Everything about Frankie Drake Mysteries, eh?

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries, “No Friends Like Old Friends”

Frankie Drake Mysteries returns to CBC for Season 3, and a new showrunner. Peter Mitchell, a name Murdoch Mysteries fans know well, took over those duties from James Hurst, something the CBC revealed earlier this year.

Also, as previously announced by CBC, the third season of Frankie Drake Mysteries sees Frankie face a family secret while episodes bring her and the Drake Private Detectives team into the world of British aristocrats, illegal boxing, the supernatural and political fundraisers.

Of particular note in the press release sent by CBC was Honeysuckle Weeks—of Foyle’s War—would guest star. They didn’t reveal when, but I can: Episode 1. Here’s the official storyline for “No Friends Like Old Friends,” written by series co-creator Carol Hay and directed by Ruba Nadda.

After her wartime friend goes missing in London, Frankie must work with Agatha Christie to uncover the reason behind the disappearance.

And here are more details I gathered while watching the episode.

A woman stands, looking worried.A brand-new intro
Unlike Murdoch Mysteries, which has featured the same, iconic, opening credits, Frankie Drake shakes things up with a fun, animated refresh set to the series’ punchy soundtrack. I love it.

Frankie Drake goes overseas
If you follow Frankie Drake Mysteries or its cast on social media, you know the show spent time in England filming. The footage shows up in Monday’s return, as Frankie and her friend, Louise, tear around London on their motorcycles. Shaun Benson, most recently seen on Killjoys and The Boys, plays Louise’s husband. Louise isn’t the only old friend she reconnects with, which gives us a peek into Frankie’s wartime past.

Two women stand next to one another.Agatha Christie appears
Honeysuckle Weeks portrays the legendary mystery author, who hires Frankie to find Louise.

Chaos back home
While Frankie is on her adventure, Flo, Trudy and Mary are struggling with office issues. Trudy is good at many things, but plumbing is not one of them. Plumbing aside, she, Mary and Trudy provide key information into the case surrounding Louise’s disappearance.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

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Comments and queries for the week of May 31

To misquote Billy Joe Armstrong “Wake Me Up When December Ends.” Except for Frankie Drake, Baroness and occasionally TNOT, I’m afraid none of the shows [on CBC’s fall schedule] appeal to me. The winter slate of shows look more interesting with The Sounds. —King

Wow, after all these years there’a finally a Canadian version of Family Feud. I wonder who will host it. I will definitely watch this. I’m glad Northern Rescue is getting a good window in the fall but I wonder if that means a potential second season might take a whole extra year to debut if it gets renewed. I also enjoyed Battle of the Blades. Definitely a great family show. CBC actually has a fabulous family slate coming up in the fall and the thing with the family shows is they get watched soon after airing because I often run out of things I want to watch with the kids. My own adult shows I have to wait till the kids are in bed to watch IF I don’t go to bed soon after them, lol. —Alicia


We love [Hudson & Rex], and while I don’t necessarily need every character to sound like a Newfoundlander, it would sure be nice if the odd one did. Why go to the trouble of letting us know where it takes place if we’re not going to hear one single person with an accent, like a whole retirement home and not one senior sounds like a Newfoundlander? It bothers me and it doesn’t seem realistic. You’re going to offend people from the east coast. Can we try to fix that next season? Thanks. —Julie

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

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The women of Frankie Drake Mysteries jump back in action as filming on season three begins for CBC and UKTV

From a media release:

Shaftesbury today announced that production is underway on the third season of the award-winning drama series FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES, for CBC and UKTV, distributed by Kew Media Distribution. A top-rated drama for CBC and Alibi, the 10 x one-hour episode third season of the hit series set in 1920s Toronto kicked off production with a shoot in London, U.K. in April; the series will film on location in Ontario through to the fall. The third season sees Frankie face a family secret while episodes bring her and the Drake Private Detectives team into the world of British aristocrats, illegal boxing, the supernatural, and political fundraisers.

Nominated for “Best Debut Drama Series” at the 2018 Content Innovation Awards, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES was nominated for five 2019 Canadian Screen Awards including Best Drama Series. One of CBC’s most-watched dramas since it first launched in Canada in 2017, the series launched on UKTV’s Alibi channel in January 2018 and season two remains one of Alibi’s top-performing shows of the year alongside Shaftesbury’s Murdoch Mysteries.

FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES stars Lauren Lee Smith (The Shape of Water, The Listener) as the private eye with a mysterious past, Frankie Drake; Chantel Riley (Wynonna Earp, Pearson) as Frankie’s fearless and clever partner, Trudy Clarke; Rebecca Liddiard (Departure, Alias Grace) as morality officer, Mary Shaw; and Sharron Matthews (Mean Girls, Odd Squad) as morgue attendant, Flo Chakowitz. Returning guest stars include Wendy Crewson (The Detail, Slasher, Saving Hope) as Frankie’s occasional-con-woman mother, Nora; and Grace Lynn Kung (Mary Kills People, The Carmilla Movie, Star Trek: Discovery) as café and speakeasy owner, Wendy Quon; new guest stars this season include Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle’s War, The Five) as Agatha Christie.

Set in 1920s Toronto, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES follows the city’s only female private detectives, Frankie Drake (Smith) and her partner Trudy Clarke (Riley) as they fight crime with the help of keen police morality officer Mary Shaw (Liddiard) and spirited morgue attendant Flo Chakowitz (Matthews). In a time of change and hopefulness, their gender is their biggest advantage as they defy expectations and rebel against convention. The Drake Private Detectives take on cases that explore every cross-section of Toronto, from gospel church choirs, bathing beauties and the early cinema scene, to the homes and private parties of the city’s elite. Frankie and Trudy’s fearless sense of adventure gets them into all kinds of trouble, but they always manage to find a way out. They are new detectives for a new world – but is the world ready for them?

Created by Carol Hay and Michelle Ricci, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES is executive produced by Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Peter Mitchell, and Carol Hay; Peter Mitchell also serves as showrunner. John Callaghan and Julie Lacey are co-executive producers, and Teresa Ho serves as producer.

A CBC original series, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES is developed and produced by Shaftesbury in association with CBC and UKTV, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit. Kew Media Distribution is the global distributor of the series.

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Thom Allison and Sharron Matthews named co-hosts of the upcoming CAFTCAD Awards

From a media release:

People are either born hosts or born guests (thank you, Max Beerbohm). Thom Allison and Sharron Matthews were most definitely born hosts which is why they will take to the stage at the Aga Khan Museum on Sunday, February 10th to head up the inaugural Canadian Alliance of Film & Television Costume Arts & Design (CAFTCAD) Awards.

“If we are going to do an awards gala, then we are going to do it right. Thom and Sharron bring a triumphant spirit to this event and we are thrilled to have them on this very special night,” said Joanna Syrokomla, Chairman of the CAFTCAD Awards.

Two-time Dora nominee, Thom Allison, can be seen as ‘Pree’ in the hit series, Killjoys, on Space Channel/Syfy Network. Thom has appeared on Broadway in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and in the original Canadian companies of Miss Saigon, The Who’s Tommy and Rent. At the Stratford Festival, Thom has appeared in Romeo and Juliet, Pericles, Threepenny Opera, The King and I, Hello, Dolly and King Henry VIII, and Into the Woods. At the Shaw Festival, he received critical acclaim for his performance in Ragtime, as well as performing in Wonderful Town, A Little Night Music, Guys and Dollsand Follies: In Concert. Some other credits include The Drowsy Chaperone(Vancouver Playhouse, National Arts Centre, Citadel Theatre), OUTRAGEOUS(CanStage), Cabaret (Theatre Calgary), My Fair Lady (Manitoba Theatre Centre), Evita (Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Calgary), Elegies, A New Brain (Acting Up Stage) and Take Me Out (CanStage). Film/TV: Judge on CBC’s Over the Rainbow, Leaving Metropolis, I Me Wed, Road to Christmas, Kim’s Convenience, Murdoch Mysteries, Private Eyes, Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade. Directing: Seussical, Mary Poppins (YPT). His CD, “A Whole Lotta Sunlight” can be purchased on iTunes.

Award-winning actress, writer, singer, producer Sharron Matthews is one of the stars of the CBC’s hit TV drama Frankie Drake Mysteries, airing on OVATION and PBS in the United States and ALIBI in the UK. She has toured her highly acclaimed one-woman shows around the world from New York to London to Cape Town, has acted in movies with stars like Tina Fey (Mean Girls) and John Travolta (Hairspray: The Movie), written for newspapers and magazines across the globe, sung with Canadian icon Jann Arden, and performed on stages alongside comedy legends Mary Walsh and Andrea Martin. As if that wasn’t enough, Sharron is also the host of the CBC digital series, “The Mystery Of…”.

The CAFTCAD Awards will take place on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.

ABOUT CAFTCAD 
Formed in 2008, the Canadian Alliance of Film & Television Costume Arts & Design (CAFTCAD) is an association of individuals interested in promoting costume design for film, television and media from both an artistic and technical perspective. Our goal is to enrich our community with a national organization that is inclusive of experience and talent. The Alliance provides an open forum for discussion, networking and knowledge sharing for our members through periodic seminars, workshops, exhibits and an online forum. We explore the areas of individual design approach, illustration, and advancements in film technologies. We celebrate the richness of historic and contemporary fashion and its relationship to our craft. Our vision is to increase awareness and the value of costume arts and design as a powerful element in the collaborative process of filmmaking; furthering international recognition of the creative talent we have in Canada.

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Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries says goodbye to magical Season 2

Say it isn’t so! Season 2 of Frankie Drake Mysteries has come to an end already? I’m sad, but what a ride it’s been. I’ve enjoyed this sophomore set of 10 episodes under new showrunner James Hurst. Interesting cases, killer guest cast in folks like Natalie Brown and Anthony Lemke and lead character advancement has been a joy. Seeing Mary has been a particular treat; new we need to learn more about Flo.

On Monday, it’s the second season finale. Here’s what the CBC has revealed about “Now You See Her,” written by James Hurst and directed by Ruba Nadda.

When a magician’s assistant is killed, Frankie goes undercover to find the culprit. But can she see clearly through the smoke and mirrors?

And, for the last time this year, my thoughts after watching a screener.

The magic man
Saving Hope and Burden of Truth fans will be happy to see Benjamin Ayres appear in Monday’s season finale as Ben Sellers, a magician who is key to the case. Other guest cast include Timothy Dowler-Coltman, Amy Groening, Raoul Bhaneja, Mishka Thébaud and Murdoch Mysteries fan favourite Nigel Bennett.

Trudy’s in charge
With Frankie going undercover, her right-hand woman steps into the lead investigator role. It’s a great opportunity for Trudy to show her stuff and progression as a sleuth. As for Mary? Well, magicians aren’t her favourite thing. Kind of like me when it comes to clowns.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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