TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 823
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Amazing Race Canada, Featured

And The Amazing Race Canada winners are…

After 10 legs, thousands of miles and a pile of product placement, Steph and Kristen emerged as the winners of Season 4 of The Amazing Race Canada, landing in front of host Jon Montgomery on Mont Royal, the first-ever all-female team to take the title.

The couple nabbed cars, a trip around the world, $250,000 and the Season 4 title.

Arriving in second place were Emmett and Jillian, with Joel and Ashley in third. It was truly a nail-biter of a finish with all three pairs swapping first-place positions all Leg long, and I credit the show’s producers for making that way. By mixing physical tests (the Cirque do Soleil and the Biodome) with mental ones (delivering bagels and remembering key points from the season), no one squad was given an unfair advantage. The result? A truly dramatic ending in Montreal.

Cab drivers leaving with $50 extra in their pockets, mixed up directions and nonsense words were just part of the wildness in the season-ender and, really, anyone could have won. This has easily been the most-evenly matched seasons of The Amazing Race Canada I’ve seen.

Kristen and Steph’s win wasn’t an easy one, but by the time they’d left the Moment Factory—and successfully remembering key phrases from the Legs—the only thing that could have stopped them was a lost cab. It almost happened, but they’d built enough of a lead that Jillian and Emmett couldn’t catch them.

Kudos to the former Big Brother Canada competitors for not giving up. It would have been so easy for Jillian to just shut down after she got her bakery directions mixed up and dropped bagels on the sidewalk, but she didn’t. And credit to Emmett for not freaking out because he certainly could have.

Congratulations to the “First Nations Sensations,” Joel and Ashley, for running a great final Leg as well. If not for the Memory Moments challenge, they very well could have taken the title.

Here’s how the teams finished the final Leg:

  1. Steph and Kristen (winners)
  2. Jillian and Emmett
  3. Joel and Ashley

What did you think of this season of The Amazing Race Canada? Comment below or on Twitter @tv_eh.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Auction

Kids Help Phone Auction: A Night Out With Canadian TV Writers in Toronto

drinks

A Night Out With Canadian TV Writers in Toronto: No, you don’t have to pay! This is a chance to grab a few drinks, some laughs, and insider convo with two or three of the hardest working Canadian TV writers toiling in Toronto. Thrill to the anecdotes and bon vivantery, and some excellent craft cocktails. Your first couple are on us. (And maybe more, if you bring a good story. It’s all about the good story.) All of this happens upon a mutually-agreed upon Friday or Saturday night, in Toronto, sometime in November 2016. Donated by Denis McGrath.

[wpauction id=”169″ /]

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Super Channel Original feature documentary, Ice Guardians, makes world broadcast premiere on Saturday, October 8 at 9 p.m. ET

From a media release:

Super Channel is pleased to announce the world broadcast premiere of the Super Channel Original feature documentary, Ice Guardians, an in depth look at the misunderstood role of the NHL hockey enforcer, on Saturday, October 8 at 9 p.m. ET (SC3). It will also be available to subscribers on Super Channel On Demand the following day.

Exploring one of the most controversial and provocative positions in the history of sport, Ice Guardians journeys into the lives of those who perform what is undoubtedly the toughest job within the National Hockey League today, the enforcer. Very few understand this position and even fewer appreciate what is involved in becoming one. It’s a punishing profession unlike any other, holding little mercy for its candidates on or off the ice. Born out of self-policing a game where 200-pound men fly towards each other on metal blades with sticks, the role now finds itself facing the scrutiny of national newspapers, on-line blogs and TV newscasts. Due to its violent nature, it has drawn opinions from both fans and critics alike. But what do we really know? What led to its spectacular rise? What purpose does it serve in the eyes of its beholders and what drives them forward in the face of adversity? Ice Guardians steps beyond the hype and heads directly to the source of the debate… the players themselves. Through their eyes, tough exteriors are shed to reveal the humanity behind a role that struggles to maintain its existence.

Written and directed by Brett Harvey (The Culture High), Ice Guardians features interviews with NHL enforcers Dave Semenko, Clark Gillies, Eric Godard, Nick Fotiu, Dave Brown, Gino Odjick, Zenon Konopka, Kelly Chase, Scott Parker, Todd Fedoruk, Riley Cote, Derek Boogaard, Mitch Fritz, Sasha Lakovic, Wendel Clark, Brian McGrattan, Kevin Westgarth, Luke Gazdic and many more.  Producers are Adam Scorgie, David Singer, Kelly Chase, Chris Tavlarides, Jimmy Lynn and Rocky Mudaliar.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Industry News

Bell Media’s food and lifestyle channel Gusto to begin production on 10 new original Canadian productions

From a media release:

Shortly after Bell Media began operations of its first food and lifestyle channel Gusto, the network announced today that nine deliciously entertaining new original Canadian series and specials from Gusto Worldwide Media – and one exciting design competition series from Bell Media In-House Production – are confirmed to join Gusto’s slate of homegrown programming in 2016/2017.

The menu of new food-centric series commissioned from Gusto Worldwide Media include series THE URBAN VEGETARIAN and THE LATIN KITCHEN, as well as specials SPENCER AND ROBERT’S GAME DAY BUFFET, ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS, ONE WORLD KITCHEN: OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES, and WATTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPENCER’S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS RECIPES. The nine productions, all to be shot in stunning 4K, are set to shoot in Ottawa this year. In addition, Gusto confirmed second seasons of marquee original Canadian series A IS FOR APPLE, FISH THE DISH, and ONE WORLD KITCHEN from Gusto Worldwide Media. Premiere dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Gusto also announced today that it has begun production on THE SEARCH FOR CANADA’S NEXT DESIGNER, from Bell Media In-House Production in collaboration with Swedish home furnishing retailer, IKEA. The six-episode, 30-minute series, currently in production in Toronto, is hosted by THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW’s design expert Tommy Smythe.

Further details about Gusto’s new original programming is outlined below:

Series

THE URBAN VEGETARIAN (15, 30-minute episodes, 2017)
This 15-episode, 30-minute series gives Gusto viewers a chance to eat away some of that post-holiday indulgence guilt by providing yummy meal options that won’t expand the waistline. Guilt free and delicious.

THE LATIN KITCHEN (15, 30-minute episodes, 2017)
This 15-episode, 30-minute series explores Latin cuisine, including Mexican, Venezuelan, and Spanish! Viewers celebrate the great Latin cuisines of the world with engaging hosts and mouthwatering recipes.

THE SEARCH FOR CANADA’S NEXT DESIGNER (Six, 30-minute episodes, 2016)
From Bell Media In-House Production, this design challenge series sees six, up-and-coming interior designers compete for a coveted design contract with IKEA Canada. Hosted by THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW’s design expert Tommy Smythe, the series follows the designers as they face weekly challenges and eliminations.

Specials:

SPENCER AND ROBERT’S GAME DAY BUFFET (One-hour special, 2016)
Spencer Watts (FISH THE DISH) and Robert Jewell (A IS FOR APPLE) invite the lads over to watch the big game, and take on easy-to-make eats, including chicken wings, pulled pork, and a few surprises. Warning: there might even be a vegetable or two!

ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS (One-hour special, 2016)
This one-hour special brings a global twist to sweet holiday baking with sumptuous, easy-to-make recipes from Italy, Argentina, Japan, and Thailand. This baking is sure to become part of every family’s holiday traditions.

ONE WORLD KITCHEN: OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES (One-hour special, 2016)
This one-hour special see series hosts Hana (Japan), Vanessa (Italy), Natalia (Argentina), and Pailin (Thailand) get together to share their favourite traditional holiday dishes from back home

WATTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPENCER’S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS RECIPES (One-hour special, 2016)
In this one-hour special, series host Spencer Watts serves up his take on traditional holiday fare and more than a little ham bone along the way.

THE URBAN VEGETARIAN, THE LATIN KITCHEN, SPENCER AND ROBERT’S GAME DAY BUFFET, ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS, ONE WORLD KITCHEN: OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES, and  WATTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPENCER’S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS RECIPES are created by Chris Knight. Production Executive is Robin Johnston. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, CTV and Specialty. Randy Lennox is President, Broadcasting and Content, Bell Media.

THE SEARCH FOR CANADA’S NEXT DESIGNER is executive produced by Michelle Crespi. John Simpson is co-executive producer. Nanci MacLean is Vice-President, Bell Media Production. Randy Lennox is President, Broadcasting and Content, Bell Media.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail