Welcome back to another bi-weekly (ish) chat about the latest news in Canadian TV! First, Greg and Amy go through debuts and returns on the Canadian TV calendar.
Then, we cover the latest Canadian TV news, which includes production beginning on a Murdoch Mysteries spinoff; Season 2 of Run the Burbs; the final season of The Hardy Boys; casting for CBC’s new series, Essex County; and David Suzuki retiring from The Nature of Things. We finish the podcast by getting into the Halloween spirit with Are You Afraid of the Dark?
This podcast brought to you byCandy Corn Cocktails and Pommies Cider.
[Editor’s Note: Greg erroneously said that Anthony Q. Farrell was the showrunner for Diggstown. Anthony Q. Farrell was the showrunner for Overload and the Underwoods, The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker and the upcoming Shelved. He apologizes for the error.]
Shaftesbury announced today that production is now underway on Macy Murdoch (8×11), a new CBC Gem original tween series that follows the adventures of Detective William Murdoch’s time-travelling great-great-great-granddaughter. A spinoff of Shaftesbury and CBC’s hit long-running drama Murdoch Mysteries based on novels written by Maureen Jennings, the series is currently shooting in Toronto and will debut on CBC Gem in spring 2023.
Sixteen-year-old Macy is a forensic wunderkind who unravels a century-old mystery with the help of her two friends Zane and Billie. When a villain uses a time machine to frame famous Edwardian-era Detective William Murdoch for murder, Macy and her friends travel back in time to find the real perpetrator of the crime. Not only are the teens trying to crack a difficult case, but the trio are undercover, trying to solve a mystery in 1910 without the help of modern technology.
Macy Murdoch captures the playful, mystery-loving spirit of Murdoch Mysteries with Canadian Screen Award-winner Shailyn Pierre-Dixon (Pretty Hard Cases, The Book of Negroes) co-leading the series with Beau Han Bridge who plays Zane, and Raffa Virago as Billie. The series will have a special guest appearance by Spencer West, while Shanice Banton (“Mrs. Violet Hart”) and Lachlan Murdoch (“Constable Henry Higgins-Newsome”) from the beloved CBC series will appear in the series as guides to help the young detectives absolve Murdoch of a crime he did not commit.
The digital series is directed by Laurie Lynd with showrunner Jennifer Kassabian and Co-EP Robina Lord Stafford. The series was initially developed by JP Larocque and Jessica Meya. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Marie McCann is Senior Director, Children’s Content, CBC Kids; and Lisa Cinelli is Executive in Charge of Production, Children’s and Youth Programming.
Mary Pedersen and I go way back. We first connected when she was a story editor on Murdoch Mysteries. After five seasons as a writer on Murdoch, Pedersen moved to Frankie Drake Mysteries where she was a writer and co-executive producer. These days, the Canadian Screen Award nominee can be found writing, co-executive producing (and directing her first-ever episode of TV) on Hudson & Rex.
Returning for Season 5 on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv, Hudson & Rex has become not only a Canadian hit but an international one too. The tale of St. John’s Detective Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) and his capable canine partner Rex (Diesel vom Burgimwald) have resonated since it was adapted from the original German series.
In the season debut, “Lost in the Barrens,” Charlie, Rex, Dr. Sarah Truong (Mayko Nguyen), tech expert Jesse Mills (Justin Kelly), Superintendent Joe Donovan (Kevin Hanchard) and new forensic pathologist Karma Poole (Bridget Wareham) are on the case of a missing woman, and suspicion quickly falls on her boyfriend (played by Murdoch‘s Daniel Maslany).
We spoke to Mary Pedersen ahead of Sunday’s return.
We have a lot to talk about! One of the great things about Hudson & Rex is that you know you’re going to get a solid hour of entertainment. Mary Pedersen: Yes, and for all those dog lovers out there, there’s dog action. Anytime I see the dog on screen, I’m happy. So I’m one of those people.
Is there a major difference in writing for a TV series set in the modern day as opposed to a period drama like Murdoch Mysteries or Frankie Drake Mysteries or is story just story? MP: Story is story. [Co-executive producer and writer] Keri Ferencz and I both came from Frankie onto Hudson & Rex and the main thing we noticed that we were delighted about was, ‘Ooh, cell phone calls, ooh, Internet!’ You can get your clues from a different place and sometimes it speeds up the action a little bit so that people can make calls and things like that.
And [showrunner] Peter Mitchell wanted to try to show more police procedural than mystery, so that also was an adjustment for us. But I’m constantly harassing the writing room with my love of NYPD Blue, so it appeals to me, and that’s been really fun.
It’s still a mystery. We’re still often meeting all our suspects pretty early on in the story. It’s a bit of a tweak mentally in terms of more of the action and discovery feels like it’s happening in the present, as opposed to we’re unravelling something in the past. There’s also the focus on how our cops figure out what they figure out, which is also true in Murdoch Mysteries. William Murdoch has a very specific way of solving crimes and of course, Charlie has a specific way of solving crimes with his trusty dog.
When you’re writing a script and you’re referring to something that Rex is going to do, do you write, ‘Rex looks this way,’ or ‘Rex whimpers’? MP: We always feel his presence and all the directors on the show, most of our directors have been on the show before and they’ll know that you want to find Rex action as much as you can in every scene that he’s in, even if it is a matter of listening and reacting to the conversations that are happening.
So yes, we write it in to make sure we always feel his presence and that we, as writers, are thinking about him, [executive producer and dog master] Sherri Davis, and all of our cast. Our cast elevates what’s on the page and Sherri does the same thing. So she’s also so in tune with the dogs and knows what they can do and she will often look at the action we’ve written and suggest, ‘Oh, if we do it this way, that’ll be more exciting,’ or ‘This is something that we haven’t done on the show before and why don’t we?’ I think she also loves the stunt work as well as working with the dogs, so she’ll really elevate a lot of the Rex action as well.
What a place to be filming. The Murdoch Mysteries backlot is cool and everything, but man, St. John’s, Newfoundland, you can’t beat that. MP: I first went out there, a year ago in May for Season 4 and I had never been before. I am from Nova Scotia, but I’d never been to Newfoundland before and it is just spectacular. Even now when I go, you can’t look anywhere that’s not gorgeous.
I love it a lot and I’m really glad that we’re getting more and more of St. John’s and the landscape around it onto the show. I think that’s just such a wonderful world and I love that we can put it on the show.
In addition to the key cast of characters we’ve gotten to know over four seasons, we’ve got the new addition of Bridget Wareham playing forensic pathologist Karma Poole. MP: One of the main motivations for me, when we were talking at the beginning of the season about possibly bringing on another regular, semi-regular, was that Sarah—we saw this last season in one of the episodes, she goes on a retreat with some other professionals—and it really sort of drove home to both Mayko and I that Sarah doesn’t really get to talk to other women a whole lot. That was a big thing, to have somebody that Sarah could talk to besides the boys. She obviously fits in very well with the boys, but female relationships are really important in life, so that was a big part of the motivation for me in terms of getting another character onto our regular roster.
Hudson & Rex continues to welcome a whos who of Canadian talent to its episodes. Daniel Maslany kicks it off in Episode 1, but people stopping by include Paul Bronstein, Jake Epstein, Stuart Hughes, Matthew MacFadzean, Mary Walsh, K. Trevor Wilson, Steven Lund and Carlo Rota… how fun is it to write for guests of this calibre MP: We’re so lucky. I think people love to come to Newfoundland. People have just been really game to come out and play with us.
This is the third show that you’ve worked on that is not only a critical hit, but also done very well internationally. Obviously, as a professional writer, you’re happy to have a gig, but do you ever sit back and pinch yourself? MP: Every day. So much credit to Shaftesbury for making that happen and for making shows that appeal to so many people and Pete. Pete’s always, always, always had an eye on what is going to be entertaining. You don’t get a story past Pete if he thinks something is boring about it or too earnest. It’s all about having fun and entertaining people and yeah, I feel incredibly lucky to have stepped onto that boat.
Hudson & Rex airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv.
CBC today announced broadcast and streaming premiere dates for its fall 2022 slate of new and returning programming, including 26 original series and specials from Canadian creators, producers, and storytellers reflecting people, places and perspectives from across the country. The new fall primetime schedule launches Monday, September 12 on CBC TV and CBC Gem.
CBC and CBC Gem Fall 2022 Primetime Schedule launching Monday, September 12: All following times are local. For Newfoundland and Labrador, please add half an hour to all times.
MONDAYS 7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16) 7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12 8 PM – MURDOCH MYSTERIES Season 16 (24×60) premieres September 12 9 PM – THE NORTH WATER (6×60) premieres September 12 9 PM – RIDLEY ROAD (4×60) premieres October 24 10 PM – THE NATIONAL
TUESDAYS 7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16) 7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12 8 PM – THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES Season 30 (24×30) premieres September 13 8:30 PM – STRAYS Season 2 (10×30) premieres September 13 9 PM – COMEDY NIGHT WITH RICK MERCER (8×60) premieres September 13 9 PM – SORT OF Season 2 (8×30) premieres November 15 with back-to-back episodes 10 PM – THE NATIONAL
WEDNESDAYS 7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16) 7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12 8 PM – SUMMIT ‘72 (4×60) premieres September 14 8 PM – DIGGSTOWN Season 4 (6×60) premieres October 12 9 PM – WAR OF THE WORLDS Season 3 (8×60) premieres September 14 10 PM – THE NATIONAL
THURSDAYS 7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16) 7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12 8 PM – DRAGONS’ DEN Season 17 (10×60) premieres September 15 9 PM – THE FIFTH ESTATE Season 48 (16×60) premieres September 29 10 PM – THE NATIONAL
FRIDAYS 7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16) 7:30 PM – CORONATION STREET (weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m.) 8 PM – THE PASSIONATE EYE (9×60, 1×120) premieres September 16 with Jennifer Baichwal’s INTO THE WEEDS before moving to its regular 9 PM timeslot 8 PM – MARKETPLACE Season 50 (16×30, 1×60) premieres October 7 with a one-hour 50th anniversary special 8:30 PM – TRAVEL MAN: 48 HOURS IN… (8×30) premieres October 14 9 PM – THE PASSIONATE EYE (9×60, 1×120) continues September 23 in its regular 9 PM timeslot 10 PM – THE NATIONAL
SATURDAYS Afternoons – CBC SPORTS Evenings – Canadian feature films continue Evenings – HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA beginning in October
SUNDAYS 7 PM – HEARTLAND Season 16 (15×60) premieres October 2 8 PM – THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW Season 6 (9×60) premieres October 2 9 PM – MOONSHINE Season 2 (8×60) premieres October 2 10 PM – THE NATIONAL
CBC today announced its 2022-23 programming slate for CBC TV and CBC Gem, featuring over 40 new and returning original series and specials from Canadian creators, producers and storytellers across all genres.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Coroner and Tallboyz have not been renewed.]
ENTERTAINMENT, FACTUAL AND SPORTS
ORIGINAL COMEDY SLATE
CBC and CBC Gem will continue to offer the best original comedy in Canada, including the second seasons of authentic comedies SORT OF, STRAYS, RUN THE BURBS, and SON OF A CRITCH – alongside returning favourite WORKIN’ MOMS and the 30th anniversary of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES. New shows include COMEDY NIGHT WITH RICK MERCER and CBC Gem original FAKES, offering an unconventional rollercoaster ride of teen drama.
New Original Comedy Series
COMEDY NIGHT WITH RICK MERCER (Premieres Fall 2022; 8×60; Just For Laughs TV and Counterfeit Pictures) is a Canadian comedy event to remember, composed of eight unforgettable one-hour specials presented by legendary comedy icon and TV personality, Rick Mercer. Featuring an incredible lineup of the country’s new and notable comedians, including stand-up performances from Mercer himself, the series will also feature never-before-seen conversations between Mercer and some of today’s most impressive Canadian comedy talent, including Sophie Buddle, D.J. Demers, Dakota Ray Hebert and Dave Merheje, among others.
FAKES (Premieres Fall 2022 on CBC Gem; 10×30; Reality Distortion Field), created by David Turko and a co-production with Netflix, follows two best friends who accidentally build one of the largest fake ID empires in North America. Before they even graduate high school, Zoe and Rebecca move into a sick penthouse, earn more cash than they know what to do with, and then get raided by the feds. This is the story of their ultimate betrayal, told from each of their unreliable POVs as they compete for the last word. Starring Emilija Baranac (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Jennifer Tong (Grand Army), and Richard Harmon (The 100).
Returning Original Comedies & Festivals
SORT OF (Season 2 premieres Fall 2022; 8×30; Sphere Media’s Sienna Films)
STRAYS (Season 2 premieres Fall 2022; 10×30; Thunderbird Entertainment)
THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES (Season 30 premieres Fall 2022; 24×30; IoM Media) celebrating its 30th anniversary season.
THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 4×30; Just For Laughs TV)
RUN THE BURBS (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 13×30; Pier 21 Films)
SON OF A CRITCH (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 13×30; Project 10 Productions)
This summer brings the adventure of new medical drama SKYMED, while the fall sees the return of audience favourites HEARTLAND and MURDOCH MYSTERIES, and east coast tales MOONSHINE and DIGGSTOWN, as well as a treacherous journey to the Arctic in THE NORTH WATER. New family drama ESSEX COUNTY joins the winter lineup alongside a new English-language adaptation of Radio-Canada series PLAN B; and critically acclaimed female-driven procedural PRETTY HARD CASES returns for a third season.
New Original Drama Series
SKYMED (Premieres in Canada beginning Sunday, July 10 at 9 p.m. [9:30 NT] on CBC and CBC Gem; 9×60; Piazza Entertainment) Life, death, and drama at 20,000 feet, SKYMED is a drama wrapped in high-stakes medical adventure. The series weaves compelling stories around a diverse ensemble of young First Responders in the remote North, where help – and survival – are literally thousands of miles away. Over the course of the season, the trials, triumphs, hookups and heartbreaks of a perilous job in an unforgiving setting will challenge each of them to face their fears and grow up. Created by Julie Puckrin (X Company, Transplant, Nurses, Killjoys, Mad Men), the one-hour drama features an ensemble cast of young Canadian talent including Natasha Calis (Nurses), Morgan Holmstrom (Siberia), Ace (Aason) Nadjiwon (Batwoman), Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew), Mercedes Morris (Between), Thomas Elms (The Order), Kheon Clarke (Riverdale), and Rebecca Kwan (Taken).
THE NORTH WATER (Premieres Fall 2022; 6×60; Rhombus Media and See-Saw Films) In 1859, Patrick Sumner (BAFTA winner Jack O’Connell, Seberg, Godless) joins The Volunteer as a ship’s surgeon, hoping to lose himself in the tough physicality of an Arctic whaling trip. But the ferocity of the elements is matched by the violence of his crew mates, with harpooner Drax (Golden Globe™ winner Colin Farrell, In Bruges, The Batman) a distinctly brutal force of nature. As the true purpose of the expedition becomes clear, confrontation between the two men erupts, taking them on a journey far from solid ground and way beyond the safe moorings of civilization.
ESSEX COUNTY (Premieres Winter 2023; 5×60; First Generation Films) is a five-part limited series based on the brilliant graphic novel trilogy by Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Moon Knight). A redemptive tale of family, ESSEX COUNTY tells the story of four disparate characters linked together through bloodlines. From old Uncle Lou, to young Lester, to Anne the country nurse and Ken, the stoic farmer, the four lead characters ebb and flow into each other’s lives, slowly weaving connections between them that ultimately save and redeem them.
PLAN B (Premieres Winter 2023; 6×60; KOTV) Adapted from the Radio-Canada French-language drama created by Jean-François Asselin and Jacques Drolet and set in Montreal, this high-concept, gripping and intimate psychological drama from Asselin, Drolet and Lynne Kamm follows a man on a desperate and relentless quest to save his relationship – and by extension, his whole world. Who has not at one time wanted to go back and change the course of events? And what if you were given a second chance, a Plan B? The day when Philip (Patrick J. Adams, Suits) discovers the possibility of going back in time, he does not hesitate. Since Evelyn (Karine Vanasse, Cardinal), the love of his life and companion for the past six years, has left him, his life has lost its meaning. With the tremendous power he wields thanks to Plan B, he attempts to save his relationship, his law firm and his dysfunctional family. But Philip soon realizes that even the smallest choice has repercussions – as uncontrollable as they are unexpected – on his life and the lives of others. And even though he can stop tragic events before they happen, Philip cannot erase the memories and the emotions associated with them. Nothing will ever be without consequence again.
BONES OF CROWS (Premieres 2023-24; 5×60; Marie Clements Media, Screen Siren Pictures and Grana Productions) is a five-part hour-long drama told through the eyes of Cree Matriarch, Aline Spears (played throughout her life by Summer Testawich; Grace Dove, Monkey Beach; and Carla Rae, Rutherford Falls), as she survives Canada’s residential school system to continue her family’s generational fight in the face of systemic starvation, racism, and sexual abuse. The series is an expanded story from the feature film version; a truly epic tale that spans over a hundred years and multiple generations of the Spears family, the series connects and deepens the events of the past with a cumulative force that propels us into the future with power. Commissioned by CBC/Radio-Canada in association with APTN and created by Marie Clements (Red Snow), BONES OF CROWS the series will debut on CBC and Radio-Canada in 2023-24. BONES OF CROWS the feature film, which focuses specifically on Aline Spears as she confronts her traumatic past, will be released theatrically in 2022-23.
Returning Original Dramas
DIGGSTOWN (Season 4 premieres Fall 2022; 6×60; Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc. and Waterstar Entertainment Inc.)
HEARTLAND (Season 16 premieres Fall 2022; 15×60; Dynamo Films and SEVEN24 Films)
MOONSHINE (Season 2 premieres Fall 2022; 8×60, Six Eleven Media and eOne)
MURDOCH MYSTERIES (Season 16 premieres Fall 2022; 24×60; Shaftesbury)
CBC’s factual entertainment slate features even more people and places across the country this year including Canadians and communities in pursuit of their personal best, with RACE AGAINST THE TIDE with host Maestro Fresh Wes making waves this summer, favourites DRAGONS’ DEN, FAMILY FEUD CANADA and THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW returning this fall, and BEST IN MINIATURE and STILL STANDING with Jonny Harris warming up the winter schedule. Joining the lineup is BOLLYWED featuring the Singh family of Toronto’s Little India, thrilling competition series CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE; and podcast adaptation STUFF THE BRITISH STOLE. The fall also brings the inaugural edition of THE LEGACY AWARDS from The Black Academy, as well as a variety show like no other – CBC Gem original LIDO TV hosted by Colombian-Canadian musician and artist Lido Pimienta.
New Original Factual Series & Specials
THE LEGACY AWARDS (September 25, 2022 at 8 p.m. (9 AT/9:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem; Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker Company) and Bay Mills Studios)
The inaugural edition of The Black Academy’s award show, The Legacy Awards, is the first major Canadian award show to celebrate and showcase Black talent and will be broadcast from Live Nation Canada’s newest entertainment venue HISTORY, in Toronto’s east end. The live 90-minute telecast will feature performances, award presentations, and tributes honouring both established and emerging Black Canadian talent. The Black Academy is co-founded by Scarborough natives Shamier Anderson (John Wick: Chapter 4) and Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk).
LIDO TV (Premieres Fall 2022 on CBC Gem; 6×20; Lido Pimienta TV/Visitor Media) is a variety show with a mission: to help people cope with life in a world that sometimes feels like it’s falling apart, filled with hilarious sketches, inspiring interviews, immersive documentaries, surreal animations, and puppets. At the centre of it all is host Lido Pimienta, the award-winning Colombian-Canadian musician, artist and mother whose hilarious, curious, and tender personality drives the action. The series tackles themes ranging from feminism and privilege to colonialism and success, and features appearances by Nelly Furtado; musicians Shad and Kittie; writer Sarah Hagi; NorBlack NorWhite co-founder Mriga Kapadiya; and artists jes sachse and Jessica Karuhanga.
BOLLYWED (Premieres Winter 2023; 10×30; HeartHat Entertainment) is a heartwarming factual series centred around the Singh family, who have been operating the iconic bridal shop, Chandan Fashion, in Toronto’s Little India for the last 37 years. The series shines a fascinating light on the booming and glamorous world of Bollywood culture and fashion, and offers an authentic glimpse into an intergenerationally run business lead by patriarch Cookie Singh, his wife Sarah, and their two children Chandan and Chandni. There’s plenty of old-school-meets-new-school drama and laughs as two generations take on the ever-changing and extravagant world of Indian weddings.
CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (Premieres Winter 2023; 8×60; Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker Company) and The Gurin Company) is a competition reality format that turns the entire country into a giant obstacle course. Six extraordinary coaches will guide and mentor teams of everyday Canadians at site-specific physical and mental challenges in a unique competition structure. The coaches include: sprinting legend and two-time Olympic champion, Donovan Bailey; Mohawk Olympian in water polo and advocate for Indigenous sport, Waneek Horn-Miller; six-time Olympic medallist in cycling and speed skating, Clara Hughes; three-time Olympic speed skater Gilmore Junio; former captain of Canada’s Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby sevens team, Jen Kish; and NFL Super Bowl Champion and competitive cyclist, Luke Willson.
Each episode will take place at an iconic Canadian location where the teams will compete in spectacular Solo, Tandem or Team challenges that test them physically and mentally. Throughout the eight-episode series, the superstar Canadian coaches will make strategic decisions and motivate their players to victory. In the end, only one team will win CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE.
STUFF THE BRITISH STOLE (Premieres Winter 2023; 6×30; Wooden Horse, WildBear Entertainment and Cream Productions) is a new six-part series for the ABC and CBC based on award-winning journalist Marc Fennell’s acclaimed, chart-topping ABC Podcast, also launched by CBC Podcasts in fall 2021. Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today those objects are housed in genteel institutions across the U.K. and the world. They usually come with polite plaques. This is a series about the not-so-polite history behind those objects.
Returning Factual Formats & Series:
RACE AGAINST THE TIDE (Season 2 premieres Sunday, July 10 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem; 10×30; marblemedia) with new host Maestro Fresh Wes
DRAGONS’ DEN (Season 17 premieres Fall 2022; 10×60) featuring returning Dragon Robert Herjavec after a decade away from The Den.
FAMILY FEUD CANADA (Season 4 premieres Fall 2022; 104×30; Zone 3/Fremantle)
THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW (Season 6 premieres Fall 2022; 9×60; Proper Television/Love Productions)
BEST IN MINIATURE (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 8×60; marblemedia)
STILL STANDING (Season 8 premieres Winter 2023; 10×30; Frantic Films)
DOCUMENTARIES
CBC commissions an average of 80 documentaries each year for CBC, CBC Gem and documentary Channel, with CBC Gem now offering a library of over 800 documentaries, available to stream for free anytime. THE PASSIONATE EYE returns this fall with a new slate of original documentaries that drop audiences into a broad range of cultural conversations, from our fascination with word puzzles, to what it means to be Indigenous, and to a new generation of stock market disruptors.
THE PASSIONATE EYE’s two-hour season premiere will feature Hot Docs 2022 Opening Night selection, INTO THE WEEDS, telling the powerful story of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a former Bay Area groundskeeper who takes on a multinational agrochemical corporation after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Directed by celebrated filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal (Anthropocene: The Human Epoch, Long Time Running), the film follows Johnson through his battle, setting his personal journey against a global environmental crisis.
New original doc series this upcoming year include:
SUMMIT ‘72 (Premieres Fall 2022; 4×60; Mercury Films and Impossible Objects) This timely documentary series will tell the definitive story of the legendary 1972 Canada-USSR Summit Series of Hockey upon its 50th anniversary, and through a modern lens explore its legacy and lasting influence on Canadian national identity, framing it against the political and cultural climate of the times in both countries, and around the world. With never-before-seen 16mm archival footage restored in stunning 4k, and exclusive interviews with key players, SUMMIT ‘72 will bring an unforgettable moment in Canadian history to life on screen as never seen before. Audiences will relive—or experience for the first time—the adrenaline-fuelled, edge-of-your-seat drama of one of the most monumental cultural proxy battles of the Cold War, and trace its many reverberations in the zeitgeist right up to the present day.
STAY TOONED (Premieres Winter 2023 on CBC Gem; 6×22; Fathom Film Group) Eric Bauza – the Canadian who voices legendary characters from Bugs Bunny to Luke Skywalker – takes us on a deep dive through our favourite cartoons to see how they shaped us into who we are today. In each episode, he meets with friends and experts to explore villains, race, sexuality, and so much more. Featuring Ben Schwartz, Lake Bell, Ken Jeong, Bobby Moynihan, Tara Strong, Lamorne Morris, Cree Summer, and James Adomian, among others.
Returning Documentary Formats & Series:
THE PASSIONATE EYE (Premieres Fall 2022; 9×60 (+1×120 premiere))
THE NATURE OF THINGS (Season 62 premieres Winter 2023; 13×60)
CBC KIDS
Building on CBC’s ongoing commitment to inspire, entertain and inform young audiences, CBC Kids will continue to share new programming for kids and tweens across all platforms this upcoming year, including over 500 hours of ad-free programming on CBC Gem. New titles for preschoolers include JEREMY AND JAZZY (Fall 2022; 27×2 and 1×11; Vérité Films Inc.), an animated musical adventure series about song and story creation, starring award-winning musicians Jeremy Fisher (as Jeremy) and Aiza Ntibarikure (as Jazzy), plus celebrity musical guests. MITTENS AND PANTS (Fall 2022; 39×7, Windy Isle Productions and Thunderbird Entertainment) is cuteness overload for preschoolers, featuring the town of Kibble Corners with real puppies, kittens, chicks, piglets and more, voiced by kids.
CBC SPORTS
Coming off of an unprecedented year featuring two Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, CBC SPORTS will continue to keep Canadians connected to the world of high-performance sport through coverage on CBC TV and CBC Gem, as well as live streams of key competitions on cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports app. Upcoming featured events include: 2022 World Athletics Championships (USA, July 15 – 24); Commonwealth Games (England, July 28 – Aug. 8); FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship (Location TBC, Aug. 26 – Sept. 11); Rugby Sevens World Cup (South Africa, Sept. 9-11); FIG Rhythmic World Championship (Bulgaria, Sept. 14 – 18); and FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship (Poland and The Netherlands, Sept. 23 – Oct. 15). As Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Network for the next decade, CBC will continue to offer high-quality storytelling that allows audiences to follow the journey of the athletes between Games, all the way to the podium.
CBC NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS
From breaking stories to in-depth coverage, CBC News delivers trusted 24-hour news and information on CBC News Network, CBCNews.ca and the CBC News App. CBC News continues to bring audiences the latest news from across Canada and around the world, in addition to an award-winning slate of current affairs, investigative and primetime and weekend news programs, including the 50th anniversary of MARKETPLACE, celebrating five decades as Canada’s investigative consumer watchdog.
THE FIFTH ESTATE (Season 48 premieres Fall 2022; 16×60)
MARKETPLACE (Season 50 premieres Fall 2022; 23×30) celebrating its 50th anniversary season
THE NATIONAL (Weeknights and Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)
POWER & POLITICS WITH VASSY KAPELOS (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
CBC RUNDOWN (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
CANADA TONIGHT WITH GINELLA MASSA (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
ROSEMARY BARTON LIVE (Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)
FALL 2022 SCHEDULE – CBC TV and CBC GEM
For Newfoundland and Labrador, please add a half hour for all times
MONDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET (weekdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4
8 PM – MURDOCH MYSTERIES Season 16
9 PM – THE NORTH WATER New Series / RIDLEY ROAD New Series
10 PM – THE NATIONAL
TUESDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA
8 PM – THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES Season 30
8:30 PM – STRAYS Season 2
9 PM – COMEDY NIGHT WITH RICK MERCER New Series / SORT OF Season 2
9:30 PM – SORT OF Season 2
10 PM – THE NATIONAL
WEDNESDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA
8 PM – SUMMIT ‘72 New Series / DIGGSTOWN Season 4
9 PM – WAR OF THE WORLDS Season 3
10 PM – THE NATIONAL
THURSDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA
8 PM – DRAGONS’ DEN Season 17
9 PM – THE FIFTH ESTATE Season 48
10 PM – THE NATIONAL
FRIDAYS
7:30 PM – CORONATION STREET (weekdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)
