TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 1667
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Friday: Marketplace, The Fifth Estate, Borealis, Match Game

Marketplace1

Marketplace, CBC
Tom Harrington investigates who is behind those annoying telemarketing calls.

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “The Imperfect Spy”
Canadian naval intelligence officer Jeffrey Delisle and his secret life as a Russian Spy.

Borealis, Space – TV movie
BOREALIS, set approximately 30 years in the future, tells the story of a DEADWOOD-like frontier town situated in the high Arctic. It explores the political, environmental and social impact of a world in which the polar icecaps have melted and countries are vying for the last vestiges of oil in the Arctic. The ensemble cast features Ty Olsson (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and 2, Battlestar Galactica) as Vic, an ultimate fighter turned entrepreneur who now owns Borealis’s airstrip, hotel and bar, does his best to keep the peace; Michelle Harrison (Eureka) as Alison, a misanthropic environmental guerrilla blogger; Patrick Gallagher (True Blood) as Taq, a techno-handy Inuit local trying to make the best of a bad situation; Christine Horne (Republic of Doyle) as Svetlana, a mysterious and powerful international diplomat whose allegiance is unclear; Greyston Holt (Durham County) as Dan, a seemingly-friendly post-doc from Berkley who may know more than he lets on; Cristina Rosato (Lost Girl) as Bettina, the town’s only prostitute; Bryan Dick (Being Human) as Clive, a British rig worker whose shifting alliances get him into trouble; Mayko Nguyen (Rookie Blue) as Hoshi, the Canadian Secretary of Northern Initiatives, who tries to keep Vic in line and maintain order from her post in Ottawa; Paulino Nunes (Alphas) as Anton, who is determined to lay claim to the Arctic lands and resources for the Russian empire, by any means necessary; and Karan Oberoi (The Listener) as Ramindar, a Canadian Forces sergeant frustrated with his lack of power in the lawless international free zone.

Match Game, Comedy
Kevin McDonald (KIDS IN THE HALL), Scott Thompson (KIDS IN THE HALL), Eddie Della Siepe (VIDEO ON TRIAL), and Leah Miller (Host of E!) heat up the studio for another round of fill-in-the-blanks.

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Played

CTV orders Played

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From a media release:

Bell Media’s CTV Orders Edgy New Original Scripted Drama, PLAYED

  • From Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Back Alley Film Productions
  • Creator is Greg Nelson (SAVING HOPE/ROOKIE BLUE)

Welcome to the world of highly skilled and brave detectives who give the word “undercover” a whole new meaning. Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports, announced today from the Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena, CA that CTV has ordered a new Canadian drama series from critically acclaimed Muse Entertainment Enterprises and award-winning Back Alley Film Productions. CTV has ordered thirteen, one-hour episodes of PLAYED (working title), an ensemble, procedural police drama that follows the activities of the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit), a Toronto-based police unit that goes undercover to infiltrate criminal organizations. In each episode, the detectives perform a high-wire, nerve-wracking act that requires a serious confidence game as they go undercover and convince the bad guys that, they too, are criminals – all the while trying to prevent their jobs from corroding their own lives.

The announcement follows CTV’s pick-up today of the new Canadian comedy series SATISFACTION. The two programs join CTV’s burgeoning lineup of original scripted series including MOTIVE, SAVING HOPE, and THE LISTENER.

PLAYED is developed for television by Gemini Award winning executive producers Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman (BOMB GIRLS, DURHAM COUNTY), Emmy®–Award nominated Michael Prupas (THE KENNEDYS, BEING HUMAN), and Greg Nelson (SAVING HOPE), who is creator and co-showrunner with Mitchell. PLAYED is set to begin production in Toronto this spring.

PLAYED sees the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit) take on a new case and target each week. The unit designs the operation and executes each case undercover as they infiltrate criminal worlds, collect evidence, and make arrests. The undercover CIU detectives build relationships with bad guys, whether coaxing confessions, buying drugs and guns in covert sting operations, infiltrating high finance scams, or immersing themselves with a crew of bank robbers. Today’s fast-paced times demand equally rapid detective work: these cops work quickly, plunging into the deep end and into high stakes scenarios with short, intense timeframes. Then, after posing as various criminals, the members of the CIU flip the switch and try and go home to their “normal” lives as spouses and parents.

PLAYED is produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Back Alley Film Productions in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Adrienne Mitchell, Janis Lundman, Michael Prupas, and Greg Nelson, who is also creator of the series. Adrienne Mitchell and Greg Nelson are co-showrunners. Tom Hastings is production executive for Bell Media. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

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Satisfaction

CTV orders Satisfaction

Satisfaction

From a media release:

Bell Media’s CTV Orders New Half-Hour Original Comedy SATISFACTION

  • Ensemble comedy stars Luke MacFarlane, Stephanie Lemelin, Ryan Belleville, Vik Sahay, and Leah Renee
  • Tim McAuliffe and Michael Donovan partner on new relationship comedy

Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports, announced today from the Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena, CA that CTV has ordered to series the new half-hour Canadian scripted comedy series SATISFACTION, starring Luke MacFarlane (BROTHERS AND SISTERS), Stephanie Lemelin (BONES), Ryan Belleville (THE L.A. COMPLEX), Vik Sahay (CHUCK), and Leah Renee (THE PLAYBOY CLUB). From Halifax’s DHX Media, the ensemble comedy series is written by Tim McAuliffe (UP ALL NIGHT, THE OFFICE) and produced by Michael Donovan (Bowling for Columbine, THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES). CTV has ordered 12 half-hour episodes in addition to the pilot shot last fall in Toronto. The series is set to begin production in late spring.

The pick-up announcement for SATISFACTION comes as CTV also orders today the ensemble undercover detective drama PLAYED (working title). The two programs join CTV’s burgeoning lineup of original scripted series including MOTIVE, SAVING HOPE, and THE LISTENER.

SATISFACTION takes a humorous look at a group of friends who are completely uninhibited as they share their relationship woes and romantic wins, life crises, and personal ambitions. Dedicated single man Mark (Belleville) hustles the dating scene while his best friends and long-term couple Jason (MacFarlane) and Maggie (Lemelin) work at keeping the sparks flying as they face the day-to-day challenges of being in a committed relationship. Neighbours Nancy (Renee) and Dan (Sahay) have a marriage that proves that, while opposites can definitely attract, it can also deliver some seriously epic volatility.

SATISFACTION is produced by DHX Media is association with CTV. Executive producer is Michael Donovan and Tim McAuliffe is executive producer/writer. Keith Samples (EVERWOOD, ONE TREE HILL) is director. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Comedy, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Thursday: Doc Zone, The Liquidator, Rocket Monkeys, Match Game

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Doc Zone, CBC – “Counterfeit Culture”
Explores the world of the fake, the fraudulent, and the faux. The documentary will reveal the hidden, humorous, and often deadly side of the $500 Billion counterfeit industry and bring new significance to the term caveat emptor.

The Liquidator, OLN – “Tough Sell”
Jeff becomes nervous after gambling on a massive purchase of high-end appliances. With a lot of dough on the line, Jeff worries this big hit could be a miss.

Rocket Monkeys, Teletoon – series premiere
Featuring voice work by some of Canada’s brightest comedy stars, including Mark McKinney (voice of Lord Peel), Seán Cullen (voice of Gus) and introducing Mark Edwards (voice of Wally), Rocket Monkeys explores the bizarre and hilarious cosmic exploits of primate siblings Gus and Wally. Inexplicably charged with carrying out all kinds of important missions, the brothers tend to cause more intergalactic calamity than they could ever prevent. Luckily they have plenty of help from YAY-OK, their dashing and devoted (if slightly outdated) robot.

Match Game, Comedy
Yvette Nicole Brown (COMMUNITY), Colin Mochrie (WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?), Graham Chittenden (COMEDY NOW!), and Laura Cilevitz (VIDEO ON TRIAL) fill-in-the-blanks on the rowdiest game show around.

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Rogue

Rogue premieres April 3

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From a media release:

Thandie Newton Goes Rogue

  • Sexy Suspense Drama From The Movie Network and Movie Central Premieres April 3

The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Movie Central (Western Canada) today announced that the 10-episode suspense-drama Rogue, starring Thandie Newton (Mission Impossible 2, Crash) and Marton Csokas (The Debt, Alice In Wonderland), will premiere in Canada on Wednesday, April 3 at 9 p.m. ET/MT day-and-date with DIRECTV’s Audience Network in the US. Rogue is a Canada/UK co-production commissioned by The Movie Network and Movie Central in Canada and DIRECTV in the US.

Rogue revolves around Grace (Newton), a morally and emotionally conflicted undercover detective who is tormented by the possibility that her own actions contributed to a family tragedy. Grace’s search for the truth is further complicated by her forbidden relationship with Jimmy (Csokas), the crime boss who may have played a hand in the crime. The series explores loss, grief, identity, family bonds, second chances and redemption. Both Grace and Jimmy not only struggle with who they are, they also struggle with who they want to be. Both cross the line – morally, emotionally, sexually – with devastating consequences for their own lives and those around them.

Shot in Vancouver in 2012, the series is a Canada-UK co-production from Entertainment One (eOne) and Greenroom Entertainment, produced in participation with The Movie Network, Movie Central and DIRECTV. Rogue is executive produced by renowned UK producer/director Nick Hamm for Greenroom Entertainment; John Morayniss and Michael Rosenberg for eOne; and Steven Marrs from Momentum Entertainment Group. Series creator Matthew Parkhill (The Caller) serves as writer and supervising producer.

In addition to Newton and Csokas, the cast includes Ian Hart (Luck), Claudia Ferri (The Killing), Joshua Sasse, Jonathan Holmes, Sarah Jeffrey, Ian Tracey (Intelligence, Hell on Wheels), Jarod Joseph (Fringe), Matthew Beard (And When Did You Last See Your Father), and Martin Donovan (Simple Men, Weeds). Brian Kirk (Luck, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire) directs the first episode.

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