By Rob Salem of the Toronto Star:

• George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, debut episode: Review
  Well, it’s not The Hour . . . nor could it be, at half the running time. But it is the same Strombo, so there’s something to be said for that. The new 7 o’clock half-hour Strombo show debuted Monday night on CBC, an evening that also featured the premiere of the relocated Murdoch Mysteries and the first results show of Over the Rainbow. Read more.

By Alex Strachan of Postmedia News:

• A field guide to the fall TV season: Simple tips for making sense of the fuzzy picture
  With CBC episode orders cut back due to a budgeting shortfall, the public broadcaster’s early start means some programs will be in repeats earlier than usual. CBC’s decision-makers decided the benefits of an earlier start outweighed the concerns of early reruns, however. Read more.

Get Stuffed, Canada’s newest food challenge/adventure series will now be coming at you from double directions.  The action packed lifestyle series which airs weekly on OLN will be debuting on CityTV tomorrow, kicking things off with a mini-marathon of four food-filled episodes.  The Vancouver-based show features four hosts, two of who face off weekly in a regional specialty challenge.  The loser must eat one of three punishment meals, sussed out by the hosts from the local cuisine legends from the surrounding region.

This Tuesday night Kalyn Miles takes on Joshua Rice at the Redneck games in New Dublin, Georgia.  The games began in 1995 as an ulterior form of entertainment to the Georgia Olypmic Games.  Despite the unruly appearance of the games, they are seen as a way for fun loving ‘good ole folk’ to share in some back woods challenges and southern hospitality.  Kalyn and Josh face off in three events:  Redneck horseshoes (AKA toilet seat toss), Bobbing for pigs feet, and the epic finale: Mud Pit Belly Flop.  The loser’s punishment?  One of three epic meals from the plethora of deep fried and weighty goodness Georgia’s cuisine has to offer.   The motto?  “If it ain’t fried, it ain’t good to me.”

You can check out the mini-marathon of Get Stuffed this Sunday on CityTV starting at 9PM ET/PT.  The all new Redneck Games episode airs this Tuesday at 9PM ET/6PM PST on OLN.

From a media release:

CBC PUTS THE KIDS IN CHARGE WITH THE LAUNCH OF CROSS COUNTRY FUN HUNT

• Interactive series, starring Canadian celebrity Jordan Francis, premieres on Saturday, September 15 at 9:30 a.m. ET (10 a.m. NT)
• For more information about Cross Country Fun Hunt, a new multi-platform project, go to www.cbc.ca/kids/funhunt

Canadian kids know better than anyone where to find fun in their communities. That’s why Jordan Francis (Camp Rock) and CBC asked them to lead the hunt, sharing the activities and places they love. The result is the show, Cross Country Fun Hunt, premiering Saturday, Sept. 15, which will highlight Canada’s most fun things to do – as chosen by under-16 youth.

From kite boarding in Squamish, B.C. to pole-vaulting in Edmonton, from skateboarding in Winnipeg to mining for gems in Thunder Bay, Ont., Jordan’s journey is truly an epic Canadian road trip that invites kids to join in on the excitement. Some of the other destinations include: Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Hampton N.B., Regina, Inuvik, Whistler, B.C. and Canmore, Alberta.

Jordan embarked on his journey July 12, with stops in every province. His travel itinerary followed kids’ suggestions; many stops were chosen by an online vote of the submissions posted by kids highlighting their local fun spots. The most popular places, and their young ambassadors, received a visit. But the hunt is far from over —during the TV run, kids are encouraged to continue to share what they like to do for fun by uploading videos and pictures of their fun spots and putting their communities on the map. All destinations entered on the Fun Hunt map will be entered in a contest for the series’ grand prize: a Fun Hunt concert for the winning community. Voting will take place in December, and a special concert episode (featuring a special guest) will air on CBC this March.

The interactive, multimedia series allows kids at home to participate in multiple ways at www.cbc.ca/kids/funhunt:

• Submit videos online to get their local fun spot on the interactive map and have a chance to be nominated to host the Fun Hunt concert in their hometown.
• Kids who post their destinations will be entered into a contest to win an iPod touch in October.
• Explore the Fun Hunt map to check out submissions from kids around the country, exclusive webisodes that feature stops along the way, news from Jordan and more.
• Enter secret codes to win a trip to the concert. Each episode of the series will feature a secret code allowing kids to enter the contest online. (The code will also unlock exclusive footage from the series). • Vote on the top fun spot after the season finale on Dec. 1, 2012.
• Check out great new exclusive music by Jordan. He wrote songs for the series, which will be available each week on iTunes, after each episode airs. (The tracks will eventually be released as a complete album).

Cross Country Fun Hunt, produced by Montreal-based Apartment 11, offers a safe, interactive, social media platform for kids. The site even offers a soapbox for kids to offer moderated shout outs directly to Jordan.This 12-part series celebrates Canadian kids and offers a unique opportunity for youth to interact and highlight what makes this country – and their communities – great. Canadians have some of the most fun spots in the world in our own backyards. With kids’ help, teen idol Jordan Francis is uncovering them.

From a media release:

TIGA TALK! PRESCHOOL SERIES RETURNS THIS FALL

• New Season Brings ‘Adventure Story’ App, Viewer-Driven Storyline

When popular preschool series Tiga Talk! returns to TV, children will help drive the story line by naming a new pet, and explore further exciting adventures on an innovative new mobile app. The fun starts this fall, when the fourth season of Tiga Talk! premieres on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).

Tiga Talk! Season 4 Friday and Saturday mornings on APTN beginning September 2012:

• Cree version – Friday, September 7 @ 10:00am (9:00am on HD)
• English version – Saturday, September 8 @ 9:30am (8:30am on HD)
• **please check local listings**
• ‘Adventure Story’ App for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch Launches September 2012 Available at www.tigatalk.com and the iTunes Store

ABOUT TIGA TALK!

Targeted at children aged 3-5, Tiga Talk! is a gentle, entertaining series that explores languages and culture in a fun way. It’s about Tiga, a stuffed toy wolf cub who lives with Jodie and Jason, their father, and Kokum (grandmother). Tiga lives in a backyard den the children made for him, and together, they share a secret. When there aren’t any adults around, Tiga becomes a talking puppet who plays with Jodie, Jason, and children in the audience. Tiga’s sidekicks Gertie the Gopher and Gavin the Goose also ‘come alive’ to join in the fun.

Tiga Talk! not only captivates and entertains its preschool audience, but also creates an ear for different languages and encourages an excitement for learning during these very important early years. Music and activities are featured in half-hour episodes combining live action with a magic puppet world. Games, crafts, and adventures on the interactive website and mobile applications provide even greater opportunities to play and learn.

Continue reading Tiga Talk returns this week on APTN →