From Jim Slotek of Postmedia Network:
Gerry Dee on Mr. D, My Scottish Family and life on the road
“The plan is to try to run Mr. D as long as it feels right. If you have another show and are in a position to do it, there’s a strategy there. Right now, I feel we’re peaking with Mr. D, so that’s my focus. If we get Season 7, maybe we’ll say, ‘Well that’s been a pretty good run.’†Continue reading.Â
From Bill Brownstein of the Montreal Gazette:
Montreal producers living on the edge in CBC-TV series Interrupt This Program
Mehchi and Fiorito like to live on the edge. They took their probe to cities that have undergone all manner of disasters, be they initiated by war, economics or forces of nature. So, the guys, perhaps taking a cue from the Vice-TV gang, headed off to Beirut, Kyiv, Port-au-Prince, Medellin and Athens, and found both culture and adventure. And, doubtless, spent many a night sleeping with one eye open.
Daring, yes, but also highly illuminating — particularly for viewers who like to limit their sense of wanderlust to the tube. Continue reading.Â
Just a week after a tearful goodbye to Dr. Emily Grace, Murdoch Mysteries is introducing a new character.
Rebecca James, played by Mouna Traoré (Rookie Blue, The Book of Negroes), appears for the first time in tonight’s new episode, “Barenaked Ladies,” as the morgue’s cleaner. Julia is back as the coroner in Station House No. 4 and working on a corpse when Rebecca shows up for her overnight shift.
“Over time I become suspect that she knows a lot more than she’s letting on,” Hélène Joy told me during a set visit earlier this year. “She knows anatomy, she seems to be pulling in the environment, so Julia starts giving her books to read, and over time it becomes really obvious that she’s much more than she admits.” Not much is known about Rebecca at this point, but that changes in the weeks ahead when a bit of detective work reveals much more about Rebecca’s life and what brought her to Canada.
Mirroring real events in history as Murdoch Mysteries does, not everyone is happy with the attention Julia is giving to an African American woman.
As for the rest of Monday’s episode, it’s much lighter in tone than last week’s swan song. There’s still a body count, but Carol Hay’s script calls for several light moments too, including the usual stuff from Crabtree and a couple of zingers from Julia.
And the case of the week? A brilliantly twisted story based on an iconic piece of art you’ll have to see to believe.
Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.
From Jim Slotek of Postmedia Network:
CBS signs rights deal for CBC’s ‘Mr. D’
Turns out CBS likes the CBC classroom sitcom Mr. D – a lot. They just want to American it up a bit.
Comedian Gerry Dee, the creator of the sitcom, told Postmedia he’d signed a deal Thursday with CBS for the format rights to the series based on his career as a Toronto teacher.
Fellow Canadian Will Arnett will be shepherding the project through his production company. Continue reading.
Georgina Reilly: Why I left Murdoch Mysteries
I was so sad to see you go, Georgina. You were like a ray of sunshine. Bright, perky and very spunky. You will be missed. Good luck in the future, and I hope someday to see you back on Murdoch. —Marie
All I have to say is that was one hell of an episode. There was excellent acting, real tension and even some new camera work. I think everyone upped their game so Dr. Grace would have a proper sendoff. I only wish every episode of the show was that good. Georgina Reilly showed what a great actress she is. Congratulations on an excellent job. —Rob
I will miss the character of Emily. She added a lot to the show. Best of luck in your future and I hope many great parts will come your way. —Mary
Good luck, will be looking for you on TV or movies as the years go on. Good luck to Mark as well. My advice? Use this slow time to make a baby. You will be missed. —Gloria
England has far more to offer. Their programs are superior to anything shown in Canada or the U. S. and Canada’s programs are far more intelligent than anything shown in the U.S. Since she is searching for quality, she will be disappointed with what she finds in the U.S., except for HBO; they carry a few decent shows. —Lee
I am sad to see you leave the show, but I wish you much success in the near future. You are an amazing actress and great things are lining up your way. Thank you for the time you spend with all of us here in this beautiful Canada. I hope to see you pop up into a episode here and there. Best of luck. Hasta pronto. —Barbara
I personally truly enjoyed Emily and Lillian’s relationship—it holds a special place in my heart. I’m gay and it was so nice and refreshing to see a same-sex relationship that was portrayed like every other relationship on this show. It wasn’t in your face or for the shock value, unlike so many other shows. It was mundane, boring, adventurous and so loving—like seeing what the other wanted to have for dinner that evening or what they were going to do once they got to London.
I was also very pleased to see those important in Emily’s life, supported her regardless of whom she loved. It put a smile on my face to see Brackenreid be this “fatherly” protective figure—that one episode where he warned her to be careful about her relationship with Lillian. I think he did it more out of fear for her rather then hatred.
I know there are a ton of George/Emily shippers out there—they were cute. But this is life. Sometimes things don’t happen the way it should and things change. It’s a part of life. Emily and George found love with other people but they will always love each other as well—just not like that.
I’m sad, yes, but I hope that she can do a few episodes in the future. I hope that Emily finds love again no matter what shape or form it comes in. —Kate
Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or @tv_eh.
