PASADENA, CA–When I tell TV critics down here on the press tour that Russell Crowe is guest starring on a show back in Canada they’re like–Whaaa??
But it’s true: Crowe makes his debut tonight at 9 p.m. on the third season premiere of Republic of Doyle (CBC). The Academy Award-winning actor charmed the cast and crew in St. John’s last August when he shot scenes opposite Allan Hawco, Sean McGinley and the others. Hawco, who writes, produces, acts and does everything but make sandwiches, booked Crowe’s singer buddy Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea) on the series. That helped bring Crowe all the way from Australia to Newfoundland to run around and wave a gun as a baddie of the week on the P.I. series.
The casting coup should help boost Doyle above a million viewers Wednesday. CBC has had a good week so far, with Arctic Air the latest new venture to take off, hitting 1.05 million viewers Tuesday night.
For more on the return of the Republic, read this article I wrote for the Toronto Star.
