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

Survivorman returns to OLN’s Spring Schedule

From a media release:

It’s in with the spring and out with the snow as OLN welcomes the season’s hottest new original series, sure to excite all audiences. From master survivalist Les Stroud who returns to OLN with fan-favourite series Survivorman, to prodigy magicians and death-cheating escape artists, to the mind-blowing things the human body can do, OLN has it all. Catch all the action beginning March 3 on OLN.

Tuesday, March 3:

You Can’t Lick Your Elbow: Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), beginning March 3

**Series Premiere**

You Can’t Lick Your Elbow, hosted by future NFL Hall of Fame player Tony Gonzalez, is a guide to the weird, clever, and amazing things you can – and sometimes can’t – do with the human body. On the series premiere of You Can’t Lick Your Elbow, viewers are welcomed to explore their own human body. So watch – and learn – as this episode unlocks the superhuman powers hidden within each of us.

Fail Army: Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), beginning March 3

Fail Army is a brand-new, high-impact, unscripted comedy based on the hugely popular YouTube channel. The 20-episode clip show features the funniest ‘fail’ videos, bloopers, pranks, and all-around entertaining videos in an easy-to-digest half-hour format. Each episode is packed with the same remarkable clip content that has made the FailArmy brand an international sensation with more than one billion total views on YouTube, and over eight million combined followers on social media.

Wednesday, April 8: 

Survivorman: Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), beginning April 8

Canada’s favourite survivalist comes home! Canadian Screen Award winner Les Stroud returns to OLN withSurvivorman, kicking off the show with six special episodes focused on the elusive Bigfoot.

Les Stroud dives deep and puts his reputation on the line to either prove or disprove the existence of a species of man-like primate thought to have become extinct after the last Ice Age: the elusive and mythical Gigantopithecus (e.g., Sasquatch and Bigfoot). On the season premiere, Survivorman Les Stroud’s current quest takes him to the wilderness of Klemtu, an Indian reserve on the coastal fjords of British Columbia, to investigate hundreds of reports of Bigfoot sightings by local residents. Is it myth or fact? One thing is for sure, Klemtu is an environment where large animals could exist indefinitely.

Tuesday, April 14:

Escape or Die!: Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), beginning April 14

**New OLN Original Series**

Dean Gunnarson is hailed as the world’s most daring escape artist, according to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, entertaining audiences around the world with remarkable stunts that cheat death. In the series premiere, Gunnarson is in Shanghai, China to defend his title as the “World’s Most Daring Escape Artist.” The Chinese media have come out in full force to watch him face off against one of the largest wooden rollercoasters in the world.

Illusions of Grandeur: Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), beginning April 14

**New OLN Original Series**

In this new docu-series, up-and-coming street magician Zack Mirza strives to take his magic skills to the next level. On this magic pilgrimage to 12 cities in 12 weeks, Mirza walks in the footsteps of the greats and brings his brand of street magic to cities like Toronto, New York, Austin, Las Vegas, and Detroit. In each city, Mirza focuses on a different style of magic, including mentalism, escapes, and card magic.

The series premiere sees Mirza begin a magic journey across North America in his hometown of Toronto. He performs for Toronto Raptors forward-guard Terrence Ross – blowing his mind with a basketball trick-shot for the ages. Finally, Mirza embarks on the most ambitious card illusion he’s ever attempted.

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Uncategorized

Tonight: Marketplace, The Fifth Estate

Marketplace, CBC – “Uneasy Money”
Canadians are taking on record levels of household debt, and money is top of mind for many trying to tighten their belts. But if you need cash, are companies being clear about what you’re signing up for? In Uneasy Money, MARKETPLACE investigates the business tactics of a popular loan company that offers easy loans to people who need money. Erica Johnson investigates how high interest rates and added charges can add up to a bad bottom line for borrowers. And, MARKETPLACE puts a major bank to the test about the biggest debt that many of us ever sign up for: a mortgage. Not all mortgages are created equal, but how upfront is the bank about what’s hiding in the fine print?

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “The War on Wheat”
It’s a multi-billion dollar battle for your belly. Millions of people are joining the anti-wheat revolution. Kellogg’s, the world’s largest cereal maker, has seen its biggest drop in sales since the 1970s. Food companies are selling off their struggling bread divisions. It’s all because best-selling health evangelists say that wheat is causing everything from fat bellies to schizophrenia. But do they have science on their side? Mark Kelley takes a hard look at what’s driving a movement that is dramatically changing the way we eat.

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Featured

Comments and queries for the week of Feb. 27

How does one apply to be considered to have Paul and his kickass crew do your deck or “customize” indoors?—Darren

Hey Darren! Isn’t the work that Paul Lafrance and his crew do on Custom Built, Disaster Decks and Decked Out fantastic? I’d love to have him come over and work his magic in my yard. Anyway, you can apply to have Paul, or many other HGTV hosts, swing by your place via the Casting Call page on HGTV.ca’s website. Good luck!

 

So many great choices [in the Canadian Screen Award nominations]! I agree that Orphan Black will likely win, but it’s worth remembering that the CSA voting took place just as 19-2’s ASTOUNDING season 2 premiere aired (truly, one of the best things I’ve ever seen on TV). It might be a tight race indeed. I’m excited to watch the awards.

P.S.: You guys should watch Vikings!—Lisa

I’m surprised by the unanimous love for Orphan Black in the “Will win” department, despite the near-unaminous opinion that the stellar 19-2 “Should win.” Is this mainly a pity vote for OB since it keeps getting snubbed by Emmy? Don’t get me wrong, I like OB a lot, but as far as drama goes, I think 19-2 is head and shoulders above. That said, Tatiana is definitely deserving for Best Actress.

Best Actor, definitely Jared Keeso, the heard-and-soul of 19-2. But why wasn’t Adrian Holmes nominated too? He turned (and continues to turn) in a great performance as Nick.

For Comedic Actress, I would vote for Kacey Rohl in Working the Engels. While the show wasn’t a great one, I felt she was the surprise bright spot in the cast (sorry Andrea!) with her comedic timing and great reactions to the wackiness of her family (I’d only seen her prior dramatic turn on Fringe).—Jeff

 

I have been preaching the gospel of Hard Rock Medical so hard, you’d think I was on their payroll. It’s such an interesting and well-produced show and so much better than the typical medical drama.—Meridith

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

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Awards, Featured

Interview: Andrea Martin previews Sunday’s Canadian Screen Awards

By Chis Jancelewicz

It’s only fitting that one of the most hilarious women to ever grace the Canadian small screen is hosting the annual gala to honour Canadian film and television. SCTV alum Andrea Martin is taking the mic this year to helm the 3rd Annual Canadian Screen Awards on March 1, and promises to bring the funny.

TV, Eh? sat down to chat with the comedic star about hosting the gig (while simultaneously being nominated for her comedy Meet the Engels).

It’s cold out there. What are you going to do if the temperature is like this on March 1?
Andrea Martin: [Laughs.] I’m going to be inside! Or … where WILL the red carpet be? It might be outside. Oh, it is outside. They probably have heaters, though. This IS Canada.

Is there a lot to be proud of this year in terms of Canadian entertainment?
I think it’s so varied! Usually, there’s a lot of French-Canadian films and talent, this year I think there’s more English-speaking films. There’s a nice balance, and a lot of new, young talent.

Have you ever been a host and been nominated at the same time?
I’ve been a host many times, and I’ve been nominated many times. [Laughs.] I’m trying to think! Not in the States, I’ve just won a lot there: two Tonys, two Emmys, a People’s Choice Award … but I’ve never hosted the shows.

Can you reveal any details or surprises about the show to us?
One thing that’s going to be very exciting is they’re putting together packages for each film and TV show, just in case people haven’t seen the productions. The Canadian public hasn’t necessarily seen the stuff up for awards, so they might not tune in if they’re not interested. This way people can be informed.

Is there anything new this year?
It’s not new since the ceremony is already three years old, but I think combining movies and television into one is an exciting, jam-packed evening. It seems there are a lot of actors from the United States included this year, some nice crossover as well.

The Canadian Screen Awards gala airs Sunday, March 1, at 8 p.m. on CBC.

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Featured, Vikings

Review: Harbard enters land of the Vikings

1 Comment

Kevin Durand was vague in his description of Harbard, one of the new characters featured in Season 3 of Vikings. And for good reason. Having someone who rivals The Seer in terms of mystery makes for a fun game for viewers. Is Harbard bad? Good? A walking Viking god? By the end of Thursday’s “The Wanderer,” viewers weren’t left with much information other than this seems to be the man Aslaug, Siggy and Helga have been dreaming about. Now he was in Kattegat—bleeding palm and all—and Helga was in awe.

Vikings has a ton of religious symbolism in it, and this episode was no exception, showing Torstein bathing in the river to wash away the infection in his arm and laying both arms out straight as if he was on a cross as Floki prepped to lop his arm off, the labourer placing the icon in the barn during Athelstan’s prayer and the stigmata on Athelstan’s hands. It is possible to watch Vikings as a surface-level program about Ragnar Lothbrok and his exploits, but there’s plenty of depth for those seeking it. The fact there is a clash of religions between what the Vikings follow and what the Christians do holds constant fascination for me as a viewer, especially when you realize both aren’t that different from one another.

One storyline I’m not too keen on is the budding romance between Lagertha and King Ecbert. I trust that show creator Michael Hirst knows exactly what he’s doing, but I cringed every time Ecbert made goo-goo eyes at the blonde shield maiden and part of me hoped she’d crush his head in with the butt of her sword. Alas, it appears for the time being the romance will continue. I’m also a little sad that Lagertha, for the moment anyway, has gone the route of farmer. I much prefer seeing her in battle than battling weeds, but I’m sure she’ll get back to that sooner or later.

Speaking of budding romance, I was—like Athelstan—a little taken aback by Lady Judith’s forwardness with the former priest. His face may have been in shadow, but I’m pretty sure Athelstan was blushing like crazy when Judith confessed she’d dreamed of making love to him. The poor dude is already conflicted with his belief system and now he’s on the verge of laying down with another man’s wife. Not good.

Notes and quotes

  • That scene where Ragnar and his men pulled up to shore with heads hanging from poles mounted on his boats? Truly scary.
  • Porunn has quickly become the most kick-ass shield maiden since Lagertha.
  • If Ecbert and Lagertha become a couple, what do we call them? Eckbertha? Lagbert?
  • “I’ve always hated this arm.” I have no idea how Torstein came to love one arm more than the other. And maybe I don’t want to know.

Vikings airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History.

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