November 18, 2009

Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures to debut on HBO Canada Jan. 10, 2010

Filed under: News Stuff,URBMN 2008- — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — C. Archer @ 5:41 pm
The Movie Network and Movie Central will debut Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures through its HBO Canada multiplex channel on January 10, 2010, at 8:00 PM ET/MT.  This is the first Canadian show to debut on HBO Canada, which came into being October 30, 2008.

The series is based on Vincent Lam’s Giller Prize-winning 2006 short story compilation.  It centers on three young medical professionals as they balance surgeries, medical emergencies and emotional baggage.  The phrase “sea of emotion” is used in the media release.

TMN and MC are promoting Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures heavily.  Beginning December 22, 2009, the first episode can be viewed online through hbocanada.com, themovienetwork.ca and moviecentral.ca.

Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures‘ first episode will debut December 22 on TMN OnDemand, and through Bell TV’s TMN OnLine service.  Western Canada will have to wait until December 29 for Movie Central On Demand to follow suit.  DVD samplers and Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment network also figure in promotion.

This is a Shaftesbury Films series, Shaftesbury fast becoming a household name in this country.  The company has its hand in Murdoch Mysteries, The Listener, ReGenesis, Life With Derek and The Summit, among other series/miniseries.  It’s even sold a Ken Finkleman series to TMN/MC, something I didn’t know was possible.

I hope Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures is good.  The Movie Network/Movie Central has been on a roll with The Line, Durham County, Sanctuary and ZOS: Zone of Separation.  If the show fails, it won’t be due to lack of marketing.  Considering Shaftesbury’s track record, I’ll be surprised if an American cable channel doesn’t snap B&MC up in a heartbeat.

   
Share

News: Blackstone and The Time Traveler pilots on APTN November 24

Filed under: News Stuff,URBMN 2008- — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — C. Archer @ 12:38 am
APTN will debut two dramatic series pilots, Blackstone and The Time Traveler, on November 24, 2009.  Blackstone will air at 9:00 PM, The Time Traveler at 10:00 PM across the three time zones APTN reaches.  APTN HD will also screen the two pilots, starting at 9:00 PM ET.

I actually want to see The Time Traveler.  The show bigs up its 14-member crew and “indie” approach, so The Time Traveler can’t be accused of wasting its budget.  This is show creator Richard Story’s first foray into television, after two feature films (Some Letters to a Young Poet, Echo Lake) and over seventy shorts.

Blackstone is about First Nations reserve corruption.  I’m surprised there’s a show on APTN tackling aboriginal politics, as APTN usually airs dramedies and variety shows.  It’s about time a show like Blackstone was on APTN, even if it is a pilot.

Hopefully, both Blackstone and The Time Traveler are good enough to make series.  While I’m reserving judgment on the pilots until they air, APTN could use at least one hour-long dramatic series.  Maybe one of the shows will be as successful as Rabbit Fall, but I’m not holding my breath.

 
Share

November 15, 2009

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-15

Filed under: Twitter — Tags: — C. Archer @ 4:00 am
  • So…is that it for Life's a Zoo.tv, or will a second season be forthcoming? Teletoon says "season finale," but I see reruns for >2 years. #
  • Greg Frewin Magic Man: Home for the Holidays airs Dec. 9/09, 9:00 PM, CBC: http://tr.im/EDca – Don't know what to think about this one. #
  • CBC holiday programming includes The Hour Holiday Special, Deck the Halls with Steven & Chris, another reairing of Frosty Returns. Ho ho NO! #
  • RT TVShowsOnDVD.com Facebook: 6Teen – Season 2, Volume 2 DVD set Announced: Date, Cost, Specs, Box Art http://tvshowsondvd.com/n/12932 #
  • Hollywood Reporter article on Cdn. TV pilots http://ow.ly/AR9a – Lost Girl info three months old by now, HR. Astonishing (via @ACTRAToronto) #
  • People watch CFL on TSN: http://tr.im/EDH8 Four games w/>1 million viewers featured Saskatchewan. Hmm, what could be driving those ratings? #
  • CTS needs a TV Host/Producer/Promotions Coordinator: http://tr.im/EEci – wow, Crossroads Television System is fairly barebones, isn't it? #
  • RT @geoperdis If I was a photographer w/sense of adventure, these are the bad mofos I'd want to roll with: PhotoXplorers http://j.mp/3WlW3F #
  • Post about Testees' second season updated: http://tr.im/EEiE – is the second season a go? Anyone working on the show got any info? #
  • Gemini tributes to Air Farce, Trailer Park Boys and Corner Gas: http://tr.im/EGHs – I can think of at least 1 undeserving show on that list. #
  • Blabbermouth article on Alex Lifeson in Gemini Awards telecast: http://ow.ly/B8P0 – man, I should have read the press release. I missed that #
  • RT @CKWS_TV Hey Tweeters, check out our pics from Viewer Appreciation Day! http://bit.ly/Rkfe1 #
  • RT @tv_eh @mattywatts a youtube channel for the ron james show? what the? get outta here you knuckleheads http://youtube.com/theronjamesshow #
  • RT @showcasedotca Cra$h & Burn: The Trailer – ..here's an early look at our first-ever hour-long Showcase Original drama http://ow.ly/1613ap #
  • Listened to the @DyscultureD podcast, as @deekayw was on it. Actually not bad. Is the podcast/blog located in Kingston, by any chance? #
  • The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour commissioned by Showcase: http://ow.ly/BKRg – Trailer Park Boys' new project. All you need to know #
  • RT @morjana #Sanctuary – Huffington Post: Amanda Tapping Interview + Photos & Video http://j.mp/m6qYL #
  • RT @WGCtweet Don't get too excited about CBC/Telefilm feature film announcement – no extra features, stay at 10 per yr. http://bit.ly/1rHyV7 #
  • http://ow.ly/BWx0 – Fred Fuchs and Sally Catto given new titles. Fuchs oversees intl relations, Catto from Drama head to Exec Director. #cbc #
  • Torstar's "10 Most Important TV Shows of the Decade" feat. Corner Gas http://tr.im/EY03 – no surprise choices. I used to like Rob Salem more #
  • RT @rossmckie Gemini nominees 2009. A primer…http://bit.ly/5f0dK #geminis09 #
  • popdose.com reviews Blood Ties "Season Two" set: http://ow.ly/CkJY – DVD Talk review of Flashpoint Season One: http://tr.im/EYjR #
  • Just for Laughs "Launching Pad" DVD Talk review: http://tr.im/EYlm – were you expecting any other verdict aside from "Rent It?" #
  • Probably going to livetweet Geminis for @urbmn. Why, I don't know. Either it's boredom or a pathological disorder. #geminis09 #
  • RT @mikesbloggity Chilling @GeminisYYC backstage. Hugh Dillon is dropping F-bombs. Love it. #geminis09 #
  • Showcase is lazily simsubbing the Global feed. I actually saw the credits roll for Project Runway Canada. Good job, Canwest. #geminis09 #
  • Ron James does the exact same over-verbose style of comedy every time he's on stage. I have to admit, he's tedious. #geminis09 #
  • Yeah, Ron, "Cans of Green Gables." Joke didn't work the first time, isn't going to work now. #geminis09 #
  • Cory Monteith gets the best reaction of the night so far. Lots of squees. Hugh Dillon's earning a not-bad reaction as well. #geminis09 #
  • Best Reality Series: Dragons' Den. It's not like they'd give fucking GoldMind the nod. Not much competition there. #geminis09 #
  • Brandon Firla and Geri Hall presenting. Someone with actual talent, and Canada's version of Mary Gross. #geminis09 #
  • Billable Hours' Adam and Max Reid win a Gemini for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series. I like Billable Hours. Good for it. #geminis09 #
  • Best Anchor: Diana Swain. Huh. #geminis09 #
  • Luba Goy gurning for the camera during audience shot. What a large ham. #geminis09 #
  • Best Comedy Ensemble goes to Three Chords from the Truth. Geminis are in an "every show gets an award" mode again. #geminis09 #
  • Ron James' mic cut at random intervals. Best routine he's done all night. #geminis09 #
  • Erin Karpluk for Best Dramatic Actress (Continuing Role.) Not surprising. It's already been spoiled, so whatever. #geminis09 #
  • Trailer Park Boys segment on right now. #geminis09 #
  • Trailer Park Boys get a standing ovation. No shitting kidding. #geminis09 #
  • RT @sheila_boyd No one had to yell at the audience to get on their feet for The Trailer Park Boys #geminis09 #
  • See, THAT'S how you do a tribute award presentation, even if Bubbles "pissed" his pants. No crap, entertain the audience #geminis09 #
  • @johncallaghan Three Chords is on CMT. Show wouldn't be nearly as obscure if it was on TMN. in reply to johncallaghan #
  • This "Working for the Weekend" performance is painful to watch/listen to. Mike Reno's really lost his voice. #geminis09 #
  • Enrico Colantoni wins Best Actor in Leading Cont. Dramatic Role. Wow. Did not expect that. Second year Hugh Dillon's been shutout #geminis09 #
  • Aw, are the Geminis going to overrun this year? So much for taping The Venture Bros. at 10:30. I gave up VB & South Park for this #geminis09 #
  • Flashpoint won for Best Dramatic Series. Hardly surprising, that one. #geminis09 #
  • Rick Mercer Report wins Best Comedy Series. Lame. Less Than Kind deserved the win more. RMR's mostly interview segments! #geminis09 #
  • For those who followed me tonight, you people…wow…I mean thanx. At least I got an MP3 of unintentional comedy gold outta this #geminis09 #
  • @mattywatts What about "Zardip's Search for Healthy Wellness?" That silver suit SOLD the show. Also, "Jeremy." Ah, TVO in the 1980s. in reply to mattywatts #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Share

November 12, 2009

News: The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour announced by Showcase

Filed under: News Stuff,URBMN 2008- — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — C. Archer @ 10:28 pm
The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour (one hell of a working title) has been commissioned by Showcase for a six-episode November 2010 run.  As reported by everyone in existence, this is the new show from Trailer Park Boys stars Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay and Mike Smith.

I’m not going to belabour the point by rewriting the press release, except that Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The League of Gentlemen are referenced.  Looks like Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town has competition.  Nice.

Hosts of The Happy Funtime Hour unknowingly take hallucinogens, acting like the characters they play.  Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson plays “a German scientist who teaches children about nutrition.”  The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour reads like a Sid and Marty Krofft pisstake.  I like it.

The show is ambitious, with Wells, Tremblay and Smith playing numerous characters.  I’m wary of Drunk and on Drugs… being a vanity project, but the TPB actors are capable of pulling a show like this off.  The show will either be awesome or a complete trainwreck.  I don’t see a middle ground.  There shouldn’t be.

Via Showcase’s YouTube account, here’s a video of the show announcement.  Warning: too many shots of a speakerphone.  Way to break the online budget, Showcase.

Share

November 8, 2009

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-08

Filed under: Twitter — Tags: — C. Archer @ 4:00 am
  • I'm late to this, but Mike Valiquette reviews more of the Teletoon Detour Pilot Project shows – http://tr.im/DQhx – he likes Dunce Bucket! #
  • Advertise on URBMN, at least if you use Project Wonderful for anything: http://tr.im/DQDf #
  • Canada TV Fund BPEs '06-07 to '09-10 – http://tr.im/DR2B (06), http://tr.im/DR6i (07), http://tr.im/DR4h (08), http://tr.im/DR64 (09 sofar) #
  • Support The Royal Canadian Legion, add a #twibbon to your avatar now! – http://bit.ly/2DhwgV #
  • RT @tv_eh In the news: Teletoon looks to viewers for pilot feedback http://bit.ly/nTXwB #
  • RT @CKWS_TV CKWS Viewer Appreciation Day, this Wed. from 11:30-2:00pm at the Cataraqui Town Centre. Come say hi & get a free Gerber Daisy!! #
  • RT @geoperdis @mondoville: new post: 'That’s ‘Sassy’: Aux founders bidding to develop alt-chick channel': http://j.mp/3iQL7n #tormda #
  • CP24's On the Rocket hosted by TTC chair Adam Giambrone beginning Nov. 5 8PM http://tr.im/DYpI – Train 48 meets TTC-related vox pops. Great. #
  • Thought V's premiere kinda sucked. Okay, I get it, digs at Obama, they're all pretty, Christ crucifix topples. What subtle symbolism *cough* #
  • RT @realscreen Paperny readies more Women: Paperny Films developing 3rd cycle of reality TV series, The Week the Women Went http://hap.ly/rr #
  • CBC Radio's Ontario Today talked about Dalton Days in the 1st half-hr. 2nd half? Golf as it relates to business. Why does CBC Radio hate me? #
  • @fagstein Actually, The Giller Awards will air on CTV Wed. Nov. 11 at 11 AM and 2 PM, also Sat. Nov. 14 at 5 PM. ALL TOP-FLIGHT AIR TIMES! in reply to fagstein #
  • @fagstein Actually, The Giller Prize will air on CTV Wed. Nov. 11 at 11 AM and 2 PM, also Sat. Nov. 14 at 5 PM. ALL TOP-FLIGHT AIR TIMES! in reply to fagstein #
  • RT @ACTRAToronto Canadian Television Fund funding results for Q2 09-10 now out: http://bit.ly/1RfcJJ #
  • CTF Q2 hilites: CBC pilot funded called Mr. D. Republic of Doyle got almost $7mil. TV with TV's Jonathan Torrens got $202,500 (<$16,000/ep.) #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Share

November 1, 2009

TV Review | The Conventioneers 4.1 – “Job Fair”

Filed under: TV Reviews,URBMN 2008- — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — C. Archer @ 10:22 pm
The Conventioneers (BiteTV: Tuesdays, 9:00 PM ET/Saturdays and Sundays, noon ET) is the first BiteTV series I’ve ever reviewed – indeed, seen.  I am familiar with Jason Agnew through his work with Live Audio Wrestling, but The Conventioneers is a blank to me.

The Conventioneers tries to make The National Job Fair & Training Expo in Toronto interesting, with marginal success.  While Matt Chin and Jason Agnew aren’t bad hosts, the humour is at times forced.  This might be due to the choice of venue, since it’s The National Job Fair & Training Expo.  Such buttoned-down affairs aren’t normally the place for weirdos – not the obvious kinds, anyway.

The Conventioneers is best when Chin and Agnew embarrass themselves for the sake of the show.  Sadly, all “Job Fair” offers is Chin dancing at a New Brunswick-style ‘kitchen party’ and harassing a registered nurse.  The demo reel attached to the screener I received looks much more appealing, as it has Chin “rebranding” the CHIN Picnic.  The show’s always more fun when Chin gets kicked out of a convention.

I don’t think The Conventioneers is malicious in its presentation.  Chin and Agnew are obnoxious at times, which should be expected on a show like this.  The killer segment that would make “Job Fair” good just isn’t there.  The New Brunswick kiosk?  The man representing said kiosk is a PR jockey, but he’s not selling a bullshit product.

“Job Fair” isn’t the best introduction to Chin and Agnew’s brand of industry-based prankery.  Making fun of the recession, which may or may not have ended as per the stock jockeys’ drunken ramblings, is a good idea.  The episode just doesn’t work for me.  The Conventioneers could have picked something less low-key, like a multi-level marketing seminar.

The Conventioneers isn’t something I’d watch every week, but it does its job.  It’s a low-budget show with a novel idea, annoying high-strung fans and tight-assed business people on purpose.  At the end of the day, it’s hard for me to hate the show.  I’m sure it’s not eating government funds like Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town and Shattered are.

As an aside, how many people actually go through the Canada Television Fund/Canada Media Fund Broadcaster Performance Envelopes to see how much certain shows cost the Canadian taxpayer?  It’s genuinely interesting reading.  This doesn’t take federal and provincial tax credits into account, but wow, does Canada ever fund a lot of documentaries.  If The Conventioneers costs more than the Dunce Bucket pilot to produce (i.e., if the show costs more than $75,000 an episode), something’s gone horribly wrong.

Share

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-01

Filed under: Twitter — Tags: — C. Archer @ 4:00 am
  • URBMN linked to on Cartoon Brew re: Teletoon Pilot Project: http://tr.im/D09R – this may be the highlight of my year. Thanks, Jerry Beck! #
  • Oh, judging by the reaction online by Cartoon Brew and others, it looks like Angora Napkin could hit big. That screens next week, fact fans! #
  • Fans don't seem to like Season 4 of Little Mosque on the Prairie, mainly due to Reverend William Thorne http://tr.im/D3sq #cbc #littlemosque #
  • DGC Awards 2009 winners: http://tr.im/D7t5 – Air India 182, Passchendaele, a few awards for Flashpoint – nothing out of the ordinary here. #
  • Michael Eisner's Vuguru inks investment/distro deal with Rogers Media: http://tr.im/D7w1 Uh, yay? Hope this leads to a few Can. web series. #
  • The Nutshell Paragraph on the Local TV Matters vs. Stop the TV Tax debate: http://tr.im/Dh5P – he sides with the cable/sats. #
  • Canwest seeks court approval to transition National Post from Canwest Media Inc. and Canwest LP to Canwest Publishing Inc. http://tr.im/Dit1 #
  • Canada's Worst Driver 5 premiere breaks ratings for Discovery Channel http://tr.im/DmNo – unsure if that's good/ bad for Discovery's quality #
  • TV PR-related e-mails today: Fee-for-carriage myths "busted" on Goldhawk Live; cheesy promotion for V. Wonder if those 2 things are related. #
  • RT @CanMediaLayoffs National Post to close after Oct 30 unless its operations are moved to a different holding company http://bit.ly/2j95eU #
  • RT @CliqueClack How Defying Gravity would have progressed, straight from the creator http://clak.us/tr0l #
  • 24th Annual Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala features Hugh Dillon, Erin Karpluk and that guy from Glee http://tr.im/DvvH With product placement! #
  • Telefilm Canada's annual report 08-09: http://tr.im/DByY – Passchendaele did "very well at the box office," never mind the $16-20mil budget. #
  • RT @gregobr @WGCtweet: 3-point plan to get more high-quality Cdn programming – WGC sends its members a brief – http://tr.im/DBtT (dk) #
  • Uh, I think Angora Napkin's secured itself a series order already. http://www.thedetour.ca/ – CBC story: http://tr.im/DDdK – next big thing? #
  • For Better or For Worse 1992-95 specials, i.e., the Lacewood Productions specials, sold through Lynn Johnston's website: http://tr.im/DDpM #
  • @fagstein MTV Canada talking about the importance of local television is like Misty Mundae singing the praises of abstinence. in reply to fagstein #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Share
« Newer Posts

© 1999-2010 SWEETPOSER ENTERTAINMENT. URBMN USES WordPress.