Set visit: CBC’s January drama Arctic Air

VANCOUVER–Who knew the high arctic was just five miles north of the U.S. border?That’s where CBC held their west coast version of their Winter launch, in the makeshift sound stage where interiors for their upcoming drama Arctic Air are shot. The series, which stars Adam Beach and was inspired by the real life Buffalo Airmen… Read on

Tonight: I Hate My Teenage Daughter

Tonight marks the debut of the final new network series of the fall: I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox, 9:30 p.m.). It is vile. Please don’t ask about it again.

Set visit: Vancouver’s CBC newsroom

VANCOUVER–Some times the news comes to you.That’s exactly what happened last spring when those hockey hooligans tore up downtown Vancouver in the wake of the Canuck’s Stanley Cup loss. I had the point driven home to me Tuesday during a quick tour of the CBC British Columbia Broadcast Centre and newsroom. (Thanks to CBC BC… Read on

O’Leary goes from the Dragon’s Den to the joint

Dragon’s Den billionaire Kevin O’Leary in the slammer? The busy TV host tells the story in this clip shot at CBC’s Winter Press Launch in Toronto last Friday. He spent 12-and-a-half hours in a holding cell in a Chatham, Ont., prison while researching his upcoming CBC reality series Redemption, Inc. The series finds O’Leary and… Read on

Nickelback sends Grey Cup for a loss

Statue of Terry Fox waves goodbye to fans at B.C. Place VANCOUVER–Where did all the people go?That’s what I was asking as I walked around B.C. Place today, one day after the sold out stadium with the thorny new lid played host to the 99th Annual Grey Cup. (I’m on the Left coast to visit… Read on

Grinch return signals Santa month is here

When are all those good ol’ Christmas specials on? Get that question a lot this time of year.Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, ABC airs a timeless classic from 45 years ago: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The 1966 offering is still the gold standard for animated Christmas specials, with two 20th century masters… Read on

That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown

Good grief! Has it really been 46 years since A Charlie Brown Christmas premiered? A trio of evergreen Christmas specials are celebrated today in an article I wrote in The Saturday Star. I was asked to try and sum up their enduring appeal. Several theories are shared.Certainly, for a boomer who saw them all the… Read on

CBC pins hopes on January in Winter launch

Mr. D star Gerry Dee CBC invited a bunch of us down to the bunker Friday to interview the stars of their new and returning shows at their Winter press junket in Toronto. They’ll do it all again Tuesday in Vancouver. January is a big deal to the public broadcaster. A check of the ratings… Read on