Tag Archives: Featured

Featured, Masterchef Canada

MasterChef Canada winner plans her future

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Mary Berg won Season 3 of MasterChef Canada, but she’s only beginning her culinary adventure. The energetic insurance broker from Pickering, Ont., captured the grand prize on Sunday night by beating Jeremy Senaris with her cohesive three-course creations. But winning the series, a trophy and $100,000 is just a launch pad for Berg, who plots to run her own catering business … and perhaps return to television.

“I have a project in development with Bell Media and Proper Television and we’ll see where that goes,” Berg says with a smile during an interview Monday afternoon. “I met with Proper Television and was showing them some photos and they sat me down and approached me.” Berg is mum on anymore details regarding the potential television project, but does plan to continue catering. Sunday’s season finale broadcast didn’t stop her from catering an event for 29 on Saturday night.

Regarding her three-course finale of golden beet borscht, surf and turf and blueberry financier, Berg plotted the meal once she’d made the Top 5 so she’d be prepared, using the inspiration of her family as the basis for her choices. Being prepared was never an issue for Berg, but being too adventurous was. Case in point? Deciding to create four different eclairs in an Elimination Challenge that put her on the cusp of going home.

“As soon as I started that challenge I thought, ‘Mary, you idiot, why are you doing this?’ but I had decided and once you make a decision like that you just have to go with it,” she says with a laugh. “And even though I look frazzled, I get it done.” Berg was in the bottom two a second time this season after leaving a bone in the fish she’d prepared; she still has that piece of bone.

But that’s all in the past. Berg is eying future prospects … and finally getting her hands on the trophy after it was taken away at the conclusion of filming.

“I know where I’m going to put that,” Berg says. “In my house, on the speaker for my record player. It’s very central. I don’t have trophies, this is my first, and I’m going to place it somewhere noticeable.”

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

MasterChef Canada’s Season 3 winner is …

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After 14 weeks of toil, MasterChef Canada crowned its Season 3 winner. Mary Berg triumphed over Jeremy Senaris to not only claim the title, but the $100,000 grand prize. She is the first female winner of MasterChef Canada.

“This trophy represents everything I’ve learned and that is about to happen,” Berg said moments after judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile handed her the trophy; she was surrounded by her family.

“Mary really deserves this, and I’m happy for her,” Senaris said. “I made it this far and I’m really proud of what I did. Second ain’t so bad.”

Berg had been a frontrunner all season long, proving being a vegetarian wasn’t a disadvantage as she prepared meat dishes that won consistently high marks from the judges. She proved that once again in Sunday’s season finale by featuring beef tenderloin in her modern take on surf and turf, pairing the seared protein with fried oysters drew raves from the celebrity chefs. The trio deemed Berg’s three-course menu of roasted golden beet borscht, surf and turf and blueberry financier to be a little more cohesive than Senaris’ bison takaki, sushi boat and milk tea panna cotta.

Unlike Berg, Senaris improved week to week throughout the competition, winning over the judges quietly but confidently, and showing he could create innovative and thrilling plates. His Achilles heel was presentation, though that didn’t hurt him in the finale. If anything, he saved his most beautiful plating for Sunday night, especially his multi-coloured, multi-layered dessert.

Season 4 of MasterChef Canada is happening now.

Were you happy Mary won Season 3 of MasterChef Canada? Comment below.

Check out our exclusive interview with Mary and her plans for the future.

Flash back to last July, when Mary auditioned in Toronto:

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

T+E’s Haunted Case Files scares up spooky tales

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Haunted Case Files is the supernatural investigation series I’ve been waiting for. Thankfully, T+E and Our House Media have brought it to the me. Listen, I like those other paranormal shows recounting the spooky experiences witnessed by everyday folks, but there’s always something missing because these people don’t deal with this stuff every day. The people starring in Haunted Case Files? Experts.

Debuting Saturday on the specialty channel—and a spinoff of Paranormal Survivor—Haunted Case Files tells the personal stories of real-life ghostbusters. Episode 1 begins in Lansing, Mich., in 2011, as homeowner Agnes and her family are terrorized by an unseen force that escalates from footsteps and phantom voices to eggs being thrown around. Enter paranormal expert Karlo Zuzic and his 300-plus investigations, whose research reveals Agnes’ son, Gary, took his own life years before. Was Gary the one responsible for the antics in his mother’s home on the anniversary of his death?

Thanks to excellent recreations and eyewitness testimony, Haunted Case Files has an air of authenticity missing from shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures, two programs that use jerky camera work and post-production antics to ramp up the drama, resulting in frustratingly anemic evidence of the paranormal. That’s not the case with Haunted Case Files; a crystal-clear recording of a voice saying “Gary” can be heard on Karlo’s recording made during the house inspection.

The second story, involving the ghost of an axe murderer in Villisca, Iowa, is equally interesting. The murders of eight people are recalled over 100 years later when investigator Alan Tolf and his daughter, Anna, approach the home where six of deaths took place and capture compelling photographic evidence that they’re not alone. Then the Tolfs venture inside…

The result? A dramatic, sometimes downright scary series that goes a long way to convincing me spirits are around us.

Haunted Case Files airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on T+E.

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19-2, Featured

Season 3 of 19-2 returns with questions and power struggles

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I go into every episode of 19-2 with an uneasy feeling. Over the last two seasons, showrunner Bruce M. Smith has proven that the next tragedy to befall the squad is mere moments away.

No story is one-note. There is always a chain reaction to an incident, and that’s the case with Monday’s return when what seems to be a simple blown van tire turns into multiple life or death situations. Here’s what we can tell you about “Burn Pile”—written by Smith—without giving everything away.

The squad makes changes
Bear is still the acting Sergeant, Dickie the rookie has been paired with Tyler—leading to some very funny scenes—and J.M. is on indefinite leave with pay after assaulting Justine. Also, as part of an initiative to regain the community’s trust, every officer must do foot patrol and bike patrol.

Let the backstabbing begin
Maxim Roy told us Episode 1 would feature masks coming off and huge betrayals, and she was right. With the task force—investigating why Houle’s crimes weren’t discovered sooner—looking for someone to blame, Isabelle and Gendron begin an intricate game of chess neither wants to lose.

New players join the fray
The investigation into Houle’s case and what happened to Kaz gives 19-2 the opportunity to introduce new characters. Among them: Insp. Elise Roberge, from Internal Affairs; and Charlie Figo, a local baker with ties to the mob. Both use manipulation to their advantage.

Ben comes up with a whole new meaning for the term “table it”
And Amelie is a big help.

19-2 airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo.

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Bachelorette Canada, Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Comments and queries for the week of June 17

marble media and Omnifilm Entertainment partner to remake 90s favourite The Odyssey

While I’m usually against remakes (Anne of Green Gables comes to mind) enough time has passed and the memory of the show has faded so much so I welcome a new The Odyssey. I really liked this show when I was younger and the premise works well for a remake. —Alicia

Jasmine Lorimer announced as Canada’s first Bachelorette

A small-town “girl” is no way to describe a 27-year-old woman. To find a man of her dreams? Women dream of more than a man. As far as a search for a soul mate and a groom, Ms. Lorimer should look at the odds … the success rate of lasting matches from this franchise, including the Canadian version is dismal—he’d do better at speed dating night at the local Kelsey’s.

That in the 21st century we have this kind of brainless TV is embarrassing. To call it “Reality” or “Factual” TV is an insult to all that is real and a fact. For a Canadian network to buy this format to satisfy their Canadian content is the worst violation of all. —Gary

Murdoch Mysteries‘ Season 9 end and what’s to come in Season 10

The last episode of Season 9 was shocking and scary. However, I was glad that Dr. Ogden’s character survived. I did not like the Eva Pierce’s character. She was a psycho and mentally ill. But after all this is just television, not real. I look forward to seeing Season 10. It will probably show in the U.S. next year. I love all the actors that portray the characters. —Jean

I just watched the finale and I liked it enough—it certainly had its fair share of excitement, and it was nice to see Julia saving the day, especially after things seemed to cool down once she found herself back in the morgue. Obviously, we need a reminder now and then that Julia is epic, and the bow and arrow certainly did that! Eva is not my favourite villain—I never really liked her plotline or character, so I am glad that in this episode she is gone for good >:) I think it was very fitting for Julia to end Eva’s life, given their history.

I thought this season was fantastic and I am so excited for Season 10. I was sad to see Emily Grace go, as I loved her sense of humour and wonder, however I am really liking Rebecca James a lot! The actress who plays her is fantastic and it’s so nice to have a fresh character who brings a different dynamic and experience to the show. Emily Grace was great on her own, so I am glad Rebecca James doesn’t feel like just a “replacement” as some shows tend to do, and more of her own unique character that has so much to bring to Murdoch Mysteries!

Also, I can’t say I agree with the people who disliked this episode mainly because of it not being “realistic.” If Murdoch was 100 percent realistic we wouldn’t have fun historical cameos, Murdoch’s inventions or any of the other great historical events that Murdoch gets wound up in. It is fictional after all! I’ve accepted long ago that ridiculous things happen in Murdoch Mysteries, and I am quite happy that they do as it adds to the charm of this show. —Misty

Got a question or comment about the Canadian TV industry? greg@tv-eh.com or on Twitter @tv_eh.

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