From a media release:

CBC’S OVER THE RAINBOW REVEALS ITS JUDGING PANEL OF THEATRICAL LUMINARIES

• Arlene Phillips, Thom Allison and Louise Pitre (pictured) will help guide Canada to choose a Dorothy to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new Canadian production of The Wizard of Oz

Who’s off to see the Wizard? Arlene Phillips, Thom Allison and Louise Pitre are, as CBC Television reveals its panel of renowned judges for its exciting new series, OVER THE RAINBOW. The talented trio will help Canada decide the fate of 10 Dorothy Gales, with Canada ultimately picking one to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new Canadian stage production of The Wizard of Oz. It opens at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto this December.

Dance choreographer and director Arlene Phillips is one of the UK’s most recognizable TV judges. Her celebrated career includes being a member of the original panel for Strictly Come Dancing and stints on prime time entertainment shows, including So You Think You Can Dance, DanceX and Strictly Dance Fever. On top of working in a number of world-famous theatre, film, television productions and music videos, she’s also sat in the director’s chair for productions including Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance.

Winnipeg born Thom Allison is one of Canada’s most popular leading men. He has been a mainstay at the Stratford Festival, having appeared in productions of Romeo and Juliet, Pericles, My Fair Lady, Threepenny Opera, The King and I, King Henry VIII and the Stratford Festival production of Into the Woods. Allison is a multi-award nominated performer of musical theatre, having been in the original Canadian companies of Miss Saigon, The Who’s Tommy and Rent. Following a yearlong run of his Broadway debut in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, he has received rave reviews for his current starring role as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime at the Shaw Festival.

Louise Pitre is Canada’s first lady of musical theatre, boasting a career that spans theatre, television and concert stages across North America and Europe. Pitre received a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in the smash hit Mamma Mia! and in addition to headlining the Toronto, Broadway and U.S. touring company casts of Mamma Mia!, her signature roles include Fantine in Les Misérables (Toronto, Montreal, Paris) and the title character in Edith Piaf.

OVER THE RAINBOW, hosted by Daryn Jones, is an exciting new series coming this fall to CBC, produced by Temple Street Productions. The winner will star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz, opening at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto this December.

The series will kick-off with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, September 16 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT). The first episode chronicles the cross-Canada audition process with girls competing to play the iconic role of Dorothy, as well, the Top 10 will be revealed and viewers will see them perform live for the first time.

In each live performance show the 10 Dorothys will compete, singing a mixture of Broadway, standards and pop songs. The first results show airs on Monday, September 17 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) where the bottom two, (as determined by a telephone and online public vote) will faceoff and one contestant will be saved from elimination by the judges.

One contestant will be eliminated each week until only three remain in the final performance episode. The competition will culminate in a showdown between the final three, with Andrew Lloyd Webber himself in attendance, and Canada choosing the winner.

In addition, there will be a search for a dog to play the role of Toto in the finale episode of OVER THE RAINBOW. The hilarious duo, comedians Deb McGrath of Little Mosque on the Prairie and Colin Mochrie, star of the summer series, Trust Us With Your Life along with award-winning dog breeder, Mike Macbeth, form the judging panel that will help to select the 10 most lovable contenders. After being featured on Monday night results episodes, there will be a weekly elimination until the winning Toto is adorned with the coveted red ruby collar, performing live on stage with the Dorothy finalists.

From a media release:

CBC TELEVISON IS SEARCHING FOR CANADA’S NEXT FOOD STAR TO BE THE NEW HOST OF BEST RECIPES EVER

• Auditions for the new host of Canada’s most-watched daily food program, BEST RECIPES EVER, extended until Friday, August 17

CBC is looking for Canada’s next great food show host – a vibrant, passionate personality to join the network’s daytime television lineup. The successful candidate will replace the current host of BEST RECIPES EVER, Kary Osmond, beginning in January 2013.

“Kary has been a wonderful addition to the CBC daytime family, and we’d like to thank her for her contribution to the show over the past three incredibly successful seasons,” said Jennifer Dettman, Head of Factual Entertainment, CBC. “We wish Kary the best in her next endeavours, and we’re looking forward to working with our partners at Canadian Living to find a new face for the BEST RECIPES EVER brand.”

CBC Television’s hit daily food shows, BEST RECIPES EVER and IN THE KITCHEN WITH STEFANO FAITA, inspire Canadians from coast-to-coast to put delicious meals on their tables every day. Now the search is underway for a new face to join the family.

• Are you knowledgeable about food?
• Are you passionate about teaching others how to cook?
• Are you ready to share your infectious energy with the rest of Canada?

To apply – and for more information about this exciting opportunity – visit cbc.ca/foodhost. Selected candidates will be asked to audition in Toronto later this summer. Applications close Friday, August 17, 2012.

Returning for its fourth season on Monday, September 17 at 3 p.m, BEST RECIPES EVER shows viewers how to prepare the best Canadian Living recipes one “Tested-Till-Perfect” dish at a time, and is the most-watched daily food program in Canada.

Get your aprons ready. Happy cooking!

From a media release:

CANADA’S HANDYMAN CHALLENGE IS BACK FOR A SECOND SEASON WITH AN ALL-STAR CAST AND $25,000 PRIZE

• HGTV Canada’s Celebrity Carpenter Paul Lafrance Joins Bryan Baeumler and Scott McGillivray On The All-Star Judging Panel
• National Casting Call Now Open

The nationwide search for the best all around handyman is back for a second season and casting has begun! Canada’s Handyman Challenge puts contestants through a series of rigorous challenges to test their skills, ultimately awarding one contestant the coveted title of Canada’s Best Handyman – and new this season, a $25,000 prize. Teaming up as judges are powerhouse construction experts and HGTV celebrities Paul Lafrance (Decked Out, Deck Wars), Bryan Baeumler (Leave It To Bryan, House of Bryan), and Scott McGillivray (Income Property), who will be touring the country looking for talented handyman hopefuls in live auditions this September. Applicants must apply online at www.hgtv.ca/castingcall prior to live auditions. The series is scheduled to premiere in Winter 2013 on HGTV Canada.

The three HGTV stars will be appearing in Halifax, Vancouver and Toronto to select the top four contestants from each city, who will then progress to Toronto to compete and test their handyman talents. Joining as guest judge will be Mike Holmes (Holmes Makes It Right, Holmes Inspection) to help choose the winner and award the $25,000 prize.

Following their online application, Canadians are encouraged to join the casting calls in the following cities:

Halifax – Wednesday September 5
Vancouver – Monday September 10
Toronto – Saturday September 15

To compete on Canada’s Handyman Challenge, applicants must pre-register online. The winner this season will not only be crowned Canada’s Best Handyman by the most respected men in the business, but will also be awarded a $25,000 prize.

For more information and details on how to register, visit www.hgtv.ca/castingcall.

From a media release:

SHAW MEDIA AND INSIGHT PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE CASTING DETAILS FOR BIG BROTHER CANADA

• National Casting Call Opens August 1
• First Canadian Installment of Endemol’s Worldwide Hit Franchise Coming Winter 2013 Exclusively to Slice
• Casting Details and Applications Available at www.bigbrothercanada.ca

Shaw Media and Insight Productions announced today that a national casting call for the first Canadian edition of the international smash-hit reality series, Big Brother, will begin on August 1, 2012. This announcement comes on the heels of Shaw Media sealing a deal with Endemol to produce the first-ever Canadian installment of the wildly popular international sensation. Canadians 19 years and older will have the option to apply online and in person at open casting calls at select cities across Canada. Online applications will be available at www.bigbrothercanada.ca. The submission deadline is October 16, 2012.

Big Brother Canada is in search of extroverts, conformists, risk takers, adventurers, romantics, leaders, plotters and planners, and those who don’t mind a little healthy competition. If you’re ready to strategize with fellow Canadians living in a house packed with cameras watching your every move, Big Brother Canada wants to hear from you.

“Big Brother has been a top performer on Global for over a decade. Canadians love this format and we are so excited to offer them the chance to participate in the newest edition right here on our own turf,” said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President of Content, Shaw Media. “By offering applicants the option to apply online and in person, we’re ensuring that no matter where you live, everyone has an opportunity to apply.”

Applicants can either apply online with the option to include a short video proving why they should be chosen to live in the Big Brother Canada house, in person at open casting calls throughout September and October, or can opt to do both. Additional information about open casting call locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Open casting calls will be held in the following cities on these dates:

• Vancouver – September 23
• Calgary – September 30
• Halifax – October 7
• Montreal – October 7
• Toronto – October 14

Coming exclusively to Slice winter 2013, similar to the US format, Big Brother Canada will hand pick a diverse group of contestants to live in the Big Brother house outfitted wall to wall with cameras and microphones to capture all the action. Week to week the house guests compete in a series of challenges and vote each other out until one claims victory and takes home the grand prize.