TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 509
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

AMI-tv to launch Food Spin with Chef Aleem – a documentary series focused on food, accessibility and community

From a media release:

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) announced today that Food Spin with Chef Aleem – a documentary series following the life of Toronto food truck owner Aleem Syed – will premiere on November 29.

A professionally trained chef, Aleem’s world was forever changed in 2008 when he was involved in a shooting accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. His passion for food never wavered and he made it his mission to open a halal – and fully wheelchair accessible – food truck called the Holy Grill.

Food Spin with Chef Aleem follows his day to day life as he whips through the streets of Toronto drawing culinary inspiration from his Indian roots, experimenting with new foods, and connecting with the community by sharing his story and creative dishes. He’s accomplished so much, but with many aspirations still on the horizon Aleem must contemplate: what’s next?

To be accessible for those with sight loss the show features integrated described video – where Aleem describes his actions and surroundings during filming – eliminating the need for a secondary audio track.

Food Spin with Chef Aleem is produced for AMI-tv by Fair-Play. The 13-episode series kicks off on Wednesday, November 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Full episodes will be available online after the initial broadcast.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Letterkenny

Jay Baruchel joins the Letterkenny cast in feature role as production begins on next six-pack

From a media release:

CraveTV confirmed today that Montréal-born actor, director, producer – and reported Habs fan – Jay Baruchel, joins the LETTERKENNY cast as Hard Right Jay  – a Tiki Torch-carrying out-of-towner, who stirs things up in Letterkenny – in an all-new six-pack of episodes. If that’s not enough to toot your horn, this round also features social media-mega star Evan Breen, taking on the role of Straight Edge Eric, Jay’s trusty side-kick. Sarah Gadon returns in the new block of episodes, reprising her role as mysterious lady-skid, Gae.

Returning to direct is Jacob Tierney, who also reprises his fan-favourite role as Christian leader, Glen. Currently in production in Sudbury, ON, and set to launch in 2018, the new six-pack focuses on the rising City vs. Rural tensions – which basically means a bunch of “citiots” could get their arses kicked. But it’s not all scrappin’ ‘cause Wayne’s still looking for love.

Also joining the cast this six-pack are Alex Harrouch (Degrassi) as resident skid and IT expert, Everett; Magalie Lépine Blondeau as Wayne’s incroyable love interest; Pierre Yves Cardinal as Jean Claude; and Kelly McCormack (Killjoys) and Jess Salgueiro (Saving Hope) as Shamrockette stars Mary-Anne and Betty-Anne.

Created by and starring Jared Keeso, the award-winning half-hour comedy is produced by New Metric Media in partnership with DHX Media and Playfun Games.

LETTERKENNY revolves around the dustups Wayne (Jared Keeso) and his buds get into with their small-town rivals. The Hicks, The Skids, and The Hockey Players get at each other about the most mundane things, often ending with someone getting their ass kicked. Key residents of LETTERKENNY are Daryl (Nathan Dales), Wayne’s free-spirited younger sister Katy (Michelle Mylett), and Wayne’s buddy, Dan (K Trevor Wilson) – all Hicks. CSA-nominated Daniel Petronijevic returns as Hick McMurray. Dylan Playfair and Andrew Herr reprise their roles as hotshot Hockey Players “Jonesy” and “Reilly”. Tyler Johnston and Evan Stern return as Skids Stewart and Roald. Mark Forward returns as the temperamental Coach of the Letterkenny Irish and Tiio Horn is back as badass leader of The Natives, Tanis. As well, Sébastien Huberdeau, Alexandre Landry, Domenic Di Rosa, and Kim Cloutier reprise their roles as The Hicks’ Québécois counterparts, Les Hiques.

Based on the internet sensation Letterkenny Problems, the half-hour comedy is currently a top performer and marquee program for CraveTV since its memorable launch on Super Bowl Sunday in 2015. Season 1 of LETTERKENNY took home three 2017 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Comedy Series, Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series, and Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series. As well, series creator Jared Keeso and co-writer and director Jacob Tierney have been recognized with a Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award for TV Comedy.

Seasons 1 – 3, along with special episodes “Ferda Edition”, “The Haunting of MoDean’s II”, “St. Perfect’s Day,” and the original web series Letterkenny Problems are currently streaming on CraveTV. LETTERKENNY is also available on iTunes and Google Play. Season 1 of LETTERKENNY will also be available on DVD, November 21, wherever DVDs are sold.

Today’s news comes on the heels of the recently announced 40-plus episode production commitment and comprehensive multi-year partnership between CraveTV and series producers New Metric Media. The deal also supports a 30-city LETTERKENNY LIVE! tour starring Jared Keeso (Wayne), Nathan Dales (Daryl), K Trevor Wilson (Dan) and Mark Forward (Coach).

LETTERKENNY is produced by New Metric Media, in partnership with DHX Media and Playfun Games in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, OMDC Tax Credits and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and distributed by DHX Media. Jared Keeso is executive producer, co-writer, star, and creator, Jacob Tierney is executive producer, director, and co-writer. Executive producers are Mark Montefiore for New Metric Media, and Patrick O’Sullivan. Steven DeNure is  Co-Founder, President and COO of DHX Media.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Mohawk Girls

Mohawk Girls: All that glitters is not gold!

The Season 5 premiere episode of Mohawk Girls was firing on all cylinders! We have waited almost a year for their return, but the action picked up only one week following the “PowWow,” so I am going to jump right on in.

All evidence appeared to suggest that Anna (Maika Harper) had finally conformed enough to secure a spot in the world of Kahnawa:ke.  In a constant state of defending her man Midas (Tanner Novlan) from the hoe-bags, she was feeling the effects of the Blow Job King’s quota: “Midas’itus.” Anna turned to Iostha (Allyson Pratt) to glean some advice for tackling the tube steak that included such varied techniques as feigning a cold, and flavoured lube to make the task more … ummmm … palatable? Seems Anna has a hard task ahead to hold her position. Is “Hat Girl” is really and truly gone?

Next, we visited with Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne) during some of her sessions in rehab. And true to form, she had a difficult time relinquishing control of her feelings. That control became ever so clear during her art therapy workshop. But the therapist saw through her. Apparently, she didn’t paint “her truth.” She popped off a second attempt and yielded a result that demonstrated her deep anger. Perhaps this was the tipping point Zoe needed as she finally let down her barriers and got to the root of her issues? In a long-winded rant, Zoe revealed how angry she has been towards her parents for most of her life. “Maybe, I’d know what I was angry about if I ever got to lead my own life. But, I always had to be ‘role model Zoe’ and ‘perfect daughter, Zoe’ so that everyone liked me and respected me and thought I was doing enough for my community …. I hate my life!” I’d say Zoe revealed her truth!

Meanwhile, Caitlin (Heather White) was once again settling into her role as Butterhead’s (Meegwun Fairbrother) girlfriend whilst dodging messages from Leon (Dwain Murphy). The town seemed happy about her decision to get back with Butterhead, and even her old boss Suzette came by to offer her her old job back. And apparently, Butterhead was also adjusting to his role of boyfriend. He made Caitlin breakfast! An extra bonus for Caitlin came in the form of an “I love you, Caitlin,” from Butterhead’s daughter. But that moment was quickly dashed. Instead of the family staying in, the old Butterhead was back and headed out to party with the boys. Once again Caitlin was left to babysit. One step forward, three steps back, or so it seems for Caitlin.

Finally, we caught up with Bailey (Jenny Pudavick), who had just returned from her dream vacation to Paris with James (Jeffrey Wetsch). However, the girls didn’t give her much of a chance to bask in her happiness and quickly dampened her sparkle. In constant defence of James, Bailey was most brutally attacked by Iostha. The town was not taking kindly to her choice in men. But ever the amazing guy, James tried to ease her mind, and prepared a spread reminiscent of Paris rekindling Bailey’s shimmer! I think we all need an  Auntie Velma (Ashley Michaels) in our lives! Best advice ever: find a partner that makes you sparkle!

This episode really felt as though we have come full circle, back to where we began in Season 1: Bailey filled with wanderlust and defending her choice to date a white guy, Anna still trying to fit in in all the wrong ways and Caitlin looking for love from Butterhead but instead just making excuses for him. Ironically, it is only Zoe who, in Season 1 was just beginning to delve into the world of her sex addiction, has made any real progress through therapy.

How do you feel about the return of our lovely ladies? Let me know in the comments below.

Mohawk Girls airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on APTN

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Industry News

Link: The supreme achievements of English Canadian TV

1 Comment

From Colby Cosh of the National Post:

Link: The supreme achievements of English Canadian TV
CBC Vancouver’s Justin McElroy, a hard-working data-minded journalist who lives mostly on social media like the rest of us, has created something interesting on Twitter. If you’re Canadian, and you’re on Twitter, you’ll probably hear about it pretty soon. Over the weekend, just for a laugh, he organized an NCAA-style tournament bracket of legendary English Canadian TV shows from the past.  Continue reading. 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Web series

CBC’s How to Buy a Baby injects humour into infertility

I never knew infertility could be so funny. Yet there I was, giggling as Jane begged Charlie to “just stick it in my…” What she was asking him to put in there was not what I’d expected, nor was it where I’d initially thought. And that made How to Buy a Baby so hilarious.

Created by Wendy Litner and starring Meghan Heffern (Wynonna Earp) as Jane and Marc Bendavid (Dark Matter) as her husband Charlie, all 10 episodes dropped Monday on CBC’s website. Litner—who has written for The Globe and Mail, Today’s Parent (read her story about How to Buy a Baby), has a blog and most recently served as story editor on The Beaverton—is on the advisory board of Fertility Matters Canada, providing information, support, awareness and education about infertility. And, with How to Buy a Baby, she also provides laughter.

With Jane and Charlie struggling to get pregnant, it only made sense they’d run into an old friend, Debbie, at a coffee shop in Episode 1. A friend with a newborn snuggled up tightly to her chest, professing that motherhood is “f—ing amazing.” Because, of course, success in life can only be marked by motherhood. The moment is there for a chuckle but then leads into that awkward discussion regarding when Jane and Charlie are going to have a child and the whole infertility thing is mentioned. Debbie suggests a juice cleanse will solve that because it worked for someone she knew. The scene spotlights just how well-meaning, but dunderheaded, some folks can be. Jane and Charlie don’t have any problems going into detail outlining their issues—his testicles and her uterine wall—to Debbie, before leaving.

Produced by LoCo Motion Pictures (My 90-Year-Old Roommate), How to Buy a Baby is able to show the silliness in what traditionally could be seen as sad. Charlie is in the middle of providing a semen sample when his mother shoots him a text and Jane worries she’s got an ugly vagina.

There are truly touching scenes too: in Episode 2, Jane outlines to Charlie’s mother the intricacies of in vitro fertilization. It’s less than a minute long—Charlie’s sister, Alley (Mr. D‘s Emma Hunter) ruins the moment—but it’s there and drives home a key point: open discussion about subjects like infertility needs to happen. We’re getting better at discussing mental health out in the open; let’s hope the rest of the body comes next.

Watch all 10 episodes of How to Buy a Baby now via CBC’s website.

Image courtesy of LoCo Motion Pictures.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail