TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 2317
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

Call Me Fitz & Kenny vs Spenny sold to Latin America

From a media release:

ENTERTAINMENT ONE AND SPE NETWORKS LATIN AMERICA SIGN PROGRAMMING DEAL

Leading independent studio, Entertainment One is proud to announce it has concluded a slate of deals this summer in Latin America for the television series starring Jason Priestley, Call Me Fitz.

Most recently announced, Priestley was awarded with the Best Actor of a Television Series Award for his role as “Fitz” at the fourth edition of the prestigious international Television Festival, RomaFictionFest.

Call Me Fitz is a production of Entertainment One, Amaze Film + Television, Big Motion Pictures and Creator /Executive Producer Sheri Elwood (Defying Gravity). Call Me Fitz is a no-holds-barred, half-hour comedy starring Jason Priestley (The Day of the Triffids, Beverly Hills 90210) as Richard “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, a morally degenerate used car salesman who is forced to go into business with his ‘conscience.’ The handsome, charismatic and slightly crazy used car dealer pushes the boundaries of acceptable behavior. A near death experience for Fitz coincides with the arrival of Larry, a do-gooder with a heart of gold bent on helping Fitz change his ways. The dark comedy is slated to premiere in September 2010 on The Movie Network in Eastern Canada and Movie Central in Western Canada. The second season begins production in fall 2010.

Also sold for Latin America is the reality comedy series that pits childhood friends against each other in outrageous competitions, Kenny vs. Spenny for SPE Networks and the revealing documentary series that takes a look at the emotional and costly journey of the increasing number of men and women who feel driven to redesign their bodies, Skin Deep for Discovery.

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Princess premieres September 7 on Slice

From a media release:

Til Debt Do Us Part’s Gail Vaz-Oxlade Transforms Spoiled Princesses Into Self-Sufficient Women In New Original Series on Slice

Behold “Princess”: racking up thousands of dollars in credit card debt, living the life, while family and friends pay the price for her reckless spending. In the brand new original series Princess, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, financial expert and host of SliceTM’s popular financial series Til Debt Do Us Part, confronts, cajoles and guides these princesses, with the hopes of transforming them from selfish spenders into money-savvy women. Premiering Tuesday, September 7 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on SliceTM, this 13-part series features compelling stories from women of all ages, and the loved ones who are tired of being taken for granted.

“Til Debt Do Us Part consistently ranks as SliceTM‘s top Canadian series among Adults 25-54,” says Vanessa Case, Vice President, Content, SliceTM. “Viewers who love Gail Vaz-Oxlade for her no-nonsense approach to finance and practical advice will tune in to Princess to watch her tackle brand new financial problems and confront some of her most resistant participants yet.”

“These princesses are pampered and spoiled. They don’t give two hoots about how their spending affects anyone else, and they take zero responsibility for their own money,” says Gail Vaz-Oxlade. “The goal in this series isn’t just to curb a shopaholic lifestyle; it’s about changing the princess’ attitude towards her life. I want them to spend consciously; I want them to take a serious look at the effect of their destructive and manipulative behaviour on their relationships; and I want them to grow up and get serious about being strong, independent women who are in control of their own futures.”

From the young, single mother, too busy shopping and partying to notice either her daughter or her debt, to the 40-year-old self-proclaimed “Daddy’s Girl” who recently quit her job as a bartender with only a closetful of designer purchases to show for it. Although each woman is in a different life situation, each is living the same outrageous lifestyle – way beyond her means and borrowing money from credit cards and loved ones to fulfill her shopping habits, designer label obsessions and idealistic standard of living.

It’s time these princesses got a rude awakening – and SliceTM’s Gail Vaz-Oxlade is just the woman to give them the tough love and financial wake-up call they need to turn their lives around. Putting them on a cash diet, Gail gives the women six weeks to complete a series of challenges and achieve their financial goals, with the promise of up to $5,000 to pay down their debt if they succeed.

Princess is for anyone who has ever disregarded the fate of a pending bill in order to fulfill the wants of that perfect pair of shoes or designer purse. For those who have maxed out their credit cards – or someone else’s – on costly spa treatments in order to boost their self-worth. And for everyone with a “princess” in their life who could use some tough love herself!

Full episodes of Princess and additional content including finance articles and quizzes will be available exclusively online at www.slice.ca following each broadcast.

Continue reading Princess premieres September 7 on Slice

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The Opener premieres August 31 on Food Network

From a media release:

OPENING IN 24 HOURS? NO PROBLEM

  • Renowned Chef and Restaurant Consultant David Adjey is on a Mission to Help New Restaurateurs Open Up
  • The Opener Premieres August 31 at 9pm ET/10pm PT on Food Network Canada

The restaurant industry can be a difficult and risky business, especially for rookies. In Food Network Canada’s brand new Canadian original series, The Opener, celebrity chef and restaurant consultant David Adjey is on a mission to give restaurateur newbies a wake-up call before they open their doors and potentially lose everything. Premiering Tuesday, August 31 at 9pm ET/10pm PT, The Opener takes viewers on a dramatic and entertaining ride behind the scenes and into restaurants across North America. From money management and leadership to floor plans and staffing, David Adjey stops at nothing to avoid disaster. For David, failure is not on the menu.

In each episode, David Adjey answers calls from wide-eyed restaurant rookies and does whatever it takes to make their opening dreams come true. Between a pair of former fraternity brothers looking for their next great adventure, an ex-nightclub promoter eager to parlay his skills into the restaurant business, and an owner who has hired a strict vegetarian as his head chef, David has his work cut out for him.

Whether high-end or casual dining, opening a restaurant calls for more than just Grandma’s secret lasagna recipe, friends willing to wait tables, a little money from your parents, and charm. “First-timers often don’t see past the glamour of owning a restaurant,” says David Adjey, host of The Opener. “They’re in for a real shock if they’re not ready to put in 90-hour weeks, early morning set-up, and meticulous cash flow management. They might as well put their money on the floor and set it on fire.”

Having seen all kinds of success and failure in the restaurant industry, David Adjey brings expertise, inspiration, motivation and the brutal truth to new restaurant owners. His unorthodox methods and tough love give aspiring restaurateurs a shot at recouping their money and living their dream.

Foodnetwork.ca will feature a The Opener show page including streaming of episodes after broadcast airing and exclusive content consisting of interviews with David Adjey, David’s insight on how a restaurant can turn a profit, a “where they are now” series following up with show contributors, and a tour of David’s kitchen. For more information visit www.foodnetwork.ca.

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Flashpoint Season 3 premieres August 6

From a media release:

CTV Takes Aim With All-New Episodes in the Season 3 Premiere of FLASHPOINT, August 6

– Guests stars this season include Kelly Rowan, Lauren Holly and Victor Garber
– Experience FLASHPOINT online on CTV.ca, Facebook and Twitter

Canada’s most-watched original drama series is back with a bang this summer with the highly anticipated third season of FLASHPOINT, Fridays at 10 p.m. ET beginning August 6 on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times). With last Friday’s Season 3 sneak peek delivering 1.3 million viewers, and winning the night, Canadians can now lock their sights on a new season of adrenaline-pumping action that features an array of talented guest stars including Lauren Holly (NCIS), Douglas Smith (BIG LOVE) and Victor Garber (ALIAS). Kelly Rowan (The Good Times Are Killing Me) guest stars in the Season 3 premiere as an estranged mother who abducts her two children.

Last season, FLASHPOINT was Canada’s most-watched home grown drama, averaging 1.8 million viewers out of simulcast on Friday nights on CTV. This summer, encore episodes continue to average nearly one million viewers on Friday nights. Meanwhile, in the U.S., FLASHPOINT is once again a sure-fire summer hit. Internationally, FLASHPOINT is licensed in over 100 territories worldwide, with channels including RTL2 in Germany, Canal Plus in France and Veronica in the Netherlands.

In the Season 3 premiere, entitled “Severed Ties” (Friday, August 6 at 10 p.m. ET), Maggie Perrello (Kelly Rowan) was the perfect mother until an addiction to prescription meds spiraled out of control. It cost Maggie a stint in jail, and the loss of her beloved daughters Becky and Riley into foster care. Now she’s out of jail, clean and sober, and yearns to bring her children home but when Maggie discovers that she can’t have her kids back, she turns desperate and kidnaps Becky and Riley.

In “Follow the Leader” (Friday, August 13 at 10 p.m. ET) Team One launches a high-stakes raid on a white supremacist compound after a former insider, Danny Butler (Brendan Penny, WHISTLER), alerts it to an imminent attack. The team shuts down the militant camp but nearly loses one of its own in the battle. When the dust settles, the team discovers that the group’s leader Victor (Adrian Hough, DEFYING GRAVITY) escaped with Danny’s brother Trent (Tyler Johnston, LESS THAN KIND) and another accomplice and they’re all carrying concealed bombs. Parker must enlist Danny’s help in a race against time to stop the bombers and save hundreds of innocent lives.

One of the most streamed programs on CTV.ca, new episodes of FLASHPOINT will be made available on demand the day following their television broadcast on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca. Viewers can also catch up on all previous episodes at CTV.ca and at popular download stores.

This season, viewers can get the inside scoop on all the FLASHPOINT action and experience the series on a whole new virtual level on CTV.ca, Facebook, and Twitter:

Follow the producers’ FLASHPOINT Team One fan page or CTV’s FLASHPOINT TV Series page on Facebook.

Follow co-creator’s Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morganstern’s popular Twitter feed @Flashpoint_TV.
Fans can participate in online contests and win DVD box sets and signed FLASHPOINT scripts on the Team One fan page.

Check out the “Diary of a Hostage Negotiator” on FLASHPOINT.CTV.ca, an expert blog by Wally Zeins, the former Lead Negotiator for the New York City Police Department’s Hostage Negotiating Team.

Dr. Edward O’Malley, a psychologist with an extensive background in conflict resolution, crisis management and hostage negotiation will provide a post-show commentary available on FLASHPOINT.CTV.ca following the season premiere.
Also available soon on FLASHPOINT.CTV.ca is FLASHPOINT: TRAINING DAY, an interactive, online simulation game that gives FLASHPOINT fans the chance to become virtual members of the Strategic Response Unit (SRU).

FLASHPOINT’s success in 2009/2010 was highlighted by six Gemini Award wins including “Best Dramatic Series”, “Best Direction in a Dramatic Series” and “Best Performance by an Actor” for Enrico Colantoni’s portrayal of Sgt. Greg Parker, as well as 19 Gemini nominations. In June, FLASHPOINT picked up four nominations at the 2010 Monte Carlo Television Festival which recognizes International Television success. The series has also been nominated for four Directors Guild of Canada Awards, a Writers Guild of Canada Award and a 2010 ACTRA Award.

FLASHPOINT stars an impressive list of talent, including Enrico Colantoni (VERONICA MARS) as Gregory Parker, the team sergeant and head negotiator; Hugh Dillon (DURHAM COUNTY) as Ed Lane, team leader and lead sniper; Amy Jo Johnson (FELICITY) as Julianna “Jules” Callaghan, sniper and rappelling expert; David Paetkau (WHISTLER) as Sam Braddock, the young hot-shot sniper on the team; Michael Cram (STARGATE: ATLANTIS) as Kevin “Wordy” Wordsworth, who specializes in close quarter combat; and Sergio Di Zio (Just Buried) as Mike “Spike” Scarlatti, explosives and tactical toys expert.

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