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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Alan Thicke and Co. contend with reno pains in Unusually Thicke: Under Construction

From a media release:

The Thickes are going through major changes this fall, both in their personal lives and at home in a wall-destroying and star-studded new season of the Canadian original series Unusually Thicke: Under Construction. While everyone’s favourite TV dad, Canada’s own Alan Thicke, coordinates his workload of TV and film appearances, his wife Tanya is ready to inject some youthful energy into their home with her list of contemporary renovations. Premiering with back-to-back episodes September 3 at 10pm ET/PT on HGTV Canada, Unusually Thicke: Under Construction follows Alan, Tanya, and son Carter as they juggle their fascinating daily lives with the challenges of home improvements.

While Alan keeps busy with everything from serving as a corporate spokesperson to fulfilling his passion for celebrity golf tournaments, he must also make time to play his cards wisely at home as he clashes with Tanya over renovation decisions. From their bedroom to the backyard, no part of the house is off limits and Alan leaves no cushion unturned when he orders a germ inspection that reveals some disturbing news. When the renos become too much to handle, Alan and Tanya make a temporary escape in a different kind of home, an RV. Their life on the road is soon cut short as Tanya receives alarming photos of their ambitious kitchen renovation gone horribly wrong. Whether he’s trying to keep an eye on Carter with new home security cameras or just trying to keep his noisy neighbours at bay, Alan proves that even Hollywood stars have everyday problems.

Unusually Thicke is produced by Peacock Alley Entertainment in association with HGTV Canada.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

W Network orders Season 2 of Game of Homes

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment announced today the renewal of W Network’s hit series, Game of Homes, with Great Pacific Media. Game of Homes (8×60) gives skilled amateur home renovators a chance to parlay their skills into the prize of a lifetime – a house and a plot of land. The second season heads across the country to the Toronto area, with four new teams of amateur home renovators turning rundown houses into their dream homes, room-by-room. Production begins on Game of Homes Season 2 in mid- September and it is scheduled to air in 2016 on W Network.

In Season 2, these dilapidated houses, slated for the wrecking ball, will be uprooted and transported to the Toronto area. The teams will work side by side, around the clock, to completely transform these dumps into show homes while also living in them. They will battle small budgets, tight deadlines, cramped quarters and each other for a chance to win a home and change their lives forever.

Casting for Season 2 is currently underway. People interested in applying to be on the show can visit wnetwork.com/be-on-tv or gameofhomestv.com. 

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

W Network partners with Mark Burnett and Insight Productions on New Series Pilot, Destination Detour

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment’s W Network announced today an agreement with Mark Burnett, United Artists Media Group, Omnicom Canada Corp.’s Highway Entertainment and Insight Productions to develop a new series format and pilot episode of the travel-reality series, Destination Detour(working title). The format is being developed for Canadian and international markets and will air on W Network in 2016.  Production of the one-hour pilot, begins in August in Ontario, Canada.

Destination Detour  takes three couples on what they expect will be their own meticulously planned, once in a lifetime dream vacation but throws a major curveball into their plans. The three couples from vastly different walks of life, personal interests and temperaments must face this massive detour head-on. The couples will be immersed in worlds they never dreamed of entering and face challenges that will scare, excite and ultimately redefine them. Only time will tell if the couples embrace this Destination Detour or if it will turn out to be a holiday from hell.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Survivorman star injured in car accident

Best wishes go out to Survivorman star Les Stroud, who was injured in a car accident in Mongolia recently.

The news broke Tuesday afternoon on OLN’s Facebook page, detailing the veteran survivalist was filming new footage for Survivorman when the incident occurred.

“After being out in the field for a few weeks, shooting new footage for Survivorman featuring Les Stroud, he headed out to Mongolia where he got into a car accident,” the post read. “He is back home now, recovering from a dislocated shoulder, a couple broken ribs, and a collapsed lung. Get well soon, Les!”

Well-wishers were quick to lend their support to the writer, producer, author, TV host and singer/songwriter in the comments section on the post.

Stroud’s most recent series for the network, Survivorman: Bigfoot, found him traveling the world over the course of six episodes seeking out the mythical, mystical Sasquatch.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: The Weapon Hunter blows history away

The best history lessons are those delivered with enthusiasm, excitement and, hopefully, without textbooks. That’s certainly the case of The Weapon Hunter, T+E’s latest series starring rock promoter/actor/military enthusiast Paul Shull, who traverses the globe on the hunt for the weapons and munitions that shaped the world.

Debuting Tuesday, the six-part series from Cream Productions (Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan) tracks Shull into the hills of B.C., where he meets friend Brook, who is in the final stages of completing a 1940s Achilles Tank Destroyer. After logging thousands of hours on rebuilding the rare piece, Brook needs a brake pad so the beast can roll in a Veteran’s Day parade.

Enter Shull, whose journey takes him to a Vancouver basement to pick through 40 years of collecting by a man named George; his collection of Second World War items includes helmets, uniforms and a rare Liberator gun that was dropped by the Allies into France to arm the Resistance. Then it’s on to Los Angeles to a seven-acre military outpost called Tankland. Still without a brake pad for Brook, Shull jets to Big Sandy, Arizona, for a machine gun shoot where he tries out a Browning machine gun and Pak 40 German anti-tank gun. The latter, a monstrous affair that shakes the hillside when it goes off, nets the following comment from our host:

“It’s like someone inserted a firecracker into my sinus cavity.” And it’s exactly that kind of remark that makes The Weapon Hunter such entertaining TV.

The program is a fascinating and immersive history lesson blending old war footage, choppy animation and Shull’s charm. The man with unique facial hair has a curiosity that comes through the screen; he loves this stuff and asks all the right questions to get interesting stories and tales out of his interview subjects.

Shull finds that elusive tank part for Brook, and discovers a lot of other cool stuff along the way.

The Weapon Hunter airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on T+E.

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