspect comes in.”

Makeful already had the show concept developed with General Purpose Entertainment and were searching for a host. They found Kent on Instagram; the series title references the fact that as parts of the party come together they’re photographed and posted on the social media site. Sunday’s first episode—future instalments cover a boy’s sleepover, a beat the January blues party, a boho-inspired girl’s night in and celebrating the end of a dodgeball season—catches up with Kent as she plans a ballerina-themed birthday party for Avery. With three days plot and create, Kent and Avery’s mother, Betta, craft tiaras made of paper, glue, paint and sparkles, personalized refreshment bottles capped with edible adhesive and candy sprinkles, and a stunning table cover mirroring a ballet tutu. Needless to say, Avery and her friends are astounded.

Achieving what Betta did for Avery is easy. Aside from acquiring items from dollar stores, there is a whole online community offering up crafting tips on YouTube, Pinterest, craft blogs and Makeful’s own  tutorials to inspire and educate.

“You don’t have to look too far anymore for guidance,” Kent says. “And you don’t have to be intimidated by it either.”

Post My Party airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Makeful.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Comments and queries for the week of March 11

20 Stars, 20 Room Renovations: Home to Win debuts

OMG. I would love to enter my husband in this challenge. He is a farmer but I call him my jack-of-all-trades. I don’t know what heart palpitating challenges you will give him, but I’m sure my heart will be palpitating watching him do these challenges. Please consider him as a contestant. (P.S. – We love to watch HGTV.) —Joan

Murdoch Mysteries‘ showrunner explains heartbreaking episode

Maria, when did you start watching the show? Julia cannot have children, due to a past and painful abortion. My only solution would be for the Murdoch’s to have a surrogate; but, that was the early 1900. No surrogate then? I believe before the season finale, they will have a child. We now know that they are open to adoption, so anything now is possible and acceptable with Julia and William. —Joanne

Joanne, thank you so much for clarification. I watched all the seasons (not in order though) and most certainly I missed that information. One episode, however, sunk in my memory and made me think that it is possible for them to have a child. This was when Det. Murdoch went to the so called “Future Showing” show and got somewhat hypnotized inside the machine. In this episode, he could foresee his future (10 to 12 years from the present time) with Julia and (must be) their son. This story made me think that it is possible for them to have a son, maybe even an adopted one. But it really doesn’t look like anymore. How sad. —Maria

Link: Why Canadian TV producers don’t want to make a Downton Abbey

We arguably did have a Downton Abbey. It was the 90s period drama Road to Avonlea, a Canadian story set in Canada with a large ensemble of great characters with great writing and great acting. It got great ratings on both sides of the border and it holds up rather well today, unlike many shows which become corny with time. That being said, its been a couple decades since the show ended and Emily of New Moon failed to live up to its predecessor. I wish we could get something else; none of the networks really seem to embrace the idea. —Alicia

Curses on Curse of the Frozen Gold

You think it is respectful disrespecting a B-25 bomber war grave on your show? Rooting through it like vultures; you should be slapped for your ignorance of the men that lost their lives and their families. I believe that is a protected war grave and I hope you are reprimanded. —Bill

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Fire off an email to greg@tv-eh.com or on Twitter @tv_eh.

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Featured, X Company

Secrets revealed on X Company

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I watch a lot of television shows. And while I enjoy every one, some are really special. X Company is one of those that strikes a cord with me emotionally every time, especially with an episode like this week’s.

“La Vérité Vous Rendra Libre,” written by Adam Barken and directed by Amanda Tapping, translates to “the truth will make you free,” and a lot of truths were uttered Wednesday night. With just three more episodes to go in Season 2, Barken’s script blew the doors off secrets kept for awhile. Perhaps the biggest of them all was the double shot of Sabine admitting to Aurora that she and Franz smothered Ulli and Aurora admitting to killing Rene (Aurora didn’t say Rene, but we all knew who she was talking about.) Alfred listening in to their confessions, in a church no less, means the Allied team is even more divided.

Now Aurora and Sabine have hopped on a train and headed to parts unknown. I’m assuming they’re going to the ocean so Sabine can bury Ulli’s bow tie. And if they are going to a beach, I’m betting it’s Dieppe, because of course it would be. Either way, Aurora has put herself in a dangerous position, betraying the team in order to get closer to Sabine and blowing their cover in Paris. And while Sabine and Franz’s relationship has been in the crapper since the tail end of Season 1, I always assumed things would work out between them. Not anymore. Franz knows Sabine told Aurora about the concert and it was he who told his wife in the first place.

As for the rest of the squad, they’re without a safe house or a camp. The guerrilla army was shattered when Martin revealed the location to the Germans—Neil’s cold killing of the young man was shocking but expected—and Miri and Neil’s relationship appears the same way. Him admitting his nightmares were tied to killing the German wasn’t what she wanted to hear, especially since Germans slaughtered her family.

Did I mention there was a lot going on in Wednesday’s episode? A planned mission to sabotage an auto plant being retrofitted to build tanks was jettisoned, and we learned Scuba Man joined the Royal Care Society so he can get into Camp X and kill Sinclair. And, thanks to the radio being shot up, Harry has no way to warn the camp of the coming attack.

Next week’s episode, “Fatherland,” is co-written by Sandra Chwialkowska and showrunners Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and promises to be another nail biter. What do you think will happen? Will Franz turn against his wife or will he choose her over the party? Do you think Aurora and Sabine will end up in Dieppe? Comment below or via our Twitter feed @tv_eh.

X Company airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

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Awards, Featured, Schitt's Creek

Schitt’s Creek and The Book of Negroes dominate Night 2 of the Canadian Screen Awards

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Schitt’s Creek and The Book of Negroes were among the winners of Night 2 of the Canadian Screen Awards. Hosted by Steve Patterson, the non-broadcast spectacle gave a nod to supporting actor and actress roles in television drama and comedy, children’s categories, and writing, directing, sound, makeup, costume in scripted series.

“Welcome to Night 2! I don’t care if you laugh or boo, as long as you’re listening,” Patterson quipped. “I do believe these awards mean something. Exactly what, I don’t know because I’ve never won one.” CBC’s Schitt’s Creek—recently picked up for a third season—took home a number of awards, including those for co-stars Chris Elliott and Emily Hampshire in the performance categories and Daniel Levy for writing.

The Amazing Race Canada continued its winning streak from Night 1, as host Jon Montgomery was recognized for Best Host. The Book of Negroes won a slew of trophies, including Aunjanue Ellis for Best Actress, Lyriq Bent for Best Actor and Shailyn Pierre-Dixon for Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series, Best Sound, Best Original Music and Best Production Design.

Here are the winners in some of the key categories:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role or Guest Role in a Comedic Series
Chris Elliott, Schitt’s Creek

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role or Guest Role in a Comedic Series
Emily Hampshire, Schitt’s Creek

Best Host in a Variety, Lifestyle, Reality/Competition or Talk Program or Series
Jon Montgomery, The Amazing Race Canada

Best Pre-School Program or Series
Odd Squad

Best Writing in an Animated Program or Series
Mark Steinberg, Numb Chucks

Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek

Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series
Rick Mercer, Rick Currie, Greg Eckler, Tim Steeves, George Westerholm, The Rick Mercer Report

Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
Clement Virgo, Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes

Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
Alex Levine, Orphan Black

Best Children’s or Youth Fiction Program or Series
Degrassi

Best Animated Program or Series
Rocket Monkeys

Best Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series
The Rick Mercer Report

Best Performance in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series
Christine Horne, Remedy

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series
Torben Liebrecht, X Company

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series
Shailyn Pierre-Dixon, The Book of Negroes

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
Aunjanue Ellis, The Book of Negroes

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
Lyriq Bent, The Book of Negroes

Here’s the complete list of winners.

The Canadian Screen Awards gala airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBC.

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