Today was a sick day at home for this girl. There was no way I was going to be able to be productive and as such I decided to delve into some new Canadian Content, or CanCon as my brother has dubbed it; which I thought was fantastic for the purposes of saving those precious Twitter characters!
While I was couch-ridden, I took the opportunity to immerse myself in some new CanCon. I turned on the laptop and decided to give “The Border” a shot. Why, you ask? Well, mostly, I chose The Border because I saw a promo for it in the Subway on the way home the other day. Actual.
The Border, a CBC prime-time drama, is well into its third season and the ratings are not great. The ratings have been hovering around 500,000 viewers in the very competitive Thursday night 9:00 PM time slot (think Grey's Anatomy and Survivor - which I'm always surprised to hear people still watch!). Given that Thursday is a tough night for everyone our apartment to get to watch what they want, I decided to watch online and start from the beginning.
I started the pilot early this afternoon then before I even realized it, one of my roommates came home from work and I was getting into the fifth episode.
The Border – for those of you who’ve not yet heard of it, is a drama about the ICS, essentially Canadian Immigration, a government agency based out of Toronto, and the many cases that come across their country lines. National security issues, a team of highly trained field experts, big guns, computer and satellite tricks, all brought together to capture the bad guys by a fearless leader… The Border is pretty formulaic in the Law & Order crime solving meets NCIS team dynamic and partial character storylines kind of way.
But The Border also differs from all those other shows in that it deals with more than one organization and government. There are power struggles between the ICS and CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service – basically the Canadian version of the US’s CIA), sometimes the Department of Homeland Security from the US is involved, and Ministers and Members of Parliament in Ottawa are almost always pulling the strings based on their agendas. So not only is the show chock-full of action, but it adds another layer of complexity, and therefore interest, by involving the politics.
I’m still deciding whether I really care about the characters though. The cast is pretty large, there are a lot of people to keep track of and I really only know one of them by name: Major Kessler; the Horatio Cain-like leader at ICS. And to be honest, I think I might only know that character’s name because I think he’s super distinguished and kindof-slash-really attractive. I’ve only seen five episodes so far, and I’m hopeful that sooner rather than later there will be more to the characters because from what I can tell, there are certainly some acting chops on that show.
The Border is a pretty big production with gunfights, explosions, and generally a lot of action but it manages to remain very Canadian with its shots at American politics and of Tim Horton’s coffee cups. The Parliament buildings make an appearing in every episode, locals speak French Joual in a small eastern Quebec towns… It’s nice to see that The Border showcases more than just Toronto. It took viewers to the St-Lawrence thousand islands and Pembroke, and you guessed it: border towns.
I am really into this show right now. I should be in bed but I’m probably going to go watch another episode now...
If you like the standard crime-solving drama, I say give The Border a chance. It’s just as good as the others, it’s pure CanCon, AND you can watch it online. And if you’ve been watching The Border from the beginning – good on ya, now tell your friends to catch up and start watching weekly.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The AftershowOff!
Another west coast Raptors game, another night without TV for this girl… Brutal, I know, but the roommate – he won’t budge. Given that it was another loss for our boys, in a game where we didn’t have the lead a single time, today I’m a little more annoyed about it.
But on the bright side, I am starting to like these posts, where rather than reviewing or sharing with you a few thoughts about some quality Canadian TV I just watched, I get to introduce to you something you’re not watching enough of or just start a discussion about what’s happening out there.
I’m a big supporter of CBC, I think they’ve got picturesque, heartfelt, original, and all around fantastic entertainment productions. However, it’s important to take a moment to understand that obviously not all Canadian TV is created equal. Please note that doesn’t mean that what I’m about to get into, despite it being slightly sillier, is not equally as entertaining and relatable as what our major national network produces.
I trust you’re prepared for the confession I’m about to make. No? Take a moment, because it’s kindof embarrassing. Okay: I love MTV Canada’s ‘The Aftershow’! Yep, I said it, out loud, to all of you that read this (I think there are seven of you now?!).
The Aftershow is hosted by two incomparable home grown personalities; Dan Levy and Jessi Cruickshank. The duo, despite both being gorgeous individuals, are incredibly genuine and self-deprecating. The aptly named Aftershow is exactly what it sounds like, a show that airs after MTV reality sensations “Peak Season”, “The Hills”, and “The City” to recap the episode, make snarky and hilarious commentary, then have a quick panel discussion to try and draw links from the content of these reality series to our every day lives. I usually don’t event watch the ‘show’ in Aftershow… just the ‘After’.
With the exception of the webcam segments where Dan and Jessi engage viewers on with questions (those segments are insufferable because the people they talk to rarely do more than squeal or provide one-word answers) the Aftershow is a lot of fun!
For example tonight was the big reveal of Dan Levy’s ‘Taylor Lautner-Esque’ body which he committed to working towards in celebration of the release of Twilight’s new moon… just because. He appeared topless after agreeing to do so a mere 92 days ago to show off his new physique. *sidenote: Dan looked HOT*
It’s these fun little stunts combined with the personal endeavours of the hosts that make the Aftershow enjoyable to tune into. Jesse recently sold off a number of her designer and vintage dresses and raised thousands of dollars for ‘Free the Children’ and used The Aftershow as the main platform for promotion… See, not all fluff!
The Aftershow is not a program that you need to watch every time it’s on and it's not for everyone, but it’s fantastic anytime you need a pick me up or a distraction. You can easily just jump right into it, and you don’t even need to have watched whatever reality show came before it. Really!
Enjoy!
But on the bright side, I am starting to like these posts, where rather than reviewing or sharing with you a few thoughts about some quality Canadian TV I just watched, I get to introduce to you something you’re not watching enough of or just start a discussion about what’s happening out there.
I’m a big supporter of CBC, I think they’ve got picturesque, heartfelt, original, and all around fantastic entertainment productions. However, it’s important to take a moment to understand that obviously not all Canadian TV is created equal. Please note that doesn’t mean that what I’m about to get into, despite it being slightly sillier, is not equally as entertaining and relatable as what our major national network produces.
I trust you’re prepared for the confession I’m about to make. No? Take a moment, because it’s kindof embarrassing. Okay: I love MTV Canada’s ‘The Aftershow’! Yep, I said it, out loud, to all of you that read this (I think there are seven of you now?!).
The Aftershow is hosted by two incomparable home grown personalities; Dan Levy and Jessi Cruickshank. The duo, despite both being gorgeous individuals, are incredibly genuine and self-deprecating. The aptly named Aftershow is exactly what it sounds like, a show that airs after MTV reality sensations “Peak Season”, “The Hills”, and “The City” to recap the episode, make snarky and hilarious commentary, then have a quick panel discussion to try and draw links from the content of these reality series to our every day lives. I usually don’t event watch the ‘show’ in Aftershow… just the ‘After’.
With the exception of the webcam segments where Dan and Jessi engage viewers on with questions (those segments are insufferable because the people they talk to rarely do more than squeal or provide one-word answers) the Aftershow is a lot of fun!
For example tonight was the big reveal of Dan Levy’s ‘Taylor Lautner-Esque’ body which he committed to working towards in celebration of the release of Twilight’s new moon… just because. He appeared topless after agreeing to do so a mere 92 days ago to show off his new physique. *sidenote: Dan looked HOT*
It’s these fun little stunts combined with the personal endeavours of the hosts that make the Aftershow enjoyable to tune into. Jesse recently sold off a number of her designer and vintage dresses and raised thousands of dollars for ‘Free the Children’ and used The Aftershow as the main platform for promotion… See, not all fluff!
The Aftershow is not a program that you need to watch every time it’s on and it's not for everyone, but it’s fantastic anytime you need a pick me up or a distraction. You can easily just jump right into it, and you don’t even need to have watched whatever reality show came before it. Really!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Meet Being Erica
I’ve been waiting for tonight's episode of Being Erica for what feels like FOREVER! It's been one week.
Sadly, I will have to wait at least another day before I can watch it because the Toronto Raptors are in Denver. Due to the time zone travelling, it means that the game won’t end until 11:30pm (although currently we’re down by 20 with another quarter to play which some might argue means its already over) and then as per every other night of the week in our house, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report take priority over anything else. But enough of that!
I’m going to take this opportunity to tell you more about this fantastic CBC Drama. If you’re not watching Being Erica, you’re really missing out. And I’m pretty sure that you’re not watching because the ratings aren’t great, hovering between 500,000 and 650,000 viewers on a weekly basis, despite the fact that the show is critically acclaimed and super entertaining.
Erica, played by the sweet and slightly quirky (and recent Gemini winner!) Erin Karpluck, is a thirty-something living the life as a book editor in Toronto who is trying to sort out her life. She is assisted in her quest by her therapist Dr. Tom, who just so happens to have the ability to send Erica back in time to fix and learn from her past mistakes. Convenient, non?
Okay, so the premise is slightly outlandish, but hear me out for a second! What makes Being Erica interesting is the combination of the supernatural therapist with the super average girl. Erica is a real character with real problems. Her family is real (slightly imbalanced and sweet), her friends are real (sometimes needy, slutty, and unstable, but always there for each other), and her job is real (office politics and backstabbing co-workers).
This show does not hold back either. CBC stepped up their game and is really NOT afraid to let the writers and directors of Being Erica run with the reality of an adult relationship. Yah, I’m talking about hotness. There is sexual tension left, right, and centre between a number of adults in the show… and then they release the tension. And none of it is really gratuitous. All of it plays into the different characters and the issues they’re having.
Sometimes I almost can't believe it… but I also can't look away! After last week's episode, which tackled the breaking down of a marriage, catching your significant other mid-masturbation, AND ramifications of a work relationship power struggle, I decided that I wanted more people to know about this show. You could say that Being Erica inspired me to start this blog.
I love Being Erica. So. Much. And you should be watching it! I started watching early in season two and I didn’t find it difficult to jump into the story and start caring about these characters. Thankfully, on CBC you can watch their TV shows online (unlike the stuff on American Networks!) so you can catch up any time you like. And you should, because this show deserves a chance to be watched. So the next time you’re holed up inside on a cold or rainy day and there’s nothing on TV, don’t watch crappy re-runs of a show you’ve seen ten times before, log on to your computer and give Being Erica a shot. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll get into it.
OR you could start watching it next week… They're getting to the really good stuff!
Being Erica airs on Tuesdays at 9:00 PM on CBC.
Sadly, I will have to wait at least another day before I can watch it because the Toronto Raptors are in Denver. Due to the time zone travelling, it means that the game won’t end until 11:30pm (although currently we’re down by 20 with another quarter to play which some might argue means its already over) and then as per every other night of the week in our house, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report take priority over anything else. But enough of that!
I’m going to take this opportunity to tell you more about this fantastic CBC Drama. If you’re not watching Being Erica, you’re really missing out. And I’m pretty sure that you’re not watching because the ratings aren’t great, hovering between 500,000 and 650,000 viewers on a weekly basis, despite the fact that the show is critically acclaimed and super entertaining.
Erica, played by the sweet and slightly quirky (and recent Gemini winner!) Erin Karpluck, is a thirty-something living the life as a book editor in Toronto who is trying to sort out her life. She is assisted in her quest by her therapist Dr. Tom, who just so happens to have the ability to send Erica back in time to fix and learn from her past mistakes. Convenient, non?
Okay, so the premise is slightly outlandish, but hear me out for a second! What makes Being Erica interesting is the combination of the supernatural therapist with the super average girl. Erica is a real character with real problems. Her family is real (slightly imbalanced and sweet), her friends are real (sometimes needy, slutty, and unstable, but always there for each other), and her job is real (office politics and backstabbing co-workers).
This show does not hold back either. CBC stepped up their game and is really NOT afraid to let the writers and directors of Being Erica run with the reality of an adult relationship. Yah, I’m talking about hotness. There is sexual tension left, right, and centre between a number of adults in the show… and then they release the tension. And none of it is really gratuitous. All of it plays into the different characters and the issues they’re having.
Sometimes I almost can't believe it… but I also can't look away! After last week's episode, which tackled the breaking down of a marriage, catching your significant other mid-masturbation, AND ramifications of a work relationship power struggle, I decided that I wanted more people to know about this show. You could say that Being Erica inspired me to start this blog.
I love Being Erica. So. Much. And you should be watching it! I started watching early in season two and I didn’t find it difficult to jump into the story and start caring about these characters. Thankfully, on CBC you can watch their TV shows online (unlike the stuff on American Networks!) so you can catch up any time you like. And you should, because this show deserves a chance to be watched. So the next time you’re holed up inside on a cold or rainy day and there’s nothing on TV, don’t watch crappy re-runs of a show you’ve seen ten times before, log on to your computer and give Being Erica a shot. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll get into it.
OR you could start watching it next week… They're getting to the really good stuff!
Being Erica airs on Tuesdays at 9:00 PM on CBC.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Battle of the Blades of Glory
Tonight was the finale of CBC’s hit reality series Battle of the Blades. Sunday evening the top three pairs skated their hearts out and the results were announced tonight. I’ve LOVED the series from the get-go, it’s super cheesy but it’s so entertaining. And in case you haven’t heard yet, Jamie Sale and Craig Simpson were the first ever champions of Battle of the Blades and beat out Shae Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux to take home the tropy and all the glory.
The format of the show was just like your standard competition variety program with performances, then judges comments/marks, followed by fan voting and a results show. Except obviously the Canadian version would include the peaceful integration of two sports who have been rivals in arenas for years (for me, it started when my friend’s hockey team made fun of the Micecapades!) and judges that only said nice things, no Simon Cowell on this Canadian success story.
My favourite moment of the night was absolutely the Jamie Sale and David Pelletier program which saw the Olympic gold medalists take the ice for a energy-filled program with lots of lifts (which I think Craig Simpson may have been able to handle actually!). I will admit right here without shame that I was one of those people in 2002 who was obsessed with the scandal in Salt Lake City when they weren’t initially awarded gold. And seeing the pair tonight perform a super fun upbeat routine was fun.
My second favourite moment, but was only just barely second, was when the show aired shout outs from current NHL players from teams across the league. In Ottawa, a handful of players wished the contestants good luck, but when defenceman Chris Phillips, who is a very well known player across the league, was on the screen, his name was captioned as Jonathan Cheechoo… Chris Phillips is NOT Jonathan Cheechoo and it is laughable that CBC – our national network which is famed for Hockey Night in Canada – would get it wrong on a show that features former NHL stars. In this situation I’m not sure who to feel worse for, Jonathan Cheechoo or Chris Phillips? But this isn’t a hockey blog so we’ll just move on.
*Sigh*
I’m sad the season is over before I ever had a chance to blog about it, but I really hope that it comes back for a second one. Battle of the blades not only brought new life to the famed Maple Leaf Gardens which had sat dormant for years, it also had an altruistic side as all winnings were donated to charities as selected by the pairs. In the end, The Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society will be getting $100,000 for being represented by the champions, but the seven other organizations received winnings in addition to a feature segment during the finale.
The sweetest nicest old man judge on the show, legendary Canadian figure skating powerhouse Dick Button (this guy was amazing, five consecutive world championships starting and ending the years when he won his two Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952!) said it best: we should be proud to have brought this event to both worlds of skating. Dick Button, you’re a good man because as a Canadian I really am proud that this show was such a success!
Did you watch? Will you watch if they have another season?
The format of the show was just like your standard competition variety program with performances, then judges comments/marks, followed by fan voting and a results show. Except obviously the Canadian version would include the peaceful integration of two sports who have been rivals in arenas for years (for me, it started when my friend’s hockey team made fun of the Micecapades!) and judges that only said nice things, no Simon Cowell on this Canadian success story.
My favourite moment of the night was absolutely the Jamie Sale and David Pelletier program which saw the Olympic gold medalists take the ice for a energy-filled program with lots of lifts (which I think Craig Simpson may have been able to handle actually!). I will admit right here without shame that I was one of those people in 2002 who was obsessed with the scandal in Salt Lake City when they weren’t initially awarded gold. And seeing the pair tonight perform a super fun upbeat routine was fun.
My second favourite moment, but was only just barely second, was when the show aired shout outs from current NHL players from teams across the league. In Ottawa, a handful of players wished the contestants good luck, but when defenceman Chris Phillips, who is a very well known player across the league, was on the screen, his name was captioned as Jonathan Cheechoo… Chris Phillips is NOT Jonathan Cheechoo and it is laughable that CBC – our national network which is famed for Hockey Night in Canada – would get it wrong on a show that features former NHL stars. In this situation I’m not sure who to feel worse for, Jonathan Cheechoo or Chris Phillips? But this isn’t a hockey blog so we’ll just move on.
*Sigh*
I’m sad the season is over before I ever had a chance to blog about it, but I really hope that it comes back for a second one. Battle of the blades not only brought new life to the famed Maple Leaf Gardens which had sat dormant for years, it also had an altruistic side as all winnings were donated to charities as selected by the pairs. In the end, The Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society will be getting $100,000 for being represented by the champions, but the seven other organizations received winnings in addition to a feature segment during the finale.
The sweetest nicest old man judge on the show, legendary Canadian figure skating powerhouse Dick Button (this guy was amazing, five consecutive world championships starting and ending the years when he won his two Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952!) said it best: we should be proud to have brought this event to both worlds of skating. Dick Button, you’re a good man because as a Canadian I really am proud that this show was such a success!
Did you watch? Will you watch if they have another season?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Geminis Provide Good Timing for Launch
Bonjour! I’m CJ, and I am a BIG fan of Canadian Television and I want to talk about it.
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve only recently discovered that I have this passion. I didn’t even know I had it until I realized my PVR was full of Canadian content. Gone are the days when big budget American network TV shows cluttered my recording space (well they still kinda do but that’s because I have roommates), because now most of my scheduled recordings are distinctly Canadian shows.
I’m not going to tell you that I don’t watch American television, that would be silly, and a lie. Especially given that they even play those shows on our Canadian networks…
It seems fitting that my idea to start a blog highlighting and discussing Canadian content happened around the same time when we as a nation celebrate achievements in television excellence with the Gemini Awards. Although airing the awards at 9:00pm on a Saturday night, going head to head against Hockey Night in Canada may not be the best way to increase viewership but that is a discussion for another time!
The 24th annual Gemini Awards were handed out on Saturday and for those of you Canadians who don’t know, the Geminis are like the Canadian Emmys and I know that you watch the Emmys! This year’s edition was hosted by comedian Ron James who did a good job at playing to the home crowd in Calgary. And if I may say so myself, Calgary-born Corey Monteith from Glee was a highlight… looking quite excellent playing drums for the rendition of Canadian 80’s tune “Working for the Weekend” with Loverboy’s Mike Reno and Theo Tams of Canadian Idol. HOT.
Anyway, all in all the broadcast celebrated popular Canadian Television and its stars, which made the gala distinctly Canadian… nice things were said about everybody (except Torontonians, James harpooned us repeatedly!). The big winners were clearly the most well-known ones. Flashpoint was Goliath and took home three big awards during the show, Best Male Actor, Best Drama Series, and Best Direction for a Drama Series, which is all well and good because it’s a pretty decent show, but did it win because it’s the most popular? Leah Miller won Best Performance or Host in a Variety Show or Series, and So You Think You Can Dance Canada was CTV’s most successful new show last year. But were Miller’s hosting abilities really superior to Theo Tams performances on Canadian Idol season six which saw him WIN the entire competition?! Think about it.
I’m not here to recap the winners and losers of every category, there’s actually a full 30-page pdf on the Geminis website for that. Moving forward I’m am going to be here to talk about what’s on our Canuck airways.
There is a full year ahead before the Gemini’s are handed out again and I’m looking forward to further exploring the world of Canadian TV and the awesome (or aweful!) Canadian content. Here’s to hoping that we can support what is great and know what is happening in Canadian television so that when the Gemini’s come around next year, you’ll know enough to have an opinion about the winners!
This week is chock-a-block full of great Canadian TV to talk about, from the Battle of the Blades finale, to the newest Being Erica and Flashpoint episodes. Be sure to check back soon!
Salut!
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve only recently discovered that I have this passion. I didn’t even know I had it until I realized my PVR was full of Canadian content. Gone are the days when big budget American network TV shows cluttered my recording space (well they still kinda do but that’s because I have roommates), because now most of my scheduled recordings are distinctly Canadian shows.
I’m not going to tell you that I don’t watch American television, that would be silly, and a lie. Especially given that they even play those shows on our Canadian networks…
It seems fitting that my idea to start a blog highlighting and discussing Canadian content happened around the same time when we as a nation celebrate achievements in television excellence with the Gemini Awards. Although airing the awards at 9:00pm on a Saturday night, going head to head against Hockey Night in Canada may not be the best way to increase viewership but that is a discussion for another time!
The 24th annual Gemini Awards were handed out on Saturday and for those of you Canadians who don’t know, the Geminis are like the Canadian Emmys and I know that you watch the Emmys! This year’s edition was hosted by comedian Ron James who did a good job at playing to the home crowd in Calgary. And if I may say so myself, Calgary-born Corey Monteith from Glee was a highlight… looking quite excellent playing drums for the rendition of Canadian 80’s tune “Working for the Weekend” with Loverboy’s Mike Reno and Theo Tams of Canadian Idol. HOT.
Anyway, all in all the broadcast celebrated popular Canadian Television and its stars, which made the gala distinctly Canadian… nice things were said about everybody (except Torontonians, James harpooned us repeatedly!). The big winners were clearly the most well-known ones. Flashpoint was Goliath and took home three big awards during the show, Best Male Actor, Best Drama Series, and Best Direction for a Drama Series, which is all well and good because it’s a pretty decent show, but did it win because it’s the most popular? Leah Miller won Best Performance or Host in a Variety Show or Series, and So You Think You Can Dance Canada was CTV’s most successful new show last year. But were Miller’s hosting abilities really superior to Theo Tams performances on Canadian Idol season six which saw him WIN the entire competition?! Think about it.
I’m not here to recap the winners and losers of every category, there’s actually a full 30-page pdf on the Geminis website for that. Moving forward I’m am going to be here to talk about what’s on our Canuck airways.
There is a full year ahead before the Gemini’s are handed out again and I’m looking forward to further exploring the world of Canadian TV and the awesome (or aweful!) Canadian content. Here’s to hoping that we can support what is great and know what is happening in Canadian television so that when the Gemini’s come around next year, you’ll know enough to have an opinion about the winners!
This week is chock-a-block full of great Canadian TV to talk about, from the Battle of the Blades finale, to the newest Being Erica and Flashpoint episodes. Be sure to check back soon!
Salut!
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