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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Haven

Review: Haven series premiere

From Myles McNutt of Cultural Learnings:

  • Series Premiere: Haven – “Welcome to Haven”
    “Haven was filmed about a half hour away from my current location in the suburbs of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and so there is a certain novelty to watching the premiere and seeing familiar locales. I worked for three summers driving around the province putting out traffic counters, and so I not only recognized Lunenburg (which doubles as Haven) but also the roads which they drive to get to the town, or the intersection where the main action seems to be located. As a result, Haven came to life for me in a way which kept me engaged – it’s too bad, though, that I’m not sure many other viewers could say the same.” Read more.
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Uncategorized

Blackstone starts production

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From a media release:

Blackstone Goes to Series

Prairie Dog Film + Television is green lit to produce eight one-hour episodes for APTN and Showcase Inspired by its highly successful TV pilot, APTN and Showcase join forces to produce eight one-hour episodes of Blackstone. The show premieres early in 2011 on APTN and Showcase.
Principle photography begins July 12.

Intense, compelling and confrontational, Blackstone is an unmuted exploration of power and politics on an Indian reserve.

“Blackstone is relevant and relational in an Aboriginal story world, with universal themes and conflicts”, said Creator Ron E. Scott.

The series delves into the tumultuous lives of residents on the Blackstone Indian Reserve. It begins with newly appointed Chief Leona Stoney (Carmen Moore) struggling in her new role. After losing re-election, corrupt former chief Andy Fraser (Eric Schweig) continues his questionable behaviour by attempting to remove incriminating files and orchestrating an alliance to replace the new Chief. Gail Stoney (Michelle Thrush) is still in mourning over the tragic death of her daughter Natalie (Roseanne Supernault), and ends up in the hospital. Outspoken councilor Victor Merasty (Nathaniel Arcand) struggles to have a relationship with his daughter in the city, while fighting for what he believes in. The community of Blackstone becomes divided as police are allowed to investigate, then prosecute, in a child abuse case. Life in the city serves as a continuous temptation, as the new generation of reserve leaders fight to create lasting and substantial change from within the community.

Blackstone is produced by Prairie Dog Film + Television in association with Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Showcase and Canwest Broadcasting, with the assistance of the Government of Alberta, Alberta Media Fund, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and with the assistance of The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

For more information, visit www.blackstonetheseries.com

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Haven

In the news: Haven reviews

From Alex Strachan of Canwest News Service:

  • Hush, or the fog will get us
    “From its eerie early minutes, Haven may remind some horror-movie fans of The Fog. The analogy is apt, but also a little misleading: Haven, based on the Stephen King novella The Colorado Kid, is its own tale, and it has a way of getting under the skin and burrowing inside the viewer’s head. One thing is clear: It’ll take a lot more than an hour or two of screen time to solve all Haven’s mysteries.” Read more.

From Rob Vaux of Mania:

  • Haven: Welcome to… Review
    “The pilot for Haven aptly demonstrates both its modest strengths and its copious weaknesses. Its principal failing is that it doesn’t feel significantly different than Eureka, Warehouse 13 or any of Syfy’s other bastard X-Files stepchildren.” Read more.
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Rookie Blue

Rookie Blue renewed for season two

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From a media release:

LOCKED AND LOADED: CANWEST AND ABC ANNOUNCE EARLY RENEWAL OF SUMMER’S HOTTEST NEW HIT, ROOKIE BLUE

  • Homegrown Series Sets New Record as Biggest Canadian Drama Premiere on Any Network in Over a Decade

Today, Canwest and ABC jointly announced the renewal of this summer’s biggest new series, Rookie Blue. The sexy hit Canadian drama was greenlit for a second season only three weeks following the ground-breaking premiere on Global Television and ABC.

A bullet-proof winner since its debut, Rookie Blue has hooked a combined weekly average of 8.5 million viewers on both sides of the border, and has garnered a rap sheet full of critics’ accolades. Sparked by this extraordinary response to the new blue, the second season is currently in development and will move into production in Toronto later this summer.

In Canada, the series premiere garnered a record-breaking 2.1 million viewers on Global (Ind 2+, national – up from the preliminary overnight number of 1.8 million) – the highest-rated premiere for a Canadian drama series on any network in over a decade. Bolstered by an extensive marketing campaign across the country, Rookie Blue is the most successful original Canadian drama ever commissioned by Canwest.

Rookie Blue was developed by Thump Inc. and produced in partnership with leading indie studio and distributor, E1 Entertainment. The series is executive produced by award-winning Tassie Cameron (Flashpoint), Ilana Frank (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings), Noreen Halpern (Hung, Haven), John Morayniss (Hung, Haven) and David Wellington (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings).

E1 owns worldwide distribution rights for its TV productions and markets its programs to broadcasters, digital outlets and retailers around the globe. Along with the sales to ABC and Canwest, the exclusive global pay-TV rights (excluding U.S., Canada, France and Germany) for Rookie Blue were previously acquired by Universal Networks International, the global channels division of NBC Universal.

Rookie Blue follows the lives of five inexperienced rookies thrown into the world of big city policing. The series examines the trials and triumphs, competition and camaraderie of this rookie family learning that no amount of training can prepare them for this job – or for life.

Shot entirely on location in Toronto, Rookie Blue features a diverse lineup of Canadian actors including Missy Peregrym (Reaper, Heroes), Gregory Smith (Everwood), Charlotte Sullivan (M.V.P.), Enuka Okuma (24) and Travis Milne (My Green House). Rounding out the cast is Ben Bass (Would Be Kings), Eric Johnson (Smallville), Matt Gordon (Rent-A-Goalie), Noam Jenkins (Flashpoint) and Melanie Nicholls King (The Wire).

Rookie Blue airs Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT on Global and ABC. In this week’s episode, “Signals Crossed” (Thursday, July 15), Andy (Missy Peregrym) trades in her uniform for something more risqué when she goes undercover as a prostitute. Tensions run high when Dov (Gregory Smith) puts an informant’s life in jeopardy and it’s up to Andy to infiltrate a risky gun deal in progress to save her.

Viewers can catch up on the first three episodes of Rookie Blue at www.GlobalTV.com.

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