Everything about Private Eyes, eh?

From a media release:

Global announced today the first wave of premiere dates for its 2019 summer schedule. Featuring a fresh lineup combining standout original series, a newly acquired Royal special, two new dramas, and returning fan favourites, Global’s schedule is packed with thrilling mystery, provocative storytelling, and comedic relief.

Headlining the new summer lineup are two of Global’s highly anticipated returning original series. Following two successful seasons which received great critic acclaim across North America, the third and final chapter of 2019 Canadian Screen Award-winning drama Mary Kills People kicks off the summer schedule beginning Sunday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. From Entertainment One (eOne) and Cameron Pictures, Season 3 picks up five months after last season’s shocking finale that left the fate of Detective Ben Wesley (Jay Ryan) up in the air. Dr. Mary Harris (Caroline Dhavernas), along with her partner Desmond “Des” Bennett (Richard Short), return to face the complications of running their newly established “death retreat”. In anticipation of the final chapter, viewers can watch the first and second season of Mary Kills People on GlobalTV.com or Global GO (available for Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV).

Then, Shade and Angie are back on the case as last summer’s #1 Canadian scripted series Private Eyes, which grew its audience year-over-year (19% for A25-54 and 25% for 2+) returns with 12 new episodes beginning Wednesday, May 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Following the shocking arrest of wisecracking PI Angie Everett (Cindy Sampson), Season 3 begins with her behind bars where she meets an intimidating inmate played by guest star, Canadian icon Jann Arden. The new season also welcomes notable guest stars including Big Brother Canada host Arisa Cox, award-winning actor Gordon Pinsent, and William Shatner, who reprises his role as rival PI Norm Glinski. Returning for Season 3 are familiar faces including Samantha Wanas Zoe, Ennis Esmer as Detective Mazhari, Jordyn Negri as Jules, Barry Flatman as Don, and joining the cast Ruth Goodwin as Officer Danica Powers.

This summer Global also brings its Royal fans Meghan and Harry Plus One, a one-hour special airing Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Hosted by CBS This Morning Co-Host Gayle King, Meghan and Harry Plus One looks at the changes in the life of American-born Meghan Markle since marrying Prince Harry, and the arrival of the couple’s royal heir who will be the first British-American child to be in line for the throne. Plus, the special will go behind the headlines and the rumors, and includes interviews with royal insiders and Meghan’s friends to learn how the couple has adapted to their new lives together and how they have navigated the positive and negative aspects that come with being royal.

Also new to Global’s schedule is action-adventure series Blood & Treasure, premiering with a special two-hour episode Tuesday, May 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Moving to its regular time slot at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning Tuesday, May 28, the serialized, globe-trotting drama stars Matt Barr (Sleepy Hollow) and Sofia Pernas (The Brave) as a brilliant antiquities expert and a cunning art thief, respectively, who team up to catch a ruthless terrorist who funds his attacks through stolen treasure. Mystery and suspense continue this summer on Global with new series The Inbetween airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning May 29. The character-driven drama follows Cassie Bedford (Harriet Dyer, Love Child), who was born with a rare ability to see and communicate with the dead and now helps detectives solve murder cases.

Rounding out the schedule are Global’s returning hits including the seventh and final season of the modern day Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson drama, Elementary, which begins its farewell season Thursday, May 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Meanwhile Season 2 of Instinct starring Alan Cumming and Bojana Novakovic returns Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and then summer’s favourite gameshow The Wall hits new heights with Season 3 in a special two hour premiere Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Series Production Credits:

Mary Kills People is produced by eOne and Cameron Pictures Inc., in association with Corus Entertainment, and with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. The series is executive produced by Tassie Cameron (Ten Days in The Valley, Rookie Blue), Amy Cameron (The Book of Negroes), Marsha Greene (Ten Days in the Valley, Private Eyes), Jocelyn Hamilton (Private Eyes), Tecca Crosby (Private Eyes), and Caroline Dhavernas (Hannibal).

Private Eyes is produced by eOne in association with Corus Entertainment, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and IPF’s Cogeco TV Production Program. Season 3 is executive produced by Jocelyn Hamilton and Tecca Crosby for eOne, Shawn Piller and Lloyd Segan for Piller/Segan, Jason Priestley, James Thorpe, Alan Mccullough, James Thorpe, Alexandra Zarowny, Derek Schreyer and Tassie Cameron.

Meghan and Harry Plus One is produced by the team at 48 HOURS and is executive produced by Judy Tygard and Patti Aronofsky. Blood & Treasure is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Propagate Content. Matthew Federman, Stephen Scaia, Taylor Elmore, Ben Silverman, Marc Webb, Mark Vlasic, Howard T. Owens and Michael Dinner serve as executive producers. Elementary is executive produced by Rob Doherty, Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, Jason Tracey, Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Robert Goodman for CBS Television Studios. Instinct is produced by CBS Television Studios, Michael Rauch, Marc Webb, Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin (Secret Hideout), James Patterson, Bill Robinson, Leopoldo Gout and Alan Cumming serve as executive producers. Meghan and Harry Plus One, Blood & Treasure, Elementary, and Instinct are all distributed internationally by CBS Studios International.

The Inbetween is produced by Universal Television, NBCU International Television Studio and Heyday Television. Moira Kirland, David Heyman, Nancy Cotton, Matthew Gross executive produce. Charlotte Sieling executive produced and directed the pilot. While “The Wall” is a collaboration between Glassman Media and SpringHill.

The Wall was developed by Glassman Media in conjunction with CORE Media and produced in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio. LeBron James, Chris Hardwick, Maverick Carter and Andrew Glassman executive produce.

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TV Eh B Cs Podcast 88 — Awards season with Samantha Wan

March 12, 2019 Greg David

Samantha Wan is a Toronto-based actor and filmmaker. Samantha found her passion for film and acting at a young age in high school. From there, she was accepted into the country’s top theatre school, the National Theatre School of Canada, which boasts a number of notable of alumni including award-winning actress Sandra Oh.

Samantha Wan recently received a 2019 Canadian Screen Award nomination in the category of Best Comedy Series for her sitcom Second Jen.

Second Jen is a buddy comedy about two second-generation millennials making it on their own in the big city. Season 1 aired on the major Canadian network Citytv and Season 2 was later picked up by OMNI Television. The show was produced by Don Ferguson Productions, the production company famously known for creating the Royal Canadian Air Farce. Samantha developed the series with actress and screenwriter Amanda Joy. The two became the youngest televisions creators in Canada.

Samantha is also known for her role as Zoe Chow in the comedy-drama television series Private Eyes starring alongside Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Comments and queries for the week of July 20

July 20, 2018 Greg David

Are Maz and Angie playing siblings on Private Eyes? —Lynne

Hey Lynne, thanks for the great question. No, Maz (Ennis Esmer) and Angie (Cindy Sampson) aren’t siblings, but they are longtime friends. Hence the mocking tone between them.

I still think Anna and Todd might win [The Amazing Race Canada]. Martina was a hoot during the consuming of the blueberry pie. I thought eating a whole pie looked like it would be easy but after watching that, I think I’ll just stick to eating one slice at a time! —Joyce

Three Express Passes gone in one episode also happened last year, the East Coast cousins Megan and Courtney didn’t use theirs and got eliminated. Kinda lame how two of them were used on pie, it was thick but usually they are used for something harder. I understand why the rodeo girls used their EP but they didn’t really need to with the ferry delay. It kinda wrote off the first half of the episode with everyone all together, though if anyone had missed the boat it’d have written off the end of the episode. Martina continues to be funny. Joseph got really lucky on the track at 2:59 but it didn’t save them. We haven’t had a Detour set of tasks and a Road Block in the same episode. Did the budget get cut again? Double Blind U-Turn should be interesting unless everyone is too “heroic” to do it. And finally a proper episode of the Race-international. It’s a real shame they don’t do a full worldwide season like TAR is supposed to be. —DanAmazing

Absolutely loved [Just in Time for Dinner]. It brought back so many memories! I was born in 1960 and my husband born in 1950 and we have thoroughly enjoyed “going back in time.” My son, who is 31, visits on the weekend and we re-watch the shows and he loves it! —Marion

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

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Preview: Shade and Angie play house on Private Eyes

July 5, 2018 Greg David

It’s been a few weeks since I previewed Private Eyes—a couple of curve balls in real-life coupled with a preemption last Sunday thanks to Canada Day—but I’m back on the case (see what I did there) with this Sunday’s new instalment.

Here’s what Global has released as the official synopsis for “The Hills Have Eyes,” written by Derek Schreyer and directed by Anne Wheeler:

Hired by a precocious young boy convinced his missing neighbour was murdered, thanks to suspicious footage from his new drone, Shade and Angie are forced to go undercover and play house in hopes of separating the truth from the gossip.

And, as always, a few further notes from me after watching a screener:

A great mystery
Kudos to Derek Schreyer for penning a great script. From the moment 12-year-old Tyler used a unique way of hiring Angie and Shade, I was all in. Actor Anton Gillis-Adelman has a great chemistry with his older co-stars. Speaking of the adults, a stakeout provides the backdrop for Shade and Angie’s heart-to-heart on who could live in suburbia. And a backyard picnic makes for some hilarious—and super-awkward—conversation.

And great visuals
A hearty bow to director Anne Wheeler, who captures some truly memorable and unique shots never seen on Private Eyes before.

There’s a new menu at the diner
And it’s making me hungry. Also? We get some tasty backstory regarding Shona’s personal life thanks to some detective work by Don.

Private Eyes airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Global.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

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Preview: Private Eyes goes on a “Getaway with Murder”

June 7, 2018 Greg David 5 Comments

I’ve been excited about Sunday’s episode of Private Eyes since May of 2017 when Cindy Sampson teased that Matt, Angie, Dr. Ken and Melanie were spending a weekend together.

Now that weekend is here and there’s, of course, murder afoot. And laughs. Here’s what Global has revealed regarding “Getaway with Murder.”

Shade and Angie are hired by the owner of a luxurious rustic lodge to investigate an infidelity case. Thinking it’ll be a breeze and a good opportunity for a mini-vacation, they invite Ken and Mel along to join them. But when their client ends up dead and the local sheriff proves to be out of his depth, they ditch their dates to solve the case – ultimately leaving them out in the cold.

And here is more info I can divulge of the instalment, written by Marcus Robinson and directed by James Genn, after watching a screener.

Ken has big plans for the weekend
It may be work for Angie, but Ken (Mark Ghanimé) has plotted some fun stuff for the couple, as well as a surprise for his lady love.

Kris Lemche guests
The veteran Canadian actor from such series as Emily of New Moon, Joan of Arcadia and a standout performance on Haven as Seth Byrne is unforgettable on Sunday as Deputy Conroy, who proves to be a tad inept when it comes to solving a grisly crime. Luckily, Angie, Shade, Mel and Ken are there to help in the investigation.

The Dream Team indeed
I’m not-so-secretly hoping there is a reason for Ken and Mel to join Shade and Angie on more cases. The quartet works really well together on this case and has a great chemistry. Fingers crossed the producers noticed this too.

Maz and Zoe together again
An escape room scenario allows the pair some quality time, leading to hilarity.

Private Eyes airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.