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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Amazing Race Canada

Jon Montgomery named Amazing Race Canada host

From a media release:

CTV Announces Olympic Champion and Canadian Hero Jon Montgomery as Host of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA

  • Athletic host to actually perform challenges when all-Canadian race premieres July 15 on CTV

CTV announced today that Jon Montgomery (@jrmonty12), the Vancouver 2010 Olympic gold medallist in skeleton, has been named host of CTV’s reality competition series THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. Three years after gaining hero status with Canadians following his Olympic win and now-famous, frosty, golden beer victory walk through the streets of Whistler, the reigning Olympic Champion guides teams on the race of a lifetime on THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. Set to anchor CTV’s Summer 2013 schedule, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning July 15 on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times).

In a Canadian twist, Montgomery’s dynamic athleticism will be featured in THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. The host actually participates and demonstrates to both the competitors and viewers at home the risks involved and the skills required for some of the daring challenges facing the racers.

“Canadian hero Jon Montgomery knows what it takes to compete in the race of a lifetime,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “Combine that with his charismatic charm, captivating personality, and thirst for adventure, and you get the perfect host for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA.”

“It’s such a great honour to be able to host THE AMAZING RACE CANADA,” said Montgomery. “Canadians are going to love seeing our great country serve as the backdrop to one of their favourite TV shows.”

“Jon as host was a no-brainer – he is the quintessential embodiment of the Canadian attitude,” said John Brunton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Insight Productions. “He represents the Canadian spirit. It’s about hard work, dedication and heart. And it’s that spirit and passion that he brings to THE AMAZING RACE CANADA.”

Montgomery travels coast-to-coast-to-coast with the teams as they embark on a uniquely Canadian journey in pursuit of the biggest prize ever awarded for a Canadian competition television series. No stranger to podium finishes, Montgomery joins THE AMAZING RACE CANADA with a passion for life, a thrill for adventure, and a love for new challenges. Only eight years after his first run down a skeleton track, Montgomery won gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Born and raised in Russell, MB, Montgomery transitioned from a career as an auctioneer, to become a champion skeleton racer. He captured a silver medal at the 2007/2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany, and has earned eight World Cup medals (four gold, two silver, and two bronze), and five Canadian National titles to date.

Following his powerful gold-medal run down Whistler’s Blackcomb Mountain during Vancouver 2010, Montgomery became a household name as Canadians across the country instantly fell in love with this inspirational hero. He currently lives in Calgary, with his wife Darla, a fellow skeleton racer.

Thousands of teams have entered, but only one team will run away with the historic grand prize for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. Valued at more than half a million dollars including $250,000 in cash, the prize also features the opportunity to fly free for a year for two anywhere Air Canada flies worldwide (175 destinations) in Executive First Class (based on 10 trips for two), and two 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingrays. In total, the prize is equal to 167,224 hockey pucks, 178,572 cans of beer, and 33,356 half-liter jars of pure Canadian maple syrup.

With the knowledge that most Canadians have not travelled beyond their own province, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA gives Canadians the opportunity to race around Canada and discover the country they love in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Teams will race to the finish line, criss-crossing up to 23,000 kilometres. A stunning depiction of the Canadian fabric, the teams will travel through both the country’s urban centres as well as the most remote outposts in the land, all while exploring its broad cultural and ethnic diversity, wildlife, and iconic landmarks. Fans are encouraged to follow @AmazingRaceCDA and stay tuned to the CTV Facebook page for updates.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA will also air TSN on Tuesdays at 12 a.m. ET/PT beginning July 16, on RDS2 Wednesdays at 6 p.m. ET beginning July 17, and TSN2 on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT beginning July 17, as well as on demand across CTV’s digital platforms: CTV.ca, the CTV App, and through video on demand partners.

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Big Brother Canada, Continuum, Top Chef Canada

Shaw announces renewals including Continuum, Big Brother Canada, Top Chef Canada

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From a media release:

Record-Breaking Original Series Big Brother Canada, Vikings, Continuum, Top Chef Canada and Yukon Gold Return with New Seasons

  • Over 600 Hours of Canadian Original Specialty Programming

Following a record breaking season on one of Canada’s hottest entertainment destinations, Slice has renewed Big Brother Canada, the number one specialty reality series of the year, for a second season.

From Lost and Sold, the unclaimed goods auction series, to tapping into the fascinating world of collecting in Extreme Collectors, Slice brings viewers a range of new original series chock-full of drama, comedy and the deliciously unexpected.

Showcase is excited to announce that the channel’s number one original series Continuum has been greenlit for a third season.

As well, the Canadian original crime drama Copper returns with a powerhouse lineup of guest stars, including Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning actress Alfre Woodward, Billy Baldwin and Donal Logue.

Viewers can also look forward to new seasons of Showcase’s top-rated original series Lost Girl, Beauty and the Beast and Haven.

In a year that saw it claim eight of the top 20 specialty entertainment programs2, HISTORY® upheld its position as Canada’s number one specialty entertainment channel. This fall, Canadian Restorers introduces viewers to another group of larger-than-life Canadian characters: the employees of The Guild. HISTORY recognizes the 20th anniversary of Canada’s mission to Sarajevo with the insider documentary Sector Sarajevo. Returning in 2014 are Vikings, this year’s number one specialty entertainment drama, and Yukon Gold, HISTORY’s number one Canadian documentary series this year.

On the heels of another successful season of Top Chef Canada, Food Network Canada has announced the return of its number one series of all time for a fourth season4. Chopped Canada makes its highly anticipated debut to the network in 2014, bringing the hugely popular US format to Canada with host Dean McDermott (winner of Rachael vs. Guy’s Celebrity Cook-Off season two). Coming this fall are brand-new series Cutthroat Kitchen, taking the average cooking competition further than it’s ever gone before, and Guy & Rachael’s Kids Cook-Off, starring Guy Fieri, Rachael Ray and the most adorable competitors ever!

HGTV Canada’s biggest celebrities are packing the schedule this fall with new seasons of Holmes Makes It Right with Mike Holmes, Leave It To Bryan with Bryan Baeumler, Income Property with Scott McGillivray, and also brand-new series Real Potential with Sarah Richardson and Undercover Overhaul with the Cousins starring the hugely popular Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri. The channel’s number one series two years running, Canada’s Handyman Challenge, returns with judges Bryan Baeumler, Scott McGillivray and Paul Lafrance.

Experiencing a year of incredible growth, National Geographic Canada landed as a top 15 specialty channel, achieving an all-time audience high and its best season ever1. This fall, Canadians can play along with Brain Games host Jason Silva as he delves deep into the human brain.

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Remedy, Working The Engels

Global adds Remedy and Working The Engels

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From a media release:

SHAW MEDIA ADDS REMEDY AND WORKING THE ENGLES TO ITS BOOMING ROSTER OF CANADIAN SCRIPTED SERIES

  • New Drama and Comedy Set for Mid-Season Premiere on Global

Building on an impressive roster of massively successful original scripted series such as Rookie Blue, Lost Girl and Continuum, Shaw Media gets ready to welcome two additions to its collection of homegrown dramas. The sleek new drama Remedy (WT) and wild comedy Working the Engels will air as part of Global’s mid-season lineup.

From creator and executive producer Greg Spottiswood (King) comes Remedy, a unique, high-stakes medical drama that goes beyond the operating room and the ER, to reveal a compelling community of hospital staff who make the healing happen. The series follows Griffin Conners, son of the chief of staff, brother to both a surgeon and a nurse, and now – medical school dropout. Having been kicked out in a haze of disgrace, Griffin is forced to return to Broadview Hospital as its newest orderly, where he gets a new perspective on a world he thought he knew through a colourful cast of cleaners, project aides, transport workers and more. The series is produced by Indian Grove Productions with Bernie Zukerman serving as Executive Producer.

Global’s new comedy Working the Engles comes from writers Jane and Katie Ford (Miss Congeniality, Family Ties). In this laugh-out-loud comedy, a family of ne’er-do-wells must band together to keep their heads above water when their father and breadwinner passes away, leaving them a mountain of debt. They all go to work running Dad’s storefront law firm, with one minor problem – daughter Jenna is the only one of them that is actually a lawyer and qualified to practice. It’s not pretty, but it’s family. The series is produced by Halfire Entertainment with Noreen Halpern serving as Executive Producer.

Casting and additional creative team details for both series will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Package Deal, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, Seed

Seed renewed; City adds Meet The Family

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Seed image by Derek Langer

From a media release:

City Adds Seven Original Canadian Series to 2013-14 Prime-Time Schedule

  • Newly commissioned reality series Meet the Family joins prime-time schedule this fall
  • Multi-camera original comedy Package Deal gets new, fall prime-time timeslot
  • Seed renewed for Season 2; returns with 13 half-hour episodes in 2014
  • Mother Up! with Eva Longoria joins mid-season schedule in 2014
  • Three OLN original series – Storage Wars Canada, The Project: Guatemala and returning hit The Liquidator – to also air on City this fall

Marking the most robust lineup of original Canadian programming the network has ever produced, City today announced seven original series – five new and two returning – join the network’s 2013-14 prime-time schedule.

The announcement was made today as part of Rogers Media’s 2013 Upfront presentation.

Scripted original comedy Package Deal is part of City’s winning comedy block on Mondays this fall, airing at 8:30 p.m. ET. Three all-new original reality series, Storage Wars Canada, The Project: Guatemala, and the newly commissioned Meet the Family, also air on City in prime time this fall, as does OLN’s hit returning original series The Liquidator. Beginning mid-season, new original animated adult comedy series Mother Up!, starring and executive produced by Eva Longoria, will air exclusively on North American television on City.

Along with the new schedule, City announced today it has greenlit Season 2 of its original single-camera, sperm-donor comedy Seed, with an additional 13 half-hour episodes from Vancouver-based Force Four Productions. Premiering to critical acclaim this past February, Seed returns to Halifax this summer to begin production. Recognized for its rich characters, quick-wit, and edgy writing, Seed has been nominated for an international 2013 Banff Rockie Award in the category of Best Sitcom.

For all its originals, City will have a strong digital presence with live chats, blogs, bloopers, and exclusive video content for web that will engage and enhance the viewing experience.

In addition to these seven original series, The Bachelor Canada – the #1 new Canadian show and a top 10 new show in Canada for last fall* – begins production on Season 2 in 2014. A guilty pleasure for all women, the show is slated to air in fall 2014 and will engage across multiple platforms with more co-viewing and dual-screen experiences.

Image by Derek Langer

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