CANNES — This town loves it when a former star makes a comeback. Take the latest example — Pingu. The mischievous little penguin, famous for squawking and hooting in his inimitable “Pinguinese,” was a British-Swiss stop-motion sensation that has entertained children and parents since 1986. A world wide hit because a) it never needed to be dubbed or
CANNES — Another October brings me to the south of France to cover my fourth MIPCOM international television market. This time I came a day or two early to also check out MIP Junior, where those in the children’s TV racket gather to sell their wares to the world. For decades Canada has been a particularly robust
Jay Pharoah stars in the new Showtime comedy White Famous. The series premieres this Sunday in Canada on CraveTV. I spoke with Pharoah on the phone about a month ago. The publicist threw one of those last-minute curve balls before putting him on the line: “No questions about Saturday Night Live.” Pharoah owes his fame
OTTAWA – Many politicians say they don’t have time to watch TV. They do, however, through various funding agencies, help to pay for it. One of the top agencies, The Canada Media Fund, brought TV stars and politicians together earlier this month in a talent showcase held directly across from Parliament Hill. Gathered inside the beautifully restored
Tonight, The Disappearance will finally appear on CTV. I was on location with the stars and crew nearly a year ago in a rural campground area a half-hour west of Montreal. The six-hour limited run series is about a young boy of ten (played by the remarkably professional Michael Riendeau of Ottawa) who goes missing
It’s been 54 years since Monty Hall first started asking people if they wanted what was behind Door No. 1, Door No. 2 or Door No. 3. Unfortunately, he won’t be giving us that option anymore. Hall died Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills, was 96. I last spoke with the proud Winnipeg native and game
I spoke with comedian Mike Birbiglia this past July during the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal. The 39-year-old Massachusetts native was breaking in a show he’ll perform tonight in Toronto as part of JFL42: “The New One.” Birbiglia performs 90-minute monologues that explore aspects of his personal life. This one covers the birth of
Hugh Hefner, who died Wednesday at 91, was still a pretty big draw at press tour when he made a memorable TCA appearance in July of 2005. The Playboy founder was there to promote The Girls Next Door, a series that did little to enhance his legend. The reality show co-starred Hef’s “latest posse of helium hotties,” as