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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Played

Played goes undercover

From Scott Stinson of the National Post:

Toronto steals the show in CTV’s new cop procedural Played
Actors are, as a rule, not shy about discussing the many preparations they undertake for a role. Weeks of study, job shadowing, physical training, that kind of thing. An actor who plays a coroner once described time spent in a hospital morgue in such vivid detail that her interviewer almost excused himself to retch. Continue reading.

From Alex Strachan of Postmedia News:

Psychological thriller moves at brisk pace
Played seethes with anxiety and coiled tension. Set inside the glass towers and seedy back alleys of Toronto and featuring an assured, confident ensemble — Vincent Walsh as the cop-with-attitude assigned to a rogue undercover unit; Chandra West as the calculating chameleon with a mind for playing for the long game; Lisa Marcos as the empath with a gift for getting inside the heads of her quarry, and losing a bit of herself in the process — Played moves along at a brisk clip, without resorting to mayhem and noisy action sequences. It’s more of a psychological thriller than an action adventure, but that doesn’t mean it has to be slow or tedious. Continue reading.

From Brad Oswald of the Winnipeg Free Press:

Playfulness missing from too-serious Canadian cop series
Police work — particularly the undercover variety, in which the wrong word or an ill-timed flinch can put lives at risk — is a deadly serious business. There’s no margin for error, and no time for tomfoolery. A TV show about undercover police work, however… well, something like that ought to be at least a little bit of fun. Continue reading.

From D.K. Latta of Huffington Post Canada:

CTV’s Crime-Drama Played is Worth Betting On
There was a time when you could declare a Canadian TV season successful if two series were airing around the same time. And a “hit” season if people had actually heard of one of them. But in recent years, we’ve seen Canadian series enjoy modest popular success and critical acclaim — occasionally at the same time. And though the number of series in production is still pretty miserly (for a G7 Nation) there are actually enough that there’s a fall season of new shows (comedies like Package Deal and Spun Out), returning shows (The Murdoch Mysteries, Republic of Doyle) and even “re-vamped” returning shows (Cracked). And along comes Played — CTV’s crime-drama about undercover cops that premieres Thursday, Oct. 3rd. Continue reading.

From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:

Lisa Marcos, Vincent Walsh, Chandra West star in new cop drama
As an actor, Lisa Marcos is used to assuming another identity.
In the CTV series Played (debuting Thursday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m.), she plays undercover detective Maria Cortez, who is always assuming another identity. The role, says Marcos, is eminently relatable. Except the stakes are much higher. Continue reading.

From Melissa Hank of Postmedia News:

Chandra West takes centre stage in Played
When Shakespeare wrote that all the world’s a stage and each must play a part, he probably wasn’t thinking about collaring crooks. But the cops in the CTV drama Played are just as likely to break a figurative leg as a literal one. Continue reading.

From Bill Brioux of TV Feeds My Family:

CTV’s Played a slick seen-it-before
CTV has had good luck opening Canadian shows at 10 p.m. Thursdays. Can they keep the streak alive tonight with Played?
The undercover cop drama stars Irish/Canadian actor Vincent Walsh as Det. John Moreland. Walsh has worked everything from Hemingway vs Callaghan to Lost Girl to Republic of Doyle over a two continent career. I first caught up with him years ago in Halifax on Shattered City. Continue reading.

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Degrassi, Played

New Thursday: Played, Degrassi, Storage Wars Canada, Nature of Things

Played

Played, CTV – “Drugs” series premiere
Undercover detective John Moreland (Walsh) faces suspension after assaulting a Drug Squad officer. He gets a second chance when Detective Sergeant Rebecca Ellis (West) recruits Moreland and his team into her newly formed Covert Investigations Unit. The C.I.U.’s first case is to take down David Thorpe (Serge Houde, 50/50), an elusive drug kingpin Moreland has been hunting for years. Rebecca’s leadership and her fragile relationship with Moreland are severely tested when Thorpe suspects that Moreland is a cop.

Degrassi, MTV – “This Is How We Do It”
Degrassi’s back in school. Student Council President Drew wants to make sure everyone has a positive year after the devastating loss of Adam. But it’s easier said than done when he’s battling insomnia. Zoë is about to tackle her greatest role yet: “Zoë Rivas, Degrassi Student.” But when you grow up on a film set, how do you know what’s cool in the real world? Alli wants to spend her senior year with her best friends but when Leo flies to be by her side, it’ll take some convincing for the group to accept him as her new BF.

Degrassi in Nicaragua, MTV – Special
This summer the cast of Degrassi travelled to the tiny village of El Trapiche in Nicaragua with Free The Children, to help provide the newly established school with a much needed fresh water supply. Cast members Munro Chambers, Chloe Rose, and Luke Bilyk embark on a life changing adventure in this 30-minute MTV special.

Storage Wars Canada, OLN – “Ain’t No Locker Like a Birthday Locker”
Cindy looks for Rick’s birthday present in North York, Ontario, while the other buyers hope to crash the party.

The Nature of Things, CBC – “Carpe Diem”
The threat of the Asian Carp, and the scientific and unorthodox methods being utilized against them.

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Dragons' Den, Republic of Doyle

New Wednesday: Republic of Doyle, Dragons’ Den

ROD-501-highres

Republic of Doyle, CBC – “Bon Cop, Bueno Cop” season premiere
In the explosive season premiere, the worried Doyles and Leslie finally find out where Jake has been during his two month disappearance – but he’s brought some trouble back with him, including a rival for his affections. Guest stars: Emmanuelle Vaugier, Raoul Trujillo, Steve Bacic, Mark Critch, Ryan Robbins, Jonathan Keltz, Carlos Diaz.

Dragons’ Den, CBC – season premiere
The season premiere reveals a brand new Den. Plus, a snack company has its numbers crunched; the Dragons get a feel for a denim company; a couple pitches a solution to a rather delicate problem; and a technology company hopes to get their product out of infancy.

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Featured, Remedy

Remedy starts production

From a media release:

Production Begins on Global’s Original Drama Series Remedy

  • Enrico Colantoni, Sarah Allen, Sara Canning, & Dillon Casey Star
  • Matt Ward, Genelle Williams, Patrick McKenna and Martha Burns Round Out Remarkable Cast

Shaw Media and Indian Grove Productions announced today that production has begun on Global Television’s highly anticipated drama series Remedy. Commissioned by Shaw Media’s original content team and produced by Indian Grove Productions, the series films in Toronto and Hamilton from September 29 until January 2014.

The high stakes, prime-time medical drama promises a distinctive ‘upstairs/downstairs’ glimpse behind the scenes of a downtown hospital, and goes beyond the OR and the ER to reveal the compelling community who together make the healing happen.

From creator and showrunner Greg Spottiswood (King), the series follows Griffin Conner, son of the Acting Chief of Staff, and brother to the strong and resourceful Sandy an ICU nurse, and the highly disciplined, perfectionist Melissa, a general surgeon. A med school dropout, having left in a haze of disgrace, Griffin is forced to return to Bethune General Hospital as its newest orderly. Working “downstairs” alongside a cast of colourful characters, Griffin gets a new perspective on a world he thought he knew.

Playing the Chief of Staff and family patriarch is previously announced award-winning actor Enrico Colantoni, (Flashpoint, Galaxy Quest, Just Shoot Me!). Dillon Casey, (Nikita, The Vow, MVP) stars as the charismatic, med-school dropout and prodigal son Griffin, Sara Canning, (The Vampire Diaries, Primeval: New World) plays Melissa, a General Surgeon, with her own set of complex issues and Sarah Allen, (Jozi-H, Murdoch Mysteries) plays Sandy, the eldest daughter, ICU Nurse and bride-to-be.

Rounding out the stellar cast are Matt Ward (TRON: Legacy, Charlie St. Cloud) as Sandy’s soon-to-be husband, the razor-sharp ER Doctor, Brian Decker; Genelle Williams (Warehouse 13, Doomstown) as Zoe Rivera, the scrappy, independent PSA who catches Griffin’s eye and Patrick McKenna (Hard Rock Medical, The Red Green Show) as Frank Kanaskie, working in the basement of the hospital, as Griff’s Supervisor in charge of Transport and Housekeeping. Award-winning actress and co-founder of Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto, Martha Burns (Slings and Arrows, Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays) joins the cast as Rebecca Chestnut, the absentee mom, high functioning family drunk and power attorney.

Remedy is produced by Indian Grove Productions in association with Shaw Media with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. Red Arrow International holds international distribution rights. Bernie Zukerman (King, This is Wonderland) and Greg Spottiswood (King, Shattered) serve as executive producers. Kelly Makin (Rookie Blue, Flashpoint) and Adam Barken (Rookie Blue, Flashpoint) are co-executive producers with Jan Peter Meyboom (Murdoch Mysteries, Listener) producing.

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