From Playback, includes ratings for Degrassi and Royal Canadian Air Farce and scheduling information for Painkiller Jane:
In the news: Ratings, new shows
In the news: Canadian comedy ’soft’
John Doyle of the Globe and Mail is back with his take on TV satire, like the Rick Mercer Report, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Royal Canadian Air Farce:
- Â There’s just too much love in Canadian comedy
“The Rick Mercer Report (CBC, 8 p.m.) and This Hour Has 22 Minutes (CBC, 8:30 p.m.) are at the core of our TV satire. Both shows can be amusing and Mercer is undoubtedly clever, but both shows are essentially soft. When they mock our politicians and other leaders and celebrities, they do it with love. They don’t mock in rage, they don’t attack and put forward skepticism about the powerful on our behalf. They cozy up, crack a few jokes and make sure that nobody actually gets hurt. There’s too much love and not enough loathing.”
Upcoming episode: This Hour Has 22 Minutes, CBC, April 2
From Halifax Film:
This week on 22 Minutes …
This Hour Has 22 Minutes welcomes guest Geri Hall joining audience favorites Cathy Jones, Gavin Crawford and Mark Critch.
This week on 22 Minutes an interview with a Sasquatch and Gunter Wilson (Gavin Crawford) of Computer Corner invites you to join Facebook.
This Hour Has 22 Minutes airs on Tuesday, April 03 at 8:30 pm on CBC Television. www.cbc.ca/22minutes
ReGenesis review
In the news: Return of ReGenesis
From Jim Bawden of the Toronto Star:
- ReGenesis regenerates: Wendy Crewson joins cast in show’s mini-makeover
“About ReGenesis, the show about a team of scientists who tackle medical and ethical dilemmas of modern science, Crewson says, ‘It’s deliberately clever, not the usual science-fiction guff peddled on TV. The characters are believable, the set is as great as those on CSI. Everything we dramatize is about to happen – strange viruses, global warming. Actingwise, it’s a very competitive show – the young actors here are terrific –and I’m perfectly willing to cede centre stage to a guy as sexy as Peter Outerbridge. I get some great scenes, then I go home and don’t have to worry about carrying a show.’ “