TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 246
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Industry News

Channel Zero launches Studio Division to be led by Jennifer Chen

From a media release:

Canadian media company Channel Zero Inc. today announced the launch of Channel Zero Studios which will develop and produce original scripted content for all platforms. Jennifer Chen, formerly the company’s VP of Programming, will lead the division as Head of Studios and VP of Content. Building on the company’s partnership with Motion Content Group, Group M’s content division, Channel Zero Studios will collaborate with both domestic and international partners to create compelling global content. Channel Zero Studios expects to be in production on its first series in Q1 2020.

In the newly created role, effective immediately, Chen assumes leadership of the division and will focus on building out the development slate, overseeing innovative financing of all projects, and fostering stronger relationships with global industry partners.

Chen joined Channel Zero in 2006 and has played a key role in the company’s expansion. As Channel Zero’s VP of Programming, Chen has been instrumental in securing notable acquisitions and commissioning original programming including Wynonna Earp, The Pinkertons, and Inside the Story. Previously, as General Manager of Ouat Media, Chen oversaw the sales and distribution of over a dozen Oscar-nominated and award-winning titles. Prior to joining Channel Zero, Chen held roles at the Canadian Film Centre, TIFF, Cannes Film Festival, and Hewlett Packard.

About Channel Zero
Channel Zero is an independent Canadian media company that owns over-the-air channel CHCH-TV and a bouquet of specialty channels including Rewind, Silver Screen Classics, and Halla Bol Kids TV, Canada’s first South Asian HD TV channel.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured

Comments and queries for the week of November 22

2 Comments

I’ve recently started watching Hudson & Rex. I came across it by accident. I love this show and am happy to hear it was renewed. I’m now watching show after show of Season 1. So tired of all the reality shows, this is refreshing and a great find for me. Please keep it going as long as possible. Storylines, characters and being a Canadian show is fantastic. Thank you for renewing it for Season 2. —Wendy

I loved “The Final Curtain.” A great whodunit with lots of drama plus very funny moments! The aging lothario trying to seduce Margaret was hilarious and then her refusal to accept John’s escapades was a total been-there-done-that moment for me. Great to see Julia getting her hands dirty with murder again. All in all a home run for this series!! —David

We loved this episode! “The Final Curtain” was great fun and kept us guessing until the very end. There was plenty of humour throughout. It was fun watching the Murdoch regulars hamming it up as much as the stage actors. —Mary

It is actually not just one set though it feels like it. We shot the actual theatre stage and auditorium in St. Mary’s but most of the backstage rooms were built in-studio. It is, however, the first episode not have a horse according to people standing around on set. —Joanna Syrokomla

Got a question about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Burden of Truth, Coroner, Diggstown, Family Feud Canada, Fortunate Son, Kim's Convenience, Schitt's Creek, The Detectives, Workin' Moms

CBC announces winter premiere dates for Coroner, Schitt’s Creek, Workin’ Moms and more

3 Comments

From a media release:

CBC today announced premiere dates for its winter 2020 lineup of new and returning Canadian series, featuring original programming that reflects contemporary Canada. With a new winter schedule launching Sunday, January 5, each series will be available on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

New original series premiering this winter include:

Hosted by Gerry Dee, FAMILY FEUD CANADA will introduce audiences to Canadian families from across the country four nights a week, beginning Monday, December 16 at a special time of 8PM (8:30 NT), before moving into its regular time slot at 7:30PM (8 NT) on Monday, December 23

New original factual series HIGH ARCTIC HAULERS, a high-stakes journey at sea that offers a look at Canada’s resilient, vibrant northern communities, premieres Sunday, January 5 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

Starring Kari Matchett (Covert Affairs), Darren Mann (Giant Little Ones) and Stephen Moyer (True Blood) and set in the social and political chaos of 1968, new spy drama FORTUNATE SON premieres Wednesday January 8 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

In a new take on the popular factual entertainment format, BACK IN TIME FOR WINTER follows one modern Canadian family on a winter time-travelling adventure beginning Thursday, January 9 at 8PM (8:30NT)

Epic sci-fi adventure series ENDLINGS produced in partnership with Hulu, follows four foster kids who make a startling discovery that affects the entire universe, and premieres Sunday, January 5 at 6PM (6:30 NT) with weekly back-to-back episodes

New culinary competition series and original Canadian format, FRIDGE WARS, premieres Thursday, February 27 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

New CBC Docs original series THE OLAND MURDER premieres Thursday, March 5 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

Returning titles include:

Last season’s most-watched new Canadian series* CORONER, starring Serinda Swan, returns for Season 2 Monday, January 6 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

CBC’s popular Tuesday night comedy lineup returns with the fourth season of KIM’S CONVENIENCE at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) and the sixth and final season of SCHITT’S CREEK at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) beginning Tuesday, January 7, with WORKIN’ MOMS returning for a fourth season Tuesday, February 18 at 9:30PM (10 NT)

The Kristin Kreuk-led legal drama BURDEN OF TRUTH returns for Season 3 Wednesday, January 8 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

Gripping Canadian true crime series THE DETECTIVES returns for Season 3 Thursday, January 9 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

CBC DOCS POV returns with a new series of documentaries from some of Canada’s most talented documentary filmmakers beginning Sunday, February 9 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

Halifax legal aid drama DIGGSTOWN starring Vinessa Antoine and Natasha Henstridge returns for Season 2 Wednesday, March 4 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Link: Anjelica’s 22 Minute Workout brings back the ’80s — spandex and all

From Melissa Hank of Postmedia:

Link: Anjelica’s 22 Minute Workout brings back the ’80s — spandex and all
“I wanted to make it modernized and more inclusive of people of all kinds. Those ’80s fitness shows only had one kind of person. And while I really admired the aesthetic of that era, the update was much called for.” Continue reading. 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Murdoch Mysteries, “The Final Curtain”

20 Comments

The last time John Brackenreid was on Murdoch Mysteries, it was in the two-part Season 12 finale. John had been shot, recuperated and announced to his parents that he was going to quit being a copper and pursue a career as an actor.

We catch up with John during Monday’s episode, “The Final Curtain,” written by Simon McNabb and directed by Mina Shum. Here’s what the CBC has revealed as the main storyline:

An actor is killed at a play attended by Murdoch, Ogden, Crabtree, and Brackenreid.

And, as always, here are a few tidbits from me after watching a screener.

The Final Curtain
Not only is this the name of the episode, but it’s also the name of the play John Brackenreid stars in. As the episode begins, we join the main characters at the theatre. Watts makes quite the entrance and Murdoch asks a question I always wonder when I attend the theatre. Watching the performance, and how our favourite characters consume and comment on it, is several minutes of fun. And, I think, more than one gentle poke at some critics along the way.

Margaret gets some attention
And Brackenreid isn’t bloody happy about it.

Guests aplenty
Look for Jim Mezon as Grayson Howard, Sara Garcia (X Company) as Ada Cunningham, Jessica Huras as Joan Dalloway, Aidan Moreno as Barney Finch and Ivan Sherry as Herbert Gould (he portrayed Mayor Hopkins back in 2012).

A bottle episode
A traditional bottle episode of television refers to the fact the storyline takes place on just one set. It’s traditionally done to keep production costs down. I have no idea if that’s why Monday’s episode stays in the theatre, but it’s a nice (and literal) change of scenery.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail