I talk about some of the new features on the site and then reveal this week’s Canadian TV Person of the Week (hint: it has to do with a show airing Sunday). By the way, last week’s Person of the Week was Scott Campbell, who came up with the charity for the TV, eh? Midseason Charity Auction.
Malcolm MacRury (Cra$h & Burn, ZOS: Zone of Separation, Republic of Doyle, Deadwood, The Man Without a Face) is the screenwriter and an executive producer on Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, based on Stephen Leacock’s classic book as well as the author’s life. MacRury recently answered some questions on this literary reimagining, airing Sunday, February 12 on CBC.
In the television movie, co-produced with Movie Central, the elder Stephen Leacock (Gordon Pinsent) narrates the tale of his boyhood self at age 14 (Owen Best). The movie combines two key stories from Leacock’s comic masterpiece: the sinking of The Mariposa Belle steamer with its holiday crowd in the perilously shallow waters of Lake Wissanotti, and the frantic campaign to save Mariposa’s hotel and bar from the Liquor Commission’s shutdown.
Why this book at this time for you?
I’ve loved Stephen Leacock ever since I fled academia to write comedy. Here was a genius who could do both — write best-selling humour books that went around the world and also teach political economy at McGill. I’ve been on a mission to bring his comic masterpiece, Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, to TV for about 20 years. The stars finally aligned when the centenary of his book and the 75th anniversary of the CBC coincided. Timing is everything!
Canadian TV-on-DVD news
Flashpoint‘s third season debuts on DVD in Canada May 22, 2012, through Phase 4 Films. A Blu-ray set has not yet been announced.
More information on the Rookie Blue second-season DVD/Blu-ray set. The set was first mentioned at TV, Eh? last Friday.
Apple iTV to launch in Canada?
Rogers and/or Bell might partner with Apple for iTV in Canada. Essentially, iTV is a television version of Apple’s iPad. Prototypes of the device are in Rogers and Bell’s possessions.
This should not be confused with Apple TV, a five-year-old product already available in Canada. Apple TV mainly streams online content from iTunes, and other selected sources, to television screens.
According to Best Buy’s American branch, a 42-inch Apple iTV, with a built-in webcam and iCloud support, will hypothetically retail for $1499 US. As the product is still in testing stages, prices may vary if/when Apple iTV actually hits the market.
Continue reading TV, Eh? Industry Update – DVD, Apple iTV, CTS, More
Astral executive shuffle
Astral’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Claude Gagnon, has left the company after more than twenty years. Gagnon joined Astral in July 1991, announcing his retirement effective January 31, 2012. Taking Gagnon’s place as SVP/CFO is Robert Fortier, Astral’s Vice-President, Finance.
Continue reading TV, Eh? Industry Roundup: The Mostly-CRTC Edition
By Cameron Archer for TV, eh?
DVD Releases
Canadian TV-on-DVD is surprisingly active, as of late. Rookie Blue‘s second season will be released on DVD/Blu-ray by eOne, on May 8, 2012. Combat Hospital fans have to settle for Sony’s manufacture-on-demand (MOD) DVD set of “Season 1,” on March 6, 2012.
eOne will also release a couple of Showcase dramas. King‘s first season appears on DVD March 6, 2012, while Lost Girl‘s first season appears on DVD March 27, 2012.
Durham County‘s third season will be released on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment’s Canadian division February 21, 2012. eOne will respond with its own HBO Canada title, Call Me Fitz (second season; March 13, 2012 on DVD.)
If you’re looking for new DVD/Blu-ray sets of Canadian shows not made before this decade, keep looking.
Continue reading TV, eh? Industry Roundup: DVDs, Cartoon Network Canada & more
