Tag Archives: Jason Priestley

Featured, Private Eyes

Jason Priestley has fun solving crimes in Global’s Private Eyes

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Republic of Doyle fans rejoice! You’re got a new wise-cracking, sports car driving primetime private investigator to cheer for with Private Eyes, debuting Thursday on Global. Loosely based on the book The Code by Gare Joyce, Jason Priestley is Matt Shade, an ex-professional hockey player who swaps the rink for investigating high-stakes crimes when he teams with P.I. Angie Everett (Cindy Sampson).

“We’ve only sent one person to the hospital during filming,” Sampson says with a laugh during a break in filming. She is, of course referring to Priestley’s tumble off a horse that briefly shut down production last November. The fact he can laugh about the incident shows how comfortable he is with his co-star, something that comes across in the first episode. Private Eyes‘ theme sets the tone for the series; Vancouver’s Dear Rouge have updated the classic Hall & Oates tune for the opening credits, providing a funky, fun feel.

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Tuesday’s debut episode of 10 introduces viewers to the main players, when Matt is stunned the minor hockey player he’s been scouting collapses on the ice. Suspicious a fellow player may have had a hand in the incident, Matt joins Angie and they delve into a handful of suspects. Both are headstrong and used to getting their own way, which results in a lot of sniping back and forth. There are, of course, the first hints at some sexual chemistry between the pair, adding another layer to their relationship. Rounding out the cast—and sanding Matt’s rough edges—are Matt’s legally blind daughter, Jules (Jordyn Negri) and father Don (Barry Flatman). Clé Bennett and Ennis Esmer play Det. Derek Nolan and Det. Kurtis Mazhari, who both have dim views of Matt.

“Matt’s plate is pretty full,” Priestley says. “He’s taken over primary custody of Jules, so he’s a guy who is struggling to figure out how his new situation is going to work out in his life. But he’s also trying to figure out this new situation in his life. He’s a guy who’s stuck between these two strong women and trying to figure out a balance.”

Will  there be romance between Angie and Shade? That’s not in the cards … yet.

“We’re not exploring that option at this point,” Sampson says. “There are so many other women and so many other men and the cases to be solved too.”

Private Eyes airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

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Children's Programming, Featured

Jason Priestley shows his comic chops in Family’s Raising Expectations

I’ve seen Jason Priestley guest-star on Spun Out, so I knew he could do comedy. But would he be able to headline a comic project on Family Channel? Indeed he can. As a matter of fact, he’s one of many reasons to tune in to Raising Expectations.

Debuting Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on Family Channel, Priestley’s Wayne Wayney plays a somewhat out-of-touch dad alongside wife Paige (Molly Ringwald) and their four “multi-exceptional” children. The fifth kid? Well, not so much. Emmett (Simon Cadel) lacks the academic and physical prowess of his siblings, but has the street smarts to keep everyone grounded. And though the emphasis in the press releases surrounding Raising Expectations plays up Emmett a lot, he doesn’t really come off that much different from his brothers and sister. What does, however, is Priestley’s Wayne. After seeing him play a teen for so long on Beverly Hills 90210, it’s definitely a shock to see him playing a father. Thanks to the writing, he’s a blast.

Created by the same folks behind Todd and the Book of Pure Evil—Episode 2 features Emmett wearing a Crowley High t-shirt—Raising Expectations is a showcase for Priestley’s comic chops (he’s directing some episodes too). Whether he’s wallowing on a couch, feeling badly for lying to his family and drowning his guilt in bags of chips and tubs of ice cream, mistaking Internet trolls for gnomes or doing battle with a sap-filled tree, Wayne is the focus. Taking nothing away from Ringwald or the young cast—who are great too—but the series would be hard to watch with anyone else acting opposite them.

Another mark in Raising Expectations‘ favour? No laugh track. There’s simply no reason to have it when the writing is sharp and the performances are well done.

Raising Expectations airs Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on Family Channel.

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Children's Programming

Link: Molly Ringwald molds ‘multi-exceptional’ kids in ‘Raising Expectations’

From Bill Harris of Postmedia Network:

Molly Ringwald molds ‘multi-exceptional’ kids in ‘Raising Expectations’
So for all these years Molly Ringwood has been married to Jason Priestley? Wow, they did a great job of keeping that secret.

“I know!” Ringwald said with a laugh. “Who knew?” Continue reading. 

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Private Eyes, The Code

New original drama Private Eyes starring Jason Priestley premieres May 26 on Global

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From a media release:

There’s a new P.I. duo heating up Global’s summer schedule as Jason Priestley (Call Me Fitz, Beverly Hills, 90210)) returns to Global, alongside Canadian actress Cindy Sampson (Supernatural), in the original crime-solving series Private Eyes (formerly The Code) premiering Thursday, May 26 at 9 pm ET/PT. From global studio Entertainment One Television (eOne), the 10-episode procedural drama which is filmed and set in Toronto follows ex-pro hockey player Matt Shade (Priestley) who irrevocably changes his life when he decides to team up with fierce P.I. Angie Everett (Sampson) to form an unlikely investigative powerhouse.

Shade sees working with Angie as an opportunity to redeem himself from his checkered past. On the ice, he learned how to hustle, read people and anticipate their moves. Working with Angie, Shade discovers a fantastic rush of adrenaline, and realizes that he’s found a new home where his skills still matter. Meanwhile, Angie took over her father’s agency after his death and strives to keep his legacy alive. Each case is an opportunity for her to test her smarts, strength, and strategic thinking. Angie may find Shade naïve in the way that he sees the world, but his passion and heart bring something special to her one-woman business.

The premiere episode begins in the fast-paced and cutthroat world of professional sports, where hockey scout Matt Shade’s top pick, Cory Sinclair, goes down on the ice at the Intercontinental Professional Hockey League try-outs. Surrounded by suspicious circumstances, Shade begrudgingly teams up with private investigator Angie Everett to find out who sabotaged his young player. Through their new partnership, Shade is forced to examine who he has become and who he wants to be. Ongoing episodes find Shade and Angie investigating high-stakes crimes in the worlds of horse racing, fine dining, Toronto’s vibrant hip-hop scene, scandalous literature, magic clubs, and more.

Additional cast in the series includes Barry Flatman (Fargo, Defiance) as Shade’s father Don – the ultimate blue-collar hockey dad; Jordyn Negri (Warehouse 13, Dino Dan) as Shade’s 14-year-old visually impaired daughter Jules, who is wise beyond her years but yearns to fit in; Clé Bennett (Rookie Blue, Barney’s Version) as Detective Derek Nolan – a by-the-book cop who thinks P.I.s get in the way of his own police work; and Ennis Esmer (The Listener) as Detective Kurtis Mazhari – a good guy cop who is also a bit of a player, who helps Angie with cases because he sees P.I.s as useful to the force.

The series also features various guest stars including PokerStars Team Pro Daniel Negreanu, four-time JUNO Award-winning rapper, record producer, and record executive Kardinal Offishall, hockey legend Doug Gilmour who makes a cameo appearance in the first episode, former WWE superstar, “Edge” Adam Copeland, and more.

Private Eyes is executive produced by John Morayniss, Rachel Fulford and Tecca Crosby for eOne and Shawn Piller and Lloyd Segan for Piller Segan together with Shelley Eriksen, Alan McCullough, Tassie Cameron, Kelly Makin, and Jason Priestley. It was created by Tim Kilby and Shelley Eriksen. Showrunners/writers are Shelley Eriksen (Continuum, Flashpoint) and Alan McCullough (Rookie Blue, Reign). Directors for this season are Kelly Makin, Anne Wheeler, Shawn Piller, Charles Officer, Rob Lieberman, Jerry Ciccoritti and James Genn. It is inspired by the novel “The Code” by GB Joyce.

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Children's Programming

Family Channel soars to new heights with Raising Expectations on May 8

From a media release:

They’re smart, they’re funny and this Mother’s Day the Wayneys are coming to Family Channel in the premiere of the highly anticipated new series Raising Expectations. Debuting Sunday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, the live-action family comedy, created by Tom Saunders (Arrested Development) stars Jason Priestley (Call Me Fitz, Beverly Hills: 90210) and Molly Ringwald (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Breakfast Club) as seemingly flawless parents Wayne and Paige Wayney. The series follows the misadventures of their less-than-perfect son, Emmett as he celebrates his relatively mediocre status within his overachieving family. Highlighting Sundays on Family as the go-to television destination for family entertainment, the new series is followed by a new episode of the family comedy Dr. Ken.

Ahh, the Wayneys… what an amazing family: good looking, smart, talented, athletic and popular. Child psychologist and bestselling author Paige Wayney (Ringwald) and her architect husband Wayne (Priestley) have worked hard at raising their five children to be “multi-exceptional”, and they succeeded…four times! However, their youngest son, Emmett, is a work in progress. But what he lacks academically, athletically and artistically, he is determined to make up with… nothing. Or as he calls it: “street smarts.” Bottom line, every day without a visit from rescue workers in hazmat suits is a win for the Wayneys!

In the premiere episode, titled ”Wayne’s White Lie,” Paige shares a tale about Wayne’s heroism during an online lecture, but the online community calls “baloney.” The Wayney kids rally to defend their dad against the internet trolls, but as the evidence against Wayne starts to mount, the kids begin to suspect that their parents’ legendary romance may have been built on lies.

Starring alongside Priestley and Ringwood as the Wayney kids are Luke Bilyk (Degrassi, Lost Girl) as Adam; Katie Douglas (Defiance, Max & Shred) as Conner; Matthew Tissi (Call Me Fitz, Transporter) as Bentley; Jake Sim (The Amazing Gayl Pile, Arthur) as Derek; and introduces newcomer Simon Cadel as Emmett.

The series features notable special guest stars Erin Karpluk (Being Erica), Will Sasso (MADtv), Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall), Patrick McKenna (Remedy), Ricardo Hoyos (Degrassi), Cristine Prosperi (Degrassi) and Devyn Nekoda (Backstage). In addition to his starring role, Jason Priestley serves as director on multiple episodes, as well as Jim Allodi (Call Me Fitz), Warren Sonoda (Backstage), Melanie Orr (How to Be Indie) and Stefan Brogren (Degrassi).

Commissioned by Family Channel, Raising Expectations is produced by Aircraft Pictures (Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil, What’s Up, Warthogs!) with producers Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen, in association with Dolphin Entertainment (Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, Zoey 101, and the upcoming feature film Max Steel, based on the Mattel action-figure franchise) with executive producer Bill O’Dowd. Tom Saunders (Arrested Development, The Larry Sanders Show) is series creator and executive producer. The show is co-executive produced by Steve Skrovan (Everybody Loves Raymond, Hot in Cleveland) and Garry Campbell (MADtv, Kids in the Hall). Tia Ayers, Barbara Haynes, Skander Halim, Max Reid, Josh Gal and Emer Connon round out the writing room.

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