Did you hear the news? CBC announced its midseason schedule, jam-packed with returning favourites like Schitt’s Creek, Hello Goodbye and Workin’ Moms along with new programs like Burden of Truth starring Kristin Kreuk and Peter Mooney; Caught starring Allan Hawco, Greg Bryk, Tori Anderson and Eric Johnson; Little Dog starring Joel Thomas Hynes, Ger Ryan and Katharine Isabelle; documentary true crime series The Detectives; and Crawford starring Jill Hennessy, Kyle Mac and John Carroll Lynch.
Here’s the CBC’s official press release announcing the series and airdates. And, to get you jazzed for the new series, here are some exclusive images released by the network in support of Burden of Truth, Caught, Crawford and The Detectives. Enjoy!
Burden of Truth
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Caught
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Crawford
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The Detectives
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Which new midseason series are you most excited about? Comment below!
This is it, Saving Hope fans. The penultimate episode of CTV’s long-running medical drama is coming to a close. Last week, Cassie exited Hope Zion for a dream gig working with her hero in New York City and Alex proposed to Charlie, setting up what we’re pretty sure will be their wedding in the series finale … unless it happens this week.
But before nuptials can happen—if they really happen—everyone has to get through this Thursday’s episode unscathed. Here’s what CTV has revealed in its episode synopsis for “First and Last,” written by Patrick Tarr and directed by Jordan Canning:
Dr. Alex Reid and Dr. Charlie Harris have to put their own wedding plans aside while visiting a chapel after a bride falls down the stairs and they have to work to save her life. When a down-on-his-luck patient comes in with liver failure due to a lifetime of hard drinking despite trying to turn his life around, Dr. Zach Miller takes a special interest in the case and tries to get him a transplant, with Dr. Jackson Wade (Joseph Pierre) offering to help. Dr. Shahir Hamza and Dr. Dana Kinney are confronted with a coma patient who wakes up with no memory of the last 20 years of his life.
Here are more tidbits we can divulge after watching a screener.
Matt Gordon guest stars
It’s so great to see Matt Gordon back on our television screens! The veteran actor, who has starred on Rookie Blue and most recently on Mary Kills People, checks into Hope Zion as Liam, who wakes up from a coma having lost 20 years of memories. Only Gordon can bring the humour and sensitivity needed to play a role like this, and we’re thrilled he was cast.
Jeremy sticks around
Turns out Peter Mooney’s appearance wasn’t a one-time thing; with Alex going on maternity leave and Cassie gone, it looks like there might be a spot open for Dr. Bishop.
Dr. Scott is traumatized
Who wouldn’t be, after what happened in the break room last week, when that wrestler wouldn’t take no for an answer?
Jobless Daddy has its perks
Alex and Luke are getting gourmet breakfasts in bed now that Charlie has the time to make them. What can be better than that? Also, Alex and Charlie’s one-upmanship at planning what will be served at their wedding reception had me laughing … and then drooling. Meanwhile, the future of a soon-to-be bride has Alex and Charlie reflecting on the history of their own relationship and fate.
Shahir and Jonathan are struggling
Losing out on the adoption last week has left the pair reeling and Shahir wondering if it’s time to walk away from the relationship.
Jackson gets a major storyline
Usually there for comic relief—which we totally love, by the way—Jackson is part of a big, emotional storyline. Be forewarned: have tissues at the ready.
Cringeworthy term of the week
Penile swab.
Saving Hope airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.
ICF Films, Eagle Vision and global independent studio Entertainment One (eOne) today announced that production is underway in Winnipeg on new CBC original series BURDEN OF TRUTH (10 x 60, updated final title), a legal drama starring Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, Beauty and the Beast) as a big city lawyer who returns to her hometown to take on what she thinks is a simple case, only to find herself in a fight for justice for a group of sick girls. The series started principal photography on July 2 and will shoot in and around Winnipeg until October for a winter 2018 premiere on CBC.
Additional cast members joining Kreuk include Peter Mooney (Rookie Blue, Camelot, Heroes Reborn), Alex Carter (NCIS, Ransom, Saving Hope), Ben Ayres (Saving Hope, Bitten, Dan for Mayor), Nicola Correia-Damude (Margarita, Hellmington, Where the Dolls Are), Meegwun Fairbrother (Mohawk Girls, Hemlock Grove, Helix, The Beaverton) and emerging Indigenous actor Star Slade.
Peter Mooney
The director roster for BURDEN OF TRUTH is led by veteran director Jeff Woolnough (The Expanse, Vikings, Saving Hope, Bones) with additional directors including Jordan Canning (Saving Hope, The Detail), James Genn (Saving Hope, Private Eyes, Ransom), Doug Mitchell (The Pinkertons, Less Than Kind) and Renuka Jeyapalan (Murdoch Mysteries).
A CBC original series, BURDEN OF TRUTH is produced by ICF Films, Entertainment One (eOne) and Eagle Vision. The series is created by Bradley Simpson (Rookie Blue, King) and executive produced by Ilana Frank (The Eleventh Hour, Saving Hope, Rookie Blue), Linda Pope (Saving Hope, Rookie Blue), Jocelyn Hamilton (Mary Kills People, Cardinal) and Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, Beauty and the Beast). BURDEN OF TRUTH is co-executive produced by Kyle Irving, Lisa Meeches (Taken, Ice Road Truckers) and Sonia Hosko (Saving Hope), with Adam Pettle (Saving Hope) serving as showrunner. Associate producers are Tyson Caron and Hannah Johnson, with consulting producer Lynn Coady. Additional writers on the series are Bradley Simpson, Lynn Coady, Shannon Masters, Graeme Stewart, Eric Putzer, and Laura Good.
Ben Ayres
BURDEN OF TRUTH is produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and Manitoba Film and Music, and with the assistance of the Government of Manitoba – Manitoba Film & Video Production Tax Credit, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. eOne controls worldwide rights to the series.
ABOUT ICF FILMS
Ilana C Frank Films Inc. (ICF Films) is a production company founded by award-winning executive producer, Ilana Frank. The company is focused on creating entertaining and powerful long-form drama for millions of people worldwide. ICF Films has had a winning run of successful dramas commencing in 2009 with Rookie Blue running for six seasons on ABC and Global. Completing its first run this summer is the fifth and final season of ICF Films’ hugely popular medical drama Saving Hope, the most-watched Canadian drama of the 2013-2014 broadcast year. ICF Films also has a very active production roster in 2017 with the detective series The Detail for CTV in Canada and Ion in the U.S. starring Wendy Crewson, Shenae Grimes-Beech and Angela Griffin.
ABOUT EAGLE VISION
Eagle Vision Inc. is one of Canada’s leading production companies. Founded in 2000, Indigenous-owned Eagle Vision produces exceptional, award-winning television and film content for the Canadian and International marketplace. Partners Lisa Meeches (Ojibway from Long Plain First Nation) and Kyle Irving have produced 160+ hours of content. They and their films have been the recipients of five Oscar Nominations (one win), a Golden Globe win, five BAFTA nominations (one win), nine Gemini/CSA nominations (five wins) and a Banff Rockie Award, amongst several other prestigious awards.
We had a sneaking suspicion the wrestler who grappled his way into Cassie’s life might return. He does, and it leads to an incredibly shocking storyline in this week’s episode of Saving Hope. Add in the fact Peter Mooney returns to Hope Zion to portray Dr. Jeremy Bishop and there is a lot going on this Thursday.
Here’s the official synopsis for “La Famiglia,” written by Noelle Carbone and directed by Peter Wellington:
Dr. Alex Reid has to put her concern for the newly-unemployed Dr. Charlie Harris aside when the chance to perform a revolutionary cancer surgery arises. Alex, along with Dr. Dawn Bell, Dr. Cassie Williams, and Dr. Dana Kinney band together for the surgery, and are surprised to be led by Dr. Jeremy Bishop (Peter Mooney, ROOKIE BLUE), who returns to Hope Zion Hospital. While they are performing the radical and controversial surgery, Charlie tries to help the distressed spirit of the patient. Cassie is unexpectedly called away from the surgery by her former patient Jake Bugle (James Preston Rogers, REIGN), who seems to have a very different idea of the nature of their relationship.
And, as always, here are a few morsels we can add after watching a screener.
Reunited and it feels so good
We loved how the Saving Hope writers got Alex and Charlie back together again. Having Alex see what Charlie sees was a monumental moment for the couple and she truly understands what he’s dealing with. Now the pair can get down to the really serious business, like naming the baby that’s on the way. Eunice, anyone? There is a lovely car conversation between the pair that we never wanted to end. Where’s big city traffic when you need it? Also? We kind of like it that Charlie’s out of work. He can spend more time with Luke and focusing on family.
Will Shahir and Jonathan finally adopt?
The wheels were set in motion last week when Shahir performed surgery on an infant with spina bifida and the mother wanted him to adopt the baby. But will the pair put pen to paper on the official documents?
Cassie’s paramour is revealed
Who sent Cassie that handful of super-scary balloons, book and chameleon last week? Yup, it was Jake, the pro wrestler who has taken a shine to our young surgeon. He may not be suffering from mercury poisoning anymore, but that doesn’t mean Jake’s anger has gone away. What happens is shocking and terrible, and had us thinking of “Be Still My Heart,” the horrific Season 6 episode of ER.
Dawn is pissed
Check out the image above. There’s a very good reason for her to be upset and she hashes it out with Dana and Alex.
Two big storylines play outÂ
We won’t give either of them away, but you’re going to love them.
Saving Hope airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.
Hope Zion has quickly become Rookie Blue reunion central. The past few weeks have seen Travis Milne and Charlotte Sullivan walk through the doors, and now it’s Peter Mooney’s turn. The former Nick Collins drops by Saving Hope for a recurring role as Jeremy Bishop, general surgeon and Charlie’s good friend.
His journey begins this week with “Waiting on a Friend” as Jeremy is plunged into the middle of a complicated surgical procedure that effects much of the team and we learn a bit about his backstory to boot. We spoke to Mooney on the phone as he walked home after having breakfast at Lady Marmalade.
Before we talk about Saving Hope, I have to ask you about Rookie Blue. I was sorry to see it get cancelled, but at least we got closure.
I think the way Tassie Cameron wrapped it all up was kind of perfect. As much as you hate to see something come to an end, I’m really happy with where it left off. There are no nagging, lingering feelings about anything.
That said, I would not be opposed to a spinoff web series following Nick and Juliet fighting crime in Vancouver.
Yeah, I wonder what they’re getting up to in Vancouver? I think that would be awesome. [Erin Karpluk] and I will do our own spinoff.
What do you take away from that set?
It was just such a good vibe on set. I know it sounds cheesy but it’s pretty rare to have that level of ease and comfort and familiarity with everyone. We’ve become really close friends throughout the process. It was a great period of life, like you might look back on high school. This little, self-contained time period that was so nice. It’s also something to bring onto future jobs; that attitude and how much fun work can be.
He’s there to complicate things that are going well for other people. High-stakes situations like this cause you to look at your co-workers a little differently and things can blossom.
If Rookie Blue was high school, is Saving Hope college? It’s pre-med. [Laughs.] I think of it as pre-med because I’m sort of learning. We have amazing medical advisors on the show and yesterday I was learning how to do a one-handed, left-handed suture on a patient’s spleen. Now, the patient is just a dummy and I think I would have killed him if he had been real. We don’t have anywhere near the wealth of knowledge that actual doctors and surgeons have, but getting a taste of that has been really, really exciting.
You’re the perfect guy to have in an emergency. You know how to take someone down and to sew someone up.
Yeah, I’m the perfect person to have during a calamity on a plane.
Jeremy shows up in Thursday’s episode and makes an immediate impression with his three-day stubble and buttoned-down shirt. How did you get the gig? Did you audition or did they seek you out?
This one was kind of special and rare. Rookie Blue and Saving Hope share producers, so they were already familiar with me because we share a lot of the same directors. I’d known the cast because we’ve been in side-by-side studios and some of the cast are very good friends of mine. So when it looked like Rookie Blue was wrapping up, there was a perfect opening on Saving Hope so I jumped on over. It was a speedy transition and not a lot of time to learn all of the medical base I would have liked to.
Tell me a bit about Jeremy’s back story. We learn on Thursday that he’s a friend of Charlie’s and that he had some trouble in L.A.
He and Charlie go way back, and that’s rolled out during the season. He’s from Toronto but spent years in L.A. doing his residency. He had a house there and was really settled down. His return to Toronto is an abrupt, surprising shift for him and his head is still spinning when he arrives.
Jeremy seems to have a good bedside manner.
Yeah, he’s very off the cuff. He’s running on impulse and not very calculating and that comes in handy with his bedside manner because he’s able to read the situation and their need and he’s able to respond to that. He’s not a clinical or removed doctor.
Talk about his journey this season. Any love on the horizon?
He’s there to complicate things that are going well for other people. High-stakes situations like this cause you to look at your co-workers a little differently and things can blossom.
You’re filming Saving Hope until the middle of December. What’s next in the new year? Are you writing and developing your own projects?
I am. I have several projects in the early stages in development that I’ll go back and focus on. But I’ll be back to auditioning too, which is kind of exciting. It’s been such a long time since I’ve done that … I’m kind of excited to get back to it.
Saving Hope airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.
