From a media release:

On the heels of its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, the Crave Original series BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE premieres on Crave on Friday, Oct. 13. The hysterical six-episode, half-hour comedy is the vision of creator and showrunner Sasha Leigh Henry, who was named one of Variety’s “10 Canadians to watch” in 2022 and is behind critically acclaimed short films Black Bodies and Sinking Ship. BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE follows a 25-year-old Black woman as she navigates adulthood in a predominantly white world, made all the more difficult, but also more tolerable, by Black Attack, her invisible hype girl.

Episodes 1-3 of BRIA MACK GET A LIFE drop on Friday, Oct. 13 with episodes 3-6 dropping on Friday, Oct. 20. The official trailer for the series is available HERE.

After seven long years in University, fresh graduate and newly minted valedictorian, Bria McFarlane (Malaika Hennie-Hamadi), moves back home to the suburbs ready to finally take a break. But when her mother Marie (Leslie Adlam) shares her plan to retire early – and soon – Bria must coordinate her life, friends, dating, a place to live, and most importantly, a job, to fund it all, before time runs out. With her hype girl and most-trusted imaginary confidant, Black Attack (Hannan Younis), by her side, the series follows the pair as they take on the world… one microaggression at a time.

Led by Hennie-Hamadi and Younis, the unfiltered comedy features a predominantly BIPOC cast including Adlam; Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz; Amalia Williamson; Marlee Sansom; Preeti Torul; Robert Bazzocchi; Nia Cummins; Robert Clarke; Femi Lawson; Shannon Jardine; Catherine De Sève; and Mark Forward. Over the course of the season, the series illustrates the varied ways navigating adulthood can manifest anxiety, especially for a young, clever, Black woman. Punctuated by inner monologues and fantasies, BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE acutely explores what it feels like to figure out who you want to be in a world too eager to tell you who you are.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, New Metric Media hosts the special event, BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE LIVE! at Comedy Bar in Toronto. The event features stand-up comedy, musical performances, and a screening of episode 1 and 2. For more information, please visit www.BriaMackGetsALife.tv.

BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE is produced by New Metric Media in association with Bell Media’s Crave with the participation of the Bell Fund. Executive producers are Sasha Leigh-Henry, Mark Montefiore, and Tania Thompson; Angelique Knights and Tamar Bird serve as producers; and directors are Sasha Leigh-Henry and Kelly Fyffe-Marshall.

Featured, Industry News

Attend The Film on TV Project 1977 & 1979

September 15, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

Step back in time as rare, 16mm film clips from TV shows from the ‘60s and the ‘70s are projected onto the theatre’s giant screen.

See the 1963 Fall Preview promotional film “CBS: The Stars Address” featuring Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Ed Sullivan, Dick Van Dyke, Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood from “Rawhide,” The Beverly Hillbillies, Walter Cronkite and others.

Then there’s 1972’s “CBS Where the Good Times Are,” welcoming a string of new hits that year including M*A*S*H, Maude, The Waltons, The Bob Newhart Show and a show that should have run longer, Bridget Loves Birney. Other clips include scenes from All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Carol Burnett Show and many more.

Bill Brioux, TV columnist, curator and podcaster, puts these rare films from his private collection into context. Come ready to answer TV trivia questions and win prizes!

Two matinee showings: Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.

Go to thewestdale.ca for tickets and more information.

Transplant

Award-winning CTV original drama Transplant concludes with Season 4, beginning October 6

September 13, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

As TRANSPLANT returns for an all-new season, which finds everyone at York Memorial Hospital encountering bold emotional medical cases while facing personal upheaval and unexpected new beginnings, CTV announced today that the acclaimed original drama will conclude following its upcoming fourth season. The award-winning series returns to CTV’s fall schedule, airing Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, for an exciting conclusion to Bashir “Bash” Hamed’s (Hamza Haq, Viking) emotional journey to start his life over again, beginning Oct. 6. Consisting of 10 one-hour episodes, TRANSPLANT is produced by Sphere Media in association with CTV and Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

“I’d always intended a four-season window into Bashir’s life as he completes his medical residency for a second time, sets down roots in Canada, and learns to shed some of his past, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to be able to tell his complete story,” said Joseph Kay, TRANSPLANT Creator, Executive Producer, and Showrunner. “This series is a labour of love for the great many of us who make it, and we’re excited for people to keep finding it for years to come. Thank you to our partners at Bell Media and Universal International Studios for the unyielding support.”

“From the beginning viewers embraced Bash’s story and the incredible world Joseph created, and we’re incredibly proud to have been part of the journey,” said Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “As Season 4 brings this story to a fulfilling end, we want to thank the extraordinary cast and crew, and our partners at Sphere Media and Universal International Studios, for bringing this unforgettable series to life.”

Currently filming in Montréal, Season 4 of TRANSPLANT finds Bashir “Bash” Hamed (Haq) on the precipice of finishing his residency at York Memorial and officially re-qualifying as a doctor. With his future uncertain once again, Bash and his sister Amira (Sirena Gulamgaus, CHAPELWAITE) are Canadian citizens now, but are still trying, with everything they have, to build a life in their adopted country.

TRANSPLANT stars Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir “Bash” Hamed; Laurence Leboeuf (SHORESY, 19-2) as Dr. Magalie “Mags” Leblanc; Ayisha Issa (POLAR) as Dr. June Curtis; Jim Watson (DESIGNATED SURVIVOR) as Dr. Theo Hunter; Rekha Sharma (YELLOWJACKETS) as Dr. Neeta Devi; Sirena Gulamgaus as Amira Hamed; Torri Higginson (DARK MATTER, THIS LIFE) as Claire Malone; Kenny Wong (PRETTY HARD CASES) as Arnold De Luca; Sugith Varughese (KIM’S CONVENIENCE) as Dr. Aajay Singh; and Gord Rand (ORPHAN BLACK) as Dr. Mark Novak.

Since its debut in 2020, TRANSPLANT has routinely ranked as a Top 20 series on CTV and has remained the most-watched Canadian drama series each broadcast year. To date, the series has amassed 23 Canadian Screen Award nominations, and has been honoured with 15 wins, including two wins for Best Dramatic Series and three consecutive wins for Hamza Haq in the Best Lead Performer, Drama Series category.

Seasons 1 through 3 of TRANSPLANT are available for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app, currently available with no subscription or sign-in required until Oct. 6, as well as on Crave. Exclusive videos are available throughout the season on @CTV and @TransplantCTV social channels, and on CTV.ca and the CTV app, providing viewers with exclusive digital content including behind-the-scenes moments, interviews with the cast, and more.

In the premiere episode of Season 4, titled “Crete” (Friday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app), Bash (Haq) and Mags (Leboeuf) team up to save a John and Jane Doe found in the woods. A fully qualified surgeon now, June (Issa) sees her old mentor in a new light. Suspended from the hospital, Theo (Watson) longs for the action while treating patients virtually. Devi (Sharma) makes a budget cut decision, which will have major consequences for the Emergency Department.

Writers on Season 4 of TRANSPLANT include Joseph Kay, who is also Executive Producer and Showrunner; Rachel Langer (EP); Kinana Issa (Executive Story Editor); Ahmad Meree (Executive Story Editor); and Basheer Amin (Junior Story Editor). Directors are Stefan Pleszczynski, who also serves as Executive Producer, Chloé Robichaud, Jeanne Leblanc, Caroline Labréche, and Samir Rhem.

Cultural consultants on Season 4 of TRANSPLANT, providing valuable insight and feedback on scripts and character development, include Ahmad Meree, Kinana Issa, Bahar Ahmadi, and Kutaiba Hajirah

TRANSPLANT is created by Joseph Kay who also serves as Executive Producer and Showrunner.

Children Ruin Everything

Season 3 of CTV original comedy Children Ruin Everything premieres Sept. 27

September 12, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

Two working parents raising three children under the age of 10 – what could possibly go wrong? CTV announced today that Canadian Screen Award-nominated comedy CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING returns for its third season, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, beginning Sept. 27. A comedic love letter to childrearing, CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING stars Meaghan Rath (BEING HUMAN) and Aaron Abrams (BLINDSPOT), and is created and executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Kurt Smeaton (SCHITT’S CREEK). Season 3 consists of 10 half-hour episodes, and was filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, Ont.

Season 3 finds the Berneys struggling to find balance between raising their 10-year-old, six-year-old, and one-and-a-half year old children. Each episode explores how the demands, needs and whims of the little weirdos they love so dearly shape and change their lives. Whether it’s privacy, relaxing weekends, or an intimate moment, children ruin everything in funny, unexpected, and even heartwarming ways. While Astrid (Rath) and James (Abrams) continue to tackle everyday parenting problems, they also deal with more complicated issues like a tween who wants more independence, a six-year-old who wants to wear crop tops, and a toddler who refuses to potty train. On top of all that, a discovery about one of their kids has Astrid and James wondering if they’ve been doing this parenting thing all wrong.

Returning for Season 3 alongside Rath and Abrams are Logan Nicholson (BLUES CLUES AND YOU) and Mikayla SwamiNathan as Felix and Viv, James and Astrid’s 10-year-old son, and six-year-old daughter; Canadian Screen Award-winner Ennis Esmer (BLINDSPOT, SCHITT’S CREEK) as James’ best friend and colleague Ennis; Nazneen Contractor (RANSOM, HEROES REBORN) as Astrid’s close-to-perfect sister Dawn; Dmitry Chepovetsky (KILLJOYS, DEPARTURE) as Bo, Dawn’s eccentric husband; Darius Rota as Dawn and Bo’s 12-year-old son Corey; Veena Sood (CORNER GAS ANIMATED, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE) as Astrid and Dawn’s over-sharing mother Nisha; and Lisa Codrington (LETTERKENNY, THE LAKE) as James’ ambitious boss Marla. Anna Hopkins (THE EXPANSE, SHADOWHUNTERS) reprises her role as “Disaster Mom,” with Bruce McCulloch (THE KIDS IN THE HALL) and Emma Hunter (MOONSHINE) guest starring.

On the Season 3 premiere of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING, titled “Therapy” (Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app), while waiting on the results of an evaluation for Viv, Astrid and James feel the pressure of figuring out how to best help their possibly neurodivergent child. But when Viv’s new doctor, guest star Emma Hunter, rubs Astrid the wrong way, Astrid tries coming up with her own strategies for Viv. Meanwhile, at Gero’s Grocery, the enlistment of Fintekoäly – a tech company hired to automate checkouts at Gero’s – makes Marla uneasy.

Season 2 of the CTV Original series was the most-watched Canadian comedy this broadcast season. The first two seasons of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING are currently available for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app with no subscription or sign-in required, as well as Crave. In the U.S., Season 3 of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING will premiere on The CW.

CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is from award-winning comedy entertainment studio New Metric Media and is created and executive produced by Smeaton and executive produced by Chuck Tatham (MODERN FAMILY, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), multiple Canadian Screen Award-winner Mark Montefiore (LETTERKENNY, SHORESY, BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE, WHAT WOULD SAL DO?), and Meaghan Rath, with Alyson Richards (The Retreat) serving as Producer.

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

APTN’s Friday Night Thunder roars onto the track for Season 3

September 7, 2023 Greg David

You never know where an errant conversation will lead. It could just steer you right back on track.

That’s certainly the case with writer, producer and director Laura J. Milliken. Unsure of whether or not she wanted to stay in the TV business anymore, the Anishinaabe entrepreneur, and founder of Big Soul Productions, was chatting with Glenn Styres in 2018. She and the winningest driver at, and owner of, Ohsweken Speedway discussed a possible show, which eventually evolved into Friday Night Thunder.

“I had been to that track a few times, but I was by no means an avid racer,” Milliken says over the phone. “[Co-creator/producer/composer and fellow driver] Derek Miller has shown me some documentaries on Ayrton Senna and Drive to Survive on Netflix, and I became really inspired and obsessed.” Her racing education continued through track visits to watch Indy, Formula 1, NASCAR and dirt tracks.

The result? A documentary series heading into its third season. Returning Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern on APTN, Friday Night Thunder spotlights 11 Indigenous sprint car drivers—including Styres, Miller, Brian Nanticoke, Aaron Turkey and Alex Hill—as they navigate the highly dangerous open-wheel sport in the Six Nations community just outside Brantford, Ont. And as cool as it is to watch the drivers and their cars jockey for position in heats and finals, Friday Night Thunder shines with its storytelling.

In Episode 1 of 13, it has been over 993 days since the COVID-19 pandemic closed Ohsweken Speedway. Now it’s open for business, but missing an integral part. Vera, Glenn’s mother, has passed away since the Season 2 finale. This gave Milliken and her team not only the opportunity to re-tell how, in 1994, Glenn built the 3/8 mile oval Ohsweken Speedway—the only of its kind in an Indigenous community in North America—on 80 acres of family-owned land but also those early days and the support Vera provided him right up until her death. It’s an emotional, deeply personal episode that cements the community around the track and the drivers, crew and audience on it.

“The show is really about the people,” Milliken says. “It’s exciting to see Indigenous people doing something that we don’t know they’re doing. This is the most fun I’ve ever had telling stories in my entire life.”

Friday Night Thunder airs Fridays at 8 p.m. Eastern on APTN.

Image courtesy of Big Soul Productions.