Everything about Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, eh?

New Thursday: Played, The Nature of Things, Doc Zone

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Played, CTV – “Lawyers”
A high-end litigator at a downtown law office goes missing, and his colleague Anna Quinn (Christine Horne) believes the firm’s partners, specialists in corporate crime, are involved. Posing as an old friend of Anna’s, Moreland (Vincent Walsh) cozies up to managing partner Christopher Locke (Gord Rand) – a guy with thousand dollar suits in his closet and a violent ‘fixer’ at the end of his phone. To expose the truth, Moreland engages Anna in a dangerous play.

The Nature of Things, CBC – “Brain Magic: The Power of Placebo”
What if each of us could make the symptoms of an illness disappear? Cast a spell so powerful it would actually heal our bodies, help us walk, or breathe better? For centuries placebos have been thought of as just fake medicine, but Brain Magic: The Power of Placebo explores the growing scientific evidence that placebos can have powerful—and real—effects on our minds and bodies.

Doc Zone, CBC – “Flying Solo”
Examines one of the most significant social changes of our time – the global trend toward living alone. The number of adults living alone has tripled in half a century. In Canada, for the first time in history, there are more one person households than couple households with kids. In North America, more than 50% of us are single. It is also the fastest rising demographic in China, Europe, and the Middle East. Does living alone herald a new type of liberation – or is it a form of isolation? Why is this happening – and why does it matter? Through profiles of single adults, expert interviews, and a look at the role of women, social media and urbanization, “Flying Solo” reveals what’s fuelling this trend – and what it means for our future.

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Canada’s Worst Driver features worst ever

From Bill Harris of Sun Media:

Buckle up for Canada’s Worst Driver Ever, a true indictment of provincial licensing
Hosted by Andrew Younghusband, Canada’s Worst Driver has tried to help some true road terrors through the years. Canada’s Worst Driver Ever brings back nine of the most notorious former contestants. Have any of them improved? Well, having seen the first episode of the new season – which basically is a series of flashbacks to re-introduce us to these menaces – I confidently can say there was nowhere to go but up. But that doesn’t make me feel any safer, for some reason. Continue reading.

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New Friday: Marketplace, The Fifth Estate

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Marketplace, CBC – “The Dirt on Hotels: We’re Back!”
A year after exposing the dirt on hotels, Canada’s consumer watchdog checks in again to find out if hotels have cleaned up their act.

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “The Murder and The Money Trail”
A Canadian bank gets embroiled in allegations of fraud and corruption after one of its bank managers is brutally murdered. The fifth estate’s Bob McKeown investigates.

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The importance and greatness of Not Criminally Responsible

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

‘Disturbing’ doc takes an inside look at Sean Clifton and the perpetrator’s experience
In this context, the importance and greatness of NCR: Not Criminally Responsible (CBC, 9 p.m. on Doc Zone) cannot be overstated. John Kastner’s fine and vividly illuminating documentary caused something of a sensation at the Hot Docs festival and has already been screened and much discussed in Britain. “Disturbing,” “controversial” and “provocative” are the adjectives used to describe it. I prefer “illuminating.” Continue reading.

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