Everything about Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, eh?

Friday: Marketplace, Fifth Estate, Transporter

marketplace1.jpg

Marketplace, CBC – “Mike Holmes: Home Ripoffs”
Mike Holmes on rip-off renovators, shoddy roofers, and incompetent inspectors.

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “The Vanishing”
A daughter’s twelve-year quest to solve her mother’s mysterious disappearance uncovers the dark secrets of a close-knit family.

Transporter: The Series, HBO Canada – “Switch”
Frank is to pick up a valuable painting from a gallery and bring it to a rich psychopath art collector. There is a wild chase during the transfer and a young woman threatens him with a gun and claims that the painting is hers. Fortunately, at this moment the police appears and Frank seizes the opportunity to wriggle out of the situation. But when he delivers the painting to art collector Max Khyber (Hannes Jaenicke), it turns out that it is a fake. Khyber feels betrayed and suspects Frank of stealing the original. He holds Frank prisoner on his property and sends in a dominatrix, Lara, to get him to talk, but Frank manages to free himself and goes in search of the original with the young woman who claims ownership.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Thursday: Nature of Things, Doc Zone, Undercover Boss Canada

natureofthings.jpg

The Nature of Things, CBC – “Fruit Hunters (Part 2)”
A journey through the exotic, endlessly fascinating world of fruit – a story of nature, commerce and obsession.

Doc Zone, CBC – “The Boomer Revolution”
They turned on, tuned in and dropped out. Now Baby Boomers are revolutionizing what it means to get old.

Undercover Boss Canada, W Network – “Mr. Lube”
Mr. Lube has built its reputation on quick oil changes, and as it expands its slate of services, President and CEO Stuart Suls dons a disguise to discover whether or not the staff are keeping up.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Donut Showdown premieres April 2

From a media release:

IT’S ‘FRY OR BE FRIED’ IN FOOD NETWORK CANADA’S DONUT SHOWDOWN

  • Donut Pros Face Off for $10,000 Prize in Each Episode
  • New Canadian Original Series Premieres April 2, 2013 at 10pm ET/PT

Food Network Canada brings viewers eye-popping, out-of-this-world donuts like they’ve never seen before in a competitively entertaining brand new Canadian original series. The battle is on in Donut Showdown as professional donut makers from across North America take the iconic fried dough delicacy to new heights, dishing out their wackiest creations in hopes of devouring the competition and taking home a whopping $10,000 grand prize at the end of every episode. Donut Showdown premieres Tuesday, April 2 at 10pm ET/PT exclusively on Food Network Canada.

Hosted by international food television sensation Danny Boome (The Chew, Recipe Rehab), Donut Showdown brings an expert panel of judges to the diner kitchen to decide which fried treats will make the cut and which ones will cause the judges’ eyes to ‘glaze’ over. David Rocco (David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway) leads the charge as head judge, joined by fellow esteemed judges culinary expert Maggie McKeown (Recipe to Riches) and popular Toronto restaurateur Zane Caplansky (Caplansky’s Delicatessen).

In each episode of Donut Showdown, the battle begins with three colourful competitors tasked with creating a batch of donuts using three bizarre and unusual secret ingredients. The judges will get a taste of each offering, critiquing each donut on taste, presentation and creativity. The competitor with the weakest donut will be sent home, and the remaining two competitors must go head-to-head in a final battle to make a large batch of donuts based on a theme chosen by the judges. At the end of each episode just one competitor will taste victory, leaving with a sweet $10,000 prize.

Donut Showdown features 42 fiercely competitive donut pros from across North America, with 12 hailing from across Canada including:

· Barb Aiello, Grandad’s Coffee & Donuts in Dundas, ON
· Kristen Boates, Rodney’s By Bay/John & Sons Oyster House in Toronto, ON
· Rachelle Cadwell, Dough By Rachelle in Toronto, ON
· Michelle Edgar, Sweet Escape Patisserie in Toronto, ON
· Amanda Hamer, Barque Smokehouse in Toronto, ON
· Isabelle Loiacono, J’Adore Cakes Co. in Woodbridge, ON
· Rajesh “Rags” Narine, Cartem’s Donuterie in Vancouver, BC
· Rachel Pellet, Emma’s Country Kitchen in Toronto, ON
· Grant Rummel, Chez Boris in Montreal, QC
· Trista Sheen, Crush Wine Bar in Toronto, ON
· Grayson Sherman, Jelly Modern in Calgary, AB
· Josie Weitzenbauer, Leche Desserts Inc. in Montreal, QC

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Production begins on Canadian Pickers season 4

From a media release:

Production Commences on Season 4 of HISTORY®’s CANADIAN PICKERS

  • The Pickers travel outside of Canada for the first time on the show in search of the perfect find
  • People interested in applying to be on the show can email canadianpickers@cineflix.com

One person’s junk is one Picker’s treasure! Cineflix’s hit series CANADIAN PICKERS is back on the road as production begins on its fourth season. Hosts Scott Cozens and Sheldon Smithens are dusting off their cowboy hats and are back touring the country in search of vintage collectibles and antiques, buying and selling pieces of Canadian history. Cineflix is producing 13 one-hour episodes in association with HISTORY.

This season, the Pickers are set to travel from coast to coast, making stops in Vancouver Island, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Whistler and more Canadian treasure troves. And marking a CANADIAN PICKERS first, the Pickers head across the pond, taking their passion for finding great antiques and collectibles to the UK, this Summer. The Pickers are looking for collecting aficionados with interesting stories, and even more interesting junk! Individuals who are interested on being on the show can apply by emailing canadianpickers@cineflix.com.

The Pickers are also hosting a live auction on March 17 for Season 4. Scott and Sheldon are auctioning off pieces from their personal collections, which they have been accumulating for the past 40 years. The auction, which is being held at Hall’s in Calgary, is open to the public. Bids can be made in person, by phone, absentee bidding, and real time internet bidding. For more details visit www.hallsauction.com.

CANADIAN PICKERS is a Cineflix (Canpick 4) Inc. production, in association with Shaw Media and Astral Media. Executive Producers are Simon Lloyd and Mark Poertner.

For more information on CANADIAN PICKERS visit www.canadianpickers.com.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Friday: Marketplace, Fifth Estate, Transporter, Degrassi

marketplace1.jpg

Marketplace, CBC – “Who’s Watching the Kids?”
Marketplace investigates illegal daycares.

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “The Unrepentant”
Linden MacIntyre stares down some of Canada’s most frightening criminals. They are dangerous, disordered personalities whose lack of guilt and shame makes them both fascinating and horrifying.

Transporter: The Series, HBO Canada – “City of Fire”
Frank is hired to bring a package from the south of France to Paris, which alerts the dogs at a vehicle checkpoint. After being chased by the police and reaching the agreed transfer point, he realizes the package he’s delivered is a bomb meant for a planned terrorist attack on the French capital. Frank must rush to find and stop Gassam (RJ Parrish), the gang leader who’ll stop at nothing to avenge his brother, accidentally killed during an identity check. After an electric first encounter, Frank can count on Mauga (Athena Karkanis), Gassam’s sister, who wants to stop her brother from committing the irreparable while Carla uses her old connections with the French secret service to protect him. The hunt for the bomb begins.

Degrassi, MuchMusic – “Bitter Sweet Symphony Part Two”
To help viewers process the impact of the episode, MuchMusic has commissioned the new half-hour special, MUCHTALKS: DEGRASSI, to air immediately following Part Two at 9:30 p.m. ET. Featuring members of the DEGRASSI cast and a panel of experts, the MUCHTALKS special offers a platform for viewers engage in a discussion about the events that transpire in the episodes. Viewers at home can get involved in the conversation at muchmusic.com/muchtalks, and follow the #MuchTalks live chat @MuchMusic on Twitter.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail