Tag Archives: CBC

Link: Former Corner Brook resident is the writer of a new CBC TV series

From Gary Kean of The Western Star:

Link: Former Corner Brook resident is the writer of a new CBC TV series
When Jane Maggs finished studying film writing at the Canadian Film Centre in Ontario, she had an idea for a television series.

She also knew she wanted to work with the same folks who had produced “Durham County,” a series on The Movie Network of which she was a big fan. Continue reading.

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Four in the Morning: A Day in the Life

Well that episode was quite the poser! Creator Ira Parker asks us the loaded question, “What if…?” and we buzz off on a trip as our madcap foursome experience the same.

A sober cold open showcases a set of parents, Donna and Martin, (Deborah Day, who I was fortunate to see play Marina/Thaisa in last summer’s The Adventures of Pericles at The Stratford Festival, and Sergio Di Zio, who most recently played Patrick Finnegan in the series Rogue) as they abandon their newborn children. However, Parker is just using this scenario to set up his philosophical exercise. He is really asking us all to examine life, death, our legacies, and the consequences of life choices.

As it happens these two “children,” Margaret and Gogol (also played by Day and Di Zio), are “day kids”; apparently an oft experienced condition at the Patrician Grill. They live their entire lifetime in a single day. The evening includes frat parties, a first kiss in the rain, and wasted opportunities. We even face grief due to chronic illness.

The show is laced with quiet moments of inquiry, absent of any guile. Jamie (Michelle Mylett) appears to be the one most affected, but then again Mitzi (Lola Tash) is still contemplating whether or not to terminate her unforeseen pregnancy.

It is also Mitzi who delivers our most profound statement: “Whether you live for one day or 100 years, your legacy is not for you but for the people you leave behind.” But Gogol poses the most intriguing question: “Is it possible to spend a butt load of time with the same people but not be really close with any of them?”

These types of philosophical questions have always been more of a focus thing. They force you to strip away the trivialities of life. They make us look at our core values: who we are, what we want in life, and what pleases us. Parker takes us all by the hand on this little romp and we watch our foursome go through this exercise, digging deep and figuring out what is important in their/our lives.

I started to watch this show because it just looked quirky enough to be really fun. Instead, I found this  to be a surreal little gem, perfect in its simplicity.

Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Four in the Morning airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

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Comments and queries for the week of September 2

Is SnapShots returning to CBC?

I have enjoyed the SnapShots show. My daughters would be interested in participating. Are there going to be any more episodes of SnapShot? If so, will there be any more auditions and where and when will they be? —Lisa

SnapShots will be back for another season on Sept. 10 on CBC. for auditions and other information, go to the CBC Kids’ Facebook page.


Readers react to the CRTC’s changes to Certified Independent Production Funds

I live in Australia and most of my favourite TV shows were/are filmed in Canada, frequently with Canadian creatives—Stargate (SG1, Atlantis & Universe), Arrow, Dark Matter and The X-Files. Many are set in the U.S. but are still very Canadian. In fact, I’ve seen so much that I can often look at a film without knowing and say that’s British Columbia—the forests, streets, generally the look and feel.

Canadian creatives are every bit as talented as those in other countries. While my mother and I were initially attracted to Stargate because it was American actor Richard Dean Anderson’s new show, we loved the show itself and all of the actors to which it introduced us. In fact, Canadian Michael Shanks was my late mother’s favourite. For genre television fans like myself, some of the names of creatives that I follow from project to project aren’t necessarily well-known names in mainstream television. Examples: James Bamford, Ivon Bartok, Joseph Mallozzi, Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Kavan Smith, Paul McGillion, David Hewlett, Ryan Robbins and Patrick Gilmore, etc.

So I want to see more Canadian creatives names on-screen. —Webgurl

Bad news indeed. Should the Levys, Reitmans and Balcer be given shows in Canada since they clearly have spent their lives and careers in the USA? Never mind that some of them have no experience producing or writing … leaving local talent unemployed and without opportunity. So tomorrow Kiefer Sutherland, his U.S. career having faded, comes to Canada and gets shows/money thrown at him at the expense of lesser-known local creatives? And then Hart Hanson… What constitutes Canadian and what is fair? Is this question too Harperian in nature?

Canadian tax dollars should be spent on creatives residing locally … too few shows get made and far too often the same Canadian writers/producers get those shows. The executives are largely to blame for this turn of events. How do you develop talent, then, given the new regulations and the collusion of executives to deprive local creatives of opportunities and enhance their own reputation by funding American-Canadian U.S.-based talent? —Mir


Saying goodbye to Motive

One of the best, if not the best, truly Canadian series is ending. The unusual twist of victim/killer made this dramatic very intriguing! Kudos to the crew and cast got an outstanding run! Sorry to see you go! —Brenda

My favourite show is ending. So sad. Hope they will renew it in the future. —Bo

Such a shame that a great show has to end. Well, I can only hope it’s replaced by another great Canadian show! God knows there’s not enough of “our” stuff—and too much of everybody else’s! —Stephen

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email Greg.David@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

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2016-17 Canadian TV season renewal scorecard

With the 2015-16 Canadian television season ended, the networks are putting the finished touches on their primetime lineups for 2016-17. That means celebrations for fans of shows that have been renewed and sadness for programs that won’t return.

To help keep track of what’s been renewed or ending, we’ve put together a handy list for you. Check back often to see the status of your favourites.

Renewed

  • Murdoch Mysteries (CBC)
  • Heartland (CBC)
  • Mr. D (CBC)
  • Vikings (History)
  • Schitt’s Creek (CBC)
  • Saving Hope (CTV)
  • The Rick Mercer Report (CBC)
  • This Hour Has 22 Minutes (CBC)
  • Hard Rock Medical (TVO)
  • Blood and Water (Omni)
  • Mohawk Girls (APTN)
  • Letterkenny (Crave TV)
  • Dragons’ Den (CBC)
  • Still Standing (CBC)
  • Love It Or List It Vancouver (W Network)
  • Masters of Flip (CMT)
  • Chopped Canada (Food Network)
  • X Company (CBC for third and final season)
  • This Life (CBC)
  • The Romeo Section (CBC)
  • Canada’s Smartest Person (CBC)
  • Hello Goodbye (CBC)
  • Crash Gallery (CBC)
  • Exhibitionists (CBC)
  • Interrupt This Program (CBC)
  • 19-2 (Bravo for fourth and final season)
  • Tiny Plastic Men (Super Channel)
  • The Other Side (APTN)
  • Home to Win (HGTV Canada)
  • Leave It to Bryan (HGTV Canada)
  • Timber Kings (HGTV Canada)
  • Tiny House Hunters (HGTV Canada)
  • Property Brothers (W Network)
  • Buying and Selling with the Property Brothers (W Network)
  • You Gotta Eat Here! (Food Network Canada)
  • First Dates (Slice)
  • Big Brother Canada (Global)
  • Ice Road Truckers (History)
  • Yukon Gold (History)
  • The Stanley Dynamic (YTV)
  • Marketplace (CBC)
  • The Fifth Estate (CBC)
  • Firsthand (CBC)
  • MasterChef Canada (CTV)
  • Canada’s Worst Driver (Discovery)
  • Cold Water Cowboys (Discovery)
  • Highway Thru Hell (Discovery)
  • How It’s Made (Discovery)
  • Jade Fever (Discovery)
  • Mayday (Discovery)
  • Mighty Cruise Ships (Discovery)
  • Vegas Rat Rods (Discovery)
  • Daily Planet (Discovery)
  • The Marilyn Denis Show (CTV)
  • The Social (CTV)
  • Orphan Black (Space)
  • Carnival Eats (Food Network Canada)
  • Degrassi: Next Class (Seasons 3 and 4) (Family Channel)
  • Baroness von Sketch Show (CBC)
  • Wynonna Earp (CHCH)
  • Private Eyes (Global)
  • Dark Matter (Space)
  • Killjoys (Space)

Not returning

  • Sunnyside (City)
  • Fool Canada (CBC)
  • Young Drunk Punk (CBC)
  • Motive (CTV)
  • Strange Empire (CBC)
  • Bitten (Space)
  • Ascension (CBC)
  • Blackstone (APTN)
  • Continuum (Showcase)
  • Lost Girl (Showcase)
  • Open Heart (YTV)
  • Remedy (Global)
  • Spun Out (CTV)
  • Rookie Blue (Global)
  • Haven (Showcase)
  • Package Deal (City)
  • The Pinkertons (CHCH)
  • Border Security (National Geographic)
  • 16×9 (Global)
  • Houdini & Doyle (Global)
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