From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:
Link: Downton Abbey’s Daisy guest stars on Murdoch Mysteries
There’s not much at first glance that connects Downton Abbey and Murdoch Mysteries, aside from both being period dramas.
One is a beloved British-made TV series about an aristocratic family and their servants; the other is a beloved Canadian-made TV series about a Toronto detective, his pathologist wife and the crimes they solve. Continue reading.
It’s been a long summer, hasn’t it Murdoch Mysteries fans? Those months between new seasons of the show seem to get more drawn-out with every passing year. But let’s forget about the days gone by and focus on the journey ahead: 18 shiny new episodes to enjoy.
When we last left Julia and William, they’d reconciled after Julia miscarried and the pair briefly separated. Meanwhile, Crabtree and Nina are kaput, perhaps forever, after she left for Paris and he stayed behind.
Season 12 kicks off with “Murdoch Mystery Mansion,” written by showrunner Peter Mitchell and directed by Gary Harvey. Here’s what the CBC has revealed as the official synopsis for the episode.
Det. Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and Dr. Ogden (Hélène Joy) have rebuilt their life after Ogden’s recent miscarriage by building a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (Aaron Poole), a Chicago architect with a burgeoning reputation. However, the house is rocked by an explosion in Murdoch’s specially designed potato-cooking room that claims a man’s life.
And here are a few more tidbits I gleaned after watching a screener.
What? New show credits and theme music?!
After 12 seasons, there’s a major shakeup with the opening credits and … KIDDING. It wouldn’t be Murdoch Mysteries without Robert Carli’s iconic theme and those oh-so-steampunk credits.
Downton Abbey’s Sophie McShera checks in…
I must admit, it’s a bit strange to see the actress I’ll always think of as Daisy from Downton Abbey walking around William Murdoch’s world. Here she plays Ann Ryand, which several eagle-eyed fans have suggested might be a nod to author Ayn Rand via wordplay.
…And so does Aaron Poole
No stranger to the CBC—Poole played Captain John Slotter in the cancelled-too-soon Strange Empire—he’s most recently appeared in the horror flick The Void, drama feature The Definites and sci-fi series Salvation. He’s great as the brilliant architect who has built William and Julia’s first home. And there is a very funny catch to owning Wright’s first-ever house in the Toronto area. (A hearty “Hurrah” to the set designers, props department, builders and other crew who made the interior of the home look so realistic.)
Julia and William are in a wonderful place
Those hoping our favourite couple are happy will be thrilled to find that’s certainly the case as “Murdoch Murder Mansion” begins. But then, well, murder.
Higgins and Ruth are still going strong
One of the most entertaining couples in primetime television is hurtling towards their wedding day. That means major events as precursors … and the opportunity to learn more about these two characters.
Miss Hart is perturbed
She may have big plans when it comes to running the morgue, but Inspector Brackenreid has other ideas.
Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.
Images courtesy of CBC.
From Sabrina Bellissimo of Beyond Fashion:
Link: Yannick Bisson and Hélène Joy Talk “Murdoch Mysteriesâ€
Not many television shows are able to air over ten seasons. Even less Canadian television shows get that opportunity. But Toronto based Murdoch Mysteries, with its successful combination of wit, romance, mystery, and originality, begins its 12th season Monday September 24th on CBC. Continue reading.
From a media release:
CBC today announced broadcast and streaming premiere dates for its fall 2018 lineup of new and returning series featuring a wide range of original programming produced by Canadian creators for Canadian audiences, including a new primetime schedule launching Tuesday, September 18th. In addition to broadcast on television, all programming will also be available to stream live and on demand for free on the CBC TV app for iOs and Android and cbc.ca/watch.
CBC’s Fall 2018 primetime schedule launching Tuesday, September 18th:
All following times local with the exception of Newfoundland, please add half an hour to all times.
TUESDAYS
7:30 PM – CORONATION STREET
(weekdays, back-to-back episodes on Mondays at 7 PM)
8 PM – STILL STANDING
Season 4 (13×30) premieres Sept. 18 *NEW TO FALL*
8:30 PM – THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES
Season 26 (19×30, 1×60) premieres Sept. 18
9 PM – BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW
Season 3 (10×30) premieres Sept. 18 *NEW TO FALL*
9:30 PM – HANG UPS
British comedy (6×30) starring Stephen Mangan as an online therapist premieres Sept. 19
9:30 PM – IN THE LONG RUN
Idris Elba’s comedy (6×30) inspired by his inner city-London childhood premieres Oct. 30
10 PM – THE NATIONAL
CBC News’ flagship program continues Sunday to Friday each week
WEDNESDAYS
8 PM – THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW
Season 2 (8×60) premieres Sept. 19
8 PM – CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON JUNIOR
New competition series (6×60) premieres Nov. 14
9 PM – VANITY FAIR
New British adaptation of Thackeray’s 1848 novel (7×60) premieres Sept. 19
9 PM – MR. D
Season 8 (8×30) premieres Nov. 7 *NEW NIGHT, FINAL SEASON*
9:30 PM – HALIFAX COMEDY FEST
Season 23 (6×30) premieres Nov. 14
THURSDAYS
7 PM – THE INVESTIGATORS WITH DIANA SWAIN
Season 3 premieres Sept. 20 *NEW NIGHT*
8 PM – DRAGONS’ DEN
Season 13 (20×60) featuring new investors Vincenzo Guzzo and Lane Merrifield premieres Sept. 20
9 PM – THE DETECTIVES
Season 2 (8×60) premieres Sept. 20 *NEW NIGHT*
9 PM – FROM THE VAULTS
New music archive series (6×60) premieres Nov. 15
FRIDAYS
8 PM – MARKETPLACE
Season 46 premieres Sept. 21
8:30 PM – IN THE MAKING
New original series (8×30) profiling Canadian artists premieres Sept. 21
9 PM – CBC DOCS POV
Season 3 launches Sept. 21 with documentary Just a Regular Kid, exploring what it means to be young, Muslim and growing up in the West *NEW NIGHT*
11:30 PM CBC ARTS: EXHIBITIONISTS
Season 4 (26×30) premieres Sept. 21
SATURDAYS
Afternoon – CBC Sports’ ROAD TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES fall season begins Oct. 20 with extensive coverage of Skate America from Everett, Washington
6:30 PM – HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
SUNDAYS
11 AM (12 PM AT) – THE WEEKLY WITH WENDY MESLEY
Season 2 premieres Aug. 12
Afternoon – ROAD TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES
7 PM – ANNE WITH AN E
Season 2 (10×60) premieres Sept. 23
8 PM – THE NATURE OF THINGS
Season 58 premieres Sept. 23 with special three-part miniseries Equus: The Story of the Horse​
9 PM – THE FIFTH ESTATE
Season 44 premieres Sept. 23 *NEW NIGHT*
MONDAYS
8 PM – MURDOCH MYSTERIES
Season 12 (18×60) premieres Sept. 24
9 PM – FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES
Season 2 (10×60) premieres Sept. 24
Which new and returning CBC shows are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments below!
We’re loving Carter.
The light tone, humour and chemistry between the three main characters—actor Harley Carter (Jerry O’Connell), cop Sam Shaw (Sydney Poitier-Heartsong) and coffee truck owner Dave Leigh (Kristian Bruun)—is a big part of that. The trio is the heart and soul of the mystery series, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, and we couldn’t imagine anyone else in those roles.
Ironically, if it hadn’t been for his Murdoch Mysteries character, Constable “Slugger” Jackson being killed off, Bruun likely never would have scored Dave. We spoke to Bruun, who will also be seen in the excellent space web series Deep Six in the coming months, about landing the role.
What was it like working on Carter?
Kristian Bruun: It’s funny how this world works because I wouldn’t have gotten that job if I was back on Murdoch Mysteries, I think. And, like Peter Mitchell said back then about not being worried about me, he was kind of right. When I didn’t get to come back to Murdoch for Season 11, I was like, ‘Well, I guess I don’t have to be clean-shaven anymore.’ So I grew this hipster beard to fit in in my neighbourhood in L.A. I called it my unemployment beard. [Laughs.] I was looking a little more rugged and then an audition came along for this role, playing a dude from up north. I thought the beard could work and I booked the role.
Tell me about Dave.
He’s a very different character that I’m very lucky to play. We had a blast shooting it. Jerry O’Connell, Sydney Poitier and I are up north solving crimes. I kind of describe it as Magnum, P.I. meets Murder, She Wrote. It’s a small town, there are too many murders and we’re running around solving capers and getting into too much trouble. It’s a really fun role. We had a blast shooting it. It was like summer vacation. We were there from July to October in North Bay, Ont., a beautiful place to be shooting and every week friends of mine were coming up to film guest-starring roles on this. It was like, ‘Hey, come up and hang out with us for a week on this crazy TV show.’ It has a lot of humour, a lot of heart.
Carter airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Image courtesy of Bell Media.Â
