From CBC:
Republic of Doyle kicks off its 6th and final season on Wednesday, October 15 at 9 pm on CBC Television. Here’s a preview of the season premiere.
Video: Republic of Doyle sneak peek
Ice Pilots NWT takes final flight
From a media release:
The McBryan family and their crew at Buffalo Airways have welcomed viewers into their lives for five high-flying seasons of Ice Pilots NWT on HISTORY, and when season six premieres this fall it marks the final flight for this fan-favourite series. The award-winning show follows the crew at Buffalo Airways as they take vintage planes on near impossible missions, transporting people, food, fuel and vital supplies in a fleet of museum-piece aircraft to some of the most remote places on earth. In the upcoming season, the airline faces the toughest ice storm it has ever experienced as the McBryans fight to keep Buffalo flying in the 21st century. Ice Pilots NWT season six premieres Wednesday, October 29 at 10pm ET/PT on HISTORY.
“Ice Pilots NWT has been a wonderful Canadian success story.The combination of big personalities, extreme conditions and vintage planes has made for five entertaining seasons, and this sixth and final season is no exception,†said Christine Shipton, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. “We’ve had terrific partners in Omnifilm Entertainment, Buffalo Airways and, specifically, Joe and Mikey McBryan. We’d like to thank them, and everyone else involved in making this show a success, including the tremendous fans who have followed the series from the beginning.â€
“I would like to thank the fans for tuning in each week and supporting us from day one! The last six years working with the film crews and my friends and family at Buffalo Airways have been the best time of my life. We have gotten to do some amazing things and share them with the world. As a Northerner, I’m happy to have shown people everywhere our crazy way of life. I would do it all over again in a split second. Fly safe,†said Mikey McBryan, General Manager, Buffalo Airways.
“Making Ice Pilots NWT has been a rewarding experience for our company, and we thank HISTORY for the opportunity to bring this series to Canadian and international audiences,” said Gabriela Schonbach, Omnifilm Entertainment partner and Executive Producer. “The series’ success is a testament not only to the indelible planes, people and places of the North, but also to our team of outstanding shooters, directors, writers, editors and in particular, to David Gullason, series creator and producer.”
Season six takes viewers through the harshest ice storm Buffalo has ever faced. As the coldest winter in decades grips the Northwest Territories, every rampie and rookie pilot in the company face huge challenges. Plus, there are two 70th anniversary celebrations – Joe’s birthday and a Dâ€Day tribute parachute jump with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. In the season opener, Buffalo rolls out the vintage Câ€46, TXW, to fly freight up the Mackenzie Valley, but when one of the engines catches fire, Buffalo scrambles to find a backup plane in time for Christmas deliveries. Back in Yellowknife, Buffalo’s newest rampie is a determined young pilot from India who has set his sights on flying Joe’s prize planes. But first he has to adjust to life in the ice cold North and purchasing proper winter gear is the first thing on his list.
Interview: Ari Millen juggles clones and werewolves
Kingston-born actor Ari Millen performed in high school plays and used to play with a school’s camera equipment to make “weird slasher movies” with his childhood friend, though he had his eye on the NHL. But when a separated shoulder interfered with his hockey plans, he joined an improv team and ended up solidly on the path to actor instead of goalie.
He had just finished filming the upcoming werewolf movie Hunter’s Moon when he spoke to Anthony Marco for the TV eh B Cs podcast about his career, including his training, theatre background, and his most famous role to date — as Mark in Orphan Black.
Fans got a shock at the end of season two when his character was revealed to be part of a set of male clones. “Me included,†Millen interjected.
“When I signed on I was told I was in the first six and then I’d have a glorious death,†he explained. “An Orphan Black death is an Orphan Black death – they are pretty great. I was really hoping Helena would take me out in some gruesome way.â€
“I got the script for script and I read it and I thought, ‘I’m not dead.’ Then seven came, and eight came, and I’m not dead. Then I got a phone call.â€
Creator Graeme Manson finally told him he was going to be the male clones. “I’d just thought my character Mark was going to survive the season and that was good enough for me.†Instead, he’s poised to perhaps be another Tatiana Maslany on the show – we’ll find out when season three airs.
Listen to the full interview here, including discussions about growing up in Kingston and transitioning to Toronto, learning by watching on set, and JUST wrapping the film Hunter’s Moon. Plus a little obligatory talk about growing up goalie and grasping for a lost Italian word… chinotto!
Review: Heartache on Heartland
Raise your hand if you knew that kiss between Prince Ahmed and Amy was going to have an impact on her relationship with Ty? Yeah, I did too, but I have to admit I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. That’s going to put a damper on the hero worship Georgie has got going for Amy right now.
Season 8 of Heartland–CBC’s Sunday night stalwart–opened magically with Amy resplendent in a tight-fitting dress and a sexy updo as she attended a goodbye party held by Ahmed for his European Equestrian squad. His gift of a sparky, diamond-encrusted necklace served as a precursor to the smooch that would have Georgie freaking by episode’s end.
Heartland has always been a show that’s flown under my radar, garnering the ratings to be renewed via loyal fans yet a program I’ve only seen in passing. I’m looking forward to watching on a weekly basis for TV, Eh? simply because it’s a change of pace front my usual series choices and boasts a stellar cast. At the top of the list is Amber Marshall; she and co-star Graham Wardle have literally grown up playing Amy and Ty, and by now they’ve embraced the characters they portray. Amy’s arrival back at Heartland after months away was met with a chest-crushing hug by Ty that quickly turned sour when they learned the land they’d planned to buy had been sold out from under them.
Compounding the stress of losing the land was Georgie being under Amy’s feet. She had taken on all of Amy’s chores while she was away and the ranch hummed along, leaving Amy to wonder exactly what her place was at Heartland. That, coupled with jet lag, Ty buying a new truck and the knowledge that Jack had secretly married Lisa (that sure got Lou hot under the collar) reduced Amy to tears of frustration. The one place she relied on to be a firm foundation in her life had been upended.
By the end of Heather Conkie’s script for “There and Back Again,” Ty and Amy had made up, but the kiss Georgie witnessed online is going to get back to Ty at some point. That, along with the fact Ahmed gave Amy that necklace, is going to test their strength as a couple and challenge their trust.
Other thoughts
- Why was Jack so reluctant to tell the family that he and Lisa were married? Was he ashamed?
- Does anyone else think it was kind of jerky for Tim to make that horse deal knowing it would screw up Ty and Caleb’s plans?
Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.
Link: Rick Mercer’s Toronto
From Alexander Huls:
An insider’s guide to Toronto with Rick Mercer
They don’t just give out an appointment to be an Officer of the Order of Canada to anyone. Which is exactly why one of our country’s most successful comedians, Rick Mercer, has received that honor. Throughout his career – his early one man shows (Show Me the Button), his time with This Hour Has 22 Minutes (and the popular Talking to Americans segment), his current hosting gig at The Rick Mercer Report (starting its 12th season on October 7th) – Mercer has proven himself an above-and-beyond passionate Canadian. Continue reading.
