Canadian Television
Jael Mehr
Articles
Bob Homme, known to millions of Canadians as the Friendly Giant, died in his home on Tuesday, May 1, 2000.
The Bette Show is the latest hit sketch-com to come from Canadian airwaves.
CBC to Put a New Spin on Publicists
The 2000/2001 season will see a new sitcom for CBC television about the inner workings of a public relations agency.
Canadian Juno Awards: March 13
The 29th Annual Juno Awards were presented in two days -- on Sunday, nine major awards and two achievement awards were presented in a two-hour, nationally televised awards ceremony that also included many excellent performances.
Canadian Juno Awards: March 11
The 29th Annual Juno Awards were presented in two days -- on Saturday, the awards were presented in a banquet televised to only certain parts of Canada.
Another recent series to be wiped off the CTV canvas is the period sudser Little Men, a Canadian-production affiliated with the US's family-oriented PAX network.
This week: Made-for-TV movie "Heck's Way Home" and YTV's "The Adventures of Shirley Holmes".
The topic this Valentine's Day is love -- love as it plays out on Canadian television. Unfortunately, the road to true happiness isn't smooth, and couples often find themselves at a crossroads, or, as is the wont on Canadian programming, separated permanently. Here is a brief look at the loves and ...
Four Canadian Primetime Soaps Cancelled
Four Canadian primetime soaps ("The City", "Power Play", "Riverdale", and "Traders") will meet their series finale sometime this season.
"My Life as a Dog" was a year-long look into the life of young Eric Johansson, a boy sent to live with his maternal uncle after the unexpected death of his mother.
CTV's World of Daytime Soaps '99: AW & PSSN
The last year in the Canadian daytime soap world has wrought some interesting changes for some of the soaps brought to you on CTV networks: B&B (airing in most areas at 1:30 PM) and AW/PSSN (airing in most areas at 2:00 PM). This article: The cancellation of AW and the premiere ...
CTV's World of Daytime Soaps '99: B&B
The last year in the Canadian daytime soap world has wrought some interesting changes for some of the soaps brought to you on CTV networks: B&B (airing in most areas at 1:30 PM) and AW/PSSN (airing in most areas at 2:00 PM). This article: Find out what has happened to change ...
Where Are They Now?: "John Woo's Once a Thief"
Find out what happened to your favorite stars from "John Woo's Once a Thief".
Where Are They Now?: "Street Justice"
You watched them light up your television screen in the short-lived early nineties series "Street Justice" from TV personality Stephen J. Cannell. Find out what your favorite stars are up to now!
"Happy Christmas" Not So Happy
Although "Happy Christmas, Miss King" was a follow-up to the successful family drama "Road to Avonlea", it fell a few short of the mark with it's dark portrayal of life in Avonlea after the series ended.
More than just Marge's sisters' favorite show, "MacGyver" was a popular CanAm series to grace the airwaves in the eighties and early nineties.
This Week on Christmas Television
It's Christmastime on Canadian airwaves, which means it's time, once again, for a multitude of Christmas specials made to warm the heart. CBC and CTV are loaded down with holiday cheer, specials just right for the pickings. Here's a look at the Christmas line-up for the week of December 19 - ...
Christmas Television This Week
Find out what Christmas specials are available to Canadian viewers for the week of December 12 - December 18.
Canadian-made "Little Men" has just had it's series premiere in Canada, but it looks like the show may not be long for this world.
"Code Name: Eternity" is the only Canadian product to debut on CanWest Global in this fall television season, and stars British Columbia native Cameron Bancroft and actress Ingrid Kavelaars.
Canadian Airwaves Lose 4 Tanked Shows
Less than halfway into the new season, four new series ("The Mike O'Malley Show", "Harsh Realm", "Ryan Caulfield: Year One", "Manchester Prep") have been yanked from various Canadian channels, leaving spots open for new (and hopefully longer lasting) shows to come.
One of the few new hour-long dramas to come out of Canada this year is the new series by Peter Benchley: "Amazon".
"Street Justice" was a short-lived Canadian action-drama series about a cop who ran a bar (Malloy's), and his relationships with his two closest friends -- the daughter of his late partner, and a young man he once rescued as a child during the Vietnam war.
Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years (pt. 2)
Although this series had a devoted fan following, it never approached the same level of success as it's predecessor, "Lonesome Dove: The Series", and was cancelled in it's first season due to low ratings.
Power Play: Still the Same Old Show?
What changes can viewers expect to find in the new season of "Power Play"?
On October 3, 1999, at 9:00 PM, "The Sheldon Kennedy Story" premiered on CTV, starring Jonathan Scarfe, Polly Shannon, and Robert Wisden.
Trying to find something to watch on BCTV? Here are some brief descriptions of the eleven "new to BCTV" shows premiering this fall. As of the writing of this article, all but two have had their season premieres.
Although BCTV is the British Columbia affiliate of CTV, don't expect to see the same programs. The daytime line-up may be more or less identical, but the primetime line-up often adds (or takes away) a bit from your viewing week. See what's new (and returning) on BCTV this fall. Also, a ...
Cover Me -- CBC's Newest MiniSeries
It's the latest Canadian cop drama. Starting September 26th on CBC television, Canadians will be treated to the three-part mini-series "Cover Me", a "Due South" for CBC television.
Jake & the Kid: Too Nice for TV?
Conceived by W.O. Mitchell, "Jake and the Kid" was an hour-long children's show that debuted on December 16, 1995, and followed the adventures of a young boy as he grew up on the Saskatchewan prairie.
The Beachcombers: A Canadian Treasure
The 18-year series 'The Beachcombers' will always be a favorite in the hearts and minds of Canadians.
CTV's Milgaard: Justice at Last?
In 1970, a 17-year-old David Milgaard was convicted of the murder of a young nursing student, Gail Miller. In 1999, CTV aired "Milgaard", a made-for-television docu-drama about the case. Ron Wilson (Jaimz Woolvett), Nichol Johns (Sabrina Grdevich), and David Milgaard (Ian Tracey) set out to Saskatoon to see a friend, Shorty ...
In 1998, CBC television aired the TVM "White Lies", a movie detailing the "fall" of a racist white girl into the clutches of a white power movement, and her struggle to regain herself.
Summer Re-Runs: What's Hot, and What's Not
The general rule of summer television is "re-run central". All summer long, Canadians wanting to watch television have to settle for the same old re-runs that plague them during holidays, hiatuses, and pre-emption periods. Of course, for those sick of summer re-runs, there is less than six weeks left until the ...
Da Vinci's Inquest: CBC's Hit of the Season
The 1998 - 1999 season hit for CBC television was, without a doubt, the hard-hitting "Da Vinci's Inquest", starring Nicholas Campbell as the brash, relentless coroner.
Anne Shirley Returns to Television
In the 1999 - 2000 season, Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe will return to television in the third installment in the series of "Anne" movies, the first two of which aired in 1985 ("...Green Gables") and 1987 ("...Avonlea").
CanWest Global's Fall Schedule
CanWest Global's fall line-up includes one new Canadian series, six American endeavors, and five new Canadian TV movies/documentaries.
Passions: New Life for Canadian Daytime
The TV world is abuzz with the new soap "Passions", airing on CTV.
Check out CBC's new fall lineup. CBC is getting closer and closer to their goal of "unique Canadian programming", particularly with some of this year's offerings.
CTV's Fall Line-Up: American Imports
Every year on CTV, we're far more likely to see new American shows over new Canadian. Here's a brief look at some of the new American imports coming to Canadian television this fall.
Canadians love soap operas! Whether it be primetime soaps like "ER" and "Ally McBeal", or daytime soaps like the soon-to-be off-the-air "Another World" or the top-rated "The Young & the Restless", Canadians seem fascinated with the concept of television serials.
John Woo's Once a Thief: Once Was Enough
From September 1997 to May 1998, CTV aired the series "John Woo's Once a Thief", a comedy/action/soap based on a 1996 Canadian TVM "John Woo's Once a Thief", itself based on a 1990 John Woo film, "Once a Thief". The series was cancelled less than half-way through it's run because of ...
What's going to be new and returning on CTV this fall? This week, CTV announced their fall line-up of shows. Find out if your favorites are on it!
Due South: One Cup American, Two Cups Canadian? (pt. 2)
Last week's article discussed the original CBS/CTV joint venture of "Due South". But what about the second series? One season or two? What changes took place between the two serieses? And whatever happened to David Marciano?
Due South: One Cup American, Two Cups Canadian? (pt. 1)
One "Due South" or two? Follow the history of this Canadian series that began as a joint venture with the US. What went wrong? What prompted two Canadian and three American cancellations?
"Lonesome Dove: The Series" and it's spin-off, "Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years", is a Canadian series that received little notice during it's original airings, but was later resurrected when aired on American television, and enjoys a healthy American fan following.
Say It Ain't So: Quotes from the Fans
Here is an example of some of the Canadian viewer response to the cancellation of "Another World".
Say It Ain't So: 'Another World' Cancelled?
After the cancellation of long-running NBC daytime serial "Another World", many Canadian fans are in an uproar over the loss of a favorite television program.
In Desperate Battle: Normandy 1944 (V&H, pt. 4)
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Death by Moonlight: Bomber Command (V&H, pt. 3)
The key problems of this segment rest in the casting of the characters -- well known character actors are just plain bad choices for roles in docudramas, because they often bring with them some baggage of their own.
Savage Christmas: Hong Kong 1941 (V&H, pt. 2)
This is probably the most realistic of the three, and certainly the one with the most cinematic value, because it has an underlying storyline and continuity that is lost in the the other two movies.
The Valour and the Horror: An Honourable Memorial?
In January of 1992, CBC aired a three-part miniseries entitled "The Valour and the Horror", about Canadian experiences during World War II. Writers/producers Brian and Terence McKenna soon came under fire from veterans and historians over their depiction of events during the war, and also for their use of "documented" historical ...
Power Play: 100% Canadian Made
"Power Play" is a Canadian series from Davis and Laurin, the creators of "John Woo's Once a Thief". It focuses on the trials and tribulations of a fictional NHL team, the Hamilton Steelheads.
"La Femme Nikita" is a Canadian/American production that has drawn a lot of attention of late.
In the fall of 1998, CBC decided to Canadianize it's fall schedule, which meant dropping American programs and programs that were aired on other stations. Unfortunately, they fell a little short of the mark.
An Introduction to Canadian Television
Where Are They Now?: "John Woo's Once a Thief"
You watched them light up your television screen in the short-lived early nineties series "John Woo's Once a Thief" from Hong Kong director John Woo. Find out what your favorite stars are up to now!