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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Drew and Jonathan help Hollywood superstars in the new HGTV Canada series Celebrity IOU

From a media release:

Celebrity IOU is a new blockbuster HGTV Canada series series where Hollywood A-listers express their deep gratitude to the individuals who have had a major impact on their lives by surprising them with big, heartwarming home renovations that bring everyone to tears. The star-studded, uplifting series, premiering Monday, April 13, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, features the network’s immensely popular twin brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott as they help each award-winning celebrity with a special renovation. The season’s celebrity lineup includes: actor, producer and two-time Academy Awards® winner Brad Pitt; multi Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winning actress, producer, fashion designer and flea market enthusiast Melissa McCarthy; OSCAR®, Emmy® Award and Tony Awards® winner Viola Davis; actress, writer, producer and fashion designer, Rebel Wilson, winner of an MTV Movie Award and a Teen Choice Award; and Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Michael Bublé, a four-time GRAMMY Award® winner. Celebrity IOU is produced by Scott Brothers Entertainment.

In each episode, the celebrities share an authentic, inside look into their personal lives and get hands-on with Drew and Jonathan to imagine a design plan and create a beautifully customized space that rewards mentors, friends and family members. Throughout the season, the brothers travel across the country to help create stunning new spaces on tight timelines. The projects include converting a detached garage into a gorgeous yet functional guest retreat, overhauling a lackluster backyard into an entertainer’s dream, and taking a condo from its outdated ‘70s style to a modern, cozy home perfect for family gatherings.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Fan-favourite original series Jade Fever returns March 23 on Discovery

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From a media release:

Discovery digs into spring with a new, high-stakes season of the MADE®-in-Canada original unscripted series, JADE FEVER, with two, back-to-back episodes airing Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, beginning March 23.

Following the success of its last season, where back-to-back episodes made Discovery the top English entertainment specialty channel in the timeslot, JADE FEVER returns with 14 new, half-hour episodes. Season 6 continues to follow the Bunce family, as they gamble in search of million-dollar boulders of jade, in Northern B.C.’s Cassiar Mountains. After years of struggling to survive in the tough business, the Bunce’s luck may finally take a turn for the better when they get an unexpected early season call from a Vietnamese buyer. While the big sale could be a game changer, harsh weather, devastating breakdowns, and family turmoil make it tough to keep their eyes on the prize.

The new season kicks off with a bang on Monday, March 23 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with “The Big Deal,” when Claudia receives a $250,000 jade order. But things quickly turn sour when her crew questions if they have a big enough boulder to complete the sale. Then, at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, after years of getting the raw end of the deal with Scrappy Larry, Robin pulls a prank on his old buddy, but the fun and games abruptly end when Claudia’s buyer makes an unexpected request.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New documentary series, DirtFarmers, highlights farm life in unique and hilarious ways

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From a media release:

Farming is hard work and working with family can make it even harder. And for the Simpson brothers, that’s especially true. Working together to run the family farm in Ruthilda, Saskatchewan, Trevor, a chainsmoking, coffee swilling oil rigger and his younger brother Jason, a good farmer who procrastinates on everything, the two find themselves in some interesting scenarios.

Produced by Angel Entertainment of Saskatoon, DirtFarmers aims to give viewers a peek into the life of a farmer in an entertaining and relatable way. Known for biting off more than they can chew, the two brothers and their team of friends and family, work to keep the farm running. From dealing with rising costs to struggling with falling crop prices, the brothers highlight all sides of what farming means.

Viewers can expect to see a few shenanigans, learn new unique farming-related catchphrases and watch a family come together through thick and thin, all in the name of a successful harvest. The premiere episode will be aired on CityTV Saskatchewan at 10:00 p.m. CST on March 10, 2020. Miss an episode? Don’t worry, you can stream them online.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Season three of Mind Set Go returns April 1 to AMI-tv

From a media release:

New participants. New Paralympians. New mindset. AMI is proud to announce Season three of Mind Set Go returns Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. Eastern to AMI-tv.

An Anaïd and AMI production in partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Mind Set Go‘s newest eight episodes feature Integrated Described Video ensuring they are accessible to viewers who are blind or partially sighted.

The third season of Mind Set Go follows eight Canadians living with a disability, debilitating injury or chronic pain as they transform their physical, mental and emotional health over a 90-day journey of body, mind and soul. As previously announced, lead expert Stephanie Dixon—a 19-time Paralympic medalist—and fellow Paralympians provide encouragement, insight and advice to help the participants face their biggest physical and emotional obstacles heads-on.

From legal blindness, obesity and high blood pressure to neurological disease, Season three of Mind Set Go delves deep into understanding how negative sociological and psychological coping behaviours impact the participants’ health.

Each one-hour episode begins with a participant’s backstory and their struggles to adopt fitness activities while also working on their spiritual well-being. Each participant is there for a reason—whether it’s a need to build strength, gain independence or overcome feelings of low self-worth, they are all uniquely positioned to make a positive change to achieve optimal health. To bookend their journey, each sets a physically demanding goal to illustrate how their lives and attitudes have progressed after three months.

The Paralympians and athletes joining Stephanie Dixon include:

  • Michael Frogley
  • Michelle Stilwell
  • Jessica Tuomela
  • Adam Purdy
  • Michelle Salt
  • Richard Peter
  • Pamela LeJean
  • Shira Stanfield

Season three of Mind Set Go premieres Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. The complete first two seasons of Mind Set Go are available to stream online at AMI.ca or on the AMI-tv App.

The series is developed and produced by Anaïd Productions in association with Accessible Media Inc., with the participation of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Canada Media Fund, Rogers Telefund, CHEK-TV and the Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC. Assistance was also provided by the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

CTV Life Channel whips up reboot of classic culinary series Cook Like a Chef

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From a media release:

This March, the masterclass is in session as CTV Life Channel enrolls Canada in the ultimate culinary emersion: the reboot of iconic series COOK LIKE A CHEF, Fridays at 8 p.m. ET, beginning March 6. Produced in partnership with Gusto Worldwide Media, the 20-episode, half-hour CTV Life Channel original shows viewers tricks of the trade from some of Canada’s best and brighest chefs.

The award-winning series that ran for 165 episodes from 2001-05 stays true to the original with modern updates including cutting-edge innovations, diverse cultural influences, and an all-new cast.

Bringing their varied culinary backgrounds to the table, COOK LIKE A CHEF’s four new hosts includes former personal chef to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and executive chef for the Beckta restaurant group, Chef Katie Ardington, and head chef of Montréal’s Maison Publique and former protégé of Jamie Oliver, Chef Derek Dammann. As well, Argentinian ONE WORLD KITCHEN host, Chef Natalia Machado, brings her unique flavour to the series, along with owner of Asian-Caribbean Toronto restaurant Patois, Chef Craig Wong. 

In each episode of COOK LIKE A CHEF, the expert chefs focus on a single ingredient and dive deep into cooking techniques, tips, and tricks that give any home cook confidence in the kitchen.

In the series premiere, “Duck ”, (Friday March 6 at 8 p.m. ET), Chef Craig Wong demonstrates techniques for preparing the perfect duck. Chef Wong first prepares the classic Peking Duck using unique techniques including blanching, basting, roasting, and frying. Other creations in this episode include a simple pan-seared Maple Duck Breast with Rosemary and a Jerked Duck Confit.

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