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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

Dragons’ Den auditions begin this month

DragonsDen_2308_HiRes

From a media release:

CBC’S DRAGONS’ DEN 2013 AUDITION TOUR HITS THE ROAD!

  • Auditions kick-off in Toronto beginning January 19, 2013

Beginning in January 2013, DRAGONS’ DEN producers will hit the road for an audition tour, with more than 40 stops in various Canadian cities. Entrepreneurs have another opportunity to enter the den with the hope of landing financial backing for their business ventures.

The open audition tour will kick off in Toronto at the CBC Broadcasting Centre atrium (25 John Street) on January 19. Audition dates and locations are listed below. Tour dates will continue to be updated on the website at www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/auditions.

No experience is necessary and participants of all ages are encouraged to audition. After highly-rated ‘All-Student’ specials in previous seasons, DRAGONS’ DEN continues to seek young entrepreneurs who think they have what it takes to seal a deal with the country’s most renowned business tycoons.

All interested entrepreneurs should be prepared to pitch their business in less than five minutes. If they can convince DRAGONS’ DEN producers they are ready for their fifteen minutes of fame, they could be invited to brave the Dragons face-to face when the upcoming season is filmed in Toronto. Candidates are asked to apply online and bring a completed application form to the audition.

Audition dates are as follows:

  • January 19 – Toronto ON (1 of 2)
  • January 24 – Windsor ON
  • January 25 – Prince George BC, Sarnia ON
  • January 26 – London ON, Montreal QC (1 of 2), Vancouver BC (1 of 2)
  • January 30 – Nanaimo BC, Oshawa ON, Regina SK
  • January 31 – Niagara Falls ON, Salt Spring Island BC
  • February 1 – Saskatoon SK
  • February 2 – Calgary AB (1 of 2), Victoria BC, Winnipeg MN
  • February 6 – Barrie ON, Timmins ON, Whitehorse YK
  • February 7 – Burlington ON, Sudbury ON, Surrey BC
  • February 9 – Ottawa ON, Penticton BC, Thunder Bay ON
  • February 13 – Collingwood ON, Saint John NB
  • February 15 – Charlottetown PEI, Quebec City QC
  • February 16 – Edmonton AB, Halifax NS, Montreal QC (2 of 2)
  • February 21 – Peterborough ON, Waterloo ON
  • February 22 – Medicine Hat AB
  • February 23 – Calgary AB (2 of 2), Hamilton ON, St John’s NFLD
  • February 27 – Yellowknife NWT
  • March 1 – Abbotsford BC
  • March 2 – Toronto (2 of 2), Vancouver (2 of 2)
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Cracked examines shades of grey

From Scott Stinson of the National Post:

  • The head cases of Cracked
    This exchange, from the premiere episode of Cracked, nicely sums up the nut of the new CBC drama: a police procedural about a fictional Toronto police unit — Psych Crimes and Crises — that pairs detectives with psychiatrists, the series has a natural tension between the cops and non-cops. In the opener, Detective Aidan Black (David Sutcliffe, Gilmore Girls) thinks the Rosedale murder might simply be a botched robbery. His partner, Dr. Daniella Ridley (Stefanie von Pfetten, NCIS), wonders if the killer has sensory or memory issues related to light. Thus the light bulb. And the crack about unicorns. Read more.
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TV, eh? podcast episode 117 – “Let’s Disservice This Up”

LostGirl

Occasional co-host Rachel joins Anthony and Diane for a three-person panel to talk about the new winter season and the fun fact that the US channel Syfy has more Cancon than Canadian networks. What does it all mean? Zombies probably have something to do with it.

Episode 117: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed.

Your hosts

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Mother Up in production for Citytv

From a media release:

City Announces Start of Production on Original Adult Animated Prime-time Series Mother Up!, Starring and Executive Produced by Eva Longoria

  • 13-episode, half-hour animated comedy series to debut in fall 2013 on City in Canada and Hulu in the U.S.
  • Homegrown series is written, produced, and voiced in Canada

City today announced start of production on Mother Up!, a 13-episode, half-hour adult animated comedy series starring Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), who also serves as the show’s executive producer. Developed by Rogers Media and co-produced by Canadian companies Breakthrough Entertainment and Bardel Entertainment, in association with U.S.-based Mass Animation, Mother Up! will debut in fall 2013 as part of City’s prime-time lineup and be available exclusively in the U.S. on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service. Additional broadcast details to be announced at a later date.

Mother Up! revolves around the daily life of Rudi Wilson (Longoria), a former high-powered music exec who takes on the greatest challenge of her life: motherhood in suburbia. Rudi is striving for the life of a super-mom but she forgets one important detail – she’s not a very good parent. Bringing her street smarts and urban lifestyle to the suburbs, Rudi confronts the endless challenges of parenthood with a series of misguided improvised solutions, putting her life on the line like never before.

“Smart and hilarious, Mother Up! epitomizes the kind of comedy that City’s prime-time schedule is famous for,” said Claire Freeland, Director of Original Programming Rogers Media. “With the star power of Eva Longoria, Mother Up! is the perfect addition to the premium City lineup and furthers our commitment to the development and production of original content.”

Executive producers for the series are Eva Longoria, Yair Landau (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) and Susan Purcell (Live Music) from U.S.-based Mass Animation, noted television industry veteran Fred Fuchs (Transporter: The Series), Breakthrough Entertainment’s Ira Levy (Less Than Kind) and Peter Williamson (Kenny vs. Spenny), and Bardel Entertainment’s Barry Ward and Delna Bhesania (Bob’s Burgers).

“Mother Up! combines famed Hollywood actor, director and producer Eva Longoria with the comedic genius of writers Michael Shipley, Greg Lawrence, Mark McKinney, Laurie Elliott and Jenn Engels and the development, production and animation talents of Mass Animation, Bardel Entertainment and Breakthrough Entertainment,” said Ira levy, Executive Producer and Partner at Breakthrough Entertainment. “We could not be more excited about collaborating with this extraordinary, high-profile team.”

Developed by Michael Shipley (American Dad, My Name Is Earl, Family Guy) – who will also serve as an executive producer – Mother Up! is based on the original material of Marnie Nir and Katie Torpey. Recruited to serve as showrunner and executive producer is Canadian Greg Lawrence (Crash Canyon, Kevin Spencer), who joins the all-Canadian creative team of celebrated writing talent including Mark McKinney (Less Than Kind), Jenn Engels (Seed), Laurie Elliott, and Laura Kosterski.

Mother Up! also stars Canadians Jesse Camacho (Less Than Kind) as Dick, Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas, Robson Arms) as Sarah, Cle Bennett as 2Bit, Helen Taylor as Jenny, Rebecca Husain as Apple, and Scott McCord as Greg.

Breakthrough Entertainment will distribute the series worldwide outside of North America.

Mother Up! reinforces City’s strong commitment to original Canadian programming, which includes original series Seed and Package Deal premiering mid-season on City.

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Dave Foley joins Spun Out pilot

From a media release

DAVE FOLEY CAST IN BELL MEDIA SITCOM PILOT FOR CTV, SPUN OUT

Project 10 Productions announced today that Canadian sitcom veteran and “Kids In The Hall” alumnus, Dave Foley, has been cast in the lead role for the upcoming Bell Media pilot for CTV, SPUN OUT.

Foley will play the patriarchal boss of a fledgling PR firm, staffed with people who can spin everyone’s problems but their own.

Slated to shoot live in front of a studio audience beginning January 18 in Toronto, SPUN OUT is Bell Media’s first multi-camera sitcom pilot and stars Paul Campbell (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, ALMOST HEROES) as Beckett Ryan, a disgraced writer who ends up working at a public relations firm after suffering his own PR disaster. No matter how bizarre the cases are that the agency takes on, they pale in comparison to the often-hilarious failures of the close-knit and dysfunctional colleagues.

“I am delighted to be returning to the multi-cam, live audience, sitcom world and to my hometown,” said Dave Foley.

“We are thrilled to have Dave anchoring an amazing cast of established sitcom actors and emerging stars,” said Andrew Barnsley, Executive Producer. “NEWSRADIO was one of our touchstones when developing the show, so having its star on board is truly an honour.”

Rounding out the ensemble is Holly Deveaux (LESS THAN KIND), Al Mukadam (RADIO FREE ROSCOE), Rebecca Dalton (THE L.A. COMPLEX,), J.P. Manoux (COMMUNITY), and Jadyn Wong (BEING ERICA).

The SPUN OUT pilot is produced by Project 10 Productions in association with Bell Media. Gemini Award winners Jeff Biederman (LIFE WITH DEREK, OVERRULED!) and Brent Piaskoski (THE LATEST BUZZ, ACCORDING TO JIM) are co-creators, writers and executive producers. Co-creator, director and executive producer is Brian K. Roberts (EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, THE DREW CAREY SHOW). Andrew Barnsley (HOT BOX) is executive producer.

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