Saving Hope’s Michael Shanks on directing and the show’s new focus
“I think for the remainder of the season we aren’t going to see much in the area of romantic entanglements for Charlie and Alex, but for the other characters we will see that amp up a bit. I think by getting rid of that love triangle aspect on the show they have given themselves some breathing room for some great storylines for the other characters. And the show has become better because of it.” Continue reading.
Bravo’s gritty cop drama 19-2 and CBC’s high-profile comedy Schitt’s Creek topline the nominations for the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards. Announced Tuesday morning in Toronto at TIFF Bell Lightbox by Lyriq Bent (The Book of Negroes) and Aislinn Paul (Degrassi), 19-2 captured 12 nominations, including Best Dramatic Series and Best Performance nods for supporting cast and leads Jared Keeso and Adrian Holmes; Keeso and Holmes recorded a video to mark the occasion (check it out below).
Meanwhile, Schitt’s Creek does battle in the comedic categories, with co-stars Eugene and Dan Levy facing off for Best Performance and the Tuesday night comedy fighting off fellow CBC series Mr. D, Mohawk Girls, Young Drunk Punk and Tiny Plastic Men for Best Comedy Series.
Space’s Orphan Black did well too, snagging 13 nominations including performance acknowledgements for Ari Millen and Tatiana Maslany, though it was shut out of the Dramatic Series list. Global’s final season of Rookie Blue was recognized by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, as Missy Peregrym and Ben Bass received nominations.
The nominees in the key television categories are listed below. Who do you think deserves to win? The two-hour Canadian Screen Awards gala airs Sunday, March 13, at 8 p.m. on CBC.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Gerry Dee, Mr. D
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Dave Foley, Spun Out
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Adrian Holmes, 19-2
Jared Keeso, 19-2
Ari Millen, Orphan Black
Ben Bass, Rookie Blue
Aaron Poole, Strange Empire
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Brittany LeBorgne, Mohawk Girls
Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Belinda Cornish, Tiny Plastic Men
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Kristin Lehman, Motive
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Megan Follows, Reign
Missy Peregrym, Rookie Blue
Jennie Raymond, Sex & Violence
Best Dramatic Series
19-2
Blackstone
Motive
Saving Hope
X Company
Best Comedy Series
Mr. D
Mohawk Girls
Schitt’s Creek
Tiny Plastic Men
Young Drunk Punk
Best Reality/Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada
Big Brother Canada
Dragons’ Den
Game of Homes
MasterChef Canada
Best Animated Program or Series
Endangered Species
Numb Chucks
Rocket Monkeys
Slugterra
Best Children’s or Youth Fiction Program or Series
As previously announced, comedian Norm Macdonald will host the 2016 event. Wendy Crewson—currently starring on CTV’s Saving Hope—will receive the Earle Grey Award for acting and Martin Short will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Canadian Screen Awards air Sunday, March 13, at 8 p.m. on CBC.
Cupid’s arrow strikes a new batch of home cooks as Canada’s favourite food fight returns with MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 3 airing Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV GO app. With food and love intimately intertwined, gourmands and food-lovers from a diverse array of backgrounds and with varying expertise, step out of their homes and into the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen to test their skills as they face-off against their fellow competitors. Challenge after challenge, viewers see who is meant to be as these talented home cooks turn up the heat on the audition process, preparing signature dishes for esteemed judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile.
The premiere episode will be available to viewers early through an exclusive preview beginning Monday, Feb. 8 at CTV.ca, the CTV GO app, and on set top box. New episodes of MASTERCHEF CANADA will also be available on demand at CTV.caand on the CTV GO app, and will encore Mondays at 8 p.m. ET beginning Feb. 15on M3, Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning Feb. 20 on CTV Two, and Sundays at5 p.m. ET/PT beginning Feb. 21 on CTV. Viewers can check out past MASTERCHEF CANADA episodes back-to-back with Seasons 1 and 2 streaming now exclusively onCraveTVTM.
Finishing its second season with an average audience of 1.7 million viewers,MASTERCHEF CANADA was the #1 Canadian series last spring among total viewers, A18-49, and A25-54, and appetites are whet for a new season of drama and kitchen competition. At stake this season is a $100,000 cash prize and the title of Canada’s next MasterChef, giving the Season 3 finalists every incentive to put their signature dishes on the line for a shot at being the last one standing in the kitchen.
The Top 40 cooking for the MASTERCHEF CANADA title are:
Alawn Lai, a Real Estate Developer from Markham, Ont.
Terry Adido, a PhD Law Student from Edmonton, Alta.
Travis Petersen, Manager, Oil and Gas Industry, Calgary, Alta.
Veronica Cham, a Lawyer from Toronto, Ont.
Vince Spitale, a Contractor from Pickering, Ont.
Zhara Mian, Unemployed from Toronto, Ont.
In the premiere episode (Sunday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. ET/PT), following national auditions to discover Canada’s most promising home cooks, the finalists handle their first pressure cooker of the competition as they prepare their signature dish for judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile. For some, this will be the kiss of death as the judges’ discriminating palates will determine whose plates are worthy of a coveted white apron. With the home cooks requiring a ‘yes’ from each judge to receive an apron this season, it’s harder than ever for the finalists to make it into the coveted Top 14. When the competition continues during the second episode, airingSunday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, a select number of home cooks will compete in a head-to-head challenge with the hope of advancing in the competition and reaching the Top 14.
Saving Hope writers preview an important test for Alex and Charlie
“We were writing Season 4 as if it were the last season. When we found out we were renewed, we cracked some celebratory beers and then immediately got to work completely overhauling the last few episodes of Season 4. Luckily for us, our fearless leader [showrunner] Adam Pettle is quick on his feet and cooked up a new killer ending that’s even better than the one we had. You guys are going to love it.” Continue reading.
Saving Hope: 7 Things we wants to see in Season 4B
Along with the introduction of new characters, Saving Hope‘s writers have kept us entertained and eager to tune in each week. Now that it’s the New Year, and the second half of Season 4 is ready to get underway Thursday, Jan. 7 at 10 p.m., we can’t help but be a little hopeful of what’s to come at Hope Zion. So we thought it’d be fun to put together a few things that we’d love to see happen before the end of the season. Be sure to check in after reading our suggestions and sound off with what you want to see happen most during the back half of Season 4. Continue reading.Â