Tag Archives: ET Canada

HGTV’s Family Home Overhaul debuts at “exactly the right time”

When the pandemic hit, it threw television into disarray as productions were delayed as the sector scrambled to be safe. But finished series were affected too. Family Home Overhaul, HGTV Canada’s latest series, was originally slated to debut back in April, but that was scuttled to Sunday. Host Cheryl Hickey is totally fine with the switch.

“I think this show is needed more than ever right now,” Hickey says during a phone interview. “We need a show that reminds you that your neighbour might be going through something you don’t know about. It’s about compassion and giving outside of yourself and it is airing at exactly the right time.”

Debuting Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada, Family Home Overhaul is exactly what it sounds like, with a bit of a twist. Instead of homeowners pledging to have their homes renovated, they have been put forward by others in their community. These selfless families have put others before themselves, and the program—and its stars—is giving back.

In Sunday’s first episode we meet Sarah and Kevin, who are deeply involved in their community and volunteering worldwide to train medical practitioners on the unique needs of child patients and coaching sports for disabled kids and adults. The parents of two boys, Landon and Hayden, 12-year-old Landon has required round-the-clock care his whole life because of a rare developmental disorder. The result? Their older home is falling into disrepair and has workarounds that aren’t working at all. Enter Kortney and Dave Wilson, who work with Hickey to refresh the home and bring it up to date.

Each week, a pair of HGTV Canada’s talent join Hickey, including Scott McGillivray, Tiffany Pratt, Sebastian Clovis, Kortney and Dave Wilson, Brian McCourt, Mia Parres, Kate Campbell and Dave Coleman, Sarah Keenleyside, Joey Fletcher and Dave Kenney, Samantha Pynn and Tommy Smythe.

Hickey may be more known for her hosting duties on ET Canada, but she dives into the fray on Family Home Overhaul, helping with the renovations, conversing with homeowners and designer/contractors and speaking to the homeowners’ friends and family, building a picture of who these people are and why they deserve others’ giving back.

“I jumped at the chance to do this,” Hickey says. “Everything that I do starts and ends with family. I started a business called Cheryl’s Home and Family and if you follow me on social, it’s all about my family. So it made sense. The idea of giving back, to me, was just such a beautiful idea, I was all for it.”

Family Home Overhaul airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

Images courtesy of HGTV Canada.

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ET Canada Reunion Week Reunites the Casts of Five Fan-Favourite Canadian Television Series

From a media release:

With TV production currently on hold, viewers are finding nostalgic comfort with a recent surge of virtual cast reunions. Now it’s time for fans of Canadian TV shows from the 1990s and 2000s to get ready for a throwback, with a lineup of five classic shows set to reunite for audiences.

ET Canada Reunion Week is reuniting the Canuck casts of Ready or Not, Train 48, Falcon Beach, The Red Green Show and North of 60, catching up with the actors as they look back at their time working together, the cultural significance of their programs, and recealing which of these five groundbreaking series is officially working on a reboot!

Viewers looking to reminisce can watch all new episodes of ET Canada beginning on Monday June 1st, when each episode will include a reunion segment with the cast of one of Canada’s most memorable television programs.

See below for the full lineup, and catch the long-awaited get-togethers all week long on ET Canada Reunion Week, beginning Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Global.

Monday, June 1
Ready or Not
Canadians growing up in the 90s remember the iconic friendship between Busy and Amanda, as the duo navigated their way through adolescence. Series stars Lani Billard and Laura Bertram come together for the first time since the show’s end in 1997, as they discuss how reruns of their popular teen-drama series taps into a comforting nostalgia that audiences are currently looking for.

Tuesday, June 2
Train 48
Global’s unscripted soap opera series ran from 2003 to 2008, as viewers followed the lives of twelve daily commuters. The series helped launch the career of Kim’s Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee’s Allana Harkin, who join the rest of the Train 48 cast to discuss the impact the show had on Canadian television, 15 years after the series finale.

Wednesday, June 3
Falcon Beach
Filmed in the real-life town of Falcon Beach in Manitoba, the show originally premiered as a TV movie in 2006, going on to produce two seasons that aired in over 40 countries worldwide. The cast joins together for the first time since the finale, to chat about what they miss most and what it was like to film a teen drama series before the age of social media.

Thursday, June 4
The Red Green Show
One of Canada’s most beloved comedy series, The Red Green Show continues to find new audiences every year, with past episodes available for fans to enjoy on Youtube. Steve Smith and the rest of the cast reunite to discuss how the show became a part of Canadian TV history, their epic 15 season run, and how the duct tape legacy continues to live on.

Friday, June 5
North of 60
Actress Tina Keeper took on the lead role in North of 60, becoming the first Indigenous person to front a Canadian television drama series when it launched in 1992. Tom Jackson joins Keeper and the rest of the North of 60 cast as they chat about how the actors became like family, as well as the unexpected success of the show following its 1992 premiere.

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Comments and queries for the week of July 28

Personally, I would have eliminated Cheryl before either Erin or Natasha [on ET Canada]. Erin and Natasha were very down to earth and approachable. Cheryl is too much into herself. Does not carry herself well. Even standing still she is very affected. Roz is a keeper. —Lynn

So, no representation on ET Canada outside of Toronto? There is more film and television production in Vancouver and British Columbia than anywhere else in Canada, yet Corus feels they don’t need a West Coast correspondent any longer? Never mind as well Vancouver’s proximity to Los Angeles and California. What are these people thinking? I agree, Erin comes across as natural and down to earth, while the Toronto gang is all about their outfits and what they are wearing. Sometimes, I feel they think it’s all about them and they are the story! Hello, you people are there to report and interview celebrities, you’re not the celebrities. Here’s an idea, cut the wardrobe budget for the show and you wouldn’t have to lay anybody off! —Mike

I’m not impressed with Corus. Income Property, Leave It to Bryan and Timber Kings are three of my favourite shows. They represent Canada for God sakes!! —Mel

Corus’ ratings are going to decrease. Canadian shows such as Income Property and Leave It to Bryan are very popular. I will no longer be watching ET Canada or Global. —Sheila

How dare they cancel Income Property. You said everything well. Sangita is more personable than Cheryl. What are they thinking? Why not cancel ET Canada? It won’t be worth watching. You are right. It isn’t all about T.O. Will not be watching Global. —Lynn

 

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

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Rick Campanelli, Erin Cebula and Natasha Gargiulo leave ET Canada

Sad news out the Entertainment Tonight Canada camp today, as it’s been announced Rick Campanelli, Erin Cebula and Natasha Gargiulo are all leaving the long-running newsmagazine show.

“Heading into our 13th season of ET Canada, we are making some changes to the show,” the series announced via its website on Friday. “It’s an emotional day as we share the news that Rick Campanelli, Erin Cebula and Natasha Gargiulo will be moving on to pursue new ventures. After 12 years as co-host, Rick will be leaving ET Canada when his contract comes to a close later this summer. We are grateful for his dedication to the show and wish him well.”

Erin Cebula

“Following 12 years as our West Coast reporter, Erin is moving on to produce and host quality lifestyle and entertainment content for broadcast and new media in Vancouver,” the post continues. “And after 12 years as our correspondent in Montreal, Natasha Gargiulo will continue host and produce entertainment shows for TV and radio, and expand her lifestyle retreats to empower women. You can still catch Natasha and Erin on the show throughout the month of July, and Rick will appear until the end of August.”

Natasha Gargiulo

“We sincerely thank Rick, Erin and Natasha for their tremendous contributions to ET Canada, and wish them every success in their future endeavours,” it concludes.

Launched in 2005 as a spinoff to Entertainment Tonight, ET Canada‘s current roster includes Cheryl Hickey, Roz Weston and Sangita Patel.

Take a look back as Campanelli related his thoughts on 10 years at ET Canada back in 2014.

This is just the latest shakeup at a former Shaw property since Corus bought the company in 2016. Timber Kings, You Gotta Eat Here!, Income Property, Big Brother Canada, Leave It to Bryan and Real Housewives of Toronto have all be cancelled by Corus this year.

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Corbin Tomaszeski cooks up truly Incredible prize on Food Race

Corbin Tomaszeski laments the fact that, with many having busy lifestyles, families aren’t able to enjoy quality time preparing or sharing dinner together.

They’ll get a little bit of both—in a seriously amped-up manner—via The Incredible Food Race. Debuting Wednesday on Food Network, celebrity chef Tomaszeski and ET Canada host Rick Campanelli serve as hosts and ringmasters as two families face off in physical challenges followed by a live cook-off in front of an audience; the audience then tastes both meals and votes for the winning family. What does the triumphant squad go home with? Groceries for a year courtesy of Walmart Canada.

“Competition shows usually award product, some kind of service or monetary amount,” Tomaszeski says. “There’s something really attractive and tangible when it’s food and you have the control over what you buy. And, hello, food is a basic necessity.” The former Restaurant Takeover host explains The Incredible Food Race is more about bringing people together and having fun, with a big prize at the end.

It doesn’t take long for the “fun” challenges to turn into a bona fide competition in Episode 1. The super-athletic Snyman family face off against the vegan Buddle-Gills in three tests designed to give distinct advantages during the final cook-off. The biggest of those three advantages? Several minutes with Tomaszeski coaching them while preparing food for the hungry voting audience. The Dinner Party Wars judge admits that, unlike feelgood co-host Campanelli, he wants to hear smack talk and see some tears because it makes for good TV. One of Tomaszeski’s favourite challenges is called “Sumo Sushi,” and features a team member rolling their own rice-based recipes … while wearing inflatable sumo wrestler costumes.

At this point, Season 1 is a mere six episodes filmed in Toronto, but Tomaszeski hopes, if a sophomore season is ordered, The Incredible Food Race can become a country-wide affair.

“I think we’ve only just scratched the surface with Season 1,” he says. “I think we should travel or have people from across Canada come here because there are so many different types of families and components of families out there that it’s a good idea.”

The Incredible Food Race airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network.

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