Tag Archives: City

Bad Blood

Link: Montreal mafia series Bad Blood is bloody good

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

Link: Montreal mafia series Bad Blood is bloody good
Based on the book Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto’s Last War by Antonio Nicaso and Peter Edwards, it is a very superior docu-drama: gripping, richly textured and unfussily focused not just on the violent dynamics of a successful mob operation but on what happens when a strong leader is absent and the centre of power disintegrates. It is also, in a peculiar way, about Canada and our way of doing things. Continue reading.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Bad Blood

Link: Bad Blood, good experience: 8 things I learned watching my book become a TV series

From Peter Edwards of the Toronto Star:

Link: Bad Blood, good experience: 8 things I learned watching my book become a TV series
It has been almost four years since New Metric Media (Letterkenny) bought the option to Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto’s Last War, a non-fiction book I co-authored with Antonio Nicaso.

At the time it was sort of exciting, like buying a batch of lottery tickets. Since then New Metric has kept plugging away and, starting this Thursday, a six-part limited series inspired by the book will air Thursdays on City TV.

Here are eight things I’ve learned from this journey. Continue reading. 

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Bad Blood

City original Bad Blood gets September debut date; plus teaser trailer

From a media release:

Honour. Betrayal. Revenge… Ghosts? No matter your tastes, City is serving up something for everyone this fall, and it all kicks off with two exclusive premiere screenings at Fan Expo Canada on September 1 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Seated on a first-come, first-served basis, Fan Expo fans will get a sneak peek of City’s critically acclaimed, six-part event series at the world premiere screening of Bad Blood, produced in partnership with New Metric Media and Sphère Média Plus in association with DHX Media and Skyvision. While imprisoned in Colorado’s Supermax Prison for the murders of three Bonanno family members, Montreal mobster Vito Rizzuto (Anthony LaPaglia, Without a Trace) relies heavily on his right-hand man, Declan Gardiner (Kim Coates, Sons of Anarchy) to be his eyes and ears on the outside. But as the thriving empire he built is dismantled, Rizzuto watches helplessly as his closest friends and family members are mysteriously murdered one by one – ultimately culminating in a Shakesperean-level revenge mission upon his release.

Hosted by Entertainment City’s Devo Brown, the live Q&A following the screening will feature Executive Producer Mark Montefiore (NMM, Letterkenny), series stars Tony Nappo (Saw franchise) and Maxim Roy (Shadow Hunters), and authors of the best-selling book and inspiration for the series, “Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto’s Last War,” Peter Edwards and Antonio Nicaso. Plus, fans can enjoy a fun photo opp and take home their own copy of the book, with the newly reprinted “Bad Blood” cover.

Part of Fan Expo Canada, the Bad Blood screening and panel will be held on Friday, Sept. 1 at 3:30 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Room 701A.

But before all the drama, explore the paranormal with the exclusive Canadian premiere of City’s new, live-action comedy, Ghosted. Taking place on Friday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m. in Room 701A, Ghosted follows the partnership between two polar opposites – a cynical skeptic (Craig Robinson, Mr. Robot, Hot Tub Time Machine franchise) and a genius “true believer” (Adam Scott, Big Little Lies, Parks and Recreation) in the paranormal – who are recruited by a secret government agency, known as ‘The Bureau Underground’, to save the human race from aliens.

Following the screening, don’t miss a live Q&A, moderated by Entertainment City’s Devo Brown, and photo opps with star Craig Robinson. Opening the show, fans will also be the first in Canada to see an exclusive, extended clip of City’s new comedy, The Orville, starring Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, Ted franchise). A live-action, one-hour space adventure series set 400 years in the future, the series follows The U.S.S. Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship. Its crew, both human and alien, face the wonders and dangers of outer space, while also dealing with the problems of everyday life.

Fans who can’t make it to the screenings can catch up on all of the action with the broadcast series premiere of The Orville on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; Bad Blood on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; and Ghosted on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on City.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Industry News

Tanya Kim let go from BreakfastTelevision Toronto

Tanya Kim’s tenure has come to an end at Rogers in Toronto. The longtime entertainment reporter made the announcement via social media on Thursday, explaining she was the victim of restructuring at the company.

“They say when one door closes, so many more open,” she posted on her Instagram page. “Trust me when I say I believe this wholeheartedly. After two years of bringing you, loyal fans, and viewers the latest in entertainment news on Entertainment City, Breakfast Television Toronto, and Your World This Week, I was officially let go of by the network due to restructuring. They deemed my position to be unnecessary.

“More importantly, I want to take this time to thank from the bottom of my heart a couple of OGs who’ve had my back since day one – Jordan & Sandy, I’ll forever be grateful for you two,” she continued. “And to my incredible BT, Entertainment City, and Your World This Week families, thank you so much for making these past couple of years such a fun and memorable time. The constant love, encouragement, laughs, and support mean the world to me and all of you made my days brighter. I can’t wait to see each one of you continue to shine.”

Adam Wylde, Kim’s former co-worker, was quick to make his feelings known on Thursday via Twitter.

Back in September 2015, BT Toronto made the announcement that Kim had joined their team as the new face of Entertainment City and Rogers Your World This Week.

“Tanya Kim is synonymous with entertainment news in Canada,” Jordan Schwartz, vice-president of in-house productions at Rogers said in a press release at the time. “Over the past 14 years, Tanya has cultivated a strong personal brand that resonates with fans from coast-to-coast. She’s a great addition to our Rogers family.”

Prior to her move to Rogers, Kim was employed by Bell Media as a special correspondent for Canadian Idol before co-hosting etalk with Ben Mulroney in 2003.

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Industry News

Cue the hits in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… City unveils its 2017/18 prime-time schedule

3 Comments

From a media release:

Proven, powerful, and pedigreed. Today Rogers Media unveils City’s 2017/18 programming schedule, building on last season’s proven hits with bold new additions backed by some of the most creative minds in television today. Rogers Media president, Rick Brace, and senior vice president of television & broadcast operations, Colette Watson, together with the executive team will present the new schedule to advertisers and media this afternoon at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Comedies
This broadcast year, City had three of the Top 10 and eight of the Top 20 comedy hits4, and City will continue to bring the laughs with five new comedy series for the 2017/18 season. Joining the fall lineup, The Orville, from Emmy Award-winning executive producer and creator Seth MacFarlane and director Jon Favreau, is an irreverent workplace sci-fi adventure comedy set 400 years in the future that follows the adventures of the U.S.S. Orville, an exploratory spaceship, and the familiar and funny everyday challenges of its human and alien crew. The weird and wonderful out-of-this-world theme continues with Ghosted, when a cynical skeptic (Craig Robinson, The Office) and a genius “true believer” (Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation, Big Little Lies) are recruited to investigate unexplained phenomena in Los Angeles – all the while uncovering a larger mystery that could threaten the existence of the human race. Canadian cult classic Fubar moves to the small screen, propelling beloved characters Terry and Dean into the modern age. New-to-City, Speechless starring Minnie Driver joins the schedule in mid-season, along with new Will Ferrell-produced commuter comedy LA to Vegas.

Dramas
Power and political games drive City’s scripted drama slate for the 2017/18 season with four new series joining the lineup.  A City original, Bad Blood follows the true-crime saga of one of Canada’s most notorious mob families, a revenge story of Godfather-like proportions. New-to-City this fall, hit series The Blacklist joins the schedule with prime-time’s favourite fugitive-turned F.B.I informant, “Red” Reddington (James Spader), as he teams up with his hand-picked profiler to work through his own “most wanted” list of criminals. Coming in 2018, Versailles is a lush Canadian drama about Louis XIV, and the darkness, ambition, and manipulation that simmers just beneath the gilded surface of the Sun King’s court. Also, a young doctor’s ethics are tested when The Resident, starring Canadians Emily VanCamp and Bruce Greenwood, joins City’s schedule in mid-season.

Returning Favourites
Proven hits and fan favourites return as City confirms the renewal of 16 prime-time series, delivering more laugh-out-loud moments, dramatic plot twists, and thrilling competition through the 2017/18 season. Returning series include The Bachelor franchise, Black-ish, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy, Hell’s Kitchen, Hockey Night in Canada, Last Man on Earth, Lethal Weapon, Life in Pieces, The Mick, The Middle, Modern Family, Mom, New Girl, Nirvanna The Band The Show,and Scorpion.

New Series:

BAD BLOOD
60-minute Canadian scripted drama series
Thursdays at 8 p.m.
National broadcast

Inspired by reputed mobster Vito Rizzuto, and based on the best-selling book, Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto’s Last War by Antonio Nicaso and Peter Edwards, Bad Blood: The Vito Rizzuto Story is a six-part limited event series. While imprisoned in Colorado’s Supermax Prison for the murders of three Bonanno family members, Rizzuto watches helplessly as the thriving empire he built is dismantled, and his closest friends and family members are mysteriously murdered one by one. When Rizzuto is finally released from prison, a Shakespearean-level revenge tale plays out – leading to the brutal murders of his closest companions, and ultimately the death of Rizzuto himself.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: New Metric Media, Sphere Media, and DHX Media
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Michael Konyves, Simon Barry
CAST: Anthony LaPaglia (Without a Trace), Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas), Enrico Colantoni (Flashpoint)

FUBAR: THE AGE OF THE COMPUTER
30-minute Canadian scripted comedy series
Sundays at 10:30 p.m.
National broadcast

Based on the beloved film franchise and hurdling it into the modern age, Fubar: The Age of the Computer finds Terry and Dean fleeing from the wildfires of Fort McMurray in a desperate retreat to Calgary, with nothing but emergency government debit cards to their names. Discovering high-speed Internet for the first time, Terry is exposed to a world of commerce and social media and attempts to harness the web to make a profit. Meanwhile, Dean embarks on a journey to record a triple-concept album using his burnt bass guitar and extreme falsetto voice.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Busted Tranny Productions Ltd Cardinal Film Inc., Vice Studio Canada
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Michael Dowse
CAST: David Lawrence (Freezer Burn), Paul Spence (It’s All Gone, Pete Tong)

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail