From Jim Bawden:
My open letter to CBC re the impending demise of Republic Of Doyle is short and sweet.
It’s just three words: “Don’t do it!”
Other CBC administrators over the decades have merrily cancelled such CBC hits as Tommy Hunter, The Beachcombers, Front Page Challenge and King Of Kensington promising long suffering viewers that newer and better shows would result.
But it never happens that way. Continue reading.
Open Heart is a gripping mystery series, folded into a sprawling family saga, set against the high-stakes workplace and relationship drama of a hospital. Dylan Blake, the rebellious daughter of a fractured family of doctors, uses her stint as a youth hospital volunteer to secretly investigate the mysterious disappearance of her father.
Karis Cameron stars as lead character Dylan Blake with the series also starring Tori Anderson, Justin Kelly, Cristine Prosperi, Kevin McGarry, Patrick Kwok-Choon, Jenny Cooper, Demore Barnes, Jeff Douglas, Elena Juatco, Mena Massoud, and Dylan Everett. The family mystery series will shoot this August through October in Toronto.
Open Heart debuts Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 9 p.m. ET on YTV.
Open Heart is executive produced by Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn, Ramona Barckert, Matt Hornburg and Mark Bishop. The series is developed in association with marblemedia, which is also taking the lead in producing a fully integrated interactive digital component to the series. Directors are Stefan Brogren and Samir Rahem. Writers include Ramona Barckert, Chris Pozzebon, Scott Oleszkowicz, Brendan Gall, Brendon Yorke and Barbara Haynes. Production Executives for Corus Entertainment are Jamie Piekarz and Chris Bell and for TeenNick, Kim Powers.
From Bill Harris of the Toronto Sun:
A ‘Republic of Doyle’ ending that would shake Jake
Just for fun I was trying to figure out what the most shocking ending would be for Republic of Doyle. Then it hit me like a Rock to the head.
What if lead character Jake Doyle finds out he isn’t really from Newfoundland? Continue reading.
What does it do to a person to take a life? Strange Empire’s “The Resistance†shows the agonizing conflict – young Neill, who is celebrated for killing a Chinese man; Franklyn Caze, who meant to kill Ling but instead kills his hidden mother; and Chase Sloat, who refuses to kill Mary, the mother of Isabelle’s purchased son.
John Slotter is, shall we say, slightly less conflicted, though he outsources his murders — to other men or to unsafe mine conditions.
So what does it do to a town when life is expendable? It makes the Janestown Slotter presides over not exactly a paradise found.
The dispute over those unsafe conditions has led to a town more sharply divided between Chinese and white, scabs and striking workers, with Ling and Slotter vying for supremacy, intrigue and broken promises and tangled relationships on all sides.
Mrs. Briggs is in league and in bed with Caze, Isabelle with Slotter and Ling, and Sloat with Mary in a weird and sweet and weird budding romance.
Kat – who has been relegated to the edges of the show in the last couple of episodes — wants Slotter to negotiate with the minors and end the fracturing of the town. “There is no town,†says Slotter. “There is me.†And when a man who can order the murder of a young woman —the mother of his son, in fact – is the town … yikes.
I doubt his silent partner Ling would bring harmony to Janestown, but he vows to take all that is Slotter’s, including his wife: “It’s in your nature to belong to yourself,†he tells Isabelle, “to be free of anyone who would hold you. I would show you freedom.â€
The women of this strange empire are not unstrange themselves, and that seems like a fair description of headstrong, ingenious Isabelle, who seems to be inventing a pregnancy – protection from her violent husband? She’s terrified at Cornelius Slotter arriving to collect the money they owe, money she secured with sex. Hmm, could Cornelius be the father of her non-existent baby? How deep does Isabelle’s intrigue go?
When Rebecca tends to the shot Chinese man without hesitation and demonstrates her facility with languages, Ling becomes yet another person entreating her to be more “proper.†“A proper life seems not to suit me,†she says. Expressing her desire for travel, her dreams are quashed by Ling until he adds: “Stay here, doctor — the world will come to you.â€
The music seems especially fitting in this episode, dissonant in accordance with the on-screen dissonance. Kat forces a settlement on Slotter by threatening to blow up his mansion, but her victory is short-lived when the mine blows in with workers trapped below. “Your spirit turns the earth,†Ling whispers to his dead mother, though with all the safety concerns we hardly need to reach for a spiritual explanation. Life in the Strange Empire is worth far less than money and power.
From a media release:
Andrea Martin to host Academy’s 2015 Canadian Screen Awards
Andrea Martin will host the Academy’s 2015 Canadian Screen Awards, broadcast live on CBC prime time on Sunday March 1, 2015, it was announced today by Helga Stephenson, CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. www.academy.ca
“Andrea Martin is the perfect host as we move into the gorgeous Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,†says Stephenson.
Stage and screen star Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) previously hosted the Academy’s former Gemini Awards on CBC in 1986 and 1987 to rave reviews.
“I’m thrilled to be hosting the CSAs,” said Ms. Martin, “especially since the film and television awards have converged on one special night. It gives Canadians everywhere, more time to figure out what’s happening on ORPHAN BLACK.”
“Andrea Martin is an unrivalled comedian,” says Jennifer Dettman, CBC Executive Director of Studio and Unscripted Content. “We are honoured to welcome her back to the CBC to host the live 2 hour 2015 Canadian Screen Awards,” she added.
Andrea Martin’s incomparable list of credits – both on stage and screen – was celebrated once again when she won the Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics, and Eliot Norton award for Best Featured actress in a musical, for her show-stopping performance as Berthe, in the 2013 revival of “Pippinâ€. Martin followed this up with receiving the Outer Critics Outstanding Featured Actress Award in the James Lapine adaptation of Moss Hart’s Act One . Previous theatre work includes both Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award nominations for her role as Juliette, opposite Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon, in the Broadway production of “Exit the Kingâ€. Other Broadway credits include, Frau Blucher in Mel Brooks “Young Frankenstein†(Tony, Drama Desk nomination), and her Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominated performances as Aunt Eller in “Oklahomaâ€, and the Old Lady in “Candideâ€, as well as “My Favorite Year†at the Lincoln Center for which she won her first Tony Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards.
Andrea Martin received two Emmy awards for writing and an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a variety series for her work on the legendary sketch comedy show, SCTV. Martin received a special Emmy for her contributions on Sesame Street as well. Martin’s Television work includes: NURSE JACKIE; 30 ROCK; and her own special for ShowTime, ANDREA MARTIN, TOGETHER AGAIN. Martin tours North America with her one-person show entitled, “Final Days! Everything Must Go!!†and starred in the NBC/Shaw series WORKING THE ENGELS.
Andrea Martin’s film appearances include Club Paradise, Wag the Dog, The Producers, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, All Over the Guy, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (SAG award nomination, best ensemble and People’s Choice award). Martin will be seen this Christmas opposite Ben Stiller, in Night at the Museum 3 movie.
