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Featured, Letterkenny

Less Than Kind’s Tyler Johnston goes goth for Letterkenny

The last Canadian television show I saw Tyler Johnston in was the excellent, poignant Less Than Kind. There he played Danny, nutty best friend to Jesse Camacho’s Sheldon in the City-HBO Canada series. Now Johnston is back, portraying an equally crazy dude in Letterkenny, Jared Keeso’s creation about the hicks, hockey players and skids living in a town of 5,000.

As Stewart, head of the skids, Johnston’s real hair is hidden under a stringy black wig, his body obscured under layers of black clothing and dark makeup smudged around his eyes. He’s almost unrecognizable, especially when Stewart launches into frantic, falsetto speeches or juddering around to thumping dance music on building stoops, surrounded by his fellow skids.

We spoke to Johnston about his character, the show, working in Canada and the short film, Conception, that sent him to Brooklyn.

Talk to me about this character.
There is this group of skids and Stewart has coined himself the leader. It’s very evident by the way that he treats his fellow skids that that is the case. Jared called me when I first booked it and said, ‘Hey buddy, here’s the deal. You’re coming to Sudbury and we’re going to put a long, black wig on you.’ I was pumped about it. I look like a vampire. I’ve had to introduce myself to crew members four or five times.

The skids are another group of people growing up in Letterkenny. It’s like a family. Some people in families don’t get along with each other, but they still love each other. I can pick on my sister all I want, but the second you pick on my little sister we’re going to have an issue. The hockey boys probably bullied my guys growing up, so there is some resentment between those two factions. The skids are also the drug dealers in town, so they get themselves into issues that they probably shouldn’t. We’re comic book nerds and talk about video games … a group of loners who found each other and formed this group.

How many skids are in the group?
There are five of us. I don’t want to give too much away, but in the finale the groups sort of meet, and we were very outnumbered. We weren’t prepared.

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How did you land the role for Stewart? Did you audition, or did Jared call you and say he had something in mind?
Jared and I have been friends for a few years. We did Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story together, and he’s a Vancouver boy. I knew about the project and I was so excited for him as an outsider that it got to happen. We had always talked about working together again. I did have to throw something together on tape and tried my best. I was actually in L.A. at the time and threw something on tape and then went to play kickball with a group of people I play with every Sunday. What I put on tape didn’t feel right, so I went home after kickball and re-did it. I knew they were going to watch it and I didn’t want to give Jared and the crew a sub-par tape.

I sent it off and didn’t hear anything for about a month, so I assumed that they went with someone else. Because he and I are friends, I didn’t want to text Jared and ask anything. I didn’t want to be that guy. Meanwhile, I’m wanting to chirp him because I’m a Vancouver Canucks fan and he’s a Calgary Flames fan, but I decided to hold off on that until the decision was made.

You mentioned being in L.A. Is that because you’re looking for the next step?
Yeah, it’s sort of the next step. I’ve been fortunate to have a nice career in Canada and it’s the natural next step. I’ve got my working visa, I’ve got management there. It’s unfortunate that I feel compelled to go there. I love working in Canada, the crews and the talent and the writers.

Is the next natural stepping stone for you creating your own characters, writing and producing your own stuff?
I haven’t dove into writing so much, but my friends and I do a lot of shorts back home. I contribute thoughts and ideas but I haven’t necessarily sat down with a pen and a pad and written a storyline or a skeleton of an idea. I’m not against the idea, but it just hasn’t happened yet. We do the 24 Hour Film Race every year, and last year we were fortunate enough to get into the Top 24 in the world. So, myself and some buddies flew to Brooklyn to represent the film. In Vancouver we have a lot of movies of the week going on, which pays the bills and are awesome. We’ve thrown some webisode ideas around, so I don’t see that being too far off in the future.

Season 1 of Letterkenny is currently streaming on CraveTV.

Check out Conception

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Featured, Hard Rock Medical

Hard Rock Medical moves to North Bay for Season 3

Hard Rock Medical is back, and with a new backdrop. Season 3 was officially announced on Thursday via press conference from Canadore College’s Studio 1 in North Bay, Ont., where filming will take place. The first two seasons of the medical drama were shot in Sudbury, Ont., but an educational partnership with the support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) meant a shift in cities.

“I am here to announce an NOHFC investment of $825,000 to TVO and its production partners for their production of Season 3 of Hard Rock Medical,” said Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, and chair of the NOHFC. “We’re really excited about it, and that will support the production of nine half-hour episodes.”

“I feel honoured that so many institutions are squarely behind Hard Rock Medical,” said co-creator/director Derek Diorio. “Thank you to the city of North Bay, that has been so welcoming to our production. Without all of you here, there is no Hard Rock Medical.” Diorio explained over 50 per cent of Season 3 will be shot at Canadore College. Seventy-five students from the Digital Cinema Program, Television Program and Theatre Arts Program, are currently working on pre-production and will be an integral part of the six-week shoot. A local warehouse and medical centre location will also be used for filming. Post-production will take place at Canadore as well.

“I want to thank Derek,” George Burton, President and CEO of Candore College said. “You have provided an incredible opportunity for learning to our students, which means so much to them. I want to thank everyone on Hard Rock Medical for being such wonderful role models to our students. You bring a level of professionalism to our campus which will hold them in good stead long after graduation.”

All local crew and musicians will be used and over 30 local actors will have lead roles this season, including North Bay native Jamie Spilchuk, who plays Cameron Cahill on the series. Hard Rock Medical follows a group of medical students training in Northern Ontario and is loosely based on the curriculum of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Shooting begins next week and continues until the middle of March.

Co-created by Smith Antonio Corindia and Diorio, Hard Rock Medical stars Patrick McKenna, Angela Asher, Danielle Bourgon, Rachelle Casseus, Tamara Duarte, Kyra Harper, Christian Laurin, Andrea Menard and Stephane Paquette.

Season 3 of Hard Rock Medical will be broadcast on TVO and APTN.

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Bitten, Featured

Bitten’s Laura Vandervoort says goodbye to the fans … for now

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Laura Vandervoort refuses to concede this is the final goodbye for Elena Michaels and Bitten. Yes, Season 3—returning Friday—is the last run of 10 episodes on Space. But whether it’s because she senses an impending announcement on the horizon (perhaps playing a werewolf for three seasons has heightened her sense of smell) or is encouraged by the continuing wave of #howl4more on Twitter, the Toronto native refuses to throw in the towel.

“Anything can happen,” Vandervoort says over the phone. “We never want to say goodbye. I still want to leave the door open, because you never know.”

If this truly is the end, Bitten is going out on a high note. Right from the get-go with Episode 1, “Family, Of Sorts,” the werewolf pack is off and running with blood, action and one heck of a mind-eff by the storyline’s closing moments. New character Sasha Antonov (John Ralston) and his children Alexei (Alex Ozerov) and Katia (Sofia Banzhaf) have a lot to do with that, a trio of human and wolves who deliver an emotional curveball that leaves Elena stunned.

Equally stunning? Jeremy Danvers’ (Greg Bryk) plan to hunt down all mutts and present them with a choice: join his growing super-pack or be killed. That, Vandervoort explains, rubs everyone in her group the wrong way, especially Elena. The former Smallville and V actress—who will recur on CBS’ Supergirl—says this season is all about family both in front of and behind the cameras. The cast has never been stronger as a group, while their small-screen alter egos are struggling to remain united under Jeremy’s rule.

“Elena hates this new Jeremy,” she says. “She sees that he is becoming more like his father and, because of that, it causes tension between Elena and Clay [Greyston Holt] because Jeremy is very much Clay’s father and to go to Clay and complain about how Jeremy is handling the pack mentality causes trouble for everyone.”

This season represents a major departure from the book series created by Kelley Armstrong. Showrunner/executive producer Daegan Fryklind and her writing team have built a dramatic, visually stunning world for these humans, witches and werewolves to frolic in, a melding of what Armstrong conceived and what the actors bring to the table. Vandervoort teases fans may think they know what’s coming, but not this time around.

Yes, she refuses to say an all-out goodbye to Elena and Bitten, but Vandervoort does have a message for the loyal fans who have tuned in for the weekly adventures.

“Thank you so much for your loyalty and continued encouragement every season,” she says. “Thanks for staying in contact with us at conventions and set visits and on social media. We wouldn’t be able to do what we love without you guys watching, and you know the hard work that we put into it.”

Bitten airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Space.

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Featured, Schitt's Creek

Review: Schitt’s Creek – “Moira vs. Town Council”

My favourite part of the show was the scene near the end between David and Alexis where she’s telling him that she and Mutt have split up and it’s the first time she has ever felt anything, “I mean nothing – I’ve been to doctors about it.” The interaction was funny and touching. David’s facial expressions are priceless.

The part about David at his job selling off mannequins and using the corporate card fell flat for me. I can understand how someone like David would get confused (and excited) by the concept of a tax write-off. As a kid I thought the idea of Santa giving free stuff was an opportunity of a lifetime. And David is childlike, but the owner of the store let him take over and that seems out of character.

Moira stole the show for me again. Yes, she is over the top in her clothes and her affectations, but that is the character of Moira. I didn’t laugh as much as I would expect, but my appreciation for her acting skills and the writing are enough. The writing…the writers…are so clever.

Moira sets out to beautify the town but it’s not going to be her who does it, as she says to Johnny after he suggests she plant her own peonies, “These are dark times, John, but not that dark.” She takes on the town council and she wins, impressing council member, Ronnie (Karen Robinson) who tells her she’s a pain in the ass, but she gets things done. She does indeed.

There are some great scenes in this episode, and the humour is smart and witty. I just don’t know why I wasn’t laughing until my stomach hurt.

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

MasterChef Canada home cooks prep for competition

OK, I admit it, Mary Berg does have some competition in Season 3 of MasterChef Canada. Though I’d love it if Berg—the competitor I shadowed during the audition process—won the title, there are 39 other home cooks aiming to take her down. Two of them are Woodbridge, Ontario’s Michelle Nault and Vancouver’s Travis Petersen, who sat down with TV, Eh? back in July to chat about the road to MasterChef Canada, their game plan and what they think of the competition.

Judges Michael Bonacini, Claudio Aprile and Alvin Leung return Sunday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV to oversee Season 3.

Here’s what Michelle and Travis had to say:

Michelle Nault, teacher
How did you end up auditioning for MasterChef Canada?
Someone that I work with suggested it to me. I talk about food a lot at work. Food makes me happy and my job makes me happy. The spark was there and my coworker suggested I try out. She watches the show and believed in me and to have someone validate that for me was important. I auditioned online and they contacted me and asked me to come out to the tryout in July.

At least you don’t have to worry about making school lunches.
I don’t but I did make lunches and dinners for my family to have while I’m on the show. It’s all packed up and in the fridge and freezer!

It’s one thing to try out, but it’s another to be on the set. What has the experience been like so far?
I’m impressed with every part of the process. The staff is wonderful and the people who work here are wonderful. The whole experience was a little overwhelming, but it’s exciting. I can’t wait to get going.

Do you view being from the Toronto area as a strength for you in the competition because of the diversity of ingredients that you have access to?
I enjoy all cultures of cooking. I have a good understanding of a number of cultures and basic ingredients from those cultures. I have fun blending them. I like taking an aromatic ingredient from one cuisine and mixing it with another and bringing them all together. I have the confidence to dabble in world cuisine.

What was the inspiration for your audition dish, pork tenderloin with fennel, mushroom and sourdough stuffing?
Home cooking. I am a mom of two and I believe firmly in cooking from scratch and sharing the experience with my kids and getting them involved. It’s a midweek meal that is stick-to-your-ribs and good for the soul.

What’s your cooking style?
I cook from my heart and my knowledge. I’m not so much about going into recipes and taking from other people. I think it’s wonderful and if you’re baking you should do that, but when it comes to my cooking I do it from my own recipes. My research comes from learning where my ingredients come from, the farming practices and things like that.

Is there a weakness you have in the kitchen?
Timing. Depending on the dish, you want to make sure you have enough time to complete all of the steps. In this type of environment, timing is everything.

Travis Petersen, manager in the oil and gas industry
Seeing one of your competitors be eliminated earlier today was tough to watch.
Some people aren’t taking this seriously. This contest is all about the food, but they want people who take it seriously. If they want a cool experience, a getaway and the chance to get on TV … there are 39 other people who want this.

What made you audition?
I’ve watched every season of the American version and the Canadian version. I’ve wanted to do it in the past and it took a friend of mine to tell me that I’m passionate about food and should go for it. Seeing John compete last year convinced me that I could do it. I’m glad I got that little push because I might have stayed content with what I was doing in life.

What’s your strength in the kitchen?
My strength is seafood. I’m in Calgary now, but I’m from Vancouver and have lived abroad twice. When I was 18, I left for Australia and my mom gave me a recipe book that was empty. She said, ‘Instead of writing a journal, why don’t you collect recipes?’ I wasn’t even a foodie yet. I took it, and anyone that I met I took a recipe from. It’s probably one of the most valuable things that I have now after all of the traveling that I’ve done.

What is your audition dish?
Brazilian Moqueca. It’s a white fish and prawn, coconut stew on top of basmati rice. It has beautiful colours and a great taste to it. It’s a good summer dish.

What has the experience been like so far?
We’re all so different but two nights ago a few of us sat together and talking about cooking for an hour and a half. I’ve got friends who are foodies, but I’ve never in my life sat with two guys in a room and talking cooking techniques. I said, ‘This is really cool.’ I’m so excited to see where this journey can go.

MasterChef Canada returns Sunday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

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