Tuesday was the premiere of Canada’s Got Talent on Citytv. It’s been ten years since the last time Rogers brought this series north with a Canadian panel of judges (including, back then, Martin Short). This new spinoff features a familiar face on the judges panel — Howie Mandel — plus Lilly Singh, Trish Stratus and Kardinal Offishall. Country music singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell is host.
“I’m home!” Howie yelled as the Fallsview crowd applauded his entrance into the theatre — on a bicycle. Born in Toronto, Mandel is a big Canada-first booster. He previously hosted a brief Canuck re-brand of Deal or No Deal Canada several years ago.
Canada’s Got Talent, from Freemantle and McGillivray Entertainment, is a slick and polished extension of the original American version. At stake: $150,000 cash courtesy sponsor CIBC plus the chance to perform at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
There were several emotional high points in Tuesday’s hour-long premieree. I’ll be recapping every episode through to the finale for Rogers Ignite.
Highlights include three siblings from Winnipeg, Man., known as the Ivan Fett Memorial dancers; a barefoot Bollywood fusion dance troupe from Mississauga, Ont., named Shadow Entertainment; and Shea, a very poised14-year-old from Vancouver who wowed the judges with a tender ballad inspired by her father.
Follow this link to about.rogers.com to read my full impressions of episode one. I’ll be recapping episodes all season long.
advertisement
2 Comments
get howie off the panel. He’s a disgrace to Canada. Send him back to Americas got talent ,, The indigenous hoop dancer is Canada’s heritage and he and all hoop dancers are amazing and deserve respect and they are above and beyond talented I’m an immigrant here. And I was so looking forward to this show. But am so dis appointed with the crap that they have put on this show. And and am more disappointed with howie He sends the most stupid acts through and seems to get a kick out of being the only one to say no to the best,
No time for him as from now on
Howie is a disgrace to Canada. Indigenous. Hoop dancers are Canada’s heritage and are extremely talented They probably don’t have hoop dancers in Toronto ,, howiie. Has With his stupid grin put some real idiotic acts through to the final while some amazing people got a no from him I have Losr all respect for him as he hasn’t got a clue and thinks he can mim ic cowell but at. Least Simon cowell was a very good critic and not such a suck as howie is get him off Canada’s got talent panel He’s useless ,, and a disgrace to Canada