Tag Archives: Featured

Featured, Podcast

TV Eh B Cs podcast 60 — The Hewlett Dynamic

Kate Hewlett is a Toronto born writer and actor.

In addition to playing lead on The Stanley Dynamic, Kate has played a variety of recurring roles, including Sarah on The Girlfriend Experience, Mrs. Matlin on Degrassi, Paramedic Nicole on Remedy, Jeannie Miller on Stargate: Atlantis and Andrea on The L.A. Complex. Kate also played the title role in the pilot Fancy (nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award).

Kate is the co-executive producer and writer of the hit drama series Backstage.

Kate is an accomplished screenwriter and playwright. Her stage play, The Swearing Jar, was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award, and her film adaptation won first runner up at the Harold Greenberg Screenplay Competition in 2016. Kate wrote and acted in the acclaimed BravoFACT She Said Lenny, which received the Worldwide Short Film Festival’s screenplay award and a spot on Bravo’s Top Ten Short Films. TV writing credits include The L.A. Complex, Seed, InSecurity and Turning Point. As a playwright, Kate’s credits include: The Swearing Jar, Humans Anonymous (Bridge Theatre New York), Malus Domestica (Sound Plays, Soulpepper Theatre), Use My Babies Well and Without (TAC grant). In 2017, she will be adapting the beloved children’s book What Katy Did into a musical for Carousel Players.

She is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Queen’s University (BA), the Tarragon Playwrights’ Unit and the Canadian Film Centre’s Prime Time Television Programme. Kate lives in Toronto with a dog, two cats and an American.

The Stanley Dynamic returns Monday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on YTV.

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Featured, Pure

Pure’s season finale: Faith, the Funks and fighting back

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Things don’t look good for Noah Funk on Pure. His plan to out Eli Voss to O’Reilly and the rest of the DEA backfired in a major way: she was shot and survived. Sadly, the same can’t be said for Abel: Eli shot him in the chest and left him to die in the quarry. Clearly, Eli is a man of his word when it comes to threats; but is Noah?

With the final episode of Pure Season 1, “Baptism,” airing Monday night on CBC, here’s the network’s synopsis:

Forced to choose between his beliefs or his life, Noah crosses the ultimate moral line in his showdown with Eli Voss.
And here a few little tidbits we gleaned from watching the screener:
Eli isn’t done killing
When Episode 6 begins, Voss makes a phone call to Ontario and has a deadly request for Gerry Epp. Hats off to Peter Outerbridge for his performance; Eli is a cold-blooded character I can’t help but love seeing on screen. He’s alway bad news, but he’s been fun to watch. Last week I highlighted a scene between Noah and Eli as the best of the season. I was wrong; their scene this week is better.
O’Reilly calls out Bronco
In an amazing scene at the DEA office, Bronco and O’Reilly go head-to-head and she spells out his shortcomings in just a few intense sentences. Michael Amo’s dialogue is spare, but when his characters speak, they get right to the point.
Anna speaks her mind
Anna Funk has quietly been a pillar of strength for her family, and she steps up once again (with words and fresh baking) when danger comes her way. Will her words fall on deaf ears … or make her situation worse?
What have you thought of the first season of Pure? Comment below!

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Murdoch Mysteries: Brackenreid is back!

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How is it possible that we’re already on Episode 14 of this season of Murdoch Mysteries? It seems like only yesterday Season 10 bowed and here we are in the final stretch.

After an extended period of time away—first at the Olympics in St. Louis and then jaunting to Panama with Pendrick—Inspector Brackenreid returns to Toronto. Here’s CBC’s official description of “From Murdoch to Eternity,” written by Simon McNabb and directed by Jill Carter.

Murdoch devises a mysterious tonic that restores youthful vitality, but his pursuit of a partnership alarms Crabtree.
Here are a few more tidbits after watching the episode:
A longtime character gone?
The episode begins dramatically, with Murdoch on stage, in front of a hushed crowd, revealing a great man—and recurring guest star—is no more. Since the synopsis mentions “a mysterious tonic that restores youthful vitality” it’s no surprise the good detective is speaking of James Pendrick. What happened to the great inventor, and why is Murdoch peddling his fountain of youth? The opening scene also features a shocking entrance by Brackenreid.
Margaret returns
With her husband back, it makes sense Margaret would appear in Monday’s episode too. Her reaction to seeing her husband is … well … um … interesting.
Crabtree does some investigating
It’s not common for George to do sleuthing without some guidance from Murdoch, but he does just that. He’s got a good reason, and calls on Louise Cherry and Samuel Bloom for help.
Orphan Black‘s Ari Millen stops by
Ahead of Orphan Black‘s Season 5 return in June, Millen portrays Tanner, a member of Canadian intelligence who has some questions—via Prime Minister Laurier—about the tonic.
Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Heartland

Heartland: Mallory, miscommunication and mistrust

Last week’s episode of Heartland was an emotional one thanks to the horse barn fire and the struggles everyone went through as a result. According to the pictures, “Home Sweet Home”—written by Bonnie Fairweather and directed by Gail Harvey—promised to be more fun. Lou is back! Mallory stops in! Amy’s baby shower!

Here’s what CBC revealed with regard to the episode synopsis:

When an unexpected guest arrives at Heartland, Amy and Jack question the real reason for the surprise visit. Meanwhile, Lou is upset to learn that her future plans with Mitch may be in jeopardy. Then, a confession by Adam leads Georgie to make a difficult decision. And Jack is caught in the middle when Lou and Lisa both buy the same gift for Amy’s baby shower.

Here’s what else we can tell you after watching a screener of the instalment:

Lou is back!
Yup, after weeks away in New York City, Lou was back on the ranch. She’s been pretty busy, and not just with expanding Maggie’s. She’s been chatting on the phone and texting a certain man while in The Big Apple. (Hope she got a good deal on her cell plan.) But is what Lou wants and he wants the same thing, or is she headed for heartbreak?

Mallory returns!
Yup, after 63 episodes—CBC has been keeping count—Jessica Amlee drops by Heartland and immediately creates a stir. As the episode description teases, the surprise visit may not be all good news. Or is it? Also: it takes just 12 minutes for Mallory to create a stir between Georgie and the always-sensitive Adam.

Heartland airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mighty Cruise Ships sails into Season 2 with drama and extravagance

You have to admire Exploration Production Inc.’s, track record. Discovery’s in-house production company is responsible for some of the most engaging—and highly rated—series on specialty television. They’re not only the folks behind Daily Planet, Megaspeed, Forensic Factor and Factory City but the “Mighty” series, including Mighty Ships and Mighty Trains.

Pulling away from Discovery’s dock on Sunday is Season 2 of Mighty Cruise Ships, which aims to spotlight the most outrageous, expensive and exciting cruise ships sailing around the world. The first episode features a stunner: the Carnival Vista. The largest in the Carnival fleet, the ship cruises the Mediterranean with more than 4,600 passengers, and crew of 1,400 in almost 2,000 staterooms. There are 10 restaurants, a 140-metre long slide, IMAX theatre, brewery and—astoundingly—the first-ever suspended bike loop that allows guests to ride 46 metres above the sea. Carnival Vista truly is a small city on the sea, and that comes with positives and negatives.

What has always impressed me about the Mighty series of programs is the unrestricted access they get not only to staff but the nooks and crannies of the things they’re exploring. With just a few hours to do it, the crew successfully completes a turnaround in Greece, offloading previous passengers and their luggage, cleaning, refreshing and loading new passengers, luggage and supplies for the next 10-day voyage. That means cleaning tons of laundry, overseeing 350 pallets of food … and getting out of port on time.

Not everything goes well. Mere moments after beginning the voyage there is an emergency that shows just how nimble a massive ship and its crew can be when called upon.

Upcoming weeks of Mighty Cruise Ships focus on Royal Clipper, Viking Sea, Europa 2, Ocean Endeavour and MSC Divina.

Mighty Cruise Ships airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Discovery.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.

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