TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 78
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

New ZoomerMedia TV series Your Nation’s Table celebrates seafood from the West Coast of Canada

From a media release:

A new television series airing nationwide this fall is poised to make waves. ZoomerMedia’s Your Nation’s Table debuts Monday, November 14 with a season dedicated to six amazing BC seafood stories.

Over a year in the making, the series takes viewers on a voyage through communities across BC alongside hosts Carmen Ruiz y Laza and Chef Robert Clark. Each 30-minute episode focuses on a popular BC seafood and its journey from sea to table.

Your Nation’s Table provides a fascinating insight into the harvest of wild seafood along the rugged BC coastline, and the colourful characters who are responsible for catching, processing, and preparing it. Viewers will be inspired by their stories which illustrate how, by delivering the finest seafood to domestic and global markets, they are playing a vital role in the Canadian food economy.

As a decorated chef, member of the Order of Canada, and one of the founders of the sustainable seafood movement, Chef Robert Clark was delighted to co-host Your Nation’s Table. “What an honour, thrill, and amazing opportunity it is to introduce the producers of our food, supporters of our communities, and defenders of our food sovereignty into so many Canadian homes,” says Chef Clark.

With over two decades of television and film experience in production and hosting, Television Host Carmen Ruiz y Laza was excited to bring Your Nation’s Table to life.

“Your Nation’s Table was born out of my experience shopping for sustainable local seafood. At my neighbourhood grocery store, the fishmonger told me they didn’t have locally-caught wild BC salmon, but had only imported and farmed fish. At that moment, I decided to do something about it,” says Ruiz y Laza. “By advocating for, and giving a voice to our BC seafood producers, the aim of Your Nation’s Table is to raise the profile of a valuable and often underappreciated domestic food production system and steer consumers towards better tasting, more nutritional, and environmentally-friendly alternatives.”

The season’s six episodes, filmed in remote destinations across the BC coast, highlight how BC spot prawns, salmon, crab, geoduck, sablefish and tuna are harvested. Viewers will also be treated to tips by top chefs on how to shop for, and prepare these products, and which BC wines to pair them with.

The series is made possible by the generous support of its sponsors: Buy BC, Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association, BC Salmon Marketing Council, Underwater Harvesters Association, BC Tuna Fishermen’s Association, Canadian Sablefish Association, BC Crab Fishermen’s Association, Grundéns Fishing Apparel, Pacific Net & Twine, Mission Hill Family Estate, Liquidity Wines, CedarCreek Estate Winery, and Ocean Regenerative Aquaculture.

Broadcasted through the ZoomerMedia network, Your Nation’s Table will reach viewers across Canada. The series will air on JoyTV BC starting Monday, November 14, and FaithTV starting Saturday, November 26. Tune in on Mondays and Fridays at 5pm (PST) on JoyTV, or catch the show on Saturdays at 10:30am (PST) on FaithTV.

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True, north, strong, and fierce! Crave orders a fourth season of Canada’s Drag Race

From a media release:

Crave confirmed today that it has ordered a fourth season of its hit original series CANADA’S DRAG RACE. The series is available to audiences in Canada, in both English and French, and is produced by Blue Ant Studios in association with Crave and World of Wonder.

Canadian drag artists looking to flaunt their distinct brand of Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent can submit their applications now at http://canadasdragracecasting.com. Applicants must be 19 years of age as of Nov. 1, 2022 to apply and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Seasons 1-3 of CANADA’S DRAG RACE are currently available for streaming on Crave in Canada and on World of Wonder’s SVOD platform WOW Presents Plus in the U.S. and in more than 160 countries around the world. Additionally, audiences can look forward to the new six-episode series CANADA’S DRAG RACE: CANADA VS. THE WORLD premiering on Friday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. ET. Queens from the international Drag Race family will compete to become the Queen of the Mother-Pucking World. Brooke Lynn Hytes, Brad Goreski, and Traci Melchor are resident judges, with Canada as the host nation.

In association with Crave, Season 4 of CANADA’S DRAG RACE is produced by Blue Ant Studios. Executive Producers for World of Wonder are Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, and Tom Campbell. RuPaul Charles serves as Executive Producer.

Executive Producers for Blue Ant Studios are Michael Kot, Betty Orr, and Laura Michalchyshyn. Returning from CANADA’S DRAG RACE Season 3, and from CANADA’S DRAG RACE: CANADA VS. THE WORLD, are Trevor Boris, Executive Producer/Showrunner, and Yette Vandendam, Executive Producer/Supervising Producer.

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AMI’s Kelly and Ramya debuts January 9, 2023, on AMI-tv

From a media release:

New name. New platform. Same great hosts. Today, Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) pulls back the curtain on Kelly and Ramya.

Beginning Monday, January 9, 2023, Kelly and Ramya launches on AMI-tv while continuing to be a staple of AMI-audio and podcast platforms, where over 1,500 episodes have been broadcast as Kelly and Company.

Airing weekdays from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern from AMI’s state-of-the-art new production studio in Toronto, Kelly and Ramya gives a dynamic and compelling voice to the disability experience in Canada.

On Kelly and Ramya, viewers join hosts Kelly MacDonald and Ramya Amuthan for the latest on lifestyle and entertainment, community events across the country and thoughtful discussion on issues that impact the disability community. Joining the duo are over 30 contributors, who share expert advice on everything from assistive technology to human rights, employment, health and wellness, all through a disability lens. Additionally, eight community reporters from across the country—all from the blind and partially sighted community—share local events and happenings viewers and listeners should be aware of.

“I look forward to being able to smile at our audience every day and share with them the joy I feel about coming into their homes,” Kelly MacDonald says. “I can’t wait for new viewers to meet our amazing contributors, learn from them and to see how diverse and inclusive Kelly and Ramya is.”

“Moving to TV directly involves us with the conversations, and actions, around descriptive video and accessible TV experiences,” Ramya Amuthan says. “I’m very opinionated and vocal about my own TV-watching—what makes good descriptive video, where it can be improved, how we can make experiencing TV better and easier for people with disabilities—so I’m thrilled that I have a full-on opportunity to voice my lived experience and thoughts through this transition to TV.”

Kelly MacDonald
Kelly MacDonald’s radio career began in the dorms of the W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario, with a Mr. Microphone and an FM transmitter. His love for radio only grew, earning himself a HAM radio ticket and call sign (VE3ONA) at the age 14, and later attending Fanshawe College’s Broadcasting program. Kelly has been a part of AMI since the company’s fledgling days as VoicePrint, where he joined as a studio producer. A ubiquitous presence in the blind and partially sighted community, Kelly launched Kelly and Company in 2016 to share a wealth of information, entertainment and thoughtful discussion on disability issues. His jovial persona makes every minute of Kelly and Ramya fun and inclusive!

Ramya Amuthan
An alumna of Seneca College’s Broadcasting – Radio program, Ramya Amuthan is a second-generation broadcaster following her mother, an acclaimed Tamil radio and TV personality. Ramya is also a talented jazz vocalist, voice over artist and avid volunteer. Her efforts in the community as Board Member of PAL Reading Services and Co-Chair of Fighting Blindness Canada’s Young Leaders Program have created programs that connect people with disabilities across the country. Soon after becoming an intern at AMI in 2017, Ramya joined Kelly and Company as a contributor in the early days of the show. Ramya began mentoring Kelly and Company’s team of contributors and took up the co-host seat a year later, where she has offered blind and partially sighted audiences her unique brand of quick-witted humour and insightful perspectives as a woman of colour with low vision.

Beginning Monday, January 9, 2023, Kelly and Ramya airs weekdays from 2-4 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and AMI-audio. Download the podcast version of Kelly and Ramya on demand from your favourite podcasting platform.

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TV, Eh? Podcast Episode 254: Production on Murdoch Mysteries spinoff, Run the Burbs and The Hardy Boys

Welcome back to another bi-weekly (ish) chat about the latest news in Canadian TV! First, Greg and Amy go through debuts and returns on the Canadian TV calendar.

Then, we cover the latest Canadian TV news, which includes production beginning on a Murdoch Mysteries spinoff; Season 2 of Run the Burbs; the final season of The Hardy Boys; casting for CBC’s new series, Essex County; and David Suzuki retiring from The Nature of Things. We finish the podcast by getting into the Halloween spirit with Are You Afraid of the Dark?

This podcast brought to you by Candy Corn Cocktails and Pommies Cider.

[Editor’s Note: Greg erroneously said that Anthony Q. Farrell was the showrunner for Diggstown. Anthony Q. Farrell was the showrunner for Overload and the Underwoods, The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker and the upcoming Shelved. He apologizes for the error.]

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Captivating Canadian original series reign supreme on Discovery this fall including debut of The Mightiest

From a media release:

This fall, Discovery delivers series with astounding stories of human strength, savvy, and adventurous spirit including the debut of the all-new Discovery Original THE MIGHTIEST. Premiering Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. ET, the six-episode, one-hour docu-series follows veteran adventure hosts Aliya Jasmine and Teddy Wilson as they take to the field to witness the mightiest of machines take on new missions. From re-engineered Chinook helitankers fighting wildfires 24/7 in Southern California, to a train that helps sustain life and connect communities, the series reveals the innovation and science that enable these machines to conquer nearly impossible challenges. Shot across Canada, Europe, and the U.S. in 2022, THE MIGHTIEST is produced in partnership with Bell Media Studios and Exploration Productions.

Leading up to the launch of THE MIGHTIEST is the highly anticipated Season 2 premiere of Discovery Original docu-series MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS, Monday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. ET. Then, Season 2 of extreme adventure series LAST OF THE GIANTS kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 9 p.m. ET, and the two-part special event AFTER THE STORM, which features stories of last year’s widespread flooding in the Pacific Northwest, premieres on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, new episodes of beloved Discovery Original series HIGHWAY THRU HELL air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET throughout the year.

Discovery Canadian Original Series Premieres:

MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS – Season 2

Mondays at 10 p.m. ET, beginning Oct. 31

In the new season of MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS, brothers Craig and Brent Lebeau, third-generation loggers hoping for a successful logging season, and brothers Shane and Chad Glover, second-generation loggers based in the Kootenay region of B.C., along with their father Gary Glover, battle treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather, and complex machinery to get their logs to the mill.

In the season premiere “Let’s Get This Party Started,” Craig LeBeau and his crew set up camp in a remote part of the Shuswap Highlands, on the steepest, baddest block any of them has ever seen: Gollen. Things start out well, until bad weather and a stuck truck derail the entire operation. Meanwhile, Brent’s clearing a snowmobile trail for a local ski resort but, with so many jobs on the go, a mechanical oversight and impending snowfall may cost him the entire job.

MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS is produced by Great Pacific Media.

THE MIGHTIESTSeries Premiere

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, beginning Nov. 23

THE MIGHTIEST takes to the field to witness mega machines take on all-new mighty missions, giving viewers an all-access pass to every aspect of the vessel and the people around it as it embarks on a new and dangerous journey.

In the series premiere “Launch Day,” host Teddy Wilson is aboard the U.S. Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to document final training and tensions rising as the crew prepares for its long awaited first mission. The episode also looks at the massive Airbus A-380’s first landing into a major North American hub, the re-launch of a flying telescope after being grounded for months, and final touches on a cruise ship three times bigger than the Titanic.

LAST OF THE GIANTS – Season 2

Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET, beginning Nov. 24

After their action-packed adventures in North America and the Amazon, Cyril and the team are back with more high-adrenaline missions in Argentina, Nicaragua and the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific.

In Argentina, searching for swamp-dwelling, deadly stingray, Cyril and the team venture into dangerous, uncharted rivers. Trekking through Nicaragua, the team skillfully evade deadly predators as they seek out the prehistoric giant Tarpon and the Goliath Grouper. Finally, journeying to the most remote islands in the South Pacific, Cyril leads a scuba dive through swarms of sharks and moray eels to find a giant trevally, an ocean predator capable of explosive attacks and even snatching birds from the sky.

LAST OF THE GIANTS is produced by Untamed Productions.

AFTER THE STORMTwo-Part Special Event

Thursday, Dec. 15 and 22 at 10 p.m. ET

In November 2021 an unprecedented storm slams into the Pacific Northwest, pummeling the region with a month’s worth of rain in just 48 hours. As rivers break their banks and landslides erupt from the coastal mountains,15,000 people flee their homes via crumbling highways and collapsing bridges. Many of those homes – and the land they sit on – are soon swept away.

AFTER THE STORM follows the events firsthand with the people who fought through this historic flood – from the first signs of trouble brewing over the ocean through the days of impact, with experts explaining the forces behind the disaster. In the aftermath engineers and towns race to rebuild vital infrastructure and roads connecting the coast to the rest of the country. Even when the trucks and trains are rolling again, the ongoing question is about the future: how to build back better in the face of more unpredictable weather – and more unforgiving storms to come.

Part 1 – “A River In The Sky” – Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. ET

When the storm of the century hits the west coast, smashing rainfall records, no one is fully prepared. As the storm takes hold, landslides batter highways, trapping hundreds of drivers. Chelsey Hughes is heading home from a weekend getaway when a wall of debris slams into her car, throwing her into a river of mud and into a fight for survival. In the nearby Sumas region, community heroes like Gary Baars jump into action when rising water overwhelms the system of dikes and pumps that protects their land. Local farmers mount daring rescues of stranded workers and drowning livestock. As defenses collapse, one group of locals works through the night to save the pump station – their community’s last safeguard. In the storm’s aftermath workers race to rebuild dikes and reconnect important roads. Beyond the rush to fix what’s broken, experts explore new ways to manage life in vulnerable flood plains and adapt to the intensifying forces of nature.

Part 2 – “Hell or High Water” – Thursday, Dec. 22 at 10 p.m. ET

On the heels of the summer heat dome, which sparked catastrophic wildfires across southern B.C., November’s atmospheric river brings record-breaking rainfall. In the province’s desert-like interior, firefighter Dylan Bullock is still recovering from severe burns that he suffered in the wildfires. When parched mountains can’t absorb the rainfall, it pours into the rivers and into the city of Merritt. As floodwater submerges the nearby wastewater treatment plant, 7000 residents must evacuate – just as collapsing highways and bridges cut off escape routes. In small, isolated communities the raging Nicola River devours land and houses, stranding locals and triggering dramatic rescues. In the weeks that follow the storm, crews work tirelessly to fix the water plant and improvise repairs to let traffic and supplies start flowing, and engineers analyze what other countries are doing to mitigate flood damage and build more resilient infrastructure.

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