Wednesday in Toronto, I’ve been asked to moderate a panel of Canadian television “hitmakers” at the Innoversity Creative Summit. The two hour discussion starts at 10 a.m. at the Toronto Reference Library just north of Bloor on Yonge. The panel features miracle workers–individuals who not only created TV shows but got them on the air
Part of the fun in speaking with WKRP in Cincinnati creator Hugh Wilson for the long-awaited DVD release of his series was getting his back story. I’m always curious about where TV storytellers come from and how they got into The Game. I’m also fascinated about how shows were made in the ’70s and ’80s
The Toronto Star has a big, breaking story today–my feature on the DVD box set release of WKRP in Cincinnati.You can read that story here, which explains some of the details behind the many music rights clearances that for years delayed the arrival of this box set. It’s in stores as of Oct. 28 and can
Back in 2008 when my book Truth and Rumors came out, I was booked as a guest on CBC Radio’s Q. I had never met host Jian Ghomeshi and was struck by how professional the whole experience was, and flattered that he and his producers had taken the time to set everything up with a
Some early successes in the Canadian prime time ratings race may have to be tempered with U.S. results. Fox seems to be in free fall, with only Gotham on steady ground. Don’t count on a full season of Gracepoint, for example, no matter how well it does on Global. The impact of Rogers’ NHL deal
CANNES, France–Once it ends, MIPCOM gets ripped down faster than a “Ford for Mayor” banner on Queen West. At the crack of four, workers began dismantling booths and carting away all the hype. The free WiFi got yanked around 16:05 CET. Basically thanks for coming, now get the hell to the airport, touristes. The four
CANNES, France–Here’s one I’ve been, uh, sitting on for a while. Shaftesbury and their digital arm Smokebomb announced Thursday that they are launching a new vampire series called Camilla. The twist? It’s about a young woman, at college in a dorm, who happens to be a vampire…and it’s being sponsored by U By Kotex. It certainly
CANNES, France–Back in June, after the U.S. and Canadian upfronts, I wrote about the “Best New Shows Canadian’s Can’t Watch.” Here’s the good news: the top two on that list are about to leap across the border. Transparent, a dark, adult, highly original comedy from digital platform Amazon Prime (which is not available in Canada),