Everything about Package Deal, eh?

Seed renewed; City adds Meet The Family

Seed image by Derek Langer

From a media release:

City Adds Seven Original Canadian Series to 2013-14 Prime-Time Schedule

  • Newly commissioned reality series Meet the Family joins prime-time schedule this fall
  • Multi-camera original comedy Package Deal gets new, fall prime-time timeslot
  • Seed renewed for Season 2; returns with 13 half-hour episodes in 2014
  • Mother Up! with Eva Longoria joins mid-season schedule in 2014
  • Three OLN original series – Storage Wars Canada, The Project: Guatemala and returning hit The Liquidator – to also air on City this fall

Marking the most robust lineup of original Canadian programming the network has ever produced, City today announced seven original series – five new and two returning – join the network’s 2013-14 prime-time schedule.

The announcement was made today as part of Rogers Media’s 2013 Upfront presentation.

Scripted original comedy Package Deal is part of City’s winning comedy block on Mondays this fall, airing at 8:30 p.m. ET. Three all-new original reality series, Storage Wars Canada, The Project: Guatemala, and the newly commissioned Meet the Family, also air on City in prime time this fall, as does OLN’s hit returning original series The Liquidator. Beginning mid-season, new original animated adult comedy series Mother Up!, starring and executive produced by Eva Longoria, will air exclusively on North American television on City.

Along with the new schedule, City announced today it has greenlit Season 2 of its original single-camera, sperm-donor comedy Seed, with an additional 13 half-hour episodes from Vancouver-based Force Four Productions. Premiering to critical acclaim this past February, Seed returns to Halifax this summer to begin production. Recognized for its rich characters, quick-wit, and edgy writing, Seed has been nominated for an international 2013 Banff Rockie Award in the category of Best Sitcom.

For all its originals, City will have a strong digital presence with live chats, blogs, bloopers, and exclusive video content for web that will engage and enhance the viewing experience.

In addition to these seven original series, The Bachelor Canada – the #1 new Canadian show and a top 10 new show in Canada for last fall* – begins production on Season 2 in 2014. A guilty pleasure for all women, the show is slated to air in fall 2014 and will engage across multiple platforms with more co-viewing and dual-screen experiences.

Image by Derek Langer

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Package Deal premieres June 24 on City

From a media release:

City’s Got the Full Package Deal With New Original Comedy Series Beginning June 24

  • Package Deal follows three dysfunctionally close brothers and the woman who comes between them
  • 13-episode, half-hour, multi-camera comedy from creator and Emmy®-nominated producer Andrew Orenstein (Malcolm in the Middle, 3rd Rock from the Sun)
  • Series guest stars comedian Eugene Levy (American Pie) and bombshell Pamela Anderson (8 Simple Rules) in three episodes each

PackageRedefining the term excess baggage, City strings together romance and rivalry when one man’s two obsessively attached older brothers get in the way of his new relationship in the original comedy series Package Deal, premiering Monday, June 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings). Starring Randal Edwards (The Killing), Harland Williams (There’s Something About Mary), Jay Malone (Monk), and Julia Voth (Bitch Slap), Package Deal is a hilarious 13-episode, multi-camera series from comedic genius, creator, and critically-acclaimed producer Andrew Orenstein (Malcolm in the Middle, 3rd Rock from the Sun). The series was shot in front of a live studio audience in Vancouver, and features beloved Canadian guest stars Eugene Levy (American Pie, A Mighty Wind) and Pamela Anderson (8 Simple Rules, Scary Movie 3) in recurring roles.

Package Deal tells the story of three brothers – Danny (Randal Edwards), Sheldon (Harland Williams), and Ryan (Jay Malone) – who can’t seem to get enough of each other. Danny is the smart, good looking, and successful lawyer brother; Sheldon is the stubborn, politically incorrect, and bossy salesman older brother; and Ryan is the sensitive, slightly metrosexual, and former house-husband brother. Sharing more than just a last name, they are overly involved in each other’s life…until Kim (Julia Voth), a beautiful, smart, and funny woman, begins dating Danny and finally cuts his umbilical cord from his brothers.

In the series premiere, “The Picnic,” Danny believes he’s found the perfect girl, and Kim thinks she’s found the perfect guy. But things go awry when Danny introduces Kim to his intrusive brothers, Sheldon and Ryan, and quickly realizes that the only thing they have in common is their mutual dislike for one another. As their meddling threatens to derail his relationship, Danny seeks advice and counsel from his favourite client, McKenzie (Eugene Levy) – who knows a lot about love since he’s on trial for murdering his wife. Sheldon and Ryan soon realize that Danny cares about Kim, and finally convince her that if she wants to be with Danny, she has to accept that he’s already committed to his brothers who come as part of a “package deal.”

Esteemed Canadian comic Eugene Levy kicks off his three-episode, guest-starring appearance in the series premiere as McKenzie – a repeatedly-married man whose wives keep mysteriously dying, providing a challenge for his criminal defense lawyer, Danny. Later in the season, Canadian beauty and award-winning animal rights activist Pamela Anderson also guest stars in three episodes as Ryan’s off-beat therapist Dr. Sydney Forbes, whose up-close-and-personal approach creates some unexpected results.

Package Deal was created by Emmy®-nominated producer Andrew Orenstein (Malcolm in the Middle, 3rd Rock from the Sun) and is produced by Thunderbird Films, with Tim Gamble (Mr. Young) and Michael Shepard (Mr. Young) serving as executive producers. From Rogers Media, Carol Commisso is production executive for original programming, Claire Freeland is director of original programming, Malcolm Dunlop is executive vice-president, programming and operations, and Scott Moore is president of broadcast.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Pamela Anderson to guest star on Package Deal

From a media release (from December … oops):

Canadian Bombshell Pamela Anderson the Latest Guest Star to Join Citytv’s Original Comedy Series, Package Deal

Famed Canadian actress and award-winning animal rights activist Pamela Anderson (8 Simple Rules, Scary Movie 3) will guest star in the new Citytv original comedy, Package Deal. Anderson will appear in three episodes as Ryan’s (Jay Malone, Monk) off-beat therapist whose up-close-and-personal approach creates some unexpected results. Previously announced Canadian comic Eugene Levy will also guest star in the series, set to debut in 2013.

PAndersonCurrently in production, Package Deal follows three overly-close brothers and the woman who comes between them. Kim (Julia Voth, Bitch Slap) thinks she’s found the love of her life in successful lawyer Danny (Randal Edwards, Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Killing) only to discover that his two eccentric and intrusive older brothers come with the deal. Sheldon (Harland Williams, There’s Something About Mary) is a chauvinistic salesman while the neurotic Ryan (Jay Malone, Monk) has recently been dumped by his wife. Created by Emmy®-nominated producer Andrew Orenstein (Malcolm in the Middle, 3rd Rock from the Sun), Package Deal is produced by Thunderbird Films and will air on Citytv in the mid-season of 2013. Endemol Group will distribute the series internationally.

An example of Citytv’s strong commitment to original Canadian programming, Package Deal joins the roster of high-profile original series, including Seed and The Bachelor Canada.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

On set with Package Deal

From Bill Brioux of TV Feeds My Family:

  • Package Deal a great deal for the live crowd
    Four-camera sitcom tapings can sometimes be a bit of an endurance test for studio audiences. You go in thinking you’ll whiz through a live taping of a half-hour sitcom. Five or six hours later, you swear you’ll never watch television again. This was definitely not the case Friday night in Burnaby, B.C. as Package Deal taped its second-last live studio audience show of the season. The upcoming Rogers/City sitcom stars Harland Williams, Jay Malone, and Randal Edwards as three goofy brothers. Julia Voth plays Edwards’ character’s girlfriend who accepts them all, for better or for worse. Read more.
Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Winter season packed with CanCon

From Bill Brioux of the Canadian Press:

  • Downton Abbey, Cracked, Transporter kick off TV’s second season in January
    Cape Breton native Ron James bring back his Friday night CBC series for a fourth season of Friday nights, starting Jan. 7 at 8:30 p.m. James’ series is one of several returning to the CBC line-up in January. “Dragons’ Den” and “Republic of Doyle” are moving to Sundays (starting Jan. 6) as CBC positions its highest-rated reality show and drama into TV’s most-watched night. Read more.
Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail