Everything about Saving Hope, eh?

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Results: Your Favourite Canadian TV Shows of 2015 are …

18 Comments

Fans of Canadian television shows certainly are a passionate lot, and they’re not confined to our borders either. Of the over 25,000 who voted for their Top 5 shows of 2015, dozens voiced their support from around the world.

Yes, the voting for a few shows took a suspicious jump over the last couple of days, but we’ll chalk that up to super-fans who simply love their programs … and know how to use technology to their advantage. (The voting wasn’t affected that much in the end.)

By the time the tally was taken, the Top 10 Canadian Shows of 2015 are:

  1. Dark Matter (27%, 7,269 Votes)
  2. Lost Girl (25%, 6,777 Votes)
  3. Killjoys (21%, 5,766 Votes)
  4. Heartland (20%, 5,384 Votes)
  5. Murdoch Mysteries (10%, 2,632 Votes)
  6. Orphan Black (8%, 2,147 Votes)
  7. Tornado Hunters (8%, 2,080 Votes)
  8. Rookie Blue (6%, 1,634 Votes)
  9. When Calls the Heart (6%, 1,557 Votes)
  10. Rick Mercer Report (5%, 1,486 Votes)

Aside from the Top 10 vote-getters, I was pleased to see several new programs perform well in the poll. Clearly, viewers love seeing three guys tooling around in a truck capturing wacky weather on film, as Tornado Hunters placed No. 7, not bad at all for a show that debuted late in the year and veteran The Liquidator finished just out of the Top 10.

Thanks again to everyone who voted. Check out the final results; you can still name your favourites in the Comments section at the bottom of the page.

What are your five favourite Canadian TV shows of 2015?

  • Dark Matter (12%, 7,269 Votes)
  • Lost Girl (11%, 6,777 Votes)
  • Killjoys (9%, 5,766 Votes)
  • Heartland (9%, 5,384 Votes)
  • Murdoch Mysteries (4%, 2,632 Votes)
  • Orphan Black (3%, 2,147 Votes)
  • Tornado Hunters (3%, 2,080 Votes)
  • Rookie Blue (3%, 1,634 Votes)
  • When Calls the Heart (3%, 1,557 Votes)
  • Rick Mercer Report (2%, 1,486 Votes)
  • The Liquidator (2%, 1,279 Votes)
  • Schitt's Creek (2%, 1,227 Votes)
  • Vikings (2%, 1,087 Votes)
  • The Amazing Race Canada (2%, 1,053 Votes)
  • Saving Hope (2%, 1,024 Votes)
  • Property Brothers (2%, 990 Votes)
  • Bitten (2%, 976 Votes)
  • Dragons' Den (2%, 970 Votes)
  • Continuum (2%, 955 Votes)
  • Haven (1%, 791 Votes)
  • Chopped Canada (1%, 786 Votes)
  • 22 Minutes (1%, 783 Votes)
  • MasterChef Canada (1%, 738 Votes)
  • Big Brother Canada (1%, 727 Votes)
  • Highway Thru Hell (1%, 686 Votes)
  • Canada's Worst Driver (1%, 684 Votes)
  • Degrassi (1%, 608 Votes)
  • The Nature of Things (1%, 580 Votes)
  • Love It or List It franchise (1%, 573 Votes)
  • The Fifth Estate (1%, 559 Votes)
  • Motive (1%, 557 Votes)
  • House of Bryan (1%, 549 Votes)
  • X Company (1%, 520 Votes)
  • Still Standing (1%, 480 Votes)
  • Strange Empire (1%, 397 Votes)
  • Marketplace (1%, 394 Votes)
  • This Life (1%, 394 Votes)
  • Hockey Wives (1%, 340 Votes)
  • Backroad Bounty (1%, 321 Votes)
  • 19-2 (1%, 311 Votes)
  • Remedy (0%, 266 Votes)
  • Mr. D (0%, 265 Votes)
  • Blackstone (0%, 262 Votes)
  • Polar Bear Town (0%, 252 Votes)
  • Ice Racer Showdown (0%, 214 Votes)
  • Young Drunk Punk (0%, 207 Votes)
  • Canada's Smartest Person (0%, 198 Votes)
  • Sunnyside (0%, 193 Votes)
  • The Next Step (0%, 174 Votes)
  • Mohawk Girls (0%, 170 Votes)
  • Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan (0%, 128 Votes)
  • Keeping Canada Alive (0%, 120 Votes)
  • The Other Side (0%, 113 Votes)
  • Chef in Your Ear (0%, 104 Votes)
  • The Romeo Section (0%, 99 Votes)
  • Blood and Water (0%, 93 Votes)
  • The Stanley Dynamic (0%, 88 Votes)
  • Make it Pop (0%, 81 Votes)
  • First Dates (0%, 68 Votes)
  • Unusually Thicke (0%, 67 Votes)
  • Open Heart (0%, 65 Votes)
  • Spun Out (0%, 58 Votes)
  • Sensitive Skin (0%, 47 Votes)
  • Max & Shred (0%, 42 Votes)
  • Some Assembly Required (0%, 30 Votes)
  • Crash Gallery (0%, 24 Votes)
  • Tiny Plastic Men (0%, 20 Votes)

Total Voters: 27,337

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Saving Hope

Link: Saving Hope’s Julia Taylor Ross on Maggie’s trip into the spirit world

From Christy Spratlin of The TV Junkies:

Saving Hope’s Julia Taylor Ross on Maggie’s trip into the spirit world
“They’ve never been afraid to show her character confused or to have challenges. When we first me her she was a junior resident and I remember her flailing a little bit. And she’s had her relationship challenges. I feel like this season they’ve shown her a little more settled. They’re giving her more of an opportunity, now that she’s passed her board exam, to be a full doctor. This season, with the lack of a love interest, the story has been much more about a young woman making her priority work. Which is great, but I think what happens in the ghost storyline is that she realizes that she needs a bit of a balance.” Continue reading.

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Saving Hope

CTV announces holiday programming

From a media release:

A Jann Arden Christmas at The Social and First-Ever Saving Hope Holiday Episode Headline CTV’s 2015 Holiday Programming

Photo by Darren Goldstein/DSG Photo.
Photo by Darren Goldstein/DSG Photo.

May your days be merry and your screens be bright! Today, CTV gifts viewers with a 2015 holiday programming lineup that includes a shiny new standalone holiday-themed episode of SAVING HOPE (Dec. 10), as well as the holiday primetime special A JANN ARDEN CHRISTMAS AT THE SOCIAL (Dec. 13), featuring performances by acclaimed singer-songwriter Jann Arden. The month of December also has viewers getting in touch with their inner elf with the CTV premiere of the Will Ferrell-starring holiday comedy ELF (Dec. 16), while they can also enjoy blockbuster films, timeless classics, fan favourites, original specials, and a quartet of new Hallmark holiday movies. CTV’s festive programming will be available on demand throughout the holiday season at Holidays on CTV.ca and on the CTV GO app.

In a first-ever special holiday-themed episode of SAVING HOPE, titled “Shine A Light” (Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the CTV GO app), an ice storm on Christmas Eve brings a good Samaritan to Hope Zion Hospital following a car crash, and Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) must use all her skills to attempt the Christmas miracle so desperately needed – even if it means calling in Chief Dr. Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden).

CTV’s original daily talk series THE SOCIAL also gets into the holiday spirit as co-hosts Melissa Grelo, Cynthia Loyst, Lainey Lui, and Traci Melchor celebrate the festive season with A JANN ARDEN CHRISTMAS AT THE SOCIAL (Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV GO app). The one-hour, original, primetime special features the first-ever musical performances on THE SOCIAL, as JUNO Award-winning artist and favourite guest co-host Jann Arden performs two Christmas classics from her first holiday album, A Jann Arden Christmas. The fun continues as THE SOCIAL delivers its third annual year-end review, THE SOCIAL: YEAR IN GOSSIP (Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV).

One of the most-anticipated Canadian television events of the holiday season returns! Back bigger and better than ever, CTV’s THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW kicks off its fifth annual “10 Days of Giveaways” this December on CTV. Randomly over three weeks in December, Host Marilyn Denis and MARILYN’s team of lifestyle experts present a variety of gift-inspired ideas for the holidays, while randomly surprising its audience members with giveaways all month long. In total, more than 100 different gifts will be showcased throughout the 10 days, with the overall value of items given away totalling more than $1,000,000. The spirit of receiving continues online at Marilyn.ca, as Marilyn offers viewers at home a chance to win each of the daily prizes being awarded throughout the 10 days; visit Marilyn.ca for contest details. THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW airs live Weekdays at 10 a.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV GO app.

Canada’s #1 entertainment show ETALK returns with new original specials over the holidays for showbiz enthusiasts and pop culture junkies, including the team’s annual year-end specials: ETALK’s HOLIDAY MOVIE GUIDE (Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV) and ETALK’s STARS AND SCANDALS 2015 (Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV). From Caitlyn Jenner’s inspirational transgender journey, to Donald Trump’s presidential dreams, Justin Bieber’s year of apologies, and Charlie Sheen’s shocking HIV confession, no star is off limits in ETALK’s year-end look of 2015’s biggest celebrity stories and scandals. The hookups, the breakups, and everything in between — ETALK hosts including Ben Mulroney, Danielle Graham, Lainey Lui, Traci Melchor, Devon Soltendieck, Liz Trinnear, and Jessi Cruickshank sound off on the year’s biggest newsmakers. The one-hour primetime special also features interviews with Tom Cruise, Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Shawn Mendes. ETALK’s lineup of specials also includes a look forward with ETALK: FAST FORWARD 2016 (Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV).

This December on CTV also unwraps blockbuster films including HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 (Dec. 26 and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), while holiday favourites and timeless classics come to CTV and CTV Two, including ELF (Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV); IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Dec. 5 and Dec. 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV); THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Dec. 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV); THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the sing-along version airing Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV Two); A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Two); THE SANTA CLAUS trilogy (Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Two); and more.

With heartwarming made-for-TV movies, viewers can curl up on the couch and enjoy four new Hallmark films: THE CHRISTMAS SHEPHERD (Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), starring Teri Polo (THE FOSTERS) and Martin Cummins (UNREAL); NORTH POLE (Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. ET on CTV Two), starring Tiffani Thiessen (WHITE COLLAR, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210); THE TREE THAT SAVED CHRISTMAS (Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), starring Lacey Chabert (MEAN GIRLS, PARTY OF FIVE), Josh Hopkins (QUANTICO), Jill St. John (Diamonds are Forever), and Robert Wagner (HART TO HART); and A CHRISTMAS DETOUR (Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), starring Candace Cameron Bure (THE VIEW, FULL HOUSE) and Paul Greene (BITTEN).

As previously announced, CTV empowers youth with the special premiere of WE DAY 2015 on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET. The one-hour special captures the most inspiring moments from the live WE Day event in Toronto this past October, which brought together 20,000 students from across Ontario to celebrate their commitment to make a difference in their local and international communities. Hosted by Demi Lovato, the high-energy special features performances by Nick Jonas, Shawn Mendes, Carly Rae Jepsen, Hedley, Hozier, and Kiesza. Additionally, actress Nina Dobrev and NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson deliver inspirational messages.

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19-2, Amazing Race Canada, Big Brother Canada, Bitten, Blackstone, Blood and Water, Canada's Smartest Person, Continuum, Dark Matter, Degrassi, Dragons' Den, Featured, Haven, Heartland, Killjoys, Lost Girl, Masterchef Canada, Mohawk Girls, Motive, Mr. D, Murdoch Mysteries, Orphan Black, Polls, Remedy, Rick Mercer Report, Rookie Blue, Saving Hope, Schitt's Creek, Sensitive Skin, Spun Out, Still Standing, Sunnyside, The Nature of Things, The Romeo Section, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, This Life, Vikings, When Calls the Heart, X Company, Young Drunk Punk

Poll: What are your favourite Canadian TV shows of 2015?

188 Comments

UPDATE: The poll has now closed. Thanks to everyone for taking part! You can still let us know your favourite Canadian TV show of 2015 by writing it in the Comments section below.

As the year winds down, it’s time to reflect back on 2015. What a year it was for Canadian TV. Yes, there was some sad news—the cancellation of Strange Empire, Remedy and Rookie Blue come immediately to mind—but there was plenty to celebrate as well.

Sci-fi in Canada is stronger than ever thanks to Orphan Black and newbies Killjoys and Dark Matter, we’re getting laughs from series like Still Standing, Sunnyside and Young Drunk Punk and dramas like This Life, The Romeo Section and Motive continue to entertain.

As we get ready to say hello to 2016, help us celebrate 2015 by voting for your favourite five (5) Canadian television shows of the year. (Vote by clicking the boxes to the left of your favourite shows, then click the shaded “Vote” button located just below and right of Young Drunk Punk.)

UPDATE: The poll has now closed. Thanks to everyone for taking part! You can still let us know your favourite Canadian TV show of 2015 by writing it in the Comments section below.

What are your five favourite Canadian TV shows of 2015?

  • Dark Matter (12%, 7,269 Votes)
  • Lost Girl (11%, 6,777 Votes)
  • Killjoys (9%, 5,766 Votes)
  • Heartland (9%, 5,384 Votes)
  • Murdoch Mysteries (4%, 2,632 Votes)
  • Orphan Black (3%, 2,147 Votes)
  • Tornado Hunters (3%, 2,080 Votes)
  • Rookie Blue (3%, 1,634 Votes)
  • When Calls the Heart (3%, 1,557 Votes)
  • Rick Mercer Report (2%, 1,486 Votes)
  • The Liquidator (2%, 1,279 Votes)
  • Schitt's Creek (2%, 1,227 Votes)
  • Vikings (2%, 1,087 Votes)
  • The Amazing Race Canada (2%, 1,053 Votes)
  • Saving Hope (2%, 1,024 Votes)
  • Property Brothers (2%, 990 Votes)
  • Bitten (2%, 976 Votes)
  • Dragons' Den (2%, 970 Votes)
  • Continuum (2%, 955 Votes)
  • Haven (1%, 791 Votes)
  • Chopped Canada (1%, 786 Votes)
  • 22 Minutes (1%, 783 Votes)
  • MasterChef Canada (1%, 738 Votes)
  • Big Brother Canada (1%, 727 Votes)
  • Highway Thru Hell (1%, 686 Votes)
  • Canada's Worst Driver (1%, 684 Votes)
  • Degrassi (1%, 608 Votes)
  • The Nature of Things (1%, 580 Votes)
  • Love It or List It franchise (1%, 573 Votes)
  • The Fifth Estate (1%, 559 Votes)
  • Motive (1%, 557 Votes)
  • House of Bryan (1%, 549 Votes)
  • X Company (1%, 520 Votes)
  • Still Standing (1%, 480 Votes)
  • Strange Empire (1%, 397 Votes)
  • Marketplace (1%, 394 Votes)
  • This Life (1%, 394 Votes)
  • Hockey Wives (1%, 340 Votes)
  • Backroad Bounty (1%, 321 Votes)
  • 19-2 (1%, 311 Votes)
  • Remedy (0%, 266 Votes)
  • Mr. D (0%, 265 Votes)
  • Blackstone (0%, 262 Votes)
  • Polar Bear Town (0%, 252 Votes)
  • Ice Racer Showdown (0%, 214 Votes)
  • Young Drunk Punk (0%, 207 Votes)
  • Canada's Smartest Person (0%, 198 Votes)
  • Sunnyside (0%, 193 Votes)
  • The Next Step (0%, 174 Votes)
  • Mohawk Girls (0%, 170 Votes)
  • Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan (0%, 128 Votes)
  • Keeping Canada Alive (0%, 120 Votes)
  • The Other Side (0%, 113 Votes)
  • Chef in Your Ear (0%, 104 Votes)
  • The Romeo Section (0%, 99 Votes)
  • Blood and Water (0%, 93 Votes)
  • The Stanley Dynamic (0%, 88 Votes)
  • Make it Pop (0%, 81 Votes)
  • First Dates (0%, 68 Votes)
  • Unusually Thicke (0%, 67 Votes)
  • Open Heart (0%, 65 Votes)
  • Spun Out (0%, 58 Votes)
  • Sensitive Skin (0%, 47 Votes)
  • Max & Shred (0%, 42 Votes)
  • Some Assembly Required (0%, 30 Votes)
  • Crash Gallery (0%, 24 Votes)
  • Tiny Plastic Men (0%, 20 Votes)

Total Voters: 27,337

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Featured, Rookie Blue, Saving Hope

Rookie Blue’s Peter Mooney joins Saving Hope

Hope Zion has quickly become Rookie Blue reunion central. The past few weeks have seen Travis Milne and Charlotte Sullivan walk through the doors, and now it’s Peter Mooney’s turn. The former Nick Collins drops by Saving Hope for a recurring role as Jeremy Bishop, general surgeon and Charlie’s good friend.

His journey begins this week with “Waiting on a Friend” as Jeremy is plunged into the middle of a complicated surgical procedure that effects much of the team and we learn a bit about his backstory to boot. We spoke to Mooney on the phone as he walked home after having breakfast at Lady Marmalade.

Before we talk about Saving Hope, I have to ask you about Rookie Blue. I was sorry to see it get cancelled, but at least we got closure.
I think the way Tassie Cameron wrapped it all up was kind of perfect. As much as you hate to see something come to an end, I’m really happy with where it left off. There are no nagging, lingering feelings about anything.

That said, I would not be opposed to a spinoff web series following Nick and Juliet fighting crime in Vancouver.
Yeah, I wonder what they’re getting up to in Vancouver? I think that would be awesome. [Erin Karpluk] and I will do our own spinoff.

What do you take away from that set?
It was just such a good vibe on set. I know it sounds cheesy but it’s pretty rare to have that level of ease and comfort and familiarity with everyone. We’ve become really close friends throughout the process. It was a great period of life, like you might look back on high school. This little, self-contained time period that was so nice. It’s also something to bring onto future jobs; that attitude and how much fun work can be.

He’s there to complicate things that are going well for other people. High-stakes situations like this cause you to look at your co-workers a little differently and things can blossom.

If Rookie Blue was high school, is Saving Hope college?
It’s pre-med. [Laughs.] I think of it as pre-med because I’m sort of learning. We have amazing medical advisors on the show and yesterday I was learning how to do a one-handed, left-handed suture on a patient’s spleen. Now, the patient is just a dummy and I think I would have killed him if he had been real. We don’t have anywhere near the wealth of knowledge that actual doctors and surgeons have, but getting a taste of that has been really, really exciting.

You’re the perfect guy to have in an emergency. You know how to take someone down and to sew someone up.
Yeah, I’m the perfect person to have during a calamity on a plane.

Jeremy shows up in Thursday’s episode and makes an immediate impression with his three-day stubble and buttoned-down shirt. How did you get the gig? Did you audition or did they seek you out?
This one was kind of special and rare. Rookie Blue and Saving Hope share producers, so they were already familiar with me because we share a lot of the same directors. I’d known the cast because we’ve been in side-by-side studios and some of the cast are very good friends of mine. So when it looked like Rookie Blue was wrapping up, there was a perfect opening on Saving Hope so I jumped on over. It was a speedy transition and not a lot of time to learn all of the medical base I would have liked to.

Tell me a bit about Jeremy’s back story. We learn on Thursday that he’s a friend of Charlie’s and that he had some trouble in L.A.
He and Charlie go way back, and that’s rolled out during the season. He’s from Toronto but spent years in L.A. doing his residency. He had a house there and was really settled down. His return to Toronto is an abrupt, surprising shift for him and his head is still spinning when he arrives.

Jeremy seems to have a good bedside manner.
Yeah, he’s very off the cuff. He’s running on impulse and not very calculating and that comes in handy with his bedside manner because he’s able to read the situation and their need and he’s able to respond to that. He’s not a clinical or removed doctor.

Talk about his journey this season. Any love on the horizon?
He’s there to complicate things that are going well for other people. High-stakes situations like this cause you to look at your co-workers a little differently and things can blossom.

You’re filming Saving Hope until the middle of December. What’s next in the new year? Are you writing and developing your own projects?
I am. I have several projects in the early stages in development that I’ll go back and focus on. But I’ll be back to auditioning too, which is kind of exciting. It’s been such a long time since I’ve done that … I’m kind of excited to get back to it.

Saving Hope airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

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