Two days before Christmas, I enjoyed a great zoom chat with Hélène Joy. The Australian-Canadian actress stars opposite Yannick Bisson as Dr. Julia Ogden on CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries. Normally she’d be on a beach halfway ’round the world this time of year, enjoying the summer sun on the west coast of Australia. Instead, like a
This festive Larry Fritz illustration graced the cover of TV Guide for the week of December 24, 1955–65 years ago this week. That was back when signals were pulled in from all over on rooftop antennas–for free. Back when there were TV listings magazines–which sold for 15 cents. Back when binging only took place at the
With some simulcasted imports — such as The Good Doctor — already on hiatus through the holidays, an old reliable climbed to the top of English Canada’s weekly Top 30. NCIS, now in its 18th season, was the only series to crack the two million viewer barrier the week of Dec. 8 – 13 according
Launched this fall, the CBC series Trickster was promoted as “your next must watch series.” Produced by Sienna Films (Cardinal), among others, the North Bay-lensed drama boasted a talented young indigenous cast and some veteran showrunners. A second season was ordered before the first ever aired. The great measure of Canadian television success came next:
News of the death of Chad Stuart — one half of the British soft-rock ’60s duo Chad & Jeremy — provoked for me yet another memory from the Television Critics Association press tour. Nearly nine years ago, in January of 2012, me and Bill Harris — another former Toronto Sun scribe — wound up at
In an age of endless searching and typing and trying to remember what channel is where I just love simple voice commands. That’s why I love Rogers Ignite. Now, full disclosure: as a Rogers Ignite influencer, I enjoy a complimentary subscription to the service. Nonetheless, I’m happy to sing its praises. It’s the best way
Television has long been a borderless business. This is true when it comes to producing big budget dramas. Recent efforts such as the recent War of the Worlds miniseries, Vikings and, going further back, The Borgias and even The Indian Detective, required financial contributions from two or more countries in order to realize storytelling on
What are the best Christmas-themed sitcom episodes of all time? I change this list up every December. Since it’s been a strange year, I’m throwing a couple of strange choices into the mix. Here, in chronological order (and heavy on the ’60s) is my 2020 Twelve Sitcoms of Christmas list: The Honeymooners (1955). In “T’was the