From Shawn Conner of the Vancouver Sun:
Q&A: Darcy Michael
Even when I’m riffing, it’s a really good collaboration with the writers’ room and my own comedy. Because of filming live and because of my standup background, Dave (Foley) was really great about encouraging them to let me go, and as the season grew, the chances I was getting to just kind of f–k around became more substantial to the point that they were just holding the camera. Continue reading.
From Guy MacPherson of the Georgia Straight:
Comedian Darcy Michael stays down to earth
AH, CANADIAN SHOW biz! Where else can you be a regular on a prime-time network sitcom as well as a regular transit rider? Such is the life of Darcy Michael, who stars as the lovable simpleton Gordon on CTV’s Spun Out, which starts production of its second season in October. The Ladner-based standup comic lives in Toronto for the three months of filming, then comes back to reality for the off-season. Since closing the first season of production in August 2013, that reality has lasted 14 months. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Bell Media Announces Feature Programming at Inaugural Canadian International Television Festival, Nov. 16
Bell Media is pleased to be the presenting sponsor of Canada’s first and only public television festival, the Canadian International Television Festival (CITF), launching tomorrow from Toronto’s Bell TIFF Lightbox. With free screenings at the TIFF Bell Lightbox beginning Saturday, Nov. 16, the festival will showcase some of Canada’s best television series and talent.
Bell Media is proud to premiere two new Canadian original productions to fans on Saturday – CTV’s multi-cam workplace comedy SPUN OUT, starring Dave Foley (KIDS IN THE HALL, NEWSRADIO), and Bravo’s English adaption of the French-language smash hit 19-2, a richly nuanced human drama following the lives of patrol officers Ben Chartier (Jared Keeso) and Nick Barron (Adrian Holmes).
Free tickets (plus a small handling fee) for the screenings can be obtained at the Bell TIFF Lightbox box office or via the Festival website at CITV.tv.
Below is a complete list of Bell Media programs represented at the festival:
19-2 – World Premiere
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.
Bravo’s English adaptation of the hit Québec police drama will receive its World Premiere. MOVIE ENTERTAINMENT’s Teri Hart hosts a Q+A with Executive Producer Jocelyn Deschênes, writer Bruce Smith, and series co-star Adrian Holmes. The Festival will also screen the original French version (subtitled).
SPUN OUT – World Premiere
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.
CTV’s hilarious new half-hour scripted comedy series stars Dave Foley, Al Mukadam, Holly Deveaux, Rebecca Dalton, and Darcy Michael, all of whom are set to be on hand for the 8 p.m. premiere screenings and Q+A session hosted by ETALK’s Devon Soltendieck. Premiering in Winter 2014, SPUN OUT also stars Paul Campbell and J.P. Manoux.
Franchises and Formats
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.
Saturday also features a session with the producers and talent behind MTV’s DEGRASSI franchise, including actors Aislinn Paul, Munro Chambers, and Luke Bilyk, as well as Stefan Brogren (Director, Actor, Writer), Sarah Glinski (Executive Producer, Head Writer), and Matt Huether (Co-Executive Producer, Writer). The panel is led by AFTER DEGRASSI host, Lauren Toyota.
Additionally, INNERSPACE’s Teddy Wilson hosts a panel on successful factual formats featuring Supervising Producer Mark Lysakowski and racers Jet and Dave from CTV’s THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, as well as Executive Producer Guy O’Sullivan who talks about CTV’s upcoming MASTERCHEF CANADA.
SENSITIVE SKIN – Sneak Peek
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.
Co-stars Kim Cattrall and Don McKellar along with writer Bob Martin are on hand to discuss their new dramedy series for The Movie Network and Movie Central, MOVIE ENTERTAINMENT’S Teri Hart leads a discussion on the adaptation of the British series, followed by a sneak peek of the series.
THE BEST OF bravoFACT – Hosted by Richard Crouse
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.
CITF celebrates short-form content with a screening of some of the best bravoFACT-funded shorts including Winter Garden, an official selection at this year’s TIFF ‘Stage to Screen’ series, starring Enrico Colantoni, and Method, which has just been picked up for development into a series.
ORPHAN BLACK – Marathon
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.
The first five hours of Space’s critically acclaimed smash hit series ORPHAN BLACK, are presented back to back, following an introduction by co-creators Graeme Manson and John Fawcett.
BITTEN – Sneak Peek
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 p.m.
Cast members Greg Bryk, Greyston Holt, Joel Keller, Michael Xavier, Paulino Nunes, and Steve Lund, along with Executive Producers J.B. Sugar and Deagan Fryklind are on hand to chat up Space’s hotly anticipated new thriller. Hosted by INNERSPACE’s Ajay Fry and Morgan Hoffman, the panel also features a never-seen before sneak peek.
From a media release:
The Inaugural Canadian International Television Festival Announces Additional Programming and Box Office Opening
Canada’s first and only public television festival, the Canadian International Television Festival (CITF), is pleased to announce the opening of their box office. As of noon today, tickets are free (small handling charge applies) and available to the public. Visit www.CITF13.tv for all the details and order tickets here.
Additionally, CITF announced the following programming:
Spun Out will have its World Premiere screening at the festival. The hilarious new CTV half-hour Canadian scripted comedy series Spun Out stars Dave Foley, Rebecca Dalton, Al Mukadam, and Holly Deveaux, all of whom are set to be on hand for the 8 p.m. screening on Saturday, November 16. Spun Out also stars Paul Campbell, Darcy Michael and J.P. Manoux.
FRANCHISES AND FORMATS Screenings and Seminars – The World Premiere of the English adaptation of hit Quebec police drama 19-2 with Executive Producer Jocelyn Deschênes and Writer Bruce Smith, as well as a screening of the original French version (subtitled), (Saturday, November 16 at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.); a talk with the producers and talent behind the Degrassi franchise, including actors Aislinn Paul, Munro Chambers, and Luke Bilyk, as well as Sarah Glinski (Executive Producer, Head Writer) and Matt Huether (Co-Executive Producer, Writer); and The Amazing Race Canada, including racers Jet and Dave and Supervising Producer Mark Lysakowski.
Orphan Black binge screening of the first five hours from the first season (Saturday, November 16 at 6 p.m.)
Royal Air Farce 40th Anniversary Celebration. TV columnist Bill Brioux chats with the current Air Farce cast — Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, Craig Lauzon, Alan Park, Penelope Corrin, and Arnold Pinnock — about making Canadians laugh for the past 40 years, and continuing to entertain in record numbers on their annual New Year’s Eve specials. (Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m.).
The Best of bravoFACT, hosted by Richard Crouse. CITF celebrates short form films with a screening of 10 best bravoFACT-funded shorts including Winter Garden, an official selection at this year’s TIFF ‘Stage to Screen’ series, starring Enrico Colantoni. (Saturday, November 16 at 4 p.m.)
Bitten cast members Greg Bryk, Joel Keller, Michael Xavier, Paulino Nunes, and Steve Lund are on hand with a sneak peek and discussion of their hotly anticipated new series, hosted by INNERSPACE’s Ajay Fry and Morgan Hoffman (Saturday, November 16 at 10 p.m.).
Bill Brioux’s TV on Film Project – TV columnist Bill Brioux presents a fascinating look at TV’s past. He screens and discusses NBC’s “Fall Preview” reel from 1966 which features guests introducing NBC’s new fall lineup which includes “The Monkees,” “Tarzan,” “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” and a crazy little sci-fi series called “Star Trek.” Bill then screens a network print of a comedy series from the same season, complete with the commercials you would have seen the night it first aired. (Sunday, November 17 at 1 p.m.)
From Bill Brioux of TV Feeds My Family:
Looking for Friday night fun? Sit in on Spun Out
“Twenty bucks to the first person who can name the original bass player with Steely Dan.”
The challenge was thrown out by Brian K. Roberts, executive producer and director of the new CTV sitcom Spun Out. Continue reading.
