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TV eh B Cs podcast 9 – Carmen Moore, Future Superhero

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Carmen has worked steadily in TV and Film for two decades. She was nominated for the American “First Americans in the Arts” award, for her role in Brothers of the Frontier (1996). She played Dawn Star, in the movie Spooky House (2002), and in 2004 she worked with John Woo for the TV series The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004). Carmen was nominated for her performance as Simone in Godiva’s at the 2006 Leo Awards and won the Women in Film and Video’s Artistic Merit Award for her portrayal of Rebecca in the Canadian independent feature Unnatural & Accidental.

From 2012-2014 Carmen has had leading roles on two hit Canadian Series. She played Loreen Cassway on Arctic Air (2012) for which she was nominated for a Leo award in 2012. She continues her role of Leona Stoney on the multi award winning series Blackstone (2011), which won Best Dramatic Series at the 2012 Leo’s. She was nominated for both a Gemini Award and a Leo Award in 2012 for Blackstone, and won the Leo for Best Lead Performance in 2011.

We’ll talk about all of this, Carmen’s future superhero status, and why Gwen Stefani leads to some upsetting sense memory.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

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Review: Package Deal says goodbye

I’m suspecting it’s the end of the road for Package Deal. Of course, things may change and a third go-round may be ordered, but I’m betting that won’t be the case. Moved to at least three different nights and timeslots since Season 2 bowed last fall, one could argue City attempted to find a night and spot where the Canadian sitcom could attract a larger audience (like right after 2 Broke Girls for a few weeks), but I never saw a commercial promoting Package Deal. If I wasn’t following several of its cast members and the show itself on Twitter I would have lost track of it long ago.

And that’s too bad. Aside from the friendly cast and crew I met while on a set visit for Season 1, this sophomore season has been tighter, funnier and more raw. Sunday’s back-to-back season finale, “The Break Up” parts 1 and 2, plunged couple Kim and Danny into truly stressful territory for the very first time by throwing marriage into the picture. (“This can’t be happening. He’s so young, to be cut down in his prime,” wailed Sheldon. “There’s so much more for you to experience. You haven’t even slept with an albino.”)

The fact that they both waffled independently over the prospect of advancing their relationship to the next level was a departure from the usual light-hearted weekly bickering and allowed actors Julia Voth and Randal Edwards the opportunity to play some very serious moments and heartfelt emotions … at least until Harland Williams’ Sheldon or Jay Malone’s Ryan jumped in to say something ludicrous.

The ensuing break-up that concluded the first instalment made for several interesting moments that carried to the second script, written by creator and executive producer Andrew Orenstein. Danny and Kim both re-entered the dating market and while Danny was disgusting gals with his “dump stink,” Kim found a paramour in TJ (John Dore), the produce guy working at his local market. The addition of Dore ramped up the laughs thanks to his hippie views on life, a stark contrast to Danny’s lawyer profession.

The conclusion of “The Break Up” certainly could have kept Kim and Danny apart–setting up a cliffhanger–but I’m glad that didn’t happen. If this is indeed the final episode of Package Deal, I’d much prefer the pair to be a couple than apart. Thanks, Package Deal, for two seasons of laughs.

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Review: Lost Girl looks for a leader

“Strong, merciless, vulnerable,” were the words Bo used to describe a good leader in Sunday’s Lost Girl. While the episode may have only touched on the big mysteries unveiled last week as Bo and Tamsin took on a case of the week, in the end Musashi’s story did feed into the season’s bigger arc as Bo questioned what being the Chosen One meant for her and those around her.

And it was the vulnerability aspect that was most important in “Big in Japan,” not just for Musashi and his faux-claim to fame, but for Bo who was coping with Kenzi’s departure in obvious (see: decorating) and less obvious (see: not taking in chi) ways. While Bo may have been able to spot Musashi’s resistance to embrace his own vulnerabilities, in the end it was Tamsin who had to force Bo to confront hers—a nice parallel that ended up moving Bo’s evolution along in an episode that original seemed like it was going to kill time with a case of the week.

For all her bravado going into hell, confronting what may have been the arm of her father and coming back out (with the world’s worst candle) Bo’s challenges this season look like they’re going to be delving into the most personal, and possibly fragile, parts of her life. The show has already alluded to her father’s dark nature and a big part of what’s to come for Bo must be accepting whatever influence that has had on her without letting it define her. But as she pointed out, being who she is has also already cost her plenty and taking time to acknowledge that loss, especially in the face of losing Kenzi, is rightfully another part of her role she has to live with. Though what makes Bo a better leader that Musashi just might be her willingness to see leadership, and its cost, for what it really is and not just the glory of a bar full of Fae wanting to be like her.

Although—and maybe it’s blasphemous to say this—it was pretty fun to see Tamsin helping Bo with this week’s case and stepping into that empty spot next to her. While nothing could replace all of Bo’s years with Kenzi, those heartfelt moments in Lauren’s surgery were a good reminder for Bo that she’s still got plenty of friends with her. And while Tamsin may have a number of strikes against her, she rightfully got recognition for knowing a bit more about her roommate than she’s been given credit for. I expect she’ll been taking Dyson’s suggestion that she leave the shop and join the family business pretty soon, if not in the coming week. Though with this season set to deal with daddy dearest, I don’t know how much time they’re going to have to take cases—even if they do fit as neatly into the story as this Sunday’s.

It was also another week of Dyson and Lauren teaming up with their sass providing a nice counterbalance to all the flirtatious teasing going down between Bo and Tamsin (the writers are just playing with us, right?). There’s a bigger sense of the stakes the season is building towards whenever these two talk since their main common ground at the moment is Bo and how to help her survive what’s coming. Given their flirt-free zone, I’m actually digging the friendship between these two since Dyson’s down a buddy, and the combination of Dyson’s training and Lauren’s science-savvy made for a pretty sweet takedown of the first Fae to come for her.

Though Lauren might need more than her wrist and some ketamine if elevator-lady is still in the lab when Lauren returns to work because I’m getting the sense—from the maniacal face, resurrection stunt and neck snapping—that she’s not your average baddie. I guess the question we’re left with, aside from last week’s “who is she?” is whether she’s very, very old or really new. Any bets?

Lost Girl airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showcase.

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Results: Your favourite Canadian shows of 2014 were …

Well that was a nail-biter. In the last days of our poll for your top three Canadian shows of 2014, Lost Girl and Murdoch Mysteries took turns in the lead. Fans of several shows got in on the online action, with over 20,000 voters participating.

In the end, your top three shows of the year were:

  1. Lost Girl (41%, 8,279 Votes)
  2. Murdoch Mysteries (39%, 7,948 Votes)
  3. Orphan Black (18%, 3,654 Votes)

Thanks to everyone for voting and spreading the word about your favourite Canadian shows. See the full poll results (and comments on the poll for more thoughts and write-in votes):

What were your top 3 favourite Canadian shows of 2014?

  • Lost Girl (19%, 8,279 Votes)
  • Murdoch Mysteries (18%, 7,948 Votes)
  • Orphan Black (8%, 3,654 Votes)
  • Rookie Blue (7%, 2,993 Votes)
  • Bitten (4%, 1,926 Votes)
  • Rick Mercer Report (4%, 1,804 Votes)
  • Republic of Doyle (4%, 1,728 Votes)
  • Vikings (4%, 1,614 Votes)
  • Haven (4%, 1,571 Votes)
  • Continuum (3%, 1,287 Votes)
  • Heartland (3%, 1,233 Votes)
  • Saving Hope (2%, 1,002 Votes)
  • Amazing Race Canada (2%, 937 Votes)
  • Dragons' Den (2%, 855 Votes)
  • The Listener (2%, 836 Votes)
  • 22 Minutes (2%, 781 Votes)
  • Masterchef Canada (1%, 503 Votes)
  • Motive (1%, 488 Votes)
  • Top Chef Canada (1%, 465 Votes)
  • Degrassi (1%, 382 Votes)
  • Big Brother Canada (1%, 362 Votes)
  • Mr. D (1%, 341 Votes)
  • Remedy (1%, 287 Votes)
  • Strange Empire (1%, 274 Votes)
  • Mohawk Girls (1%, 257 Votes)
  • Some Assembly Required (0%, 197 Votes)
  • 19-2 (0%, 180 Votes)
  • Blackstone (0%, 173 Votes)
  • Bachelor Canada (0%, 159 Votes)
  • Spun Out (0%, 135 Votes)
  • Seed (0%, 123 Votes)
  • Canada's Smartest Person (0%, 91 Votes)
  • Package Deal (0%, 66 Votes)
  • Working the Engels (0%, 63 Votes)
  • Sensitive Skin (0%, 61 Votes)

Total Voters: 20,394

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Comments and queries for the week of Dec. 19

It’s getting to the end of the year, Canadian TV viewers, and we marked that milestone by asking you to choose your Top 3 Favourite Canadian TV Shows of 2014. At the time of this story publishing, over 15,000 votes had been cast for a wide range of programs. Here’s what some of you said about the projects you picked.

Too many top good shows to choose from. I love the crossover stars of Lost Girl and The Listener and Murdoch Mysteries but couldn’t put them all in the Top 3 because Haven is my top choice.–Marcia

Where’s BACKROAD BOUNTY with Marty and Bam Bam???? !!!–Ellen

I love Heartland, It Is the best show I have ever seen.–Sue

Bitten and Heartland!!! Two of the best TV and book series ever! I’m dying to see the new seasons of both coming in early 2015, ahhhhh can’t wait! Love Lost Girl so much too and so sad that this will be their final season but they’ve had a great run and will be missed. :)–Brie

It’s hard to include every series, but the Knowledge Network’s doc series, Emergency Room kicked some butt out here on the west coast.–Dave

Meanwhile, the deep analysis has begun with the return of Lost Girl.

Demeter causing people to scream in horror kind of very easily gels if you ask me. She’s the goddess of the harvest, not the hearth (that’s her sister Hestia) and when Persephone was first taken from her she went on a rampage and held the entire earth hostage by blighting it until even Zeus bowed down, paid tribute and returned her daughter for half the year, according to the Homeric Hymns. (There was also an incident of trying to replace the other Olympian gods and her daughter by making mortal babies immortal, but she failed and just started chucking them on the ground instead.)–Fudgy

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or head to @tv_eh.

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