I’ve attended the annual Bell Media Upfront in Toronto since before my son Dan Brioux (the tall guy on the left) was born. Yesterday was the first time I was there more as a proud dad then as a reporter.
Dan just earned a VP title as part of the development team at Bright North Studios. Yesterday at Meridian Hall in Toronto, executives Shawn Efran (founder and CEO), Morgan Hertzan (CEO Bright North Studios USA), Azadeh de Leon (COO), former Bell and CNN Marketing Head and Bright North consultant Rick Lewchuk, and Dan all celebrated having three new series announced as part of the Bell/Crave 2026-2027 programming slate. These are all at early stages of development, so here is how they were described Thursday in the Bell Media Upfront release:
IF STANLEY COULD TALK – Crave The Stanley Cup is more than just a trophy; it’s a symbol of triumph, sacrifice, and a lifetime of dreams fulfilled. Now imagine if the Stanley Cup — the most iconic trophy in sports — could talk. Through its eyes and ears, and through the firsthand stories of the players, coaches, and legends who carried it, we experience the wild, emotional, and outrageous adventures it has witnessed across more than a century of triumphs, heartbreaks, and unforgettable celebrations as it passed from champion to champion through generations. More than just a trophy, the Stanley Cup becomes a storyteller carrying the legacy, chaos, and spirit of hockey itself. A Crave Original documentary, produced by Bright North Studios in association with The NHL Productions and Warner Bros. Discovery. (Bright North Studios)
PRETTY PEOPLE MURDER – Crave is the shocking true story of Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li — a glamorous young couple whose greed and vanity turns deadly when they set out to murder their friends, Tyler Pratt and Jordyn Romano. Dubbed by news outlets as the “millennial Bonnie & Clyde”, Oliver and Lucy go on the run, their plan is thrown into chaos, and a gripping international manhunt ensues. (Bright North Studios Inc. *distributed by Sphere Abacus)
PUCK PARENTS (working title) – Crave is a high-stakes reality-doc series that pulls back the curtain on Canada’s greatest obsession — youth hockey — by following the parents who are willing to do anything to see their kids succeed. What begins as dedication and pride quickly curdles into obsession, rivalry, and bad behavior as moms and dads battle over ice time, coaches’ decisions, and bragging rights in rinks across the country. (Bright North Studios Inc *distributed by Sphere Abacus)
Getting one new show on a network sked is the proverbial camel passing through the eye of a needle. Don’t be shocked if I happen to write about all three shows in the coming months. Congrats bright son Dan and all at Bright North. And, oh yes, thanks Traitors Canada host and Cardinal pal Karine Vanasse for this memorable photo op, above.
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