TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 1599
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Awards, Call Me Fitz

Call Me Fitz’s Joanna Cassidy at the Canadian Screen Awards

JoannaCassidy

Joanna Cassidy (Call Me Fitz, BLADERUNNER!!) On Making TV in Canada and The Writers of Call Me Fitz

(Photo by Derek Langer)

I asked Joanna what making TV in Canada means to her:

“It means so much to me, I can’t even tell you. I mean here I am an American and we’ve seen a lot of the work go to Canada. I’ve always been in sort of an envious position of American actors going to Canada and working.  I did do a film with John Gorman here years ago, Where The Heart Is, and I’ve done many productions in Vancouver when they used to do a lot of movies of the week.

 I think Canada is a really edgy interesting place now, and I’m thrilled to be working here. I love Canada, I just love it. It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to taste the country and the people and work with some fabulous people like Sheri Elwood and Teza Lawrence. I love working with women that are thoughtful and great and have no hold backs, they just let it all loose. I haven’t had a character like this since Six Feet Under where I get to be wild and crazy.”

On the writers of Call Me Fitz:

“I show up and nothing is ever predictable. I’m constantly amazed by the scripts they put out!  This last season when the characters are stuck together at the house, we are just horrible, and wonderful together – I can’t tell you anything about it, but we go through all these different passages. Wait till you see what we get up to!”

(And then, Zhora from Bladerunner complimented me on my skin and I died of happiness. SciFi nerd’s heaven.)

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Awards, Rick Mercer Report

Rick Mercer Gives Credit To His Winning Writers at the Canadian Screen Awards

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Rick Mercer (Rick Mercer Report) on Writers

(Photo by Derek Langer)

The writing team (Rick Currie, Greg Eckler, Chris Finn, Tim Steeves, George Westerholm) from the Rick Mercer Report took home a screen for “Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series”.  I asked Rick about his writers and their jobs, and he paid them high compliments.

“Well, the writers of RMR won the award tonight, and they’re the most tremendous group of guys that I have the privilege to work with. It’s probably the best part of my job – that I get to spend my time with them. They have a very difficult job. For starters, they write about current events and every single week I go to two different places in the country, and they have to prep me for that.”

“It’s like: This week Rick is jumping out of a plane with the Skyhawks, this week Rick is doing the Inuit winter games, this week Rick is visiting seeing eye dogs. These are not subjects which most writers are familiar with.  We do 50 separate segments a year, and they have to put their head inside it, research it and come up with material for me, and they do tremendous work. It’s a very unique job as far as writing goes.”

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Awards

Sean Cullen Gets Big Laughs at the Canadian Screen Awards

SeanCullen

Sean Cullen (Rocket Monkeys, Almost Naked Animals) On Writers & His Mentality Surrounding the Awards

(Photo by Derek Langer)

I asked Sean to talk about his experience writing and working with writers.

“That’s one thing that Canada really breeds a lot of – great writers. Like Matt Watts and Bob Martin and Tim Steeves, Luciano Casimiri, all these people who work for so many different shows. I love collaborating with writers, that’s what I think is amazing. When I have to write a novel it’s a lonely thing, when I get to write television it’s a very collaborative thing – that’s what I really enjoy.”

When I asked him how he felt about the positive response to his humour at the awards, he was humble.

“I just try and be a little irreverent and weird and silly and say things that people WANT to say, maybe – but I’m not mean. I’m just a bit strange and fun and try to not be too nervous. I just enjoy it. I love to rise to these occasions. It was fun and I hope I’m not wearing out my welcome.”

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Awards, Call Me Fitz

Call Me Fitz Creator Sheri Elwood Lands Two “Screenies”

SheriElwood

Sheri Elwood (Call Me Fitz) On The Writing Room and Gucci

(Photo by Derek Langer)

I asked Sheri to talk about the writers on Call Me Fitz.

“I combed the country and I begged the best possible writers that I know to come work on my show, and it’s my main concern that I had the best possible writers to work on this show. It’s the only thing that matters to me, that the writing is excellent.”

“It’s my dream come true show.”

Then I had to ask about her dress.

“This is Gucci, fall 2012. I figure if I amortize it out through about 14 000 events it will make it worth it!”

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Big Brother Canada, Ratings

Big Brother Canada eviction notice earns 608,000 over 2 airings

From a media release:

Big Brother Canada Sets New Audience Record for Slice

Last night Big Brother Canada’s first eviction episode that saw Torontonian, Kat Yee ousted from the house in a vote of 11 to one, blew the roof off Slice. Following Wednesday night’s premiere which aired as a special presentation on Global in addition to Slice, viewers flocked to Big Brother Canada in droves for their second dose of the series. Last night’s eviction episode set a new record high audience with an AMA of 608,000 (A2+, 2 plays) for the channel and took top spot across all specialty channels.

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