Tag Archives: Andrea Bain

Big Brother Canada, Featured

Bell Media becomes Head of Household with order of Big Brother Canada for Crave and CTV

1 Comment

From a media release:

Bell Media announced today that, following a deal with Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, it will bring future seasons of BIG BROTHER USA to Canadian audiences beginning Summer 2027. With the acquisition of the US series, Bell Media also announced it has ordered a new season of BIG BROTHER CANADA for Crave and CTV. 

From Entourage, the team behind French-language Québécois series, BIG BROTHER CÉLÉBRITÉS, and produced in association with Crave and CTV, BIG BROTHER CANADA is set to begin production Spring 2027 in Montréal. Canadian TV personality Andrea Bain, co-host of CTV’s THE SOCIAL, is confirmed as the host for the new season, with casting details to be announced at a later date.  

“BIG BROTHER is one of the most iconic and beloved formats around the world and we are thrilled to have it take up residency at Bell Media,” said Justin Stockman, VP, Global Content, Bell Media. “Further strengthening our alliance with our production partners at Entourage and distribution partner at Banijay Rights, we look forward to delivering Canadian audiences more of the eventful and unforgettable competitive social gameplay they love with a new season of BIG BROTHER CANADA.” 

“BIG BROTHER is a global phenomenon that continues to embed deep roots with local audiences. Continuing our long-standing partnership with Bell Media, we’re thrilled to bring back this renowned superbrand to Canada which will be a brilliant way to showcase the country’s culture and personality,” added Jane Rimer, SVP Canada, Banijay Rights, who negotiated the agreement.  

With the order of BIG BROTHER CANADA, Bell Media also acquires the Canadian series’ back catalogue, with 12 seasons to be available to stream on Crave, joining the extensive collection of French-language series, BIG BROTHER CÉLÉBRITÉS. The French-language series has established itself as a fan-favourite since its debut in 2021, following a deal with Banijay Rights, spawning yearly specials and a successful spin-off. Season 6 of BIG BROTHER CÉLÉBRITÉS on Noovo was the #1 original reality series of Winter 2026 and was the most-streamed show in French on Crave in the same period, amassing nearly 4.7 million views on Crave and Noovo.ca combined. 

One of the world’s most iconic and successful reality television franchises, BIG BROTHER first hit screens 26 years ago in the Netherlands in 1999. Since its debut, over 600 series of the show have aired around the world in 70 markets. The format continues to make a splash globally, with prime-time success in the UK, Australia, Germany and Brazil; long-running versions airing consistently in the US and Italy since 2000; six regional versions each year in India; and a new adaptation in Malta. BIG BROTHER, a Banijay Entertainment format, is one of the powerhouse’s top three formats and has maintained huge popularity globally, airing in 27 territories last year.  

For Entourage, Eric Young and Nathalie Brigitte Bustos are Executive Producers, Mathieu Ouellet is Showrunner; and France Racine is Producer. For Bell Media, Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; Alexis McLaren is Production Executive, Original Programming; Danielle Pearson is Senior Production Executive, Original Programming; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Justin Stockman is Vice-President, Global Content, Bell Media.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, The Goods

CBC delivers the goods in daytime with The Goods

19 Comments

You simply can’t fake chemistry on television. Viewers catch on when folks don’t click. It’s the reason networks recast roles during pilot season; if co-stars don’t connect with each other, they simply won’t with an audience.

The Goods explodes with chemistry and makes for a wild daytime ride. Debuting Monday on CBC and marking Steven Sabados’ return to television, The Goods combines lifestyle, food, relationships and home and design into a fun package. Yes, the daytime market is packed with such U.S. fare as The Chew, The View and The Talk while Canadian rival CTV offers The Social, but The Goods is a welcome addition thanks mainly to its cast.

Surrounding Sabados on the panel is style maven Jessi Cruickshank, relationship and wellness expert Andrea Bain and Levetto chef Shahir Massoud covering all things culinary. Earlier this week, I was invited down to watch a taping of The Goods and experienced a well-oiled machine despite having just seven episodes already in the can.

(l-r) Bain, Cruickshank, Sabados, Massoud
(l-r) Bain, Cruickshank, Sabados, Massoud

“You always feel, on some other shows, as if people are trying to take away airtime,” Sabados says after the three-hour taping in front of a studio audience of just over 100 concluded. “There is that battle of, ‘You said that, so I have to say this,’ … Shahir didn’t have a segment today, but it’s all good because he’s still part of the show. We’re all here, so it’s all good.” It’s true. While Massoud didn’t contribute content-wise, he was still front and centre in a comedic role both unintentionally during Sabados’ decor quiz when he asked how to spell “teak” and on purpose during Cruickshank’s style bit when he walked the runway decked out in overalls, a baseball cap propped rakishly on his head.

Massoud explains he and his co-hosts come up with what their individual segments will contain with their own producers. Once that’s decided, the producers and hosts compare notes and figure out who will be interacting with who. Yes, The Goods is scripted when it comes to what segments make up an episode, but the interaction itself is done on the fly. That came into play Tuesday when Cruickshank dashed off to the control room and requested a hula hoop challenge be re-cut and slowed down for broadcast. The result was a very funny replay of Bain’s facial expressions and body language as she owned the hula segment (“I will never Iive that down,” Bain says with a laugh.) Cruickshank set herself up for criticism during her style portion, suggesting that sometimes socks can be worn with sandals. She was met with a chorus of good-natured boos from the audience.

“Where else can you get an audience who feels comfortable enough to boo the host?” Cruickshank asks. “There is this feeling of being in the round and we make sure people know they’re supposed to yell. They’re part of the show.”

The Goods airs Monday to Friday at 2 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail