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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
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Marblemedia gets into bed with Ashley Madison

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marblemedia_logo_og

From a media release:

Continuing the expansion of its primetime scripted development slate, award-winning content creator marblemedia (The Dating Guy) has announced a deal with production company OutEast Entertainment (Rogue, The Cover) to develop a scripted drama series based on the premium brand Ashley Madison.

The development deal will see both companies create a character-driven drama loosely based on the online dating site. The series is to be executive produced by Matt Hornburg, Mark Bishop,Steven Marrs, Alex Hertzberg and Noel Biderman, the CEO and Founder of Ashley Madison.

marblemedia and OutEast Entertainment are currently in pursuit of both Canadian and American writers for the project and will take the series to the marketplace as a script-to-series deal.

“Ashley Madison is a brand that offers a built-in and non-traditional audience that attracts international intrigue,” said Matt Hornburg, Co-CEO and Executive Producer, marblemedia. “Tapping into new audiences and discovering unique, complex worlds such as Ashley Madison allows us the opportunity to challenge audiences about taboo topics such as infidelity in a sophisticated and thought-provoking way.”

“Just the name Ashley Madison conjures up thrilling images and a fascinating dialogue that we know will make for an incredible dramatic series,” said Steven Marrs, President & Managing Partner of OutEast Entertainment. “We’re truly ecstatic about the opportunity to work with marblemedia as we bring Ashley Madison to life in many unexpected ways.”

“This new series is a great opportunity to challenge the traditional idea of monogamy, with the insights we’ve gained from analyzing the interactions between our more than 29 million members from around the world,” says Noel Biderman, CEO and Founder, Ashley Madison. ”We’ve become a cultural touchstone, routinely featured on major network news and referenced on hit TV shows, so having a TV series based on our business is a natural next step for us. We’re excited about this opportunity and I, personally, am looking forward to seeing our story told in this way.”

Launched in 2001 and currently hosting more than 29 million members in 41 countries, Ashley Madison has become one of the most recognized brands in the online dating space through its originating of the married dating vertical, targeting both men and women looking to have discreet affairs.

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Featured, Industry News

CBC hits TIFF in grand style

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Kudos to the folks over at the CBC for taking a crucial first step in the network’s reinvention by using the Toronto International Film Festival as a backdrop to let folks know about the upcoming television season and the brand overall.

Canada’s public broadcaster staked out the corner of King St. West and Blue Jays Way this past weekend, turning what used to be a condominium sales office into a welcome centre called Canada House stocked with snacks, virgin Caesars, phone recharging stations and cardboard fans emblazoned with the iconic network logo and the Twitter message “#FallForCBC.” The stars of CBC’s radio and TV shows rolled through as well, meeting fans, posing for pictures and promoting their projects all weekend long.

The network even had a cool little set-up where those featured folks held press conferences in front of groups of about 50 or so fans at a time. I sat in on the panel for Canada’s Smartest Person, and hosts Jessi Cruickshank and Jeff Douglas described how the interactive program will not only showcase the linguistic, physical, musical, visual, social and logical skills of selected finalists from across the country, but an app will challenge viewers at home.

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I also got the chance to interview Dragons’ Den David Chilton and newest panelist Michael Wekerle for an online bit for TV-Eh (I’ll post that when it’s all been edited) and the pair swear the show’s upcoming Season 9 is deserving of your investment of time. Also appearing over the weekend were the stars of Mr. D, Murdoch Mysteries‘ Jonny Harris, Adam Beach, the folks behind The Book of Negroes–which has been adapted into a miniseries—and that Mamma Yamma thing.

The CBC knows it has some catching up to do with regard to connecting with newer and younger viewers. No longer able to sit back and allow NHL hockey to draw in numbers, they’re experimenting with content very unlike CBC. Dark western drama Strange Empire has got great buzz (the rough poster I was shown has a Deadwood feel), co-production sci-fi offering Ascension is definitely not typical CBC fare and historical drama Camp X promises to be thrilling.

Sure the network acknowledges this is somewhat of a rebuilding year, but there was a palpable optimism on Saturday that they are moving in the right direction with content and, even more importantly, connecting with an audience.

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Tonight: Donut Showdown

DARYN JONES IMAGE 1

Donut Showdown, Food Network
Hosted by Daryn Jones (Over The Rainbow), each episode of Donut Showdown brings three donut savants head-to-head-to-head to test their creativity and donut-making skills. Canadian judges David Rocco, Zane Caplansky and Maggie McKeown return to the judges’ panel while host of Eden Eats and Toronto-born Eden Grinshpan, Top Chef Masters alumni Elizabeth Falkner, Ace of Cakes star Duff Goldman, and Forbes 2012 Food & Wine 30-under-30 recipient Jeff Mahin round out this season’s roster of judges.

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Package Deal

Link: Randal Edwards brings his straight face to Package Deal

From Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald:

The curse of the straight man: New York-trained thespian and Calgary native Randal Edwards finds his comedic groove on Season 2 of Package Deal
Calgary native Randal Edwards has a simple, and rather self-deprecating, theory about why he landed the lead role in Package Deal. It seems he is an expert at keeping a straight face. It has come in handy throughout the production of the Canuck sitcom, which heads into Season 2 on Sept. 12. Continue reading.

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Saving Hope

Saving Hope returning with 2-night premiere, 6-episode fall run

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SavingHope

From a media release:

Love. Longing. New Beginnings: Season 3 of CTV’s Hit Medical Drama SAVING HOPE Returns with a Special Two-Night Premiere Event, September 22 and 25

  • SAVING HOPE is back in CTV’s hit Thursday night lineup, bookended by returning favourite GREY’S ANATOMY and Shonda Rhimes’ addictive new legal thriller HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
  • Season 3 features returning stars Erica Durance, Michael Shanks, and Daniel Gillies, as well as new cast members Mac Fyfe (M.V.P.) and Danso Gordon (American History X), and previously announced Stacey Farber (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION)
  • New digital companion series SAVING HOPE: PSYCHIC HEALING available at CTV.ca/SavingHope and on the CTV GO app, beginning Sept. 22

The past, present, and future collide as Canada’s most-watched original drama SAVING HOPE returns for its most romantic and dramatic season yet. The hit series returns for its third installment with a six-episode Fall Event Season, beginning with a special two-night, two-hour premiere, all part of Premiere Week 2014 – airing Monday, Sept. 22 (Part 1) and Thursday, Sept. 25 (Part 2) at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the CTV GO app. Paired with a new season of CTV’s #1 returning drama, GREY’S ANATOMY (8 p.m. ET/PT), SAVING HOPE will be followed by GREY’s creator Shonda Rhimes’ addictive and highly anticipated new legal thriller HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER (10 p.m. ET/PT). Following the six-episode arc of SAVING HOPE this fall, CTV will launch its winter broadcast season with 12 all-new episodes set to air in early 2015. Meanwhile, fans can stay connected to the series with the new 12-episode digital companion series SAVING HOPE: PSYCHIC HEALING, announced today.

Following last season’s climactic finale, which saw Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) fighting for her life after being stabbed in the heart by a patient, Season 3 of SAVING HOPE features the passion, pressures, and power plays viewers have come to know and love from the Hope Zion Hospital dream team. There’s no break in the action, as the season kicks-off with a bevy of pulse‐pounding surgeries, adrenaline‐addled breakthroughs, sultry romances, and new doctors ready to shake things up. Relationships are a focus for the series’ leads, while trials and triumphs navigate them through unchartered waters. With the temperature rising in and out of the OR, SAVING HOPE’s band of doctors take big risks for a chance to redefine their futures by the end of the fall finale.

“Paired with our #1 returning drama GREY’S ANATOMY, and buzzed-about new series HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, SAVING HOPE is the perfect complement to CTV’s winning Thursday night lineup to kick off the fall season,” said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. “With its passionate and growing fan base, we’re excited to showcase a dramatic six-episode story arc before SAVING HOPE returns in mid-season.”

New cast members this season include Halifax native Danso Gordon (American History X) as Dr. Rian Larouche, a young resident seeking approval; Mac Fyfe (M.V.P.) as Dr. James Dey, an unconventional psychiatrist joining Gavin’s (Kristopher Turner) team; and the previously announced Stacey Farber (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION), in the recurring role of Dr. Sydney Katz, OB/GYN – a take‐no‐prisoners medical prodigy and Orthodox Jewish Doogie Howser.

In Part 1 of the special two-night Season 3 premiere event entitled “Heaven Can Wait” (Monday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), after being stabbed in the heart in the Season 2 finale, Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) has a profound experience in the liminal space, while a desperate Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) and his ex – Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden) race against the clock to save her life. Meanwhile, Dr. Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies) is pulled in to the ER to treat a suicidal patient that tests his duty as a doctor, and Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) makes a bold decision that changes her relationship with Gavin Murphy (Kristopher Turner).

In Part 2 of the Season 3 premiere event entitled “Kiss Me Goodbye”, airing Sept. 25 in the series’ regular Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT timeslot, with her body still in a coma, spirit form Alex (Erica Durance) shares an emotional journey with Charlie (Michael Shanks) in the spirit world as he ‘ghost-doctors’ a brain-dead mother-to-be. Meanwhile, Joel (Daniel Gillies) forms a tight bond with a lively drug addict while trying to treat his necrotic leg. Hope Zion Hospital also welcomes its new OB/GYN, Dr. Sydney Katz (Stacey Farber), who throws Maggie (Julia Taylor Ross) off her game.

Following its television broadcast, each new episode of SAVING HOPE will be available on demand at CTV.ca and on the CTV GO App.

Viewers can also continue to follow the doctors of Hope Zion Hospital with the exclusive new digital companion series SAVING HOPE: PSYCHIC HEALING available on CTV.ca/SavingHope, CTV.ca/Extend, and the CTV GO app beginning Sept. 22. The 12-episode digital series shares insider revelations about the series’ lead characters, especially Alex Reid (Erica Durance), through flash-forwards and flashbacks triggered by readings from the series’ sometimes insightful and always entertaining psychic, The Great Randall (Peter Keleghan). Fans can also visit CTV.ca/SavingHope for extended recaps of the first two seasons, a comprehensive episode guide, exclusive interviews, and much more.

SAVING HOPE was the most-watched Canadian drama of the 2013-14 broadcast year with an impressive Season 2 average audience of 1.6 million viewers. The series stars 2013 Canadian Screen Award-nominee Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE), as well as Michael Shanks (STARGATE SG-1), Daniel Gillies (THE ORIGINALS), 2013 Canadian Screen Award-winner Wendy Crewson (REVENGE), Julia Taylor Ross (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE), Michelle Nolden (NIKITA), Benjamin Ayres (BITTEN), Huse Madhavji (CALL ME FITZ), Kristopher Turner (THE L.A. COMPLEX), and K.C. Collins (RoboCop). This season also sees the return of former guest star Tyler Hynes (19-2), who plays Alex’s deceased brother Luke Reid. Directors this season include David Wellington (ROOKIE BLUE), series lead Michael Shanks as guest director, and returning guest directors Jason Priestley (CALL ME FITZ) and Gregory Smith (ROOKIE BLUE).

SAVING HOPE is produced by Ilana C Frank Films Inc. (ICF Films) with Entertainment One (eOne), in association with CTV, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. The series is executive produced by Ilana Frank and David Wellington, John Morayniss (ROGUE, KLONDIKE) for Entertainment One, and Lesley Harrison. Executive Producers and Showrunners are Morwyn Brebner (ROOKIE BLUE) and Adam Pettle (KING). The series was created by Malcolm MacRury (CRASH AND BURN, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) and Morwyn Brebner. For Bell Media, Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy is Production Executive, Drama, Independent Production; Trish Williams is Director, Drama, Independent Production; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production; Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks; Phil King is President – CTV, Sports, an‎d Entertainment Programming. All distribution rights are handled by eOne.

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