Fall Pick-Ups (an oxymoron?)

It’s summer - almost - and that means Canada’s TV and film industries are ready to jump, or hopscotch, into action…If you’ve checked out the blog before, yes, it’s undergone reconstructive surgery…

So there’s lots to catch up on, what with the industry fairly abuzz with fall launch announcements…But before we get ahead of ourselves, a reminder that the Leo Awards (celebrating the best of BC’s TV and Film industries) were held this past weekend at Vancouver’s Westin Bayshore Hotel. The fantasic made-for-television film Elijah, starring Billy Merasty as Elijah Harper, (above) led the winners. You can find my full report for Playback magazine at: http://www.playbackonline.ca/


CBC announced its fall schedule yesterday. Next will be the private broadcasters, CTV (June 2) and Canwest Global (June 4), who’ll host shindigs to promote their new programs. Expect CTV to shine a light on its new Canadian series, The Listener and Flashpoint, both set to air in the U.S. (on CBS & NBC, respectively). Global will likely launch its revamped BC hit The Guard. Oh, and did you hear that AFTRA and the American studios are close to a deal? Looks like we may be treated to a regular network TV season south of the border.

Tips for Appointment Viewing:

The Quality of Life: A Dominic Da Vinci Movie (Saturday, June 14, 9 pm, CBC)

Nick Campbell returns to the role that made him a household name in Canada. The man called “Canada’s best actor,” by Chris Haddock stars with Mary Walsh, Hugh Dillon, Michael Murphy and Ben Ratner in a TV movie that picks up – more or less – where Da Vinci’s City Hall left off. Look for my full report and interviews with Haddock and Campbell in an upcoming issue of Canwest’s TV Times.

Othello (Sunday, June 15, 9 pm, CBC)

OMG. How interesting does this sound? Carlo Rota ( Little Mosque on the Prairie) starring in the title role in a production adapted for TV by his co-star Zaib Shaikh (who also won a Leo this past weekend, fyi) and Matthew Edison. Shaikh also directs the production. Christine Horne, who blew audiences away as young Hagar in Kari Skogland’s The Stone Angel, plays Desdemona, and Matthew Deslippe also stars.

Everest (Sunday, August 31 & Monday, September 1, 8 pm, CBC)

Everest, filmed in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains and in Nepal, tells the story of the October 1982 expedition, led by Laurie Skreslet, played by Eric Johnson, and Pat Morrow, played by Gord Rand, to the summit of Mount Everest. They were the first Canadians to reach the top of one of the legendary Seven Summits, but the trip was marred by conflict and the deaths of some of the expedition’s adventurers.

Returning in the fall are CBC stalwarts The Border, Sophie (with 18 new episodes), Heartland, The Fifth Estate, The Hour, Dragons Den (10 episodes) and Test the Nation. A new ‘dragon’ Calgary FirstEnergy Capital Corp-exec W. Brett Wilson joins the team.


I couldn’t be happier that Test the Nation, with Wendy Mesley and Brent Bambury, will return. Get this; the six competing teams will be Weathercasters, Reach-For-The-Toppers, New Canadians, Canadian Forces, Tour Guides, and American-Canadians…The team compositions are absolutely brilliant.

-Will the New Canadians and the Reach-for-the-Toppers duke it out for the win?
-Will the Weathercasters be the rowdiest competitors ever? (And the answer to that is yes, if CJOH Ottawa’s J.J. Clarke (above) is on the team.)
-Will the Tour Guides chart a path to victory?
-Will the American-Canadians' approach be revolutionary?
-Will the CFers be a Force to be reckoned with?
-Will I stop these bad puns SOON?

-The answers to those questions and more will be revealed in the fall.



Hope you like the new look...if you think the collagen's too much, feel free to say so.