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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Industry News

City announces debut for original drama Between

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From a media release:

– Summer event series makes exclusive Canadian SVOD debut on shomi following City broadcast –

– Get to know the class of ’15 with companion web series Between Video Yearbook on Citytv.com –

City and shomi™ today announced the world broadcast premiere date for new premium original drama series Between, starring Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat). With six, one-hour episodes, Between is the story of a town under siege from a mysterious disease that has wiped out everybody except those 21 years old and under. The series will air Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), beginning May 21 on City.  Following the broadcast, Between will make its exclusive Canadian SVOD premiere next day on shomi.

In the series premiere episode “School’s Out,” a mysterious virus begins to kill off adults in the small town of Pretty Lake, and those left alive scramble to survive. Wiley Day (McCurdy) is pregnant but she has a plan: she’s going to give up the baby and leave Pretty Lake behind forever – that is until the government quarantines a 10-mile radius around the town. Trapped inside, Wiley’s best friend Adam (Jesse Carere, Finding Carter), whose plans to attend MIT are dashed, knows their only hope of escape is to find the cause of the virus.

During the chaos, other teen residents take advantage of the ensuing lawlessness. “Creekers” from the edge of town – Ronnie (Kyle Mac, Hemlock Grove) and his brother Pat (Jim Watson, The Strain) – drive into Pretty Lake for a looting spree, while Chuck (Justin Kelly, Maps to the Stars), a rich-kid athlete, tries to keep some semblance of law in the town his father used to practically own. Gord (Ryan Allen, Blue Mountain State), a farm boy, tries to keep his friends from getting hurt or killed, and Ellen (Sarah Podemski, The Border), a prison guard, tries to save Mark (Jack Murrah, Beauty and the Beast), a young inmate, from a prison gang with a grudge.

An original series, developed and produced for City, Between was created by Michael McGowan, who executive produces along with Don Carmody (Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Goon, Chicago), David Cormican (The Tall Man, Faces in the Crowd), and Naveen Prasad, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Elevation Pictures Corp. Emmy® award-winning director Jon Cassar (24, The Kennedys) will direct the first two episodes. The series is produced by Don Carmody Television, Mulmur Feed Co. and in association with Elevation Pictures Corp. Prasad, along with Jayme Alter (Denton’s Canada) for DCTV negotiated the deal. Elevation will oversee worldwide distribution.  From Rogers Media, Nataline Rodrigues is Director of Original Programming, Hayden Mindell is Vice President of Television Programming & Content, and Colette Watson is Vice President of Broadcast.

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

Review: MasterChef Canada winner returns

Competing on a show like MasterChef Canada is an exercise in skill and humility. You may be excellent at what you do, but if you show up your competitors too much or—even worse—the judges, you will get burned for it.

Such was the situation Michael and Cody found themselves in on Sunday night.

Michael, who has never shown a lack of confidence in anything he’s done, was once again slapped down by Michael, Alvin and Claudio for his pretentious plating during the Elimination Challenge. Roasting three vegetables, creating a cylinder of truffle mashed potatoes and grilling a hunk of lamb and placing them on a long white plate may have looked cool, but it made him a target. Claudio especially took umbrage with Michael’s plating and ripped him for salty potatoes.

Cody, meanwhile, one-upped Michael in his douchebaggery by nullifying his Mystery Box win and participating in the Elimination Challenge. Why? Because he really wanted to cook with Season 1 winner Eric Chong’s favourite ingredient: truffles. Clearly riding an adrenaline high, Cody’s decision to compete was a slap in the face to the judges who had given him the win. Dude, if the judges tell you you’re safe and to go to the gallery … YOU GO TO THE GALLERY. Instead, Cody tried too hard to impress everyone and was on the verge of going home.

Thankfully for he and Michael, Kevin once again crashed an burned with an insipid-looking egg and asparagus dish that had a smattering of truffle on it. Kevin, the chef who included puff pastry wrapper in one recent recipe, was shown the door.

Next week, team captains David and Sabrina lead their teams to the University of Guelph where they’ll make poutine for a bunch of students.

Notes and quotes

  • I would have made a pizza with caramelized onions, roasted garlic, brie, smoked gouda and proscuitto on it.
  • When did Cody injure/burn himself? I either missed it or it happened off-camera.
  • “Essence of unicorn… angel tears…” — Jennifer mocking Cody
  • “They seem like they’re just overpriced little turds.” Quote of the night from Kwasi
  • “That’s like me … yellow magic.” Um, what, Alvin?

MasterChef Canada airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET on CTV; the show is pre-empted for the JUNOS this coming Sunday.

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Featured, Heartland

Review: Separation anxiety on Heartland

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“Sometimes you make decisions for people even though they’ve told you it’s not what they want.” And with that Georgie finally got through to Lou.

Yes, Heartland fans, it looks as though the writers are going there. Lou and Peter seem set on separating, even though by the end of “Eclipse of the Heart” they were smiling at each other. Of course, there are still a handful of episodes left in this season for the pair to right their listing marital ship, but those smiles looked rueful and full of what has been instead of happiness to come.

Or perhaps, over the next few weeks as they prep for Amy and Ty’s nuptials, Peter and Lou will realize their marriage is fighting for and we’ll see a vow renewal alongside the wedding. I’m kind of on the fence about how I want things to play out. Part of me is interested in how Heartland‘s writers would handle the Lou and Peter being apart and the affect it would have on the girls, while another wishes they would stay together and have them both make some changes in the way they treat each other.

Marriage consumed the other two major storylines as well, with Jack stopping Tim from driving to Moose Jaw and possibly making a fool of himself in front of Miranda and her fiancé. I was thankful for the back and forth between the men by the side of the highway, first when Jack told Tim his truck wouldn’t start (an obvious ploy to slow Tim down) and then by taking his truck keys and pretending to throw them into a field.

As for Amy and Ty, they’re full speed ahead on wedding prep, with plans to use the hall for the ceremony and Amy narrowing in on the perfect dress. I was actually surprised she didn’t tell Lou she’d rather wear her mom’s old dress, but I’m sure that’s to come. After all, having the girls in the dress shop enabled the writers to continue Lou’s flashbacks to the good and bad times in her courtship, marriage and child-rearing with Peter and reflect on whether all that is worth saving. What do you think? Will Peter and Lou really separate? Will they renew their vows at Amy and Ty’s wedding? Comment below or via @tv_eh.

Notes and quotes

  • Congratulations on Heartland‘s season renewal!
  • “You’re not planning on driving to Moose Jaw and making a fool of yourself, are you?” Jack to Tim.
  • “The heart wants what the heart wants.” — Caleb
    “I don’t think you’re thinking with your heart. Or your head.” — Amy

Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.

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Orphan Black

Link: Orphan Black creator John Fawcett promises answers

From Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly:

Orphan Black creator John Fawcett promises ‘we get a lot of answers this season’
Orphan Black has left us with plenty of question marks heading into season 3. And those question marks are often wrapped in mysteries. And those mysteries are often wrapped inside another layer of enigmas. So the point is, there is a lot we still don’t know. But Entertainment Weekly Radio (SiriusXM, channel 105) sat down with Orphan Black co-creator John Fawcett on set this week where he is directing the season finale, and he promises that when the show returns, we can start to expect to get some answers. Here’s what else he told us. Continue reading.

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