A big thank you to CHCH Morning Live hosts Tim Bolen and Annette Hamm as well as producer Tansy Ko for inviting me on Wednesday to talk about my latest pet project — a special “TV on Film” 16mm screening. It premieres this Saturday at 1 p.m. at The Westdale Theatre in Hamilton and repeats
On the eve of the series’ 9th season finale, CTV announced Tuesday in Toronto that The Amazing Race Canada will be back in 2024 for a 10th season. The coast-to-coast adventure series, hosted by Jon Montgomery, once again dominated Canada’s summer TV ratings. The series emerges as the top-rated Canadian program for the 2022-23 broadcast
Marie Clements grabs your attention with the opening scenes of her new series version of Bones of Crows (premiering September 20 on CBC, CBC Gem and APTN). A pyramid of caribou skulls are stacked high as crows circle overhead. It is a not so subtle symbol of the decades of horror, abuse and genocide that took place
Everybody was talkin’ ’bout Bagism, Shagisn, Dragism and Toronto-ism-ism-ism 54 years ago this summer when the concert that almost wasn’t rocked the rock ‘n’ roll world. Back then, in August of 1969, I was gearing up for Grade Seven in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke at Our Lady of Peace Catholic elementary. In a month
With Hollywood’s writers and actors still out on strike, and with no resolution in sight, you may be wondering when you’ll be getting new episodes of NCIS: Des Moines or Peoria Fire. Well, even if these shows existed, who really cares? As someone who watches exactly zero network drama series, I frankly don’t care when
Sure, if you are plugged in at all to the world of TV, you’ve heard of George Schlatter. He was the big guy with the beard who, back in the late ’60s, early ’70s, produced Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, right? That’s true, but boy, what a life beyond that one show. His new book, “Still
The power and enduring legacy of a children’s television show was on full display Saturday night at a gala screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe,” is the heartfelt new film from director Robert McCallum. He was embraced by a packed house Saturday at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre.
If you grew up watching such iconic Canadian children’s TV shows as The Friendly Giant, Mr. Dressup, or Passe-Partout, you have until the end of this week to visit with some fondly-remembered friends. On Friday, September 1, the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa is set to close down “From Pepinot to Paw Patrol,” their
You can almost hear Johnny Olsen or Rod Roddy holler, “Bob Barker — come on up!” It was announced on Saturday that Barker, the longtime host of The Price is Right died at his California home. Olsen and Piper, two announcers who predeceased Barker, also enjoyed long runs on the CBS daytime staple. They were
A vital part of four Stanley Cup wins with the Toronto Maple Leafs, defenseman Bobby Baun passed away Monday at the age of 86. His most fabled contribution was scoring the winning goal, on a broken ankle, in Game Six of the 1963-64 Stanley Cup finals over the Detroit Red Wings. This evened the series
Like his music, Robbie Robertson never seemed to grow old. That he lived a long and fruitful artistic life cannot be denied. He packed a lot into his 80 years before succumbing to a lengthy illness this week in Los Angeles. Robertson always seemed — and looked — younger than contemporaries such as Mick Jagger
As somebody who collects 16mm film, I’m always on the lookout for surviving remnants of past TV glories. Exhibit One for today: this YouTube video featuring a fresh transfer to digital of some 1973 footage shot 50 years ago in Minneapolis. The producers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, James L. Brooks and Allan Burns,
The word of the day is “sad.” Paul Reubens, the actor/producer/comedian who made Pee-wee Herman a household name in the ‘80s has passed away. He was 70. Reubens, according to early reports, had been coping with cancer for six years. He played Herman, a man-child in a grey suit and red bow tie, with equal