TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 1242
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Children's Programming

DHX Media orders tween series Make it Pop for YTV

From a media release:

DHX Media Ltd. (“DHX” or the “Company”) (TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), a key player internationally in the creation of content for families and children, has been commissioned by Nickelodeon in the US and YTV in Canada to produce a new, live-action musical-comedy series, entitled Make It Pop. The half-hour sitcom, which is targeted at the tween audience, is currently filming 20 episodes at DHX’s Epitome Studio, in Toronto, Canada. DHX Media will also handle global distribution and brand management for Make It Pop, as well as merchandising and licensing through appointed agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG).

Make It Pop is a comedic, music-infused sitcom about three unique girls who come together to start their own K pop-inspired band. Randomly selected to room together at boarding school, three freshman girls meet and bond over music. With the help of fellow boarding school classmate and DJ hopeful, Caleb, the girls grow from roommates to bandmates as their band, XO-IQ, becomes a school-wide sensation and they compete for a place in the upcoming school musical. The series, which will feature original songs and performances in every episode, is co-created by Thomas W. Lynch and Nick Cannon and produced by DHX Media.

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Ratings

CBC consistently attracts audiences of over 1 million

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From a media release:

Confirmed data from Numeris (BBM Canada) shows that Canadians across the country continue to tune into CBC’s winter programming.

  • X COMPANY attracted 1.051 million viewers (2+) in its debut episode on Feb. 18.
  • SCHITT’S CREEK has a current season average of 1.160 million viewers (2+)
  • Sci-fi drama ASCENSION garnered 1.138 million viewers on Feb. 9.
  • THE BOOK OF NEGROES ratings held strong throughout the miniseries run, capturing an average of 1.625 million viewers (2+). The series premiere of THE BOOK OF NEGROES drew 1.941 million viewers (2+).
  • MURDOCH MYSTERIES drew 1.389 million viewers (2+) on Feb. 9.
  • RICK MERCER REPORT attracted 1.028 million viewers (2+) on Feb. 10.

*Source is Numeris (BBM Canada), Total Canada, 2+

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Featured, X Company

Review: Has X Company’s Alfred already been captured?

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Thanks to Ellie, who wrote me last week to suggest the blue, jail-like room Alfred is in could literally be a cell to keep him safe in case the Germans attempt to kidnap him. He does, after all, have the British and Canadian plans inside that skull of his. I’d originally thought the cell was a representation of his head being a cell that he felt trapped inside of.

Turns out it looks like Ellie was on the right track; by the end of “Sixes and Sevens,” a loud clang outside Alfred’s cell would seem to hint he has already been captured by the Germans and is being held prisoner. That would make all of Season 1 Alfred’s recollections, which would make sense thanks to his near-perfect memory. And those scenes were he wasn’t around? Those could have been gleaned from reports read over at Camp X.

There’s still lots of season to go, but if this angle turns out to be true, it’s not only a unique way of storytelling that I haven’t seen done since St. Elsewhere (Google it, kids), but very effective too.

Written by Denis McGrath, “Sixes and Sevens” gave a nod to both Josephine Baker and Canadian writer Esi Edugyan’s Half-Blood Blues. That novel centred on Sidney Griffiths, who recounted his experiences touring through Europe as a jazz musician prior to the First World War where he met Hiero Falk, one of the greatest trumpet players in history. In the case of X Company, the story dealt with a Baker-esque Hallie Duvernay (Cracked‘s Karen Leblanc), a jazz singer with a killer voice and her trumpet player, Marcus (Dwain Murphy). The duo were to play an important part in helping provide safe passage of a British soldier whose father was a higher-up politician with help from Alfred and Aurora. Of course, things didn’t go according to plan and Aurora, Alfred and Marcus were arrested. Marcus, addicted to heroin and going through withdrawal, threatened to expose the whole ruse.

What I like about X Company is contained within a storyline like this. Rather than resort to a shoot ’em up riddled with hackneyed dialogue, “Sixes and Sevens” instead focused on Marcus’ addiction and what it meant for the mission. The decision to smuggle in a lethal dose of the drug and have Alfred give it to him was unique and important step in Alfred’s growth as a spy. His recollection of a key, magical note Marcus was able to play on one of Alfred’s favourite records was sad and sweet. Marcus knew the only escape for him was the heroin and he exited riding a wave of pride.

No less dramatic was Harry’s storyline that found him helping deliver the baby of a woman who was injured—and her parents killed—by an Allied bomb. Harry is quickly becoming my favourite character on the show, equally able to access a situation quickly and come to a solution, and show his human side. That scene of him walking down the road, cradling the baby in his arms? Well, let’s just say it got a little dusty in my basement right then.

Notes and quotes

  • “As a rule, we like to stay away from anything burning. And Germans.” — Neil
  • Karen Leblanc has fantastic pipes. I’m thrilled her singing talent, which wasn’t able to be showcased on Cracked, was embraced by X Company.
  • No, Krystina! What are you doing?!?!

X Company airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

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Awards

Link: First Golden Maple Awards Set for July 1

From Variety staff:

First Golden Maple Awards Set for July 1
The Academy of Canadians in Sports & Entertainment – Los Angeles is accepting submissions for the first Golden Maple Awards, which promote and honor Canadian TV talent and athletes in the U.S.

Submission period is March 8-31, with a committee to review the contenders and announce nominees April 28. Voting closes June 23, with awards to be presented on Canada Day, July 1, at a location to be announced.

Categories include best Canadian actor, actress and newcomer, in a TV series broadcast in the U.S. The org has timed the awards to boost Canadian talent visibility during Emmy season.

The Golden Maple committee will release a list of honorees separately. Members of ACISE-LA will vote on the final ballot.

Submissions can be sent by the U.S. network, talent rep, publicist or self to ACISE-LA headquarters in Los Angeles.

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Murdoch Mysteries

Producers team with Ontario Government on Making Murdoch

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From a media release:

SHAFTESBURY PARTNERS WITH ONTARIO GOVERNMENT ON MURDOCH MYSTERIES COMPANION SERIES

Shaftesbury today announced that it has partnered with the Ontario government on Making Murdoch, a 20-part online series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Murdoch Mysteries on location in Ontario, with a special focus on the sites and stories of the province. Available on the CBC YouTube channel and at cbc.ca, Making Murdoch has also been shared with Murdoch Mysteries’ international distribution and broadcast partners in 110 countries worldwide. Watch Making Murdoch: Discovering Ontario.

“Over eight seasons, Murdoch Mysteries has featured some of Ontario’s most recognizable tourism destinations, like Victoria Park Square in Brantford, Parkwood Estate in Oshawa or the historic mining town of Cobalt. Making Murdoch is a wonderful opportunity for viewers to learn more about these important landmarks, while also showcasing Ontario as a great place to visit.” — Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

“Each week, Murdoch Mysteries brings the province of Ontario to millions of viewers across Canada and around the world. Ontario’s breathtaking vistas, historic sites and story gems are what make this series a success. We’re thrilled to partner with the Ontario government in showcasing our province as a coveted destination in Making Murdoch, to ensure that what Ontario has to offer is not a mystery.”
— Christina Jennings, Chairman & CEO, Shaftesbury, Smokebomb Entertainment and shift2

Filmed on location in Ontario during production of Murdoch Mysteries Season 8 from April to December 2014, Making Murdoch (20 x seven minutes) offers an in-depth look at the making of the series, including interviews with the cast, crew, writers and producers who bring the show to life, and insight from expert spokespeople on the people and places of Ontario featured in the show. Season 8 (18 x one hour) of Murdoch Mysteries premiered in October 2014 and airs Mondays at 8 pm (8:30 pm NT) on CBC in Canada, with the season finale of the series scheduled for Monday, March 30. Season 9 of the series will begin production in May 2015.

From Cambridge to Cobalt, Making Murdoch explores the beautiful sites and untold stories of Ontario featured in Murdoch Mysteries Season 8, including the history of Old Town Toronto and the Constabulary’s Station House No. 4, where the series is set; Queen’s Park and the Canadian women’s suffrage movement; the legendary Walper Hotel in Kitchener; the rough-and-tumble nature of the Toronto waterfront and the rise of the automobile circa 1902; the legacy of vaudeville and the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres in Toronto; the industrial background of Hamilton’s 270 Sherman heritage site; the little known story of Northern Ontario’s silver rush in Cobalt; the perfectly preserved Black Creek Pioneer and Westfield Heritage Villages; the beautiful Rockwood Conservation Area; the South Simcoe Railway, Tottenham’s historical gem; turn-of-the-century honeymoon traditions in Niagara Falls; the dangers of the corset as showcased at the Fashion Victims exhibit at Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum; Hamilton’s storied Scottish Rite Club and Whitehern Historic House and Garden; the remarkable Foster Memorial in Uxbridge; and the picturesque and historic communities of Dundas, Georgina, Cambridge and St. Marys.

One of Canada’s most successful and longest-running dramas, Murdoch Mysteries has become a staple for CBC and broadcasters around the world with its winning formula that brings together compelling mysteries, unique slices of turn-of-the-century history, ingenious inventions and personal moments for each character. Licensed to broadcasters in 110 countries and territories including the U.S., UK, France, Finland and China, the series continues to thrive with eight seasons and 114 episodes under its belt, boasting an average audience of 1.3 million each week in Canada in Season 8. The series has logged 651 days of shooting in more than 200 unique locations in Ontario, and triggered 8000 production jobs in the province for actors, writers, directors, producers, crew, background performers and technical and production services across three made-for-television movies and eight seasons of the series.

With millions of fans, Murdoch Mysteries also boasts one of the most engaged fan communities in Canadian television, including 62,000 likes on Facebook and more than 60,000 followers for the series and its cast on Twitter. Fan events in Ontario attract thousands each summer from across Canada, the U.S., UK, France and Australia.

Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, Murdoch Mysteries is a one-hour drama series that explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders. Murdoch’s colleagues include the love of his life, coroner and psychiatrist Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy, Durham County), a staunch ally who shares the detective’s fascination for science; Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Of All Places), Murdoch’s eager but sometimes naïve right-hand man; Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Coronation Street), Murdoch’s skeptical yet reluctantly supportive boss; and coroner Dr. Emily Grace (Georgina Reilly; The L.A. Complex), Dr. Ogden’s protégé.

Murdoch Mysteries was initially adapted for television from Maureen Jennings’s popular Detective Murdoch series of novels as three made-for-TV films produced by Shaftesbury and broadcast in Canada in 2004 and 2005. The series first premiered in Canada in January 2008 and aired on Citytv for five seasons, before moving to CBC in September 2012.

Making Murdoch is directed and produced by Jean Greig; produced by Lorraine Clark and Katherine Wolfgang; and edited by Mike Garniss and Mike Meddik, with Graeme Potts serving as cinematographer. Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie are executive producers.

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