Remember way back when we did a poll about the Canadian literature adaptations you’d most like to see on CBC? Coppermine by Keith Ross Leckie got the most votes, with a host of other novels making the list.

Some of those books were or are already in development, so now here’s my top 5 list of  those already inching their way to our TV screens, in order of preference.

1. Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald 
   An Oprah’s book club pick, this novel by one of my favourite authors has been in development for what seems like forever — though maybe that’s just the watched pot rule. Executive producer Sharon Mustos tells me the latest scoop: “I have partnered with Shaftesbury Films/Christina Jennings to bring this wonderful story to life. We hope to announce a writer and broadcast partner very soon.”
2. The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
   It feels like the news about this Canada Reads winner in development as a mini-series with Robert Redford should be making a bigger splash. It seems to be an open secret in the Canadian TV world and is referenced on unsplashy websites. I’m told it’s being shopped around US networks by a “very respected Canadian showrunner.”
3. Solomon Gursky Was Here by Mordecai Richler 
   With money from the Harold Greenberg Fund’s Script Development Program a few years ago, this novel was in development through Serendipity Point Films. Will it ever make it to our screens? You’d need the wisdom of Solomon to know.
4. Caught by Lisa Moore
   Alan Hawco caught the rights to this books, teaming with Entertainment One for a series announced shortly before the end of Republic of Doyle last fall. The show is being developed for CBC.
5. John Cardinal mystery series by Giles Blunt
   It’s been a while since news has emerged on this popular book series turning to TV, after the author was quoted a couple years ago saying he’s written the first episode of the series in development for CTV. But stranger mysteries have happened than a series popping up years later.

Do you have news on shows in development? Comment or send me an email.

What TV show best defines Canada?
How about Wayne Rostad’s On The Road Again? That was real reality TV! Of the current shows I’d vote for 19-2, and I loved Strange Empire!!! Now, has there been a primetime drama that did represent the entire nation (not just one region of it)? Seems an almost impossible task unless, say, you put that in an appropriate context, like, say a Canadian celebrity living down in the U.S., who reminiscences about the “homeland.” Though even then, that individual person will have roots in one region or another. Imagine, for example, Robbie Robertson, who has toured all over the world at one time or another, what it might be like for him to “come home,” which he usually does when he has to do the rounds for publicizing a project of his, or something related to The Band. Although that’s real, I wouldn’t mind watching a fictionalized version of that story. I know that’s not what this discussion is originally about, just putting my two pennies in the pot here.—Stephen

Tie between Da Vinci’s Inquest and The Newsroom.—Gregory

Seeing Things. I wouldn’t say it defined Canada, but I liked it.—Dan

I would add Intelligence to the list, nto because it is the best (which it arguably is), but because it reflects that Canadian siege mentality when dealing with Americans. It was un-self-consciously multi-racial and, it was obviously set in Vancouver.—Suzanne

How about YOU GOTTA EAT HERE! celebrating real Canadian cooks and chefs in their restaurants across the country?—Steven

More love for Murdoch Mysteries
I have really enjoyed this season so far. I happen to be someone who wanted Emily and Crabtree to get back together. I really like Crabtree with Edna, but I do not like Emily with Lillian. I just haven’t liked Lillian since the brick throwing episode and I wasn’t a major fan of her character before that. I like that they said their going to put the team back together, I look forward to seeing that happen and hope things work out well for Crabtree quickly.—Adam

This has been the most enjoyable series in decades! I became aware of Murdoch Mysteries around six months ago. I now have all seven seasons, with Season 8 pre-ordered. The characters, and their relationships are fantastic. Where does Canada come up with such talent? As earlier comments indicate, I wish were able to receive this in the U.S.A. I have one “negative” comment. I am not looking for unbridled passion, but we saw more of Yannick’s bare chest in Season 2, Episode 9. Come on, William and Julia are acting like an “old married couple.” It’s too early for them to be so “blasé.” We need more of those meaningful eye contact scenes. Can’t wait for Season 9 even if I do have to watch it on my Kindle. Keep up the excellent work!—Sharon

I think a departure from William and Julia’s relationship was a good thing. We got to see the lives of the other characters and it was nice to see William and Julia living happily together without much drama. Now we’re all raring to have a focus on them more. I don’t much like Edna – especially as when we first met her in Season 1, she was all sassy and action-taking, now she’s all boring and shy and mopey.—Maddie

Are on-screen ads killing TV?
I think of them as “necessary nuisances.” You forgot when a show does a small cliffhanger just before a commercial to keep you watching and then the resolution of said cliffhanger is blocked by the ad. Or when a channel is trying to hype up a premiere of a new season for a show so they put a countdown clock on the bottom right of your screen during the show prior to the premiere? In the final season of Lost in the episode Sun briefly couldn’t speak she wrote her words down on paper, which was blocked by the countdown for the premiere of V. That was infuriating.—Dan

Another factor is that Canadian broadcasters probably don’t want to or can under current CRTC rules squeeze more actual ads into a show like they do in the United States, where a once half-hour show like Let’s Make A Deal gets bloated to a hour so more ads can be fitted in. Another reason is that TV is trying to ape the computer screen website experience, especially for the web generation that is more use to ad screen clutter than someone much “older.”—Alan

Got a comment or question about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or @tv_eh.