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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
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In the news: Hugh Dillon on Durham County

From Lee-Anne Goodman of the Canadian Press:

  • Rock star-turned-serious actor Hugh Dillon shines in gritty drama ‘Durham County’
    “Durham County” is the brainchild of a group of women – producers Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman, writer Laurie Finstad Knizhnik and director Holly Dale. Shot in a Montreal suburb, it’s a dark, taut thriller that wouldn’t look out of place on an American cable channel alongside shows like “Dexter” and “The Wire.” That’s something Dillon, a native of Kingston, Ont., now based in Los Angeles, is particularly proud of.”
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Industry News

In the news: CTV merger sparks call for more Canadian drama

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

  • When Canadians watch TV, they want drama
    “When most Canadians watch TV, drama is what they want to watch, and the majority of the most-watched programs in Canada each week are dramas. But we’re not making any.”

And a reaction from Denis McGrath of Dead Things on Sticks, with a list of Canadian dramas currently in development:

  • Canadians Want Drama
    “So is the CRTC going to extract from CTV the first plank in a new drama committment? That’s what Doyle seems to be calling for. That would be great.”
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Industry News

In the news: Canadian talent backs CTV/CHUM merger

From the Financial Post:

  • Artistic community backs CTV’s CHUM takeover
    The artistic community tried to rally Tuesday behind the CTV Inc. takeover of CHUM Ltd., telling CRTC officials that CTV is the only player committed to fostering and nurturing Canadian talent. Nevertheless, the chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Konrad von Finckenstein, appeared unmoved.

But, from Bloomberg later:

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Degrassi

Degrassi Exposed in Provocative Two-Part Finale

From CTV:

  • Rosie O’Donnell jumps on the Degrassi bandwagon as host of New York City event yesterday

Yesterday in New York, the headline-grabbing Rosie O’Donnell hosted an unprecedented town hall discussion with cast from Canada’s own Degrassi: The Next Generation and the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening. Both casts candidly discussed the numerous issues, both good and bad, that teens deal with on a daily basis. Reaching out to viewers directly and touching on subjects that affect them is not a stretch for Degrassi, as the series continues to do so in its provocative Season 6 finale. Premiering Monday, May 7 and Monday, May 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times), the two-part finale focuses on a Degrassi character who takes a job as a stripper in order to help her family make ends meet.

Yesterday, select Degrassi cast members joined performers from the hit Broadway show Spring Awakening in what was billed as a “Live Verbal Mash Up” hosted by Rosie O’Donnell. Taking place at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, the one-hour town hall event welcomed 500 teens from the New York City area to discuss peer pressure, identity issues and how teens are dealing with young adulthood.

With yesterday’s event hosted by Rosie O’Donnell, a recent tribute at the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival and two more volumes of the graphic novels “Degrassi: Extra Credit” hitting bookstores this week, the Number 1 Canadian drama series Degrassi is riding a wave that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. In the U.S., Degrassi is the flagship series on the digital cable channel The N, where it ranks as the network’s Number 1 program.

In Degrassi’s two-part, Season 6 finale:

“Don’t You Want Me – Part One” (Monday, May 7 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CTV): Alex and her mother Emily are in deep money trouble and can’t pay the rent. The situation is dire and when a job as a waitress at a ‘gentleman’s club’ comes up, Alex takes it – but learns there’s bigger money onstage. Alex has to decide what to do – and how her maybe-more-than-a-friend Paige will deal with the situation.

“Don’t You Want Me – Part Two” (Monday, May 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CTV): Alex’s double life is finally bringing in the cash she wants but hiding everything from everyone is taking a toll on her schoolwork and her connection with Paige. Making money is the only way Alex and her mother won’t get evicted, so she tries to convince herself that she is making the right decision.

The Degrassi two-part finale will be available on demand on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca Tuesdays at 9 a.m. ET (May 8 and 15) following their television broadcast on CTV.

Viewers can catch up on all 17 of this season’s previously aired episodes, along with corresponding exclusive online content, all on demand on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca. Following the television broadcast of each new episode, the episode itself as well as a scripted webisode (a.k.a. “Degrassi Mini”) and a behind-the-scenes documentary (a.k.a. “Degrassi: On the Set”) for the episode will be available on demand beginning Tuesdays at 9 a.m. ET on The CTV Broadband Network at CTV.ca.

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