From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:
Jason Priestley turns detective in Private Eyes
Make no mistake, Jason Priestley suffers for his art. The Canadian star of the new Global TV drama Private Eyes was riding a horse in Mississauga during filming when he fell off and hit his head. Production had to be stopped for a few days as he recovered from a concussion. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Dani Kind, Juno Rinaldi and Jessalyn Wanlim join Catherine Reitman in the brash new comedy Workin’ Moms
Wolf & Rabbit Entertainment ULC and CBC today announced that Dani Kind (The Good Witch), Juno Rinaldi (The Killing), and Jessalyn Wanlim (Orphan Black) have been cast in leading roles alongside Catherine Reitman in the upcoming original comedy series, Workin’ Moms. Commissioned by CBC, produced by Wolf & Rabbit Entertainment ULC, and created by Reitman, the edgy 13-episode half-hour series is set to start production in Toronto beginning August 2016.
“I can’t say enough about these three exceptionally talented women. They truly embody the spirit of the show, “ said Catherine Reitman, Creator, Executive Producer and Star, Workin’ Moms. “I was excited before, but now that we’ve cast these hilarious women to play Anne, Frankie and Jenny, I really can’t wait to get production started and bring these characters, that I have such affection for, to life.â€
Can women have it all? For these Workin’ Moms, some days yes and some days… not so much. This original comedy series tests that modern ideal and dares to shatter the ‘cult of mom’. When long-time friends Kate (Reitman), a warm and grounded PR Exec, and Anne, a no-nonsense therapist (Kind), meet cute but timid Jenny (Wanlim) and lovable mess Frankie (Rinaldi) in a judgmental mommies’ group, the four quickly band together and form an unlikely friendship. The series follows the struggles of these four urban moms, providing a raw and honest look at how they juggle love, careers, and parenthood. Whether it’s dealing with terrible coworkers, insatiable babies, postpartum depression, or sexual awakenings – they make it to the end of each day with humour and sometimes even a drop of grace.
Kind’s previous credits include a starring role along with Brooke Shields and Beau Bridges in the upcoming Hallmark made-for-TV movie Dearly Depotted. Select television credits include The Divide, Saving Hope, and Remedy. She is represented by Patterson Talent Management.
Rinaldi has appeared in such TV productions as Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Killing, Arrow, Supernatural, Fringe, Robson Arms, These Arms of Mine and Psych, and in films such as Life, Jennifer’s Body, The Tooth Fairy and The Linda McCartney Story. She is currently set to release Elbow Grease, four webisodes she co-wrote and starred in. Rinaldi is represented by The Characters Talent Agency.
Wanlim has just finished a season-long arc on the hit drama Orphan Black opposite Tatiana Maslany. Her extensive résumé includes appearances in The Closer, Modern Family, Gossip Girl, Bad Teacher, CSI: NY, Bones, Scoundrels, Alex Cross and All My Children. Wanlim is represented by Pantheon, Link Entertainment and by Law Firm Meyer & Downs.
Workin’ Moms is produced by Wolf & Rabbit Entertainment ULC, with Reitman and Philip Sternberg serving as Executive Producers.
Broadcast and additional casting details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Republic of Doyle fans rejoice! You’re got a new wise-cracking, sports car driving primetime private investigator to cheer for with Private Eyes, debuting Thursday on Global. Loosely based on the book The Code by Gare Joyce, Jason Priestley is Matt Shade, an ex-professional hockey player who swaps the rink for investigating high-stakes crimes when he teams with P.I. Angie Everett (Cindy Sampson).
“We’ve only sent one person to the hospital during filming,” Sampson says with a laugh during a break in filming. She is, of course referring to Priestley’s tumble off a horse that briefly shut down production last November. The fact he can laugh about the incident shows how comfortable he is with his co-star, something that comes across in the first episode. Private Eyes‘ theme sets the tone for the series; Vancouver’s Dear Rouge have updated the classic Hall & Oates tune for the opening credits, providing a funky, fun feel.
Tuesday’s debut episode of 10 introduces viewers to the main players, when Matt is stunned the minor hockey player he’s been scouting collapses on the ice. Suspicious a fellow player may have had a hand in the incident, Matt joins Angie and they delve into a handful of suspects. Both are headstrong and used to getting their own way, which results in a lot of sniping back and forth. There are, of course, the first hints at some sexual chemistry between the pair, adding another layer to their relationship. Rounding out the cast—and sanding Matt’s rough edges—are Matt’s legally blind daughter, Jules (Jordyn Negri) and father Don (Barry Flatman). Clé Bennett and Ennis Esmer play Det. Derek Nolan and Det. Kurtis Mazhari, who both have dim views of Matt.
“Matt’s plate is pretty full,” Priestley says. “He’s taken over primary custody of Jules, so he’s a guy who is struggling to figure out how his new situation is going to work out in his life. But he’s also trying to figure out this new situation in his life. He’s a guy who’s stuck between these two strong women and trying to figure out a balance.”
Will  there be romance between Angie and Shade? That’s not in the cards … yet.
“We’re not exploring that option at this point,” Sampson says. “There are so many other women and so many other men and the cases to be solved too.”
Private Eyes airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.
From Heather M. of The Televixen:
Steve Byers Talks Slasher
“You never know how a scene like that is going to be. We were at the end of a bunch of night shoots, and then when you get down to it, it was a grueling couple of nights. We all get along really well [but] you get to a point where you’re happy that it’s done. I think that scene turned out really well.†Continue reading.
CBC unveils its 2016 summer schedule
It’s a good schedule, but I was hoping for a second run of This Life. Also, the upcoming drama Shoot the Messenger was previously announced as a summer show but it didn’t make the cut. I will watch Still Standing and When Calls the Heart, plus I will check out Four in the Morning and Baroness Von Sketch Show. —Alicia O
Murdoch Mysteries‘ Season 9 and what’s to come in Season 10
I LOVE, and repeatedly re-watch, every episode of all nine seasons! Great entertainment! Amazing cast! Extremely creative plots! (Except there was just too much of the James Gillies character for me.) There is SO much fun in this show, even in some of the seemingly minor details! (Like Brackenreid’s barber—who gets rich by investing—being played on the show by the author of the best-selling book The Wealthy Barber!) But I do have one question: what about Terrence Meyers? I guess we are to assume his rocket ride was fatal, but sometimes I wonder. —LAL
Canada AM‘s Jeff Hutcheson announces retirement
The only reason we watch the show is because of Jeff’s calm, personable, subtle humour. He is a great presenter, announcer, weatherman and the best interviewer on the show. How will you replace that? All the best to him in his retirement. Our mornings will not be the same. —Elaine
Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.
