Everything about Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, eh?

New tonight: The Funny Pit, Scoring With Science, Heartland, Over The Rainbow, Just For Laughs, Call Me Fitz

The Funny Pit, YTV – series premiere
The Funny Pit is a mash up composed of hidden camera gags, video gags, pranks, bloopers, family portraits, wipe outs, talking pets, fake or for real video quizzes and man on the street social experiments.

Scoring With Science, Discovery
The one-hour special features marquee NHL players including Steve Stamkos, Jake Gardiner, Stephen Weiss, former player Gary Roberts, prominent scientists, and super slow motion video. Together, they explore how the newest advancements in science and technology are aiding the NHL’s top clubs by determining how best to shoot a puck, build a better body and make top-notch skates and sticks.

Heartland, CBC – “Helping Hands”
Amy seeks out an up-and-coming show jumper (JEREMY) to learn why he’s refusing Scott and Ty’s suggested treatment for his horse.

Over the Rainbow, CBC – “Performance #8”
The remaining Dorothys compete, singing a mixture of Broadway and pop songs for a chance to star as Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz, to be staged at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto.

Just For Laughs, CBC – “American Dream?”
As Americans face an election in 2012, JFL has its finger on the pulse of America in this one-hour special of the state of The States. American Dream? is hosted by Lewis Black. Featuring Alonzo Bodden, John Wing, Kathleen Madigan, Andrew Maxwell and Al Rae.

Call Me Fitz, HBO Canada – “Are You There God? I Need To Speak To Frank”
No episode description available.

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New tonight: W5 – “The Throwaway Children”

ctv-news-0355(1)

From a media release:

5 Investigates Stories of Abuse and Terror at a Nova Scotia Children’s Home, Saturday on CTV

  • W5`s Victor Malarek investigates allegations of decades-long abuse in a provincially-funded institution that was supposed to protect vulnerable children

In an all-new W5 investigation premiering this Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, Victor Malarek investigates horrific stories of abuse and terror at a residential home that was supposed to protect vulnerable children. “THE THROWAWAY CHILDREN” explores a devastating cover-up spanning decades that includes allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse affecting orphaned and abandoned children.

Exclusive interviews with victims, plus documents obtained by W5, reveal that both the home and government knew about the serious mistreatment of the children.

In the hour-long investigative report, W5’s Malarek meets with former residents of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children, set up by the province to accept orphaned and abandoned black children in 1921. The institution was intended to be a symbol of the black community’s dreams and a place for hope. However, for many former residents it will always be home of their worst nightmares.

Malarek meets with some of the approximately 100 survivors who, united in their childhood suffering, have launched a proposed class action lawsuit seeking redress for years of devastating physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. They tell shocking stories of the torment they suffered, while their pleas for help were ignored.

The most horrific allegations are those of sexual abuse, with 20 former residents alleging sexual assault by two staff members at the home. Documents obtained by W5 reveal – in the case of one brutal rape – that although the home’s management was aware of the assault and discussed reporting it to police, authorities were not informed.

Nova Scotia’s black community has long had a special, yet controversial place in the province. Many today are descendants of freed slaves given refuge at the time of the American Revolution. Despite being integrated into the province’s political and social culture, Nova Scotia has, at times, also been called “the Mississippi of the North.”

W5 can also be seen on Investigation Discovery on Tuesdays at 11 p.m. ET, and Wednesdays at 3 a.m. ET, 6 a.m. ET and 12 noon ET; and on demand at CTVNews.ca/W5, the CTV Mobile channel on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners, such as Bell Fibe TV (visit CTV.ca for local listings).

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New tonight: Strip the City, Marketplace, The Fifth Estate, 16×9

Strip

Strip The City, Discovery World – “Earthquake City – San Francisco”
San Francisco is standing on the brink of disaster on top of one of the world’s most infamous earthquake hotspots – the San Andreas Fault. How does the city’s buildings and infrastructure survive the onslaught of a destructive earthquake? Engineers and geologists reveal the secrets inside San Francisco’s skyscrapers, what protects the city from raging fires, and what keep residents safe during the deadliest quakes.

Marketplace, CBC – “Pump Fiction”
We put claims of premium gasoline to the test.

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “Lucky 7”
Linden MacIntyre has the exclusive story of seven men who finally struck it rich against all odds in the latest chapter of fifth estate’s lottery rip-off investigation.

16×9, Global
Correspondent Sophie Lui looks at the disturbing growth of cyber-harassment against women in video game culture. Often written off as just “part of the game,” this 16×9 expose uncovers horrific abuse and bullying that happens to many women – who make up 47% of all gamers – when they venture into the male dominated on-line gaming world.

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The Liquidator season 2 premieres November 8

From a media release:

OLN Original Series The Liquidator Returns for a Second Season of Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em Deals, Starting Nov. 8

Get ready to wheel and deal with “Liquidation King” Jeff Schwarz when he returns to OLN in Season 2 of the fan-favourite original series, The Liquidator. Premiering Thursday, Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), get ready to beg, laugh, and yell with Schwarz as he haggles his way through an endless series of questionable business transactions alongside his favourite regulars and an all-new crew of eccentric characters ready to dive into the high-stakes world of buying and selling.

Last season, viewers were introduced to Jeff Schwarz, owner of Direct Liquidation in Vancouver. Spanning an impressive 2,800-square-metres, Schwarz’s liquidation warehouse is crammed to the rafters with an ever-evolving jumble of furniture, clothing, tools, and oddities.

Now back and bigger than ever for an all-new Season 2, Schwarz is looking to find even more deals, make more money, and put up with even more crazy, off-the-cuff collaborators. In the premiere episode “Risky Business,” Schwarz rolls the dice on the biggest gamble of his career – bidding tens of thousands of dollars – sight unseen – for a truckload of high-end electronics that have been damaged in a transportation mishap. Will he end up looking like a genius or a just big-time chump?

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Discovery orders second season of Highway Thru Hell

From a media release:

Discovery Commits to “The Coq” – Second Season of Hit Series HIGHWAY THRU HELL Confirmed

Discovery will ride again with Jamie Davis and his Heavy Rescue crew, as the channel commits to a second season of the original Canadian series, HIGHWAY THRU HELL. The mega-hit series, produced for Discovery by Vancouver’s Great Pacific TV, followed the highway heroes on Davis’ Heavy Rescue crew as they were called to help truckers in trouble and keep B.C.’s vital transport highway, the Coquilhalla, open during the treacherous 2011-2012 winter season. To the delight of fans, the Season 2 announcement was made last night during the live chat on Twitter as the season was capped with a round-table companion special, HIGHWAY THRU HELL: AFTER THE CRASH. Season 2 will be filmed on “the Coq” during the 2012-2013 winter season and will continue to follow and capture the gripping experiences of Davis’ team.

The announcement will come as no surprise to the dedicated fans of the series. This season, viewers have climbed into the cabs alongside Jamie Davis and his heavy rescue crew in British Columbia’s Cascade Mountains. Riding along, they have experienced the steep hills, lethal drop-offs, killer rockslides, and brutal weather that characterizes the mountain passes east of Vancouver, known as the Highway Thru Hell. These are some of the most economically important, most travelled – and most inhospitable – trucking routes in North America. Plagued by winter storms, truckers spin out and smash up, and during the worst, the big wrecks can come as often as every 12 hours. In a place where closure is not an option, the call goes out for heavy rescue, and the big trucks must roll. And with another winter season just around the corner, there is no shortage of new stories – both harrowing and heroic – on the Coquilhalla Highway.

A monster hit with critics and viewers alike – HIGHWAY THRU HELL performed extremely well during its inaugural season. The September 4 premiere episode drew 661,000 viewers 2+, making it the highest-rated series premiere in Discovery’s history. Even during the competitive fall TV season, the series maintained momentum and averaged more than 611,000 viewers 2+ every Tuesday night throughout the eight-week run. Still clamouring for more stories from the Coq, preliminary audience numbers for last night’s HIGHWAY THRU HELL: AFTER THE CRASH special reveals that it was the #1 specialty program for Adults 25-54 in its 10 p.m. timeslot.

HIGHWAY THRU HELL was a hit on social media early on, generating conversation throughout the season on both Twitter and Facebook. On Twitter, @DiscoveryCanada and @HwyThruHell chatted with fans about the series, contributing to the more than 1,700 tweets using the hashtag #HwyThruHell. On-air snipes directing users to join the conversation during this week’s AFTER THE CRASH special generated more than 950 Twitter posts about the series, plus close to 300 “likes” and comments on Discovery’s Facebook page in a single evening. This type of activity is unprecedented for a Discovery Canada series, and signals growth in the network’s co-viewing audience.

It’s not too late for viewers to get caught up on HIGHWAY THRU HELL. Discovery announced today plans for a 10-hour marathon, airing Tues., Dec. 25 beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. The marathon includes the full eight-part series, the AFTER THE CRASH special, plus a bonus never-seen-before new episode (at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

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