Tag Archives: Crave

Featured, Industry News, Winnipeg Famous

Production begins on new Crave original comedy Winnipeg Famous

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From a media release:

Crave announced today that production is underway in Winnipeg on the new eight-episode Crave Original comedy series WINNIPEG FAMOUS (formerly I CAN’T SAVE YOU), from Redcloud Studios and Frantic Films. Filming began October 13 and continues through mid-November. 

Created by Jennifer Podemski, Sherry McKay, and Amber-Sekowan Daniels, WINNIPEG FAMOUS is a dark comedy about a down-on-her-luck Indigenous single mother from Winnipeg’s North End, who discovers an unlikely calling in stand-up comedy. The series is written by Tim Fontaine, Meg MacKay, Jennifer Podemski, and Amber-Sekowan Daniels.

Meet Sherry Beaver (McKay), a foul-mouthed single mom, who’s broke, recently lost her apartment, and dealing with a family that is less than cooperative. With nowhere to turn and a seemingly endless parade of bureaucratic headaches, Sherry stumbles into the world of stand-up comedy, where she discovers that turning life’s hardships into punchlines, might just be her way forward. 

With no shortage of family drama, community politics and life’s seemingly endless curveballs, WINNIPEG FAMOUS is a sharp, unapologetic dark comedy about finding the funny when life won’t cut you a break.   

Sherry McKay stars as Sherry Beaver, a fictionalized character inspired by her own life, alongside Jennifer Podemski (RESERVATION DOGS, DON’T EVEN) as Sherry’s eccentric, sex-positive mother; Callan Potter (HEATED RIVALRY, WE WERE LIARS) as Sherry’s fellow comedian; Meegwun Fairbrother (LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, BURDEN OF TRUTH); and Cody Lightning (THE LOWDOWN, REZ BALL). The series also features an ensemble of local Winnipeg actors and comedians. 

WINNIPEG FAMOUS is directed by an acclaimed team of Indigenous filmmakers, including Zoe Hopkins (LITTLE BIRD, NORTH OF NORTH, SMALL ACHIEVABLE GOALS), Cody Lightning (SMUDGE THE BLADES, HEY, VIKTOR!), and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (LITTLE BIRD, ACTING GOOD, THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN). 

WINNIPEG FAMOUS is an Indigenous-controlled project from Redcloud Studios and Frantic Films, in association with Bell Media’s Crave. Jennifer Podemski and André Czernohorsky serve as Executive Producers for Redcloud Studios, with Jamie Brown and Sally Karam serving as Executive Producers for Frantic Films. Jennifer Podemski and Amber-Sekowan Daniels are Showrunners. 

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Featured, I Kill the Bear

Jared Keeso’s new comedy series, I Kill the Bear, premieres November 6 on Crave

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From a media release:

From the mind of Jared Keeso comes I KILL THE BEAR, a new, six-part, Crave Original comedy series which drops with two episodes weekly, beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

I KILL THE BEAR is a comedy about a family of bear wranglers for film sets, and why, after 100 years, they’ve decided to make this film their last. The Thibaults – Keeso, St-Pierre, Beauchesne, and Torrens – are a fourth-generation Franco-Ontarian family who make their living wrangling bears on film sets. They’re incredibly kind, well-intentioned people who have spent most of their lives isolated in the bush and suddenly find themselves trying to navigate a Hollywood world they don’t completely understand.

Keeso is joined onscreen by an ensemble cast including: Adrian Holmes (19-2, BEL-AIR), Mixed Martial Arts star Georges St-Pierre (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER), Jonathan Torrens (TRAILER PARK BOYS), Sarah-Maude Beauchesne (BELLEFLEUR), multi-award-winning, Diamond-selling Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, Kristin Kreuk (SMALLVILLE), Scott Thompson (KIDS IN THE HALL), Dylan Playfair (LETTERKENNY), Eliana Jones (SHORESY), Frederick Roy (SHORESY), and Megha Sandhu (PAINKILLER).

Guest stars include: Andrew Antsanen, Jann Arden, Brent Butt, Michala Brasseur, Jesse Camacho, Kim Coates, Art D’Ecco, Tricia Helfer, Emma Hunter, Kim Cloutier, Ryan McDonell, Ben Mulroney, Michelle Mylett, Matt Paradis, Jay Onrait, Maxim Roy, Melanie Scrofano, Rachel Sellan, Hannah Simone, George Stroumboulopoulos, and more.

I KILL THE BEAR is produced by New Metric Media in association with Play Fun Games and in partnership with Bell Media’s Crave, with the participation of the Rogers Fund and the NOHFC. Jared Keeso is Executive Producer, writer, star, and creator, with story by Keeso and Producer Trevor Risk. Dan and Sean Skene are directors and Executive Producers. Mark Montefiore and Kara Haflidson are Executive Producers with Max Wolfond serving as Supervising Producer for New Metric Media. New Metric Media handles international distribution.

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Featured, Yaga

Welcome to Whittock…the Crave original series Yaga premieres October 23

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From a media release:

Something wicked this way comes. Crave announced today that its eight-episode, half-hour drama, YAGA, a spellbinding mystery thriller which re-imagines the myth of Baba Yaga, premieres on Friday, October 23.

Following a captivating kickoff at San Diego Comic Con in July, momentum for YAGA continues to build. Before its highly anticipated debut, the series is set to have its world premiere on September 17 at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a panel at New York Comic Con on October 9, revealing exclusive content. The first two episodes drop on Oct. 23, followed by one episode on subsequent Fridays, until the two-episode finale on Nov. 27.

Additionally, in tandem with each episode of YAGA, Crave presents an original companion podcast to the series. Hosted by Canadian content creator and podcaster Carley Thorne, YAGA: THE OFFICIAL PODCAST, unpacks each episode, providing a deeper dive into key moments, theories, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and more. The podcast is available to stream on Crave and Crave’s Official YouTube account beginning Oct. 23, as well as on iHeart and all major podcast platforms.

YAGA is based on the hit play by Kat Sandler who also serves as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. It follows Rapp (Noah Reid), a private investigator who arrives in the small coastal town of Whittock, to investigate the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery, Henry Park (Hudson Williams). He finds himself at odds with an apprehensive local detective, Carson (Clark Backo), a charismatic university professor with a taste for younger men, Katherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), and a labyrinth of enigmatic suspects, secret lives, and ancient magic.

Additional cast includes Sheila McCarthy, Megan Follows, Ezra Franky, Patrick Gilmore, Katharine Isabelle, and Hiro Kanagawa, along with Emilija Baranac, Georgia Acken, Anisa Harris, and Sam Krochmal.

David Frazee and Rachel Talalay serve as co-directors. Mackenzie Donaldson, Andrew Miller, and Carrie-Anne Moss are executive producers, and Charles Cooper is producer.

YAGA is produced by Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures, in association with Bell Media, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the Rogers Series Fund, and the Bell Fund.

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Featured, Heated Rivalry

Crave original Heated Rivalry continues to expand cast for Season 2

From a media release:

Crave announced today additional new cast members set to appear in the highly anticipated second season of HEATED RIVALRY. Joining Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, Justice Smith, and Charlie Gillespie for HEATED RIVALRY Season 2 are: Emily Hampshire (SCHITT’S CREEK, Marvel’s VISIONQUEST) as Vanessa; Edvin Ryding (THE YOUNG ROYALS, 28 Years Later) as Luca Haas; Robert Naylor (Mile End Kicks, CARDINAL) as Wyatt Hayes; Sabrina Jalees (I Used to Be Funny, BLACK MIRROR) as Farah Jalali; and Priyanka as Tarek (DRAG BRUNCH SAVED MY LIFE, Meet Me Next Christmas).

Produced by Accent Aigu Entertainment in association with Bell Media’s Crave, the critically acclaimed and award-winning series HEATED RIVALRY is created by Jacob Tierney and based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers books. Season 2 is set to premiere in Spring 2027.

HEATED RIVALRY Season 1 told the story of rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Bound by ambition, rivalry and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understood, what began as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies evolved into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery.

The series is distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus, a Bell Media company, and is available in more than 130 countries around the world.

HEATED RIVALRY is commissioned by Bell Media’s Crave, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund (CMF), and the Bell Fund. Jacob Tierney is writer, director, and executive producer. Brendan Brady and Jayme Alter Wilson serve as executive producers. Lori Fischburg and Liane Cunje are producers, with Rachel Reid as consulting producer. Mike Goldbach serves as co-writer on Season 2.

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Featured, Heated Rivalry

Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie join Crave original Heated Rivalry

From a media release:

The hit Crave Original HEATED RIVALRY has cast Justice Smith (I Saw the TV Glow, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t) and Charlie Gillespie (One Night Only, Splitsville, Suze) as Harris Drover and Troy Barrett. Smith and Gillespie join Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in leading roles for the upcoming new season which is scheduled to premiere in Spring 2027.

Produced by Accent Aigu Entertainment in association with Bell Media’s Crave, the critically acclaimed and award-winning series HEATED RIVALRY is created by Jacob Tierney and based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers books.

“Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for,” said Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady. “From the start of the casting process, we knew we were looking for actors who could create something truly special together and bring that same depth and heart to the screen. Justice and Charlie do exactly that. They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters, bringing an instinctive understanding of who Harris and Troy are.”

Season 1 told the story of rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie). Bound by ambition, rivalry and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understood, what began as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies evolved into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery.

The series is commissioned by Bell Media’s Crave, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund (CMF). Jacob Tierney is writer, director, and executive producer. Brendan Brady and Jayme Alter Wilson serve as executive producers. Lori Fischburg and Liane Cunje are producers, with Rachel Reid as consulting producer. Mike Goldbach serves as co-writer on Season 2.

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