TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 1347
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

Poll: What were your top 3 Canadian shows of 2014?

As we approach the end of 2014, we’re looking back at our picks for the top Canadian shows of the year. What were your favourites? Vote for your top 3. The poll closes on Friday, December 19 at 2pm PT.

What were your top 3 favourite Canadian shows of 2014?

  • Lost Girl (19%, 8,279 Votes)
  • Murdoch Mysteries (18%, 7,948 Votes)
  • Orphan Black (8%, 3,654 Votes)
  • Rookie Blue (7%, 2,993 Votes)
  • Bitten (4%, 1,926 Votes)
  • Rick Mercer Report (4%, 1,804 Votes)
  • Republic of Doyle (4%, 1,728 Votes)
  • Vikings (4%, 1,614 Votes)
  • Haven (4%, 1,571 Votes)
  • Continuum (3%, 1,287 Votes)
  • Heartland (3%, 1,233 Votes)
  • Saving Hope (2%, 1,002 Votes)
  • Amazing Race Canada (2%, 937 Votes)
  • Dragons' Den (2%, 855 Votes)
  • The Listener (2%, 836 Votes)
  • 22 Minutes (2%, 781 Votes)
  • Masterchef Canada (1%, 503 Votes)
  • Motive (1%, 488 Votes)
  • Top Chef Canada (1%, 465 Votes)
  • Degrassi (1%, 382 Votes)
  • Big Brother Canada (1%, 362 Votes)
  • Mr. D (1%, 341 Votes)
  • Remedy (1%, 287 Votes)
  • Strange Empire (1%, 274 Votes)
  • Mohawk Girls (1%, 257 Votes)
  • Some Assembly Required (0%, 197 Votes)
  • 19-2 (0%, 180 Votes)
  • Blackstone (0%, 173 Votes)
  • Bachelor Canada (0%, 159 Votes)
  • Spun Out (0%, 135 Votes)
  • Seed (0%, 123 Votes)
  • Canada's Smartest Person (0%, 91 Votes)
  • Package Deal (0%, 66 Votes)
  • Working the Engels (0%, 63 Votes)
  • Sensitive Skin (0%, 61 Votes)

Total Voters: 20,394

Loading ... Loading ...
Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Link: Steven Cree Molison is back in Blackstone

From Frank Peebles of the Prince George Citizen:

Back in Blackstone
Televisions are once again the frame around Prince George actor Steven Cree Molison. The local thespian has been a regular cast member of the cult-popular cable show Blackstone. The program has been likened to Breaking Bad and Weeds for its raw, authentic edginess as it depicts life behind the scenes on a Canadian Indian reserve. Written and directed by aboriginal filmmaker Ron E. Scott, it is woven with humour and heart, but it tackles dirty politics and violence. Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Link: MasterChef’s holiday special has families cooking up a festive storm

From Lois Abraham:

It’s all about food, family and festive cooking in the MasterChef Canadakitchen – as well as giving back.

The hit culinary competition is celebrating the yuletide season with the two-hour MasterChef Canada: A Holiday Special, airing Monday at 8 p.m. on CTV. Four home cooks from Season 1 return to the kitchen, joined by spouses, parents and siblings as they complete a series of festive food challenges for the chance to win $10,000 for the charity of their choice. Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Bryan Baeumler (and family) heads to the sticks in new reno series

The No. 1 no-no when it comes to renovating a house is living in it when such a tumultuous event is taking place. And yet that’s exactly what Bryan Baeumler and his family did when they decided to move their lives from busy Oakville, Ont., to the Niagara Escarpment, an event documented in House of Bryan: In the Sticks, debuting Sunday on HGTV.

“Looking back through this journey, moving my family out to barely a farm to what it is now blows the first two House of Bryan series out of the water,” he says from a sunny clime where he’s on vacation with his wife (and TV show co-star) Sarah. “It was just such an adventure and so much fun. The chaos that ensued with having four kids … there is a lot of stuff that goes on in this show. It’s unbelievable.”

The family really had no plans to move from Oakville, where they constructed the “forever home” documented in Season 1. But  the allure of living away from the trappings of the city was just too great for Baeumler and Sarah, who purchased a large property set back from a country road and got to work. The original home, an A-frame with a soaring ceiling in the main room, would largely stay intact save for some extensive updating. A large extension built onto the original would more than double the home’s size while providing the rustic environment on 16 acres that Baeumler experienced as a kid.

Unfortunately, they had to sell their home in Oakville so that they had the funds to start work on the new, meaning moving their belongings–and themselves–up to the new place. Drama, tears, setbacks, triumph and happiness was captured for posterity with In the Sticks. Bowing on Sunday with two back-to-back episodes, viewers will see everything that occurred during the process, with no filter keeping out the bad times from the good. Baeumler and Sarah wouldn’t have it any other way.

“This is the way we live our lives,” he explains. “Sarah and I look at something and say, ‘What if we get hit by a bus tomorrow?’ and we go out and do it. Life is all about an adventure and I think too many people live by the rule book and live conservatively. We say, ‘Screw it! Get it done.'”

That’s not to say the Baeumler’s adjusted to life in the country immediately. Things they hadn’t considered when buying the property was switching over to a septic system for waste and a gas tank for fuel. They also quickly learned that a quick two-minute run for some milk in the city wasn’t the same in the country. The most important things ceased to be what was in the fridge and more about spending time together.

“What it’s changed is that we spend that extra five or 10 minutes with the kids,” he says. “It has changed our family dynamic way, way for the better. It’s been great.”

House of Bryan: In the Sticks debuts Sunday with two back-to-back episodes at 9 p.m. ET on HGTV.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Comments and queries for the week of Dec. 12

This week was a big one for Canadian TV. On Monday, it was announced that Continuum had been renewed for one more six-episode season. And Wednesday saw the series finale of Republic of Doyle. Both were hot topics among readers who follow us on Twitter.

Sorry to hear #Continuum will be ending, but perhaps they’ll give us 6 tremendously strong episodes as their finale.–Jeanette607

Mixed feelings … we wanted more … Hope they bring Sonya back, at least :(–Lisuni

Bummed and happy. More on the bummed side though :( at least they’ll be a proper send off #Continuum–E_84

I wish there was more Episodes but 6 is better then none and I am Sooo happy–lorenbhollander


I happen to think Republic of Doyle has been the funniest thing on television for as long as it’s been on, and I’ve been hoping CBC would make a spinoff about Des. I also think Sean McGinley was much more interesting as Malachy than a certain other much-in-demand Canadian actor–reportedly the first choice–would have been. I enjoyed this show enormously.–Nick


The show Heartland has inspired me tremendously, as I have grown up around horses. I watch regularly and it would be a great honour if I could get a role in the show or meet Amber Marshall. Thank you for your time as it is greatly appreciated.–Hannah

I’m sure Amber would love to hear from you. You can pass on your well wishes to her Twitter account @Amber_Marshall.

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

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail