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Copper renewed for a second season

From a media release:

COPPER GREENLIT FOR SEASON TWO

  • Shaw Media and BBC AMERICA Announce 13 Episode Order

Ahead of the much-anticipated season one finale, Shaw Media, BBC AMERICA and Cineflix Studios have renewed the breakout hit series Copper, for a second season with an increased order of 13 episodes. Canadians can watch the season one finale on November 4 on Showcase.

“Copper clearly resonates with Canadians and is a welcomed addition to Showcase’s roster of outstanding dramatic series. It’s a thrill to be part of season two and we can’t wait to see how this exceptional creative team continues to tackle conflict, corruption and class like only they could,” said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media.

“We are excited to renew our partnership with Shaw Media and work with the very talented creative community in Canada on a second season of Copper,” said Glen Salzman, Co-CEO of Cineflix Media.

From executive producers Academy Award®-winner Barry Levinson, Emmy®-winner Tom Fontana, Academy Award®-nominee Will Rokos and Cineflix Studios President, Christina Wayne, Copper follows Detective Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones), a rugged Irish immigrant cop, as he seeks justice for the powerless in 1864 New York City. The series has been building to this Sunday’s explosive finale that will change lives and the city forever. With Confederate terrorists threatening to destroy the city as they know it, unexpected traitors will be revealed and once air-tight bonds will be broken beyond repair.

Since its premiere, Copper has been a strong performer for Showcase, averaging nearly 300,000 viewers each week (2+). The series premiere was the #1 specialty program of the night across numerous demos, with nearly half a million viewers tuning in (2+).*

The first season of Copper is a Cineflix (Copper) Inc. production in association with BBC AMERICA, Shaw Media, and TVA. Copper is created by Tom Fontana and Will Rokos. Season one executive producers include Levinson, Fontana, Rokos, Wayne, Jim Finnerty, Sherri Rufh, Sam Berliner, Sally Catto and Katherine Buck. The production was shot in-studio and on location in Toronto, Canada.

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Splatalot returns November 3 on YTV

From a media release:

Splatalot Catapults into Season 2 with YTV’s Celebrity Splatdown Special

  • New Season Premieres Saturday, November 3 at 6 p.m. ET/PT on YTV

YTV’s popular physical game show Splatalot is kicking off its second season (26 x 30′) on Saturday, November 3 at 6 p.m. ET/PT with YTV’s Celebrity Splatdown, a one-hour special featuring an epic battle between the casts of Life with Boys and Mr. Young. YTV on-air personality Andy (Crunch) provides colour commentary as the roaming reporter, a.ka. “Man on the Moat” interviewing celebrity contestants during this hilarious, high adrenaline premiere. Fans can follow and live tweet with cast members using the #splatdown hashtag leading up to and during the 6 p.m. East Coast and West Coast telecasts. Click here for a sneak peek.

Filmed for the first time in front of a live audience, each team will be competing and providing support on behalf of a charity. The Life with Boys team comprised of Torri Webster, Madison Pettis, Nathan McLeod, Michael Murphy and Jake Goodman will be competing on behalf of ONEXONE’s First Nations School Breakfast Programs and the Mr. Young team, including Brendan Meyer, Matreya Fedor, Gig Morton, Kurt Ostlund and Emily Tennant, will be competing on behalf of YMCA of Canada’s food programs.

Season 2 promises more spills and laughs than ever, with an expanded set, new splat-inducing obstacles and new Defenders. Each episode features a different group of thrill-seeking teen contestants, dubbed Attackers, competing in three hilarious rounds: Cross the Moat, Ditch the Dungeon and Capture the Crown. All six of the Defenders of Splatalot do their best to protect the castle from the Attackers – leaving only one in each episode to be crowned King or Queen of the kingdom.

Viewers can also look forward to more themed episodes this season including Teachers vs. Students, Parents vs. Kids and Night Assault. Matt Chin and Jason Agnew, return as co-hosts of the series.

Splatalot returns to its regular time slot at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT beginning Saturday, November 10.

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Package Deal

Citytv’s Package Deal to tape in front of live Vancouver-area audience

From a media release:

Citytv Announces Start of Live, Studio Audience Production for Original Comedy Series, Package Deal

  • Multi-camera comedy series created by Emmy-award nominated producer Andrew Orenstein (Malcolm in the Middle)
  • Acclaimed Canadian comedians Harland Williams (There’s Something About Mary) and Jay Malone (Monk) headline ensemble cast
  • Production begins October 21 in front of a live studio audience in Burnaby, B.C.

Citytv and Thunderbird Films today announced that production begins Sunday, Oct. 21 on the new original multi-camera comedy Package Deal. Taping in front of a live studio audience in Burnaby, B.C, the 13-episode, half-hour series from critically acclaimed creator Andrew Orenstein (Malcolm in the Middle, 3rd Rock from the Sun) is slated to air in 2013 on Citytv. The writing team also includes Denise Moss (Frasier, Roseanne), and veteran stand-up comedian Stevie Ray Fromstein (Roseanne, Reba). Full broadcast details to be announced at a later date.

Package Deal follows three overly-close brothers and the woman who comes between them. When Kim (Julia Voth, Bitch Slap) starts dating Danny (Randal Edwards, Degrassi:The Next Generation, The Killing), he seems too good to be true – a successful lawyer, charming, and single. Then, she discovers he’s already committed – to his two older brothers, Sheldon (Harland Williams, There’s Something About Mary) and Ryan (Jay Malone, Monk).

“Citytv is committed to delivering Canadians fresh new content,” said Claire Freeland, Director of Original Programming, Broadcast, Rogers Media. “Package Deal is currently the only Canadian adult sitcom to be shot in front of a live studio audience and we are excited to offer a new way for viewers to engage with our programming by seeing the production come to life first-hand.”

“In-studio filming presents a unique opportunity for audiences to get a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the filming process, along with an evening of free entertainment,” said Thunderbird President Michael Shepard.

The first live audience tapings of Package Deal take place Sunday, Oct. 21 and 28. Following these dates, the tapings continue each Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. in Burnaby, B.C. For more information about studio location and to reserve seats, viewers can email packagedealtickets@gmail.com.

An example of the Citytv’s strong commitment to original Canadian programming, Package Deal joins the roster of high-profile original series currently in production for the network, including Seed and The Bachelor Canada.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New tonight: Marketplace, The Fifth Estate

Marketplace, CBC – “Money Where Your Mouth Is”
When it’s time to get our teeth checked, most of us trust our dentist to determine the treatment plan and how much it will cost. They are the experts, aren’t they? In this week’s episode, MARKETPLACE’s Erica Johnson puts dentists to the test: how does one know for sure what work needs to be done and how much it should cost? We reveal that dentists themselves can’t even agree. In Money Where Your Mouth Is, MARKETPLACE sends a researcher with hidden cameras to 20 different dentists in Toronto and Vancouver. We want to know: what treatments are recommended for her pearly whites? We discover a wide variation in treatments and costs. It seems dentistry is not that black and white after all—there are various shades of grey. MARKETPLACE wants to know why—to get answers for the millions of Canadians who visit their dentist every year.

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “Whistleblowers: Moment of Truth”
They have the courage to stand up and speak out when no one else dares, yet the popular perception of whistleblowers is they are doomed to be victims of reprisals. But when the fifth estate caught up with some of its more memorable whistleblowers, we found out their lives can take twists and turns no one ever expected. These cases offer an ironic insight into what was supposed to be a new era of transparency and integrity in Canada. To date, not a single case has been prosecuted under Canada’s Public Servant Disclosure Protection Act, and the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner was dismissed in disgrace.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Ice Pilots NWT premieres November 7 on History

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From a media release:

Yellowknife and Beyond! Season Four of Omnifilm Entertainment’s hit series Ice Pilots NWT premieres Wednesday, November 7 at 10pm ET/PT on HISTORY

HISTORY’s fan-favourite series Ice Pilots NWT is back and better than ever. The hugely popular docu-series returns this November for an action packed fourth season, following the adventures of maverick arctic airline Buffalo Airways.

Season four takes Buffalo – and viewers – to places they’ve never gone before. The airline sends water bombers to South Korea, battles it out with Transport Canada and struggles to keep the business going in whatever manner they can. As the drama unfolds, everyone from rock stars to the Prime Minister drops by Buffalo for a visit. The action gets underway Wednesday, November 7 at 10:00PT/ET on HISTORY.

“Although Buffalo has become a famous airline worldwide and attracts everyone from tourists to VIP’s, the work to keep the planes flying all winter goes on,” says Executive and Series Producer David Gullason. “Keeping the planes flying – no matter what – is job number one for Joe and Mikey.”

Gabriela Schonbach, Executive Producer and Partner at Omnifilm Entertainment says, “With Ice Pilots NWT, the world is getting a taste of Canada’s North; its culture, landscape and people. This series has become a part of Canadian history and heritage. Each season just gets better!”

In one of the most compelling episodes to date, the turbo‐prop Lockheed Electra gets in serious trouble when the bitter cold wreaks havoc on the plane’s landing gear. Captain Ray Weber has to put down this beast of a cargo plane without a right wheel as the crew at Buffalo stands helplessly watching the plane get ripped up on landing.

While touring the Canadian North, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stops in to admire Joe’s vintage planes and plays co-pilot to Joe. Later in the season, Joe lends a hand to his old friend “Ice Road Trucker” Alex Debogorski. And rock legend Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, an avid pilot, gets more than he bargained for when he shows up to fly the big DC-4 and bonds with the Buffalo boys.

Sadly, this season the crew says goodbye to beloved Buffalo chief pilot Arnie Schreder, who succumbed to cancer. The local airlines give their friend and colleague a proper send off as a fleet of planes does a fly-by in Schreder’s honour.

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