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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

E! original series Celebrity Style Story returns for Season 2

From a media release:

All the fashion do’s and don’ts of today’s hottest celebrities are covered in Season 2 of E!’s original series CELEBRITY STYLE STORY, premiering Monday, Aug. 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET. From Calgary-based Pyramid Productions, the 40-episode, 30-minute series explores the style evolution of today’s most sought after stars, charting their path from humble beginnings to ‘wow’ moments on the red carpet. This season CELEBRITY STYLE STORY panellists analyze the style progression of A-list talent including Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, Kerry Washington, Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, and many more. This season also features multiple themed episodes, such as the funny ladies of Hollywood (including Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig), and the fresh faces of Hollywood (including Cara Delevingne and Kendall Jenner). On hand this season to dish on all things fashion are E!’s Tyrone Edwards, Fashion blogger Stephen Dimmick, YouTuber Gigi Gorgeous, and more.

In the Season 2 premiere (Monday, Aug. 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET) the panellists delve into the fashion of THE OSCARS®  throughout the decades. This episode covers everything from Audrey Hepburn’s unforgettable 1954 Givenchy dress, Barbara Streisand’s risqué Arnold Scaasi pantsuit in 1969, Cher’s revealing Bob Mackie ensemble in 1986, to the looks of the original ‘Bennifer’ – Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in 2003, and ‘Brangelina’ – Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in 2012.

CELEBRITY STYLE STORY features a panel of expert fashion stylists, designers, comedians, and fashion journalists who weigh in on the celebrity’s looks and transformation from each stage of their red hot careers. Season 2 panellists include:

  • Comedian and writer Amanda Brooke Perrin
  • Comedian and writer Ann T. Donohue
  • Canadian television host Elissa Lansdell
  • Fashion YouTube personality Gigi Gorgeous
  • Fashion writer and blogger  Heather Cocks
  • Television personality Jenny Steele
  • Fashion and accessory designer Jessica Biffi
  • Celebrity stylist Lindsay Albanese
  • Co-founder and Creative Director of Bustle Clothing Shawn Hewson
  • Fashion blogger Stephen Dimmick
  • Fashion commentators and designers The Style Guys
  • Style expert, stylist, host, and blogger Sydne Summer
  • Host of E! and Much Tyrone Edwards
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Featured, Mr. D

Gerry Dee keeps it real in Season 5 of Mr. D

Mr. D is headed into its fifth season on CBC, and series creator and star Gerry Dee isn’t messing with success. He’s sticking with the formula that keeps viewers coming back every week: keeping it real.

“I always try to bring authenticity to the show,” Dee told Sirius XM radio hosts Humble & Fred during an appearance Monday morning. That authenticity continues in Season 5, when Dee’s small-screen alter ego, Gerry Duncan, experiences a student teacher with stage fright, educational assistants, a mother who can’t believe that her son is capable of pushing other students around and an odd item brought for Show & Tell.

“A friend of mine had this Grade 1 class and a kid brought in a vibrator for Show & Tell and thought it was a rocket ship,” Dee recalls. “So we shot the episode where a kid comes in and says he has a rocket ship and that it buzzes when you turn it on. I try to grab it and it falls and breaks. He’s trying to zoom it at my face and everything. Those are the stories we get from teachers sometimes.” Dee taught in a private school for 10 years before committing to stand-up comedy full-time. Now, a decade removed from the classroom, he brings teachers into the writers’ room to mine details for possible storylines alongside what he and his writing staff come up with.

“Things have changed. In Season 4 we did an episode called ‘Lockdown,’ which is something that’s, sadly, common now in schools but I’d never heard of,” he says.

With Season 5 of Mr. D set to return on CBC in the winter and Season 4 re-airing on City in November, Dee’s plate is pretty full. Aside from his homegrown sitcom, Dee is writing for other projects—like My Scottish Family for CBC—and is constantly touring, with dates in Toronto, Ajax and Mississauga, Ont., lined up in September and October. Those dates, he reveals to Humble & Fred, are in preparation for his next big stand-up goal.

“I want to do the Air Canada Centre within two years,” he says. “I sat down with my tour manager and looked at the ticket sales and it’s all adding up to 10,000 tickets. It may be a big mistake and I’d have to stay on television within the next two years. I’m planning to do that and tape it as my next special.”

Listen to the rest of Dee’s interview with Humble & Fred (his chat is during the last 20 minutes).

Season 5 of Mr. D returns in the winter on CBC.

Season 4 of Mr. D airs in a second window on City starting in November.

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Killjoys

Link: Killjoys’ Luke MacFarlane previews a finale showdown

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Killjoys’ Luke MacFarlane previews a finale showdown
“I’ll say this adjunctly, it’s interesting because a lot of people have been saying, ‘well where are the aliens?’ They’ve been asking that of our show. Just maybe think of that in relationship to your question. If I’m being particularly cagey it’s because I’m being intentionally cagey.” Continue reading. 

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Industry News

Mother-daughter power team unveil Straight Shooters Productions

From a media release:

Award-winning twosome, filmmaker Gail Harvey (Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, Lost Girl), and her daughter, actress and writer Katie Boland (Gerontophilia, Reign) have teamed up to launch Straight Shooters Productions. Driven by their desire to create meaningful relevant content for domestic and international audiences, Harvey and Boland have paired up to develop and produce thought-provoking original content that speaks to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

With this new venture comes a development deal with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) working with Senior Director Helen Asimakis and Production Executive Sarah Adams in partnership with Serendipity Point Films (The Right Kind of Wrong, Barney’s Version) on a new gripping drama series entitled Centrepunch based on the inner workings of the Toronto police department.

Created and written by Boland and Calum DeHartog (Cracked), to star Boland, Centrepunch is a riveting new drama series about a willful, bold and naive ingénue, born into a family of respected male police officers. Upon joining the force, she uncovers things about her family and the inner workings of the Toronto Police Department she never would have imagined possible.

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