TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 138
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Hudson & Rex, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Citytv announces 2021 fall premiere dates

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From a media release:

What do you get when a hopeful romantic, crime-fighting canine, vampire, and an investigative detective walk into Molly’s Bar? Night after night of must-watch dramas and juicy reality series on Citytv, Citytv.com, and FX this Fall.

Full episodes and past seasons are available on Citytv Now and FX Now online, Rogers on Demand, Amazon Fire TV, and on the authenticated Citytv and FX apps for iOS, Android, Samsung, and fourth-generation Apple TV.

NEW to Citytv & Citytv Now
Citytv continues to be the exclusive home for Bachelor Nation with the all-new series Bachelor in Paradise Canada, featuring Bachelor-alumni Kevin Wendt as the Bartender and Jesse Jones as Host. Then, KiSS 92.5’s Deepa Prashad and Daryn Jones dish the dirt in The Bachelor After Show: After Paradise. And, a new batch of eligible bachelors vie for the heart of The Bachelorette, Michelle Young. New-to-Citytv this Fall is Season 23 of Law & Order: SVU, starring Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, which chronicles the lives of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate crimes of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. Then, new heartfelt life-affirming drama Ordinary Joe follows Joe Kimbreau, played by James Wolk (Mad Men, You Again), who faces a life-changing decision at his college graduation. Dick Wolf’s powerhouse Chicago franchise (Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D.) and Law & Order: Organized Crime, toe tapping dance competition series Dancing with the Stars, and paw-some duo Hudson & Rex also join the Citytv slate this Fall with all-new episodes of jaw-dropping twists and head-scratching mysteries.

Plus, Citytv gets ready for the holiday season with special holiday episodes of fan-favourite comedies Kenan, Mr. Mayor, and Young Rock. Dates to be announced in the coming months.

CITYTV

Friday, Sept. 10

8 p.m. Fall in Love Fridays

Monday, Sept. 20

8 p.m. Dancing with the Stars

10 p.m. Ordinary Joe

Wednesday, Sept. 22

8 p.m. Chicago Med

9 p.m. Chicago Fire

10 p.m. Chicago PD

Thursday, Sept. 23

8 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

10 p.m. Law & Order: Organized Crime

Sunday, Oct. 10

8 p.m. Bachelor in Paradise Canada NEW – Citytv Original

9:30 p.m. The Bachelor After Show: After Paradise NEW – Citytv Original

Tuesday, Oct. 19

8 p.m. The Bachelorette

Thursday, Oct. 21

8 p.m. Hudson & Rex Season 4 – Citytv Original

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New original culinary series Mary Makes it Easy premieres Sept. 6 on CTV Life Channel

From a media release:

Full of recipes guaranteed to impress without the stress, CTV Life Channel announced today that its new original culinary series MARY MAKES IT EASY premieres Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, beginning Sept. 6. Hosted by Mary Berg, Canada’s culinary sweetheart and two-time Canadian Screen Award-winner for Best Host, Lifestyle for CTV Original series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH, the first batch of MARY MAKES IT EASY consists of 12 half-hour episodes.

Filmed on location in Toronto at her very own home kitchen, MARY MAKES IT EASY features Berg as she shares step-by-step recipes, tips, and tricks that leave viewers with a newfound confidence to overcome their own culinary challenges.

From ideas on what to make with a fridge full of leftovers, to lackluster chicken emergencies, Berg eliminates kitchen worries by offering up plenty of helpful takeaways as she guides viewers through each recipe. Filled with charm and wit, in the premiere episode of MARY MAKES IT EASY, “What Are Ya, Chicken?,” airing Monday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Life Channel, Berg offers four exciting and delightful ways to expand viewers’ chicken repertoire so it will never be boring or dry again!

Viewers can get a second helping of MARY MAKES IT EASY with exclusive content available on CTV.ca, including fun behind-the-scenes video extras, a kitchen tour, interviews, a recipe hub outlining all the delicious details behind Berg’s dishes, plus exclusive recipes not featured in the series. Recipes featured on the series will also be available in French on noovomoi.ca.

MARY MAKES IT EASY is available for streaming on CTV.ca, and the CTV app, with episodes encoring Saturdays at 12 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV2 beginning Sept. 11. Leading up to the premiere, Berg’s hit CTV series and two-time Canadian Screen Award-winner MARY’s KITCHEN CRUSH is available now for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app with no subscription or sign-in required.

Joining MARY MAKES IT EASY as series partner is Stonemill Bakehouse, who will produce custom content around the show featuring Mary Berg. Stonemill Bakehouse breads will be included in several recipes throughout the season. The recipes will be shared across CTV Life Channel’s social and digital platforms, and will also include targeted social promotion. In addition, Stonemill Bakehouse will receive curated media placement on broadcast and digital.

For the second consecutive year, Berg is the Canadian Screen Award-winner for Best Host, Lifestyle for MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH, a CTV Original series. MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH is a two-time Canadian Screen Award-winner for Best Lifestyle Program or Series, and the series is currently sold in more than 100 countries. Berg is the Season 3 winner of CTV’s MASTERCHEF CANADA, as well as a cooking expert on YOUR MORNING, THE SOCIAL, and THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW on CTV. Best-selling author of Kitchen Party: Effortless Recipes for Every Occasion, Berg’s new book Well Seasoned: A Year’s Worth of Delicious Recipes is set to be released in October 2021.

MARY MAKES IT EASY is produced by Boat Rocker’s Proper Television. Cathie James, Lesia Capone, and Allison Grace are Executive Producers, Mary Berg is Co-Executive Producer, and David Donohue is Series Producer.

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Slasher

Links: Slasher: Flesh & Blood

From Heather M. of The Televixen:

Link: Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter talk casting, characters and stunts in Slasher: Flesh & Blood
“When we’re coming up with our characters, oftentimes we’re talking about which of our returning actors or other actors we have wanted to work with would be good for those roles, because, in Canada, at some point or another you’ve worked with, or have seen the work of, other actors, so we know shorthand wise, who excites us.” Continue reading.

From Clark Collis of Entertainment Weekly:

Link: Legendary filmmaker David Cronenberg on his role in Slasher: Flesh & Blood and his return to directing
“I was very flattered that they would offer me this role because it is a role unlike anything that I’ve ever played before.” Continue reading.

From Mads Lennon of 1428 Elm:

Link: Slasher: Flesh & Blood cast and crew discuss the brutality of the new season
From the very beginning of Slasher Season 4, you’ll discover that this season is not pulling any punches. It goes all out with the gore, shocking kills, and twisted family secrets. Continue reading.

From Heather M. of TV Goodness:

Link: Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter talk Slasher: Flesh & Blood
This Thursday, US audiences can get their gore on when Slasher‘s fourth season, “Flesh & Blood,” makes its US premiere on its new home, Shudder, before premiering in October in Canada on Hollywood Suite. Continue reading.

From Victoria Ahearn of the Canadian Press:

Link: Horror master David Cronenberg on confronting death, on camera and off
“He’s really nasty. He gets sadistic and he gets to yell at a lot of people, which is really a lot of fun. I don’t do that much in my own life. So it was fun to be a guy who does that.” Continue reading.

From Marriska Fernandes of the Toronto Star:

Link: David Cronenberg learns that it’s fun to be nasty in ‘Slasher: Flesh & Blood’
David Cronenberg, the director and sometime actor hailed as one of the world’s most iconic horror filmmakers, couldn’t say no when the makers of the made-in-Canada horror series “Slasher” offered him the chance to play a type of person he’s never portrayed before. Continue reading.

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Jann

Season 3 of CTV’s hit original comedy Jann premieres Sept. 20

From a media release:

A heartwarming comedy about fame, fortune, and a diva in denial, CTV Original comedy series JANN returns for its third season Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, beginning Sept. 20. Set and filmed in Calgary and featuring co-creator and star Jann Arden as a fictionalized version of herself, Season 3 consists of eight half-hour episodes.

A star that’s fading and a family in need of help, Season 3 of JANN is a period of new beginnings as Jann (Arden) takes her life, career, and relationships into her own hands – but will the same old antics ensue? After months without a manager and letting everything in her life (including paying the power bill) slide, she hires a personal assistant, commits to making a new album from the heart, and after her girlfriend refused her marriage proposal, starts dating someone new…a younger man.

Confirmed to guest star on the series’ third season is Grammy® Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Michael Bublé as himself. Season 3 also features cameos from JUNO Award-winning Canadian indie pop band Tegan and Sara and Canadian singer-songwriter Bif Naked.

As previously announced, joining the cast of JANN in leading roles this season are Canadian actors Tenaj Williams (BIG SKY, WYNONNA EARP) and Charlie Kerr (SUPERNATURAL, THE MAGICIANS). Williams stars as Trey, Jann’s new personal assistant; while Kerr plays Nate, who finds himself in a love triangle with Jann and her ex-girlfriend Cynthia.

Also returning alongside Arden this season are Zoie Palmer (PURE, Spiral) as Jann’s sister Max; Deborah Grover (My Next Door Nightmare, THE SURREALTOR, GOODWITCH) as Jann’s mom Nora; Patrick Gilmore (Travelers; You, Me, Her) as Jann’s brother-in-law Dave; Elena Juatco (Escape the Field, SCHITT’S CREEK) as Jann’s fired manager Cale; Jason Blicker (UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Finding Hannah) as Jann’s former manager Todd; Sharon Taylor (BIG SKY, Bad Blood) as Jann’s ex-girlfriend Cynthia; Alexa Rose Steele (Friends Who Kill, Vicious Fun) as Jann’s eldest niece Charley; Ceilidh MacDonald as Jann’s niece Sam; and Keaira Pliva as Jann’s niece Frankie.

On the Season 3 premiere of JANN, titled “Help Wanted” (Monday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), after months without a manager, Jann (Jann Arden) realizes she needs to take control of both her life and career – starting with hiring a personal assistant. But instead of advertising for one, she sits in on her sister Max’s (Zoie Palmer) nanny interviews to poach the best one for herself. Meanwhile, Jann’s ex-manager Cale (Elena Juatco) shows up and it’s clear being fired by Jann has broken her.

Seasons 1 and 2 of JANN are currently available for streaming on CTV.ca, the CTV app, and Crave, and in the United States on Hulu, in anticipation of the Season 3 premiere.

To date, the series has received seven Canadian Screen Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Comedy Series. JANN continues to be led in Season 3 by Emmy® Award-winning producer Andrew Barnsley (SCHITT’S CREEK); Ben Murray, President of Project 10; Tom Cox and Jordy Randall of Playback’s Production Company of the Year: SEVEN24 Films (HEARTLAND, WYNONNA EARP), and Randy Lennox. Season 3 is directed by Ron Murphy. JANN Co-creators are Jann Arden, Jennica Harper, and Leah Gauthier. Jann Arden and showrunner Jennica Harper are the recipients of a Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award for Best Comedy Series.

JANN was co-developed by Bell Media and Project 10 Productions, and is produced in association with Project 10 Productions, and SEVEN24 Films.

JANN is created by Jann Arden, Leah Gauthier, and Jennica Harper who also serve as Executive Producers with Jennica Harper Showrunning.

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Industry News, Orphan Black, The Lake

Amazon Prime Video begins production on the first scripted Canadian Amazon original comedy series – The Lake

From a media release:

Amazon Prime Video today announced the start of production of the first scripted Canadian Amazon Original series, The Lake. Set in cottage country, the 30-minute episodic comedy will film in northern Ontario from August to September. The Lake stars Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black), Julia Stiles (Hustlers, The Bourne Identity) and Madison Shamoun (#blackAF, Black-ish). The series will launch in 2022 and be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

The Lake centres on the quintessential Canadian cottage experience, and one man’s attempt to recreate his childhood memories in an effort to re-connect with his biological daughter. Produced by AMAZE and filmed in northern Ontario, the series taps into the family bonding, relaxing in nature and the peacefulness of cottage country then turns it on its head, with petty rivalry, strained relationships, day drinking, and mosquito-ravaged sunburns.

In The Lake, Justin (Jordan Gavaris) returns from living abroad after a break-up with his long-term partner, in the hope of reconnecting with the biological daughter that he gave up for adoption in his teens. His plans to create new memories with his city-loving daughter Billie (Madison Shamoun) at the idyllic lake from his childhood go awry when he finds out his father left the family cottage to his “picture-perfect” stepsister, Maisy-May (Julia Stiles). Additional cast include Jon Dore (Funny As Hell, Humour Resources), Carolyn Scott (Pushing Tin, Goosebumps), Natalie Lisinka (Orphan Black, The Expanse), Travis Nelson (Tucker and Dale vs Evil) and Declan Whaley (Criminal Minds).

The Lake is produced by AMAZE, with Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence serving as executive producers for AMAZE (Carter, Call Me Fitz), and is written and executive produced by Julian Doucet (Killjoys, St Nickel). The Lake comes from Amazon Studios and is part of Prime Video’s continued investment in Canada. The Lake is the fourth announced Canadian Amazon Original series following the revival of the sketch comedy The Kids in the Hall, docu-series All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs, and comedy-variety series LOL: Last One Laughing Canada. Since 2015, Amazon Studios has filmed 24 Amazon Original series and films in Canada, including The Man in the High Castle and Upload in Vancouver, The Boys and The Expanse in Toronto, Tales from the Loop in Winnipeg, as well as parts of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Voyeurs in Montreal.

The Lake will join the thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and worldwide in the Prime Video catalog including award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like The Tomorrow War, The Underground Railroad, Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and Emmy and Golden Globe award winners Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, all on Prime Video, which is available at no extra cost for Amazon Prime members.

Prime members will be able to watch all episodes of The Lake anywhere and anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV and stream online.

Image courtesy of Peter Stranks.

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