TV, eh? podcast episode 40 - A Pubcaster, a Prodco and a Docusoap Walk into a Bar ...

Episode 40: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed  

No interview this week but we have lots of news-like items to share. The Borgias has been renewed for a second season by US broadcaster Showtime, making it very likely Bravo will follow here in Canada. So don't fret: we'll see more of this slice of Canadian history on our TV screens.

CBC has announced a new dramatic series for winter 2012 called Arctic Air, and that's pretty much all the media release says about it (it's apparently like a scripted version of Ice Pilots NWT and created by a Flashpoint writer.)

Poor rich Brett Wilson wasn't unemployed for long - he went from Dragons' Den to Slice's new Risky Business. Befriend and Betray airs on Showcase April 30. We slightly mock the GREAT NEWS that a Canadian writer has been hired on a Canadian show: Annmarie Morais joins Haven for the rest of season two.

Which leads Diane into a bit of a rant about the hocus pocus of CanCon, where content and the truth is spread to the breaking point.

Canadian actors want you to vote for the arts in the upcoming election. And a panel at the National Association of Broadcasters wants to predict the future of TV.

Your hosts

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

TV, eh? podcast episode 39 – A Ubiquitous Hat

Episode 39: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed   

Diane chats with the star of Mr. Young, our guest this week Brendan Meyer, about his YTV show, its renewal for season two, and the parallels between his life and the 14-year-old teacher he plays.

But first, Anthony and Diane puzzle over why the CRTC would consider regulating Netflix as a broadcaster, the painful lessons American broadcasters learned from Hulu, which has helped train their audience to abandon them, and CTV’s foray into a mobile app for news.

We’re agreed that we have no interest in the Titanic co-production, and that John Brunton and his ubiquitous hat have led to a glut of pseudo-Canadian reality TV.

Then we attempt to alienate all sides in the CRTC hearing, blasting broadcasters and writers for making industry issues worse through finger pointing and whining.

Somewhere in there we manage to insult our own listeners (ANTHONY!) and each other.

Your hosts

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

TV, eh? podcast episode 38 - She Sells Sanctuary

Episode 38: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed  

Amanda Tapping of Sanctuary is our guest this week, talking with Diane about what's coming up in the next half of season three (premiering April 15), season four (now in production), and the charity Sanctuary for Kids.

After some digression about the leadership debate and Aaron Sorkin, we chat about the WGC screenwriting award winners, the huge numbers for The Kennedys premiere on History, and the premiere of Canadian Pickers.

In our new Viewer Mail segment (ok, a Listener Comment), we close with a discussion on the possibility of a direct link between content creators and audience - eliminating the middleman of the pesky broadcast networks - spurred by a comment to the last podcast by Russell McOrmond. 

Your hosts

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

TV, eh? podcast episode 37 – Six Degrees of Canadian Bacon

Episode 37: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed  


This week’s guests are Ennis Esmer and Jessica Phillips (plus the Lil Jono doll) of Wipeout Canada, which got big numbers in Sunday’s TVTropolis debut.

Todd & The Book of Pure Evil has been renewed for season two, and Space orders a new pilot called Borealis.

Lots of quick news: The Borgias also got great numbers in its premiere on Bravo, rumour has it Hiccups and Dan for Mayor will return in May (but don’t quote us on that), Skatoony begins production on season two, and Degrassi picks up a Peabody award.

Also, Global introduces an iPhone/iPod Touch app which makes Anthony and Diane uncharacteristically happy.

Your hosts

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