TV, eh? podcast episode 9: The Bucky Gunts Summer Classic

Episode 9: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Callum Keith Rennie joins me, Diane Wild, for an interview about Shattered, where he plays a cop with multiple personalities.

But first, I try to convince Anthony Marco that the Emmys are worth watching. I did not succeed. I'm not sure I convinced myself. We mention the Gemini Award nominations which will have been announced by the time you listen to this.

Is 18 to Life returning to The CW? Maaayyyybeeee.

Anthony and I could not be less excited about Canada Sings. But if you disagree, casting is now open.

Then I discuss creative control in the Canadian television industry, from the consistent vision brought to Call Me Fitz to the multiple showrunners and lack of a cohesive vision on Shattered and The Listener. I mention my interview with Peter Keleghan, too, where he brings up some of the same issues. And Anthony laments that Shattered lost a golden opportunity to claim that their multiple showrunners were reflective of the multiple personality of the main character.

We finish up with how PVRs are affecting television viewing - for Anthony, it's being even more annoyed by commercials, while Diane now gets weepy over iPhone 4 commercials.

Your hosts

• Anthony Marco can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane Wild can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

TV, eh? podcast episode 8 - So You Think We Can Podcast Canada

Episode 8: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Anthony Marco and I give a rundown of September's new Canadian shows, including Lost Girl, Todd & The Book of Pure Evil, Call Me Fitz, Men With Brooms and Shattered.

I rant about Global's marketing department doing such a poor job of marketing Shattered in particular, their history of poor CanCon marketing, and their delusion that they have the only new Canadian show premiering this fall (hello, see above).


So You Think You Can Dance Canada guest judge Mary Murphy joins me for an interview to talk about the Top 22, what's unique about the Canadian version of the show, her negotiations to come back full time on the US version, and more.


Your links

• Lost Girl premieres September 12 on Showcase 
• Todd & The Book of Pure Evil premieres September 29 on Space
• Call Me Fitz premieres September 19 on HBO Canada
• CBC's fall lineup - Men With Brooms premieres September 20
• Shattered premieres September 1 on Global
• The CW cancels 18 to Life
• The Tudors is among the Creative Arts Emmy winners
• So You Think You Can Dance Canada 
• Follow So You Think You Can Dance's Mary Murphy on Twitter

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

TV, eh? podcast episode 7 - A rats’ nest of ego, bickering, backstabbing, rumour and sour dislike

Episode 7: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed


It’s a ranty podcast with Anthony Marco and I appalled at CBC’s 3D documentary on the Queen and accompanying distribution of 3D glasses and John Doyle’s fabulous tear on Stursberg’s departure: “The CBC is a bizarre institution, a rats’ nest of ego, bickering, backstabbing, rumour and sour dislike of anyone who either has power inside CBC, or anyone or anything that isn’t part of the CBC.”

A clip of The Kids in the Hall talking about downloading their own show from bittorrent leads to even more CBC bashing. We even disparage a show neither one of us has seen yet: So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

And then I lay into the Canadian TV publicity machine for omitting mention of writers while listing directors and production executives, and the Writers Guild of Canada for letting it happen.

And stick around for a great chat with funny, opinionated TV writer/producer Adam Barken (Flashpoint, Rookie Blue, Shattered), one of Playback’s "10 to Watch" and an observer of the State of the Canadian TV Industry. He also talks about the art and science of writing for TV, and how "they're making it up as they go along" is actually a compliment.

Your links

• I don't want to see the Queen in 2D, but CBC wants me to see her in 3D
• John Doyle on Stursberg's departure and what it means for the "bizarre institution" of the CBC
• The Kids in the Hall are pirates ... of their own show
• So You Think You Can Dance Canada premiered this week and I will watch it soon to see if I agree with my opinion of it
• The Murdoch Mysteries media release is the one that set me off about Canadian TV writing itself. The Shattered release wasn’t provided electronically but here’s the show 
• Adam Barken is one of Playback’s 10 to Watch. Trust me, because the site’s behind a pay wall. Follow him on Twitter @adambarken. We also recommend Hart Hanson, who gives good Twitter @HartHanson. And the show Adam couldn’t remember was Wojeck. Check out Flashpoint and Rookie Blue, too.

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

TV, eh? podcast episode 6 - Losing Your Turn At The Wheel Of Fortune

Episode 6: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

This week on the podcast, Anthony Marco and I talk about the sudden departure of CBC's Richard Stursberg and what that might mean to my beloved Battle of the Blades ("the cheesiest thing on earth on skates").We also almost-sincerely pity CBC for the enormity of their digital switch challenge, and almost-sarcastically pity Canadian journalists at the TV critics press tour for having to scrape for a Canadian angle - this time about The Kids In The Hall. And we discuss whether cable is making a dent in broadcast ratings, in the US and Canada.

The featured interview this week is with Brent Piaskoski and Barbara Haynes, writers of some great tween TV (The Latest Buzz, Naturally Sadie) and Twitter stars. We discuss the state of kids TV in Canada, how it's mostly escaped the "Canadian TV sucks" stigma, and their spec pilot based on their blog and Twitter feed I Do Already.

Your links

• Richard Stursberg, former head of CBC’s English-language services who brought Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy to the network, is now available if you want to de-personalitify your public broadcaster
• CBC says switch to digital too onerous to make deadline
• The Kids in the Hall non-story: They may or may not come back and do something together! Or not! 
• Is cable TV giving broadcast networks a ratings scare?
• Brent Piaskoski on IMDb and Twitter; Barbara Haynes on IMDb and Twitter; I Do Already on Tumblr and Twitter

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

Have comments or suggestions for topics or guests? Let us know!  

TV, eh? podcast episode 5: Canadian web series, Flashpoint vs Rookie Blue, and Comedy Gold

Episode 5: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

This week on the TV, eh? podcast, Anthony Marco and I have had enough of television (no, not really) so after some (non-)news items we discuss Canadian web series: My Pal Satan, Riese the Series, Heroes of the North, and Take Me Back.

Your links:

• Comedy Gold
• The Flashpoint non-story: CBS hasn't decided on season four. On the other hand they haven't started airing season three yet
• The Flashpoint story: season three starts August 6, ends in September, to be continued in 2011
• So You Think You Can Dance Canada premiere dates
• 18 to Life starts on The CW
• Rookie Blue ratings improving
• My Pal Satan
• Riese The Series
• Heroes of the North
• Take Me Back

Your hosts

• Anthony can be found at Dyscultured and lovehatethings, and on Twitter here and here.
• Diane can be found here at TV, eh? and here, and on Twitter here and here.

Have comments or suggestions for topics or guests? Let us know!