When tragedy strikes on the high seas causing ships to sink, the truth of what happened is often lost to the depths of the ocean. In Discovery’s latest original Canadian series, DISASTERS AT SEA, experienced and dedicated marine investigators track down new evidence to solve the mysteries behind some of the most devastating and unexpected real-life marine disasters in recent history. The six-episode, one-hour docudrama premieres in the network’s coveted timeslot, Tuesday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, exclusively on Discovery, following the Season 15 premiere of the Emmy®-winning fan-favourite series DEADLIEST CATCH. The series joins the slate of spring premieres announced by the network this morning.
Each episode of DISASTERS AT SEA tells the unimaginable true story of a maritime disaster, combining harrowing re-enactments with expert analysis from marine investigators. Whether it’s survivor testimony about a sudden sound, GPS data about the ship’s speed, or the scatter pattern of wreckage at the bottom of the ocean, each piece of evidence helps investigators build a dramatic picture of the deadly chain of events.
Armed with the newly-discovered facts uncovered by investigators, archival footage is combined with evocative re-enactments, CGI, and special effects to immerse viewers in each story and dramatically convey the catastrophic events. Each episode delivers a suspenseful journey into one of the deadliest jobs on the planet, the working men and women who choose this dangerous life, and the marine investigators who work tirelessly to help make the high seas a safer place.
DISASTERS AT SEA was commissioned by Discovery, in conjunction with Smithsonian Channel in the U.S. and Seven Network in Australia. The series was produced by Discovery’s Exploration Production Inc. (EPI) in a purpose-built studio in Hamilton, Ontario and on-location throughout Canada and the U.S. The production is the biggest and most comprehensive partnership of its kind for EPI.
Through international rights manager Exploration Distribution Inc. (EDI), the series has been sold in more than 110 markets, including the U.K. and Germany. DISASTERS AT SEA is currently in production on a second season in Hamilton, Ontario, and will debut on Discovery next year.
Great interview! I was surprised at how the powers that be at Murdoch Mysteries turned the character around for me. The first couple of times I just found Ruth irritating. But the Helen Keller episode was the turning point. After that, I was all in favour of a #Higgsome romance … there’s something that just works with Henry and Ruth together. —DMK
I have been a faithful fan right from the beginning. I love the fact that Murdoch hinted to Ms. Hart that he knows something isn’t right with evidence she conveniently found. Also, I would like to see William become Inspector and George become detective. I would like to see some of George’s past as well. Also, more episodes dealing with the individual members of the team. Thank you for this show, these characters have become like family in our house. —Janice
My son-in-law worked on [Northern Rescue] last summer. He had a great time and he says Mr Baldwin was awesome to work for. They have not started shooting Season 2 yet, but I am praying they do as I love this show!! —Mona
Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.
Discovery sails into spring with the return of several of the network’s fan-favourite original Canadian series, including LAST STOP GARAGE (Season 2), MIGHTY CRUISE SHIPS (Season 3), and JADE FEVER (Season 5). Also on deck for March is a special presentation of the conservation documentary TIGERLAND, an official selection of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Jam-packed with homegrown programming, the spring schedule kicks into gear when the Discovery original LAST STOP GARAGE returns for Season 2 Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT beginning March 21. With two new half-hour episodes airing weekly, Season 2 follows the rag-tag team of mechanics from CRB Automotive in North West River, Labrador, the sole auto repair shop in their remote town of 553 people. Each half-hour episode follows the staff of CRB as they use backwoods ingenuity and mechanical wizardry to fix and build just about anything for anyone.
Then, the world’s most luxurious and cutting-edge cruise ships are highlighted when the Discovery original series MIGHTY CRUISE SHIPS sets sail for Season 3, airing Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT beginning March 31. The six-episode season takes viewers to the tropical refuges of the Caribbean and French Polynesia, the classic waterways of the Mediterranean, and the remote coastlines of Norway and the high Arctic, highlighting the best vessel on which to set course for each tantalizing destination. Every episode delivers a see-all, hear-all journey through every moment above and below deck, from the mechanics of modern sea-going to the human dramas of the seafarers and guest service staff. Produced by Discovery’s in-house production unit, Exploration Production Inc. (EPI), MIGHTY CRUISE SHIPS is distributed to 110 countries worldwide by EPI’s distribution arm, Exploration Distribution Inc. – the international distributor for all of EPI and Bell Media programs.
With demand for jade skyrcocketing in China, the Bunce family continues their hunt for Grade A jade in Season 5 of Discovery’s unscripted original series JADE FEVER, airing Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT beginning April 8. With two half-hour episodes airing back-to-back each week, the Bunces are in desperate need of success after failing to find Grade A jade in the previous mining season. With their life savings on the line, Claudia hopes her father Steve, a jade mining veteran, will be her lucky ticket, but fireworks ensue when three generations of her family attempt to work together. Adding to the complications, treacherous roads, freak spring snowstorms, and raging wildfires threaten to derail their mining season.
From Academy® Award-winning filmmakers Ross Kauffman (Born into Brothels) and Fisher Stevens (The Cove), Discovery presents the feature-length documentary TIGERLAND on Saturday, March 30 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The film illustrates how shifting political realities in Russia and India created a lucrative poaching underworld that decimated the tiger population. Inspired by the documentary, Discovery Canada’s parent company Discovery Networks International (DNI) and World Wildlife Fund US have partnered to help preserve Russia’s Bikin National Park, which is featured in TIGERLAND, as part of its Project C.A.T. initiative. DNI has committed to fully funding the site through 2022, bringing the total amount of preserved land through Project C.A.T. to more than 5.6 million acres since its launch in 2016.
Subscribers can access live streaming of Discovery programming through the Discovery app, and catch up on full seasons of Discovery series on demand through the Discovery app and at Discovery.ca.
Below is a closer look at Discovery’s new and returning programming highlights for March and April. All programming is subject to change (all times ET; visit discovery.ca to confirm local broadcast times; programming subject to change).
Thursday, March 21
9 p.m. – LAST STOP GARAGE – “Medi-Sled†– *Season 2 Premiere*
The CRB crew reboots a ski club’s snowmobile and builds a custom rescue sled with a detachable stretcher for the trails.
9:30 p.m. – LAST STOP GARAGE – “Dog Sled Vanâ€
Collin and Corey help the owners of an adventure trekking business transport their huskies and sled across the rough roads of Labrador.
Saturday, March 30
9 p.m. – TIGERLAND – *Special Premiere*
In the span of only a handful of generations, the tiger has been transformed from a venerated creature into a major source of revenue, and the population of wild tigers in Asia has dropped from more than 100,000 to less than 4,000 as a result. In the face of corruption and cultural apathy, Russian scientist Pavel Fomenko and the conservationist family of Kailash Sankhala of India lead inspirational tiger-preservation movements to keep the legendary animal from disappearing entirely.
Sunday, March 31
7 p.m. – MIGHTY CRUISE SHIPS – “Koningsdam†– *Season 3 Premiere*
Sail through the Norwegian fjords on Holland America’s Koningsdam, the newest, largest, and most technologically advanced ship in the Holland America fleet. Sailing the narrow Norwegian fjords presents numerous challenges for the bridge team, whether it’s snaking through the winding channels carved by the glaciers, searching for suitable anchor sites, or ferrying guests ashore with the ship’s tender boats. But it’s well worth the effort, leading to one of the steepest train rides in the world, waterfalls that cascade into verdant valleys, and hikes that climax with picnics on sheer cliff tops.
Monday, April 8
10 p.m. – JADE FEVER – “The Long and Grinding Road†– *Season 5 Premiere*
With no jade to show for last season, Claudia is desperate to start digging out the huge jade lens they found late last year. The crew set out on the first trek of the season to their mine, but deep mud and high waters turn the trip into a major disaster. For Claudia, it’s an ominous start to a critical season.
10:30 p.m. – JADE FEVER – “Nose for Jadeâ€
With the road into their camp unpassable, Claudia puts mining on hold and sends Guy and Gary out to repair the torn-up road. Meanwhile, the newest member of the crew arrives – Claudia’s father, Steve. He placer mined the Two Mile claim 40 years ago and with everything on the line this year, Claudia’s desperately hoping he’s the lucky ticket she needs to turn this make-or-break season into a success.
Back by popular demand, Babe Nation Films and actress/writer/producer Vanessa Matsui are proud to reveal that the second season of the praised digital comedy series, GHOST BFF, has been greenlit and will begin filming in Toronto this summer.
Ghost BFFÂ follows two best friends, one alive, one dead, across space, time and the suburbs as they struggle to find themselves and right past wrongs following a suicide.
The series will continue to challenge the stigma regarding mental health conversation, by building on the foundation set in season one. The second season of Ghost BFF promises to bring even more light, laughter, and openness to rather taboo topics like depression and suicide.
The series, created, directed, and written by Canadian Screen Award-nominated actress, Vanessa Matsui (The Handmaids Tale, Shadowhunters, The Smurfs 2) and produced and co-written by Babe Nation’s Katie Nolan, will be available for stream on Elizabeth Banks co-founded platform, WhoHaha and Whohaha channels.
“Creating the first season of GHOST BFF was an absolute dream come true,†share Matsui and Nolan. “We were overwhelmed with the amount of the love and acceptance we received from our audiences after watching the first season, that we knew we needed to create more. We are beyond excited to bring back these beloved characters for a second season, and will continue to encourage these important conversations surrounding mental health awarenessâ€.
The series has been nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards. One for 2019 Best Web Program or Series, Fiction; and one for 2019 Best Lead Performance, Web Program or Series for actress/writer/co-creator Vanessa Matsui.
It’s been two years since TV, Eh? began our inaugural spotlight on web series seeking Independent Production Fund support, and the state of those series in Canada is booming. Projects like Save Me, Clairevoyant, How to Buy a Baby and Narcoleap are just a few of the many that received IPF support in the past and have gone on to full-blown web and television series.
Established in 1991 to provide financial support for dramatic television series, the IPF was expanded in 2010 to include financing drama series for the web. That mandate has been extended indefinitely. The result? Dozens of trailers for potential projects have been posted on YouTube. Check them out here.
With a deadline of March 31 approaching, creators are looking for support via views and comments about their potential projects before the IPF makes their decision. In 2018, the IPF approved funding for 17 scripted series (11 in English and six in French) including The Amazing Gayl Pyle, The Communist’s Daughter, Detention Adventure and Short Term Sentence. Here are a few projects that caught our eye, as well as the links to some honourable mentions. Watch, click, comment and help them all gain funding!
The Series:The Wait
The Creator: Matthew MacFadzean
The Idea: July (Keeya King) discovers she is a ghost left haunting a home after her family moves out. July is able to communicate with Melinda (Jessica Clement), the young woman who moves into the house. July realizes a figure named Dark John is on the hunt to collect her lost soul.
The Inspiration: “I had an image of a girl ghost looking at another girl and saying, ‘I see you,'” MacFadzean recalls. “I thought, ‘There’s something in that.’ There is something about the relationship between a ghost and a living person that maybe hasn’t been done to the extent that it could be.” A fan of what the horror genre is turning out now thanks to films like Get Out and the Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House, MacFadzean wanted to explore what is a tale of possession and, ultimately, consent.
The first season will explore the relationship between these two women; MacFadzean was explaining the premise to writer and producer Mika Collins, who suggested that in addition to being about a haunting The Wait is also an LGBT story. If the project is greenlit, July and Melinda’s tale will be told responsibly.
The Plan: Ten 10-minute web episodes to start, focusing on July and Melinda’s relationship. MacFadzean says that he has plenty of stories to tell and characters to introduce if The Wait becomes an hour-long drama.
The Series:It’s OK to Be Awesome
The Creators: Rebecca Tremblay and Anne Lebans
The Idea: A gaggle of brightly-coloured puppets named Tez, Skye and Pinkerton teach kids aged 6-9 about mental wellness and empowerment.
The Inspiration:Lebans, a life coach, found that self-worth was missing from the female entrepreneurs she was working with. Tremblay, a teacher and puppeteer, used her creations to build self-esteem with adults and children. The two teamed up in 2016 and provided an after-school program in New Brunswick; everything they taught in it has been put into It’s OK to Be Awesome.
“Whether you’re an adult or a child, self-worth and confidence can really stop you from succeeding and they’re not part of the school curriculum,” Lebans says. “I realized, ‘Holy moly, we need to teach this to people so that the world can look different, feel different and have a happy, healthy life.’” The duo, along with producer Jessica Jennings of Hemmings House Pictures, received financial support from the Telus Fund—it supports projects with a health focus—to film a pilot episode, and It’s OK to Be Awesome is endorsed by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
The Plan: A web series to begin with, but the team hopes a broadcaster follows.
The Series:Decoys
The Creator: David Pelech
The Idea:Â In this mockumentary, cameras follow a group of characters competing in the Northern Alberta Duck Decoy Carving Competition.
The Inspiration: The idea is close to Pelech’s heart: his father and uncle both participate in duck carving woodworking.
“The way that they are so into it, and their passion for something that is so fringe and so unique, I thought that world was ripe,” Pelech says. “And it’s not a parody or mocking. I think it can be quite beautiful art, but sometimes they do take themselves a bit too seriously. They do enter competitions, so it is nice to have that driving a show. I’m trying to draw the heart out of it as well.”
The Plan: If it receives IPF funding, Decoys will take the form of six 15-minute episodes on CBC Gem.
“Episode 1 is at the competition and at the end, we’ve heard the finalists,” Pelech explains. “Then we go back in time and start meeting the characters on the road to the competition, six months out, four months out, and then in the final episode, we find out who wins. Who is the best carver in Lloydminster.”
Honourable Mentions
Arties
A coming-of-age tale about a teenaged boy who partners with an Indigenous woman. Together they evade government forces on a journey to bring civil rights to androids.
Triggered
A former event planner-turned assassin seeks revenge on the health-care system who murdered her mother and frames it on the only person she’s ever loved.
Miikshi the Meek Sheep
A shy sheep scientist and her loudmouth journalist best friend (a chicken) solves a subway train mystery. The entire world of the show is handmade using puppets and model miniatures.
La Professoressa A multilingual coming-of-age comedy about a failing jazz singer who adds new richness to her life, and voice, through teaching Italian to a variety of students in Toronto.
Late Night in the Studio
Archivist and host Moe delves into the catacombs of the CBC archives to dig up wacky (and totally fake) treasures.
Naked Nancy
Socially awkward Nancy is forced to face her greatest fear—the outside world—when her cat escapes from their apartment.
Bobby and Bogey
This project follows Bobby, a kid in Grade 4 that needs a lot of help with … well, everything. He finds that guidance one day when he discovers a crusty old booger living in his nose that doesn’t want to be picked. The booger, named Bogey, agrees to mentor him as barter for staying in his comfy little nose apartment.
Trouble and Strife
A dramatic comedy about loneliness and need and intimacy, and how it’s easier to be a hero to other people’s lives than it is to be a hero in your own.
Begin Again
Denise, Sarah and Toni discover adulthood is not at all what they imagined as children. Now they must hold on to each other before they each fall apart.
Kit & Kat
An unapologetic, thirtysomething slacker and her precocious 11-year-old stepdaughter navigate the conservative world of Vancouver’s upper class.
