Tag Archives: Insight Productions

Big Brother Canada

Tychon Carter-Newman crowned Season 9 winner of Big Brother Canada

From a media release:

It was a Big Brother Canada season like no other, where Canadians from all walks of life shared their stories, communities, and cultures with the nation. In this season’s epic two-hour season finale, it was Montreal’s Tychon Carter-Newman who conquered all, becoming the first Black winner in Big Brother Canada history to take home the $100,000 grand prize. Over the course of the show’s ten weeks, Tychon aligned with big players and even bigger threats, using his charm and wits to make it to the top…without ever touching the block. He put these skills to use one last time and convinced the jury that he deserved to win, defeating Calgary’s Breydon White by a vote of 6-1.

As the winner of Big Brother Canada Season 9, Tychon walks away with $100,000 cash, $10,000 worth of grills and grilling accessories courtesy of Weber, $10,000 powered by Sunlight and an unforgettable vacation for two from Expedia. As runner-up, Breydon claimed his own cash prize, walking away with $20,000 cash.

“I can’t put into words how I feel right now, it’s the best feeling in the world,” said Tychon. “My family had my back, everybody had my back, I don’t know what to say. I didn’t expect to be here. Coming into this house, I was with a lot of big personalities and I’m one of the quieter ones and it was overwhelming for me. So to think that I can be standing here today was not something I ever imagined.”

In the final episode of the season, social butterfly Breydon “Brey Bae” White, Tychon “The Bishop” Carter-Newman and Tera “Mama T” Gillen-Petrozzi competed in the most important challenge of the season: the do-or-die three-part HOH competition. In the first challenge, the final three houseguests battled it out in a grueling competition of stealth and endurance where they had to stack and balance 60 disks on two pegs. After an exhausting four hours that tested mind, body and soul, no winner was declared, forcing a sudden death round. Dominated by Breydon, he used his steady hands and a little bit of science to propel him to the third round of the competition.

In the second part of the competition, Tera and Tychon went head-to-head in a mental and physical challenge that tested both their aim and overall game knowledge. After a speedy start for both houseguests, Tera’s frustrations got the best of her, giving Tychon the victory and chance to face off against Breydon in the third and final round.

In round three, Breydon and Tychon competed for the final HOH of the season and a guaranteed spot in the final two. It was a nail-biting challenge that had everyone on the edge of their seats as the two were grilled on their knowledge of the jury members. Tychon and Breydon were neck and neck until the very last question, which Breydon answered incorrectly, making Tychon the season’s very last Head of Household. Forced to make the biggest decision of his game yet, Tychon remained loyal to the soil and committed to a final two position with Breydon, making Tera the final jury member of the season.

After Tychon was named winner of Season 9, Arisa surprised the houseguests by announcing that for the first time ever, Canada voted for their favourite houseguest of the season: Haida Gwaii’s Kiefer Collison. As Canada’s Favourite Houseguest of Big Brother Canada Season 9, Kiefer walks away with a $10,000 cash prize.

Watch the final three houseguests tomorrow on Global’s The Morning Show beginning at 9 a.m. ET/PT. The houseguests will join hosts Jeff McArthur and Carolyn MacKenzie to talk about the season’s backdoors, trap doors, bromances and more. Plus, visit etcanada.com to check out a series of exclusive BBCAN9 interviews and first-looks, including a special chat with this season’s jury and an end-of-season check in with the series Host and Executive Producer Arisa Cox.

Commissioned by Corus Entertainment, Season 9 of Big Brother Canada is produced by Insight Productions Ltd. in association with Corus Entertainment and Banijay. Executive Producers are John Brunton, Erin Brock, Eric Abboud, Trevor Boris, and Arisa Cox.

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Featured, Top Chef Canada

Top Chef Canada: Chris Nuttall-Smith teases Season 9

Chris Nuttall-Smith is still pinching himself that he’s a resident judge on Top Chef Canada.

“This is a competition that resonates with people not just in Canada but around the world,” the food journalist and critic says. “Working hard, on the fly, under so much pressure. It’s a competition and a format that’s so fun to do. I’m so happy to get the call saying, ‘Hey, we’re doing another season.'”

Returning Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada, the newest season of Top Chef Canada features familiar faces in chef, cookbook author and host Eden Grinshpan; chef and owner of The McEwan Group, head judge Mark McEwan; and fellow resident judges in restaurateur Janet Zuccarini and food writer and personality Mijune Pak.

Not so familiar? The impact the pandemic had on production. Where past seasons saw the competitors scramble out of vans and into McEwan’s eponymous high-end grocery store to shop for products, Season 9 has the ingredients trucked into the studio for a timed shop by the professional chefs. And the classic Restaurant Wars challenge has been scuttled in favour of Takeout Wars.

As always, it’s the professional chefs—and the food they create—that are the stars of Top Chef Canada. In Monday’s debut, we’re introduced to the 11 facing off against one another. The cast includes Kym Nguyen, who identifies as non-binary and whips up killer British-Asian fare; Indigenous chefs Siobhan Detkavich and Stéphane Levac, who bring their roots to their recipes; and Erica and Josh Karbelnik, who are married.

“This season really reflects Canada, who we are as a nation and what our culinary culture is,” Nuttall-Smith says. “More people are finding opportunities, carving out niches, are having a chance to show what they can do. And, as a judge, it makes the food way more interesting.”

That’s evident in Monday’s opening minutes when the competitors are tasked with creating a plate that represents their brand. Everything put forward is unique, authentic and—as evidenced by Grinshpan and McEwan’s reactions—for the most part tasty. That’s not to say there aren’t duds, but this season’s chefs are really bringing it. That’s to be expected, especially with $100,000 and a Lexus RX Hybrid Electric SUV handed to the winner. And, despite the fact not every dish presented to him is a home run, Nuttall-Smith enters each Elimination Challenge meal feeling the same emotion: hope.

“My perspective, as a restaurant critic and a food writer is that every dish and every chef starts at 100 per cent,” he explains. “I look at it as ‘You’re the best chef in the world, and let’s see how it goes.’ A lot of times that really pays off, and other times it doesn’t. But my expectation is always, ‘This is gonna be great.'”

Top Chef Canada airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.

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Top Chef Canada

Top Chef Canada returns for its ninth season on April 19

From a media release:

Top Chef Canada, the #2 program on Food Network Canada last spring and growing significantly year over year*, makes its triumphant return April 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada. The ninth season welcomes 11 fearless professional chefs from across the country, each bringing an unbelievable range of culinary styles, technical skill, and diverse breadth of flavours. This season’s competitors have their sights set on earning the title of Canada’s Top Chef, along with a cash prize of $100,000 provided by Interac Corp. and a luxurious Lexus RX Hybrid Electric SUV.

In the past year, the hospitality industry has faced adversity, forcing businesses to adapt and innovate quicker than ever before. This year’s competitors emerge with strong, fresh perspectives, and this incomparable season confronts and rises above the obstacles. The chefs contend with the pressure of the competition while facing weekly challenges featuring plant-based cuisine, celebrating local and seasonal ingredients, and a new twist on long-standing Top Chef Canada challenge Restaurant Wars, pivoting to Takeout Wars.

This season introduces a roster of new culinary voices with diverse backgrounds, all possessing a shared fiery passion for food. The professional chefs set to compete for the title of Canada’s Top Chef are:

Galasa Aden, 27 (Calgary, Alta.)
Andrea Alridge, 30 (Vancouver, B.C.)
Emily Butcher, 30 (Winnipeg, Man.)
Aicia Colacci, 40 (Montreal, Que.)
Siobhan Detkavich, 21 (Kelowna, B.C.)
Jae-Anthony Dougan, 34 (Ottawa, Ont.)
Alex Edmonson, 28 (Calgary, Alta.)
Erica Karbelnik, 30 (Toronto, Ont.)
Josh Karbelnik, 30 (Toronto, Ont.)
Stéphane Levac, 41 (Kentville, N.S.)
Kym Nguyen, 34 (Vancouver, B.C.)

Visit foodnetwork.ca/shows/top-chef-canada for full biographies and exclusive cast videos.

In order to cook another week in the competition, the chefs must impress the revered Top Chef Canada judging panel comprised of chef, cookbook author and host Eden Grinshpan, chef and owner of The McEwan Group, head judge Mark McEwan, and resident judges: powerhouse restaurateur Janet Zuccarini, food writer and personality Mijune Pak and renowned food journalist and critic Chris Nuttall-Smith.

During this season’s high-adrenaline Quickfire and Elimination Challenges, culinary personalities and Canadian icons joining the Top Chef Canada judging panel are: entrepreneur, chef and owner of Impasto, Stefano Faita; media personality and host of STROMBO Radio on Apple Music Hits, George Stroumboulopoulos; chef and owner of Kamuy, Paul Toussaint; Grand Slam Tennis Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Daniel Nestor; chef, author and social advocate Suzanne Barr; chefs and owners of Pai Northern Thai Kitchen and Kiin, Nuit Regular and Jeff Regular; chef and owner of Feast Café Bistro, Christa Bruneau-Guenther and many more.

Top Chef Canada is the homegrown version of the hit Emmy® Award-winning NBCUniversal Series Top Chef and is produced by Insight Productions Ltd. in association with Food Network Canada. Executive Producers are John Brunton and Mark Lysakowski, and Executive Producer and Showrunner is Eric Abboud.

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Awards, Wynonna Earp

The Black Academy partners with Insight Productions to produce live awards show telecast

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From a media release:

Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, Scarborough natives and co-founders of The Black Academy, alongside Shannon Farr and Lindsay Cox of Insight Productions, today announced a partnership to produce a live award show honouring established and emerging Black talent. Brothers and actors Anderson and James are executive producing the national telecast, alongside John Brunton, Farr, and Cox from Canada’s preeminent award show production company. The telecast will feature award presentations, performances, and tributes, and will showcase Black talent from across Canada. In addition, The Black Academy and Insight announced a search for a Black showrunner and production crew, and a skills development programme. Interested applicants can submit their résumés to BlackAwardShowResumes@insighttv.com beginning today. The relationship between Anderson, James, and Insight Productions pre-dates the creation of The Black Academy to when they began co-developing a project in 2019.

The live telecast is one of several initiatives created by The Black Academy to break down barriers of discrimination and combat systemic racism. The award show stems from Anderson and James’ long-standing commitment to their community and an awareness of the lack of opportunities to showcase Black talent in Canada. Anderson and James continue to call on corporate Canada, government entities, and individuals to meet this challenge. The awards will celebrate both Anglophone and Francophone Black talent across film, television, music, sports, and culture. Award categories, juries, and the submission process will be announced at a later date.

The Black Academy and Insight Productions are committed to hiring a Black crew and senior staff and to offering skills development for multiple positions in advance of pre-production. Résumés from those who have a particular passion for live events and award shows are now being accepted at BlackAwardShowResumes@insighttv.com. The skills development programme will have a separate submission process and will train select emerging behind-the-scenes creatives and crew in collaboration with a community partner and The Black Academy. Details on this programme to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Black Academy’s award show is executive produced by Shamier Anderson and Stephan James of The Black Academy. John Brunton, Lindsay Cox, and Shannon Farr are the executive producers for Insight Productions. Additional executive producers include Daniel Abrams and Norbert Abrams.

Shamier Anderson, Stephan James, Lindsay Cox, and Shannon Farr discuss The Black Academy and the award show with moderator Kathleen Newman-Bremang at the CMPA’s Prime Time 2021 Online conference. Registered delegates can stream the panel at cmpa.ca/prime-time beginning February 2nd at 9 a.m.

Shamier Anderson – Co-Founder & Co-Chair, The Black Academy/Executive Producer
Shamier Anderson (Stowaway; Bruised; Invasion) is a Scarborough-born actor, producer, and writer and the president of Borough Bredd Productions. Anderson was named a TIFF Rising Star (2019) and recently sold his story, Super High, to New Line Cinema. Anderson will executive produce the film which stars Andy Samberg, Common, and Craig Robinson. In 2016, Anderson co-founded B.L.A.C.K with his brother Stephan James. Alongside his brother, he is the co-chair and co-founder of The Black Academy, a division of B.L.A.C.K, which aims to combat systemic racism while honouring, celebrating, and inspiring Black talent in Canada. Anderson was recently appointed to the Canadian Academy’s board of directors and is an ambassador for the Academy’s Equity & Inclusion Fund.

Stephan James – Co-Founder & Co-Chair, The Black Academy/Executive Producer
Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk; Homecoming; Race) is an Emmy®-, Golden Globe®-, and NAACP Image Award-nominated and Canadian Screen Award-winning Canadian actor from Scarborough, ON. James is the inaugural recipient of the CSAs’ Radius Award, given to a Canadian film or television professional who is making waves internationally, and a TIFF Rising Star (2015). In 2016, James co-founded B.L.A.C.K with his brother Shamier Anderson. Alongside his brother, he is the co-chair and co-founder of The Black Academy, a division of B.L.A.C.K, which aims to combat systemic racism while honouring, celebrating, and inspiring Black talent in Canada. James was recently appointed to the Canadian Academy’s board of directors and sits on the Academy’s Equity Committee.

Lindsay Cox – Senior Vice-President, Insight Productions/Executive Producer
One of Canada’s preeminent showrunners, Cox has overseen and produced 18 editions of The JUNO Awards, as well as The Canadian Screen Awards, Canada’s Walk of Fame, The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration (viewed by one in 3 Canadians), Stronger Together Tous Ensemble, Young Artists for Haiti, Music Without Borders, Canada Day 150! From Coast to Coast to Coast, Canada’s New Year’s Eve Countdown, Battle of the Blades, and Every Child Matters: Education through Reconciliation, among others.

Shannon Farr – Vice President, Insight Productions/Executive Producer
Farr divides her time between Los Angeles and Toronto, and works in both scripted and unscripted. She oversees Insight’s U.S. office and drives the creation, development, financing, and production of original projects for multiple platforms in the U.S., Canadian, and international markets. Farr co-created and produced the prime-time drama Falcon Beach for ABC Family and Global Television, the comedy series The Jon Dore Television Show; and the award-winning comedy series But I’m Chris Jericho!, among others.

About The Black Academy
Canadian actors and brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James co-founded The Black Academy in response to the scarcity of forums celebrating Black talent. The organization is dedicated to breaking down barriers of discrimination and combating systemic racism in Canada. The Black Academy is dedicated to breaking down barriers of discrimination and combating systemic racism in Canada. By celebrating and showcasing established and emerging Black talent, The Black Academy will elevate and inspire Black talent across the country for generations to come. A permanent, year-round, and national operation, The Black Academy is a division of the not-for-profit B.L.A.C.K Canada. The division was launched in 2020 and is based in Toronto. In addition to co-chairs Anderson & James, the board of directors includes: Vanessa Craft (TikTok Canada); Alica Hall (Nia Centre for the Arts); Wes Hall (Kingsdale Advisors/the BlackNorth Initiative); Jennifer Holness (Black Screen Office); Divya Shahani (Miller Thomson LLP); Tonya Williams (Reelworld).

Website: www.BlackIsNow.com; Social Media: Instagram: @BLACKISNOWCANADA

Image courtesy of Nicole De Khors.

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Battle of the Blades

Battle of the Blades Season 6 premiere postponed

From a media release:

As a precautionary measure in response to an individual on the Battle of the Blades production team testing positive for COVID-19, Insight Productions has temporarily halted all training and pre-production on the upcoming season to ensure the health and safety of the entire cast and crew. CBC fully supports this decision and, as a result, is postponing the October 15th live premiere of Battle of the Blades Season 6. CBC will provide additional scheduling updates as soon as possible.

A CBC original series, Battle of the Blades is produced by Insight Productions. The series is executive produced by Insight’s John Brunton, Lindsay Cox, Erin Brock, and Mark Lysakowski and is co-created and executive produced by Olympian and World & Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Famer Sandra Bezic.

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