CBC have announced their upcoming 2022-2023 programming slate with 40 new Series and Specials from Canadian Storytellers!

Included in the Lineup are:

New Original Comedy Series

• COMEDY NIGHT WITH RICK MERCER (Premieres Fall 2022; 8×60; Just For Laughs TV and Counterfeit Pictures) is a Canadian comedy event to remember, composed of eight unforgettable one-hour specials presented by legendary comedy icon and TV personality, Rick Mercer. Featuring an incredible lineup of the country’s new and notable comedians, including stand-up performances from Mercer himself, the series will also feature never-before-seen conversations between Mercer and some of today’s most impressive Canadian comedy talent, including Sophie Buddle, D.J. Demers, Dakota Ray Hebert and Dave Merheje, among others.

• FAKES (Premieres Fall 2022 on CBC Gem; 10×30; Reality Distortion Field), created by David Turko and a co-production with Netflix, follows two best friends who accidentally build one of the largest fake ID empires in North America. Before they even graduate high school, Zoe and Rebecca move into a sick penthouse, earn more cash than they know what to do with, and then get raided by the feds. This is the story of their ultimate betrayal, told from each of their unreliable POVs as they compete for the last word. Starring Emilija Baranac (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Jennifer Tong (Grand Army), and Richard Harmon (The 100).

Returning Original Comedies & Festivals
• SORT OF (Season 2 premieres Fall 2022; 8×30; Sphere Media’s Sienna Films)
• STRAYS (Season 2 premieres Fall 2022; 10×30; Thunderbird Entertainment)
• THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES (Season 30 premieres Fall 2022; 24×30; IoM Media) celebrating its 30th anniversary season.
• THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 4×30; Just For Laughs TV)
• RUN THE BURBS (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 13×30; Pier 21 Films)
• SON OF A CRITCH (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 13×30; Project 10 Productions)
• WORKIN’ MOMS (Season 7 premieres Winter 2023; 13×30; Wolf + Rabbit Entertainment)

ORIGINAL DRAMA SLATE

This summer brings the adventure of new medical drama SKYMED, while the fall sees the return of audience favourites HEARTLAND and MURDOCH MYSTERIES, and east coast tales MOONSHINE and DIGGSTOWN, as well as a treacherous journey to the Arctic in THE NORTH WATER. New family drama ESSEX COUNTY joins the winter lineup alongside a new English-language adaptation of Radio-Canada series PLAN B; and critically acclaimed female-driven procedural PRETTY HARD CASES returns for a third season.

New Original Drama Series

• SKYMED (Premieres in Canada beginning Sunday, July 10 at 9 p.m. [9:30 NT] on CBC and CBC Gem; 9×60; Piazza Entertainment) Life, death, and drama at 20,000 feet, SKYMED is a drama wrapped in high-stakes medical adventure. The series weaves compelling stories around a diverse ensemble of young First Responders in the remote North, where help – and survival – are literally thousands of miles away. Over the course of the season, the trials, triumphs, hookups and heartbreaks of a perilous job in an unforgiving setting will challenge each of them to face their fears and grow up. Created by Julie Puckrin (X Company, Transplant, Nurses, Killjoys, Mad Men), the one-hour drama features an ensemble cast of young Canadian talent including Natasha Calis (Nurses), Morgan Holmstrom (Siberia), Ace (Aason) Nadjiwon (Batwoman), Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew), Mercedes Morris (Between), Thomas Elms (The Order), Kheon Clarke (Riverdale), and Rebecca Kwan (Taken).

• THE NORTH WATER (Premieres Fall 2022; 6×60; Rhombus Media and See-Saw Films) In 1859, Patrick Sumner (BAFTA winner Jack O’Connell, Seberg, Godless) joins The Volunteer as a ship’s surgeon, hoping to lose himself in the tough physicality of an Arctic whaling trip. But the ferocity of the elements is matched by the violence of his crew mates, with harpooner Drax (Golden Globe™ winner Colin Farrell, In Bruges, The Batman) a distinctly brutal force of nature. As the true purpose of the expedition becomes clear, confrontation between the two men erupts, taking them on a journey far from solid ground and way beyond the safe moorings of civilization.

• ESSEX COUNTY (Premieres Winter 2023; 5×60; First Generation Films) is a five-part limited series based on the brilliant graphic novel trilogy by Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Moon Knight). A redemptive tale of family, ESSEX COUNTY tells the story of four disparate characters linked together through bloodlines. From old Uncle Lou, to young Lester, to Anne the country nurse and Ken, the stoic farmer, the four lead characters ebb and flow into each other’s lives, slowly weaving connections between them that ultimately save and redeem them.

• PLAN B (Premieres Winter 2023; 6×60; KOTV) Adapted from the Radio-Canada French-language drama created by Jean-François Asselin and Jacques Drolet and set in Montreal, this high-concept, gripping and intimate psychological drama from Asselin, Drolet and Lynne Kamm follows a man on a desperate and relentless quest to save his relationship – and by extension, his whole world. Who has not at one time wanted to go back and change the course of events? And what if you were given a second chance, a Plan B? The day when Philip (Patrick J. Adams, Suits) discovers the possibility of going back in time, he does not hesitate. Since Evelyn (Karine Vanasse, Cardinal), the love of his life and companion for the past six years, has left him, his life has lost its meaning. With the tremendous power he wields thanks to Plan B, he attempts to save his relationship, his law firm and his dysfunctional family. But Philip soon realizes that even the smallest choice has repercussions – as uncontrollable as they are unexpected – on his life and the lives of others. And even though he can stop tragic events before they happen, Philip cannot erase the memories and the emotions associated with them. Nothing will ever be without consequence again.

• BONES OF CROWS (Premieres 2023-24; 5×60; Marie Clements Media, Screen Siren Pictures and Grana Productions) is a five-part hour-long drama told through the eyes of Cree Matriarch, Aline Spears (played throughout her life by Summer Testawich; Grace Dove, Monkey Beach; and Carla Rae, Rutherford Falls), as she survives Canada’s residential school system to continue her family’s generational fight in the face of systemic starvation, racism, and sexual abuse. The series is an expanded story from the feature film version; a truly epic tale that spans over a hundred years and multiple generations of the Spears family, the series connects and deepens the events of the past with a cumulative force that propels us into the future with power. Commissioned by CBC/Radio-Canada in association with APTN and created by Marie Clements (Red Snow), BONES OF CROWS the series will debut on CBC and Radio-Canada in 2023-24. BONES OF CROWS the feature film, which focuses specifically on Aline Spears as she confronts her traumatic past, will be released theatrically in 2022-23.

Returning Original Dramas
• DIGGSTOWN (Season 4 premieres Fall 2022; 6×60; Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc. and Waterstar Entertainment Inc.)
• HEARTLAND (Season 16 premieres Fall 2022; 15×60; Dynamo Films and SEVEN24 Films)
• MOONSHINE (Season 2 premieres Fall 2022; 8×60, Six Eleven Media and eOne)
• MURDOCH MYSTERIES (Season 16 premieres Fall 2022; 24×60; Shaftesbury)
• PRETTY HARD CASES (Season 3 premieres Winter 2023; 10×60; Cameron Pictures)

FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT

CBC’s factual entertainment slate features even more people and places across the country this year including Canadians and communities in pursuit of their personal best, with RACE AGAINST THE TIDE with host Maestro Fresh Wes making waves this summer, favourites DRAGONS’ DEN, FAMILY FEUD CANADA and THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW returning this fall, and BEST IN MINIATURE and STILL STANDING with Jonny Harris warming up the winter schedule. Joining the lineup is BOLLYWED featuring the Singh family of Toronto’s Little India, thrilling competition series CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE; and podcast adaptation STUFF THE BRITISH STOLE. The fall also brings the inaugural edition of THE LEGACY AWARDS from The Black Academy, as well as a variety show like no other – CBC Gem original LIDO TV hosted by Colombian-Canadian musician and artist Lido Pimienta.

New Original Factual Series & Specials

• THE LEGACY AWARDS (September 25, 2022 at 8 p.m. (9 AT/9:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem; Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker Company) and Bay Mills Studios)
The inaugural edition of The Black Academy’s award show, The Legacy Awards, is the first major Canadian award show to celebrate and showcase Black talent and will be broadcast from Live Nation Canada’s newest entertainment venue HISTORY, in Toronto’s east end. The live 90-minute telecast will feature performances, award presentations, and tributes honouring both established and emerging Black Canadian talent. The Black Academy is co-founded by Scarborough natives Shamier Anderson (John Wick: Chapter 4) and Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk).

• LIDO TV (Premieres Fall 2022 on CBC Gem; 6×20; Lido Pimienta TV/Visitor Media) is a variety show with a mission: to help people cope with life in a world that sometimes feels like it’s falling apart, filled with hilarious sketches, inspiring interviews, immersive documentaries, surreal animations, and puppets. At the centre of it all is host Lido Pimienta, the award-winning Colombian-Canadian musician, artist and mother whose hilarious, curious, and tender personality drives the action. The series tackles themes ranging from feminism and privilege to colonialism and success, and features appearances by Nelly Furtado; musicians Shad and Kittie; writer Sarah Hagi; NorBlack NorWhite co-founder Mriga Kapadiya; and artists jes sachse and Jessica Karuhanga.

• BOLLYWED (Premieres Winter 2023; 10×30; HeartHat Entertainment) is a heartwarming factual series centred around the Singh family, who have been operating the iconic bridal shop, Chandan Fashion, in Toronto’s Little India for the last 37 years. The series shines a fascinating light on the booming and glamorous world of Bollywood culture and fashion, and offers an authentic glimpse into an intergenerationally run business lead by patriarch Cookie Singh, his wife Sarah, and their two children Chandan and Chandni. There’s plenty of old-school-meets-new-school drama and laughs as two generations take on the ever-changing and extravagant world of Indian weddings.

• CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (Premieres Winter 2023; 8×60; Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker Company) and The Gurin Company) is a competition reality format that turns the entire country into a giant obstacle course. Six extraordinary coaches will guide and mentor teams of everyday Canadians at site-specific physical and mental challenges in a unique competition structure. The coaches include: sprinting legend and two-time Olympic champion, Donovan Bailey; Mohawk Olympian in water polo and advocate for Indigenous sport, Waneek Horn-Miller; six-time Olympic medallist in cycling and speed skating, Clara Hughes; three-time Olympic speed skater Gilmore Junio; former captain of Canada’s Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby sevens team, Jen Kish; and NFL Super Bowl Champion and competitive cyclist, Luke Willson.

Each episode will take place at an iconic Canadian location where the teams will compete in spectacular Solo, Tandem or Team challenges that test them physically and mentally. Throughout the eight-episode series, the superstar Canadian coaches will make strategic decisions and motivate their players to victory. In the end, only one team will win CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE.

• STUFF THE BRITISH STOLE (Premieres Winter 2023; 6×30; Wooden Horse, WildBear Entertainment and Cream Productions) is a new six-part series for the ABC and CBC based on award-winning journalist Marc Fennell’s acclaimed, chart-topping ABC Podcast, also launched by CBC Podcasts in fall 2021. Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today those objects are housed in genteel institutions across the U.K. and the world. They usually come with polite plaques. This is a series about the not-so-polite history behind those objects.

Returning Factual Formats & Series:
• RACE AGAINST THE TIDE (Season 2 premieres Sunday, July 10 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem; 10×30; marblemedia) with new host Maestro Fresh Wes
• DRAGONS’ DEN (Season 17 premieres Fall 2022; 10×60) featuring returning Dragon Robert Herjavec after a decade away from The Den.
• FAMILY FEUD CANADA (Season 4 premieres Fall 2022; 104×30; Zone 3/Fremantle)
• THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW (Season 6 premieres Fall 2022; 9×60; Proper Television/Love Productions)
• BEST IN MINIATURE (Season 2 premieres Winter 2023; 8×60; marblemedia)
• STILL STANDING (Season 8 premieres Winter 2023; 10×30; Frantic Films)

DOCUMENTARIES

CBC commissions an average of 80 documentaries each year for CBC, CBC Gem and documentary Channel, with CBC Gem now offering a library of over 800 documentaries, available to stream for free anytime. THE PASSIONATE EYE returns this fall with a new slate of original documentaries that drop audiences into a broad range of cultural conversations, from our fascination with word puzzles, to what it means to be Indigenous, and to a new generation of stock market disruptors.

THE PASSIONATE EYE’s two-hour season premiere will feature Hot Docs 2022 Opening Night selection, INTO THE WEEDS, telling the powerful story of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a former Bay Area groundskeeper who takes on a multinational agrochemical corporation after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Directed by celebrated filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal (Anthropocene: The Human Epoch, Long Time Running), the film follows Johnson through his battle, setting his personal journey against a global environmental crisis.

New original doc series this upcoming year include:

• SUMMIT ‘72 (Premieres Fall 2022; 4×60; Mercury Films and Impossible Objects) This timely documentary series will tell the definitive story of the legendary 1972 Canada-USSR Summit Series of Hockey upon its 50th anniversary, and through a modern lens explore its legacy and lasting influence on Canadian national identity, framing it against the political and cultural climate of the times in both countries, and around the world. With never-before-seen 16mm archival footage restored in stunning 4k, and exclusive interviews with key players, SUMMIT ‘72 will bring an unforgettable moment in Canadian history to life on screen as never seen before. Audiences will relive—or experience for the first time—the adrenaline-fuelled, edge-of-your-seat drama of one of the most monumental cultural proxy battles of the Cold War, and trace its many reverberations in the zeitgeist right up to the present day.

• STAY TOONED (Premieres Winter 2023 on CBC Gem; 6×22; Fathom Film Group) Eric Bauza – the Canadian who voices legendary characters from Bugs Bunny to Luke Skywalker – takes us on a deep dive through our favourite cartoons to see how they shaped us into who we are today. In each episode, he meets with friends and experts to explore villains, race, sexuality, and so much more. Featuring Ben Schwartz, Lake Bell, Ken Jeong, Bobby Moynihan, Tara Strong, Lamorne Morris, Cree Summer, and James Adomian, among others.
Returning Documentary Formats & Series:
• THE PASSIONATE EYE (Premieres Fall 2022; 9×60 (+1×120 premiere))
• THE NATURE OF THINGS (Season 62 premieres Winter 2023; 13×60)

CBC KIDS

Building on CBC’s ongoing commitment to inspire, entertain and inform young audiences, CBC Kids will continue to share new programming for kids and tweens across all platforms this upcoming year, including over 500 hours of ad-free programming on CBC Gem. New titles for preschoolers include JEREMY AND JAZZY (Fall 2022; 27×2 and 1×11; Vérité Films Inc.), an animated musical adventure series about song and story creation, starring award-winning musicians Jeremy Fisher (as Jeremy) and Aiza Ntibarikure (as Jazzy), plus celebrity musical guests. MITTENS AND PANTS (Fall 2022; 39×7, Windy Isle Productions and Thunderbird Entertainment) is cuteness overload for preschoolers, featuring the town of Kibble Corners with real puppies, kittens, chicks, piglets and more, voiced by kids.

CBC SPORTS

Coming off of an unprecedented year featuring two Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, CBC SPORTS will continue to keep Canadians connected to the world of high-performance sport through coverage on CBC TV and CBC Gem, as well as live streams of key competitions on cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports app. Upcoming featured events include: 2022 World Athletics Championships (USA, July 15 – 24); Commonwealth Games (England, July 28 – Aug. 8); FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship (Location TBC, Aug. 26 – Sept. 11); Rugby Sevens World Cup (South Africa, Sept. 9-11); FIG Rhythmic World Championship (Bulgaria, Sept. 14 – 18); and FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship (Poland and The Netherlands, Sept. 23 – Oct. 15). As Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Network for the next decade, CBC will continue to offer high-quality storytelling that allows audiences to follow the journey of the athletes between Games, all the way to the podium.

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

CBC and CBC Gem will continue to offer audiences a curated selection of acclaimed series from around the world, including a new season of WAR OF THE WORLDS this fall.

• RIDLEY ROAD (Premieres Fall 2022; 4×60; RED Production Company) is a riveting four-episode drama set in 1962 London, a colourful but tumultuous time, based on Jo Bloom’s acclaimed novel. Inspired by true events, RIDLEY ROAD stars newcomer Agnes O’Casey as Vivien Epstein, a young Jewish hairdresser who fits right into London’s mod scene, while secretly infiltrating the British neo-Nazi hierarchy on behalf of Jewish antifascists; Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful) as Colin Jordan, the real-life leader of Britain’s post-World War II Nazi movement; and Tom Varey (Ackley Bridge) as Jack, Vivien’s true love.
• TRAVEL MAN (Premieres Fall 2022; 8×30; North One Television)
• WAR OF THE WORLDS (Season 3 premieres Fall 2022; 8×60; Urban Myth Films in association with StudioCanal and Fox Networks Group)

CBC NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

From breaking stories to in-depth coverage, CBC News delivers trusted 24-hour news and information on CBC News Network, CBCNews.ca and the CBC News App. CBC News continues to bring audiences the latest news from across Canada and around the world, in addition to an award-winning slate of current affairs, investigative and primetime and weekend news programs, including the 50th anniversary of MARKETPLACE, celebrating five decades as Canada’s investigative consumer watchdog.

• THE FIFTH ESTATE (Season 48 premieres Fall 2022; 16×60)
• MARKETPLACE (Season 50 premieres Fall 2022; 23×30) celebrating its 50th anniversary season
• THE NATIONAL (Weeknights and Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)
• POWER & POLITICS WITH VASSY KAPELOS (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
• CBC RUNDOWN (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
• CANADA TONIGHT WITH GINELLA MASSA (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
• ROSEMARY BARTON LIVE (Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)

FALL 2022 SCHEDULE – CBC TV and CBC GEM
For Newfoundland and Labrador, please add a half hour for all times

MONDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET (weekdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4
8 PM – MURDOCH MYSTERIES Season 16
9 PM – THE NORTH WATER New Series / RIDLEY ROAD New Series
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

TUESDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA
8 PM – THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES Season 30
8:30 PM – STRAYS Season 2
9 PM – COMEDY NIGHT WITH RICK MERCER New Series / SORT OF Season 2
9:30 PM – SORT OF Season 2
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

WEDNESDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA
8 PM – SUMMIT ‘72 New Series / DIGGSTOWN Season 4
9 PM – WAR OF THE WORLDS Season 3
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

THURSDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA
8 PM – DRAGONS’ DEN Season 17
9 PM – THE FIFTH ESTATE Season 48
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

FRIDAYS
7:30 PM – CORONATION STREET (weekdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)
8 PM – MARKETPLACE Season 50
8:30 PM – TRAVEL MAN
9 PM – THE PASSIONATE EYE
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

SATURDAYS
Afternoon – CBC SPORTS

SUNDAYS
Afternoon – CBC SPORTS
7 PM – HEARTLAND Season 16
8 PM – THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW Season 6
9 PM – MOONSHINE Season 2
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

Season One of Apple TV+’s PHYSICAL took us on a journey with Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne) battling her inner-demons, but also finding success on her own in the ’80s. The Series is back for a second season, with ten brand-new episodes! Season Two has Sheila battling loyalty to her husband Danny (Rory Scovel) and also an attraction to someone new. No longer the only one in the fitness game, she finds herself having to dig-in and beat-out the new competition.

Our David Baldwin had the opportunity to sit down and chat with the Cast and Showrunner of PHYSICAL, including:

ANNIE WEISMAN (SHOWRUNNER/PRODUCER)

Annie Weisman comments on the Series’ portrayal of Eating Disorders and Mental Illness, with Sheila going from one addiction to another.

Weisman: “One of our goals of this season was to authentically demonstrate how Eating Disorders are often misunderstood as really being about the disordered eating behaviour itself, and not about the core issues. One of the ways we demonstrated that are how Sheila gains control of her Eating Disorder, but it doesn’t get rid of the core problem and she hops from one addiction to another. We’re being true to the time period in which there’s still so much stigma surrounding Therapy and naming Mental Illness, in women in particular. And it really does take her a long time to have the strength to come forward, and reveal her struggles and seek any kind of help.”

“When we do depict her in the season finally seeking-out help, we also show how radical and out of the mainstream those sources of help were. They really were brand-new.”.

David asks Weisman about the great amount of detail and commitment to the Series being authentically ’80s.

Weisman: “I have the very good fortune of having grown-up in exactly this period of time and place, so one of my many jobs as Showrunner is to oversee choices in terms of style and specificity, but I also work with an incredible Creative Team, who down to every detail, prop and on a large and small scale, ensuring things are period-appropriate. One thing that contributes to the real sense of authenticity in the Show is that we try to depict life as it really is, which is to say that people actually live their lives as an amalgamation of a lot of periods. You’ll see in some people’s homes that things aren’t just from that exact year, you have a lot of the past in there as well. And these characters when we meet them, are kinda living in the past. So you feel that authentic texture of the many decades lived in those spaces. That was important to me as an overall aesthetic.”

“We also shoot with a lens that gives things a bit of a different texture. These lenses give it that feel that you don’t necessarily notice right away, but overall makes it feel like you’re back in time.”

“Music is also a really big part of our storytelling. So it’s important the Music has the regional feel of Southern California at that time. So we start with the textures and sounds of songs that maybe were popular in the time period our characters came of age. So they bring that ’60s Guitar Acoustic sound with them. But then we see it evolve as Sheila gets more into exercise and the ’80s mentality, and you hear the Electronic Music coming in.”.

RORY SCOVAL (DANNY RUBIN)

Rory Scoval‘s Danny while a bit depisable, does have some redeeming qualities, which he tells us about in this upcoming season.

Scoval: “I think there needs to be a little bit of that or else they become this person. Despite their story and situation, you feel this negative thing and are not excited to see them or where they’re at. Even a character like Danny in Season One and especially Two, there has to be a sliver of likability that we can see that a lot of your faults come from a place of insecurity. Then maybe I can relate to that and I don’t think you’re an evil or a bad person – you’ve just got some stuff you’ve got to work out. I think it’s really important and I’m fortunate enough that in Season Two, Danny gets placed in a position to earn that likability that he really does care about his kid and care about being a good dad, his wife and her business succeeding. But he also has to balance-out his ego about it.”.

David asks Scoval talks about the theme of Toxic Masculinity and what he’s learned about it.

Scoval: “Anyone who has an awareness of Toxic Masculinity, you’re kind of aware of it stepping into a Show like this. It’s an opportunity to showcase something like that and the harm it has on people. Movies and Shows give someone a chance to understand what someone is talking about when they are talking about Toxic Masculinity, and they also can show the effects it has on people. I like that I get to step into a role that can showcase something like that, a subject that people do relate to, and they wish people were more aware of.”.

ROSE BYRNE (SHEILA) & DEIRDRE FRIEL (GRETA)

Rose Byrne speaks about her physical preparation for Season Two.

Byrne: “This Season was really interesting because it opened-up the world for a lot of other characters. We explore stuff just outside of Sheila‘s inner-demons this Season. In terms of preparation, what was really great was working with our Choreographer Jen Hamilton, and it’s such a signal of what’s required to becoming the kind of athlete an Aerobics Instructor really is. It’s such high-intensity and Cardio, so I really leaned on her. And Annie Weisman – the Showrunner and Creator – it’s such a deeply-personal story for her. She’s always a touchstone for me just setting the tone, answering all my questions and and questions about the world itself. I love the setting, it’s such a specific time and it’s an immservice job in a way because it’s historical, it adds to the fun of it.”

Byrne and Friel talk about their favourite Costumes and Hairstyles in Season Two.

Byrne: “I can talk about the Costumes all day, that’s our Special Effects. I love it. This Season I wore this dress – lemon yellow and halter-neck, silk cut on the bust – it was just gorgeous with this incredible Veronica-like hair. It was just ’79-’80s.”

Friel: “They built me a bunch of dresses this year. Ernesto (Costume Department) was like, ‘You’re rich, San Diego”. They built me this gold Brocade sort of dress – gold and black – gave me a red lip and it was so pretty.”.

Friel talks about Body Image and navigating this industry.

Friel: “As a plus-size woman in the industry, it can be challenging. The way I look can often be the point of me being there, and not always in a positive light. It’s challenging and wears down at you. Even if you leave your work at work, it can sometimes seep-in.”

“I’m grateful the way we’re talking about this though. We’re talking about Eating Disorders in a way that’s never been talked about.”.

MURRAY BARTLETT (VINNIE)

Critics’ Choice Award Winner Murray Bartlett has had quite a run with his recent scene-stealking work, including The White Lotus and now his role as charismatic Fitness Instructor Vinnie, joining the Cast. David asks him about what draws him to Vinnie.

Bartlett: “I guess I’m just naturally a Scene-Stealer (laughs). I think these characters are really beautifully-written. I feel like I’ve been very fortunate in The White Lotus that Mike White wrote this incredibly-complicated, fantastic character. Similarly on this Show, Annie Weisman has created this amazing Character. I feel like I’m just sorta connecting-the-dots in terms of what they’ve written. I love playing a compelx character and I feel like these characters are created in that way you get to fully explore the aspects of these characters. I got lucky and I’m really enjoying what I’m doing at the moment. These characters don’t fall on your lap every day. A lot of my work has been done for me and I just try to have a great time and find the nuances in them. I hope I’m not too distracting!”.

Bartlett is asked about how hard it is to identify with his larger-than-life Character.

Bartlett: “I think it’s harder to watch yourself do these kind of characters. As an Actor it’s easier to watch something closer to yourself because you can just keep-check of whether or not you’re being honest. With these characters, it can be difficult to watch because you can be, ‘Oh! What is happening?’, even though there’s an enormous amount of joy in playing these kind of characters.”

“We’re in this bizaare time that can feel overwhelming what’s happening in the world. To play a character that is fully-expressed and giving vent to whatever trauma they’re going through, or demons they’re battling, or even to commit to something obsessively, is somehow therapeutic and a great release. I wonder whether that has anything to these type of characters bubbling-up.”.

Season Two of PHYSICAL arrives June 3, 2022 on Apple TV+.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

Filmed right here in our City, here’s a new look at THE MAN FROM TORONTO which now will arrive on Netflix!

Logline:
A case of mistaken identity arises after a screw-up sales consultant and the world’s deadliest assassin—known only as The Man from Toronto— run into each other at a holiday rental.

THE MAN FROM TORONTO arrives June 24, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Stephen Merchant stars in BritBox Series THE BARKING MURDERS, coming soon to BritBox Canada. The Mini-Series is based on a shocking true story.

Synopsis:

Also known as Four Lives, The Barking Murders sheds light on the crimes of Stephen Port who murdered four young gay men in London, focusing on their loved one’s tireless efforts to uncover the truth of what happened. 

Based on the true story of serial killer Stephen Port and the investigation which finally brought him to justice, The Barking Murders looks at the devastating impact Port’s crimes had on the families and friends of his victims and on the wider gay community in London. 

THE BARKING MURDERS arrives on BritBox Canada June 7, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: BritBox Canada)

Disney’s PINOCCHO will be celebrated on Disney+ Day September 8, 2022, leading into the D23 Expo! A new Teaser Trailer has been released to get us excited!

Synopsis:

Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis directs this live action retelling of the beloved tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto, the wood carver who builds and treats Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) as if he were his own son. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his “conscience”; Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo is the Blue Fairy; Keegan-Michael Key is “Honest” John; Academy Award® nominee Lorraine Bracco is Sofia the Seagull, a new character, and Luke Evans is The Coachman. Also in the cast are Kyanne Lamaya as Fabiana (and her marionette Sabina), Giuseppe Battiston as Señor Stromboli and Lewin Lloyd as Lampwick.  

DIsney’s PINOCCHIO arrives September 8, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

Based on Jenny Han‘s (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) best-selling Novel, Series THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is coming soon to Prime Video! The new Trailer has just been released!

Synopsis:

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a multigenerational drama that hinges on a love triangle between one girl and two brothers, the ever-evolving relationship between mothers and their children, and the enduring power of strong female friendship. It is a coming-of-age story about first love, first heartbreak, and the magic of that one perfect summer.

The Prime Video series is led by showrunners Jenny Han, who also wrote the pilot, and Gabrielle Stanton. Han, Stanton, and Karen Rosenfelt serve as executive producers, along with Hope Hartman, Mads Hansen, and Nne Ebong for wiip. The series is a co-production of Amazon Studios and wiip.

The Summer I Turned Pretty stars Lola Tung, Jackie Chung, Rachel Blanchard, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Alfredo Narciso, and Minnie Mills, with Colin Ferguson and Tom Everett Scott.

THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY arrives June 17, 2022 on Prime Video.

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(Photo credit: Prime Video)

The Canadian Star System in full forcelast night at the North American Premiere of David Cronenberg’s Body Horror, CRIMES OF THE FUTURE. The Film, shot in Athens, got its World Premiere earlier this month in Cannes.

The Film looks Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen) and Caprice (Léa Seydoux), the former, a celebrity Performance Artist, who publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

The film has received wide-acclaim, sticking to Cronenberg‘s shocking sensibilites.

In attendance at the Red Carpet Premiere at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX was a who’s-who of Canadian Cinema including:

Don’t forget to visit TIFF Bell Lightbox as they celebrate Cronenberg‘s iconic career with display pieces from the David Cronenberg Permanent Collection throughout the building for a limited time only. TIFF will screen Crash (1996), setting the stage for both the theatrical release of Crimes of the Future and a four-film TIFF Cinematheque series spotlighting Cronenberg’s earlier work, titled Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past and running July 2 to July 10. The series features screenings of Videodrome (1983), Dead Ringers (1988), eXistenZ (1999), and a second screening of Crash.  More at tiff.net.

Sphere Films will release CRIMES OF THE FUTURE June 3, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Sphere Films/Mr. Will Wong)

Markham’s own IMAN VELLANI unveiled her amazing new Series MS. MARVEL tonight at a Special Advance Screening for the Disney+ Series. The Series centers on a New Jersey teen named Kamala Khan (Vellani), obsessed with the Avengers, who discovers her own powers – that she’s a Superhero!

We were so lucky to get to chat with this breakout star tonight at the Red Carpet, held at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas where Vellani‘s family and friends showed-up to give her support.

Vellani chat with us all about landing the gig of a lifetime, walking us right through the exact moment her world would change forever.

Vellani: “I was on my friend’s driveway, it was the last day of school, and Sarah Finn (Casting Director) texts me, and she’s like ‘Can you get on this call?’. And I’m like ‘No’. My friends hadn’t known I’d auditioned. And she was like, ‘I’ll send you the link, get on 😉’. I’m like okay, and I get out of my friend’s car and I’m on the driveaway, and I just open my phone and it’s Kevin Feige‘s (President of Marvel Studios) face. I could not handle that! I could not breathe. And here we are, we’re still alive and breathing and he told me I got the part. So I went back into my friend’s car and she asked, ‘So what happened? Did you win the lottery?’. And I said, “Basically!’. And then we went for Burritos. It was a good day!”.

What’s one piece of advice Ms. Marvel would give Iman Vellani?

Vellani: “Take pride in who you are. She’s so unapologetically herself. She doesn’t change herself for any boy, any friend and I think that’s so admirable in this world of Social Media where we’re constantly putting on different faces. We don’t even know who we are at the end of the day when we look at the mirror. I think I’ve found so much solace in Kamala and how much she knows herself.”.

What was her biggest challenge?

Vellani: “It was pretty easy. I was like, just being myself. It was great!”.

See highlights here:

Some Snaps from the night:

MS. MARVEL arrives June 8, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Studios/Mr. Will Wong)

Dear Oscars, Bradley Cooper is coming from you. You won’t believe his jaw-dropping transformation in these new stills from MAESTRO.

Directed: Bradley Cooper (Academy Award® Nominee)
Cast: Bradley Cooper (Academy Award® Nominee), Carey Mulligan (Academy Award® Nominee), Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke
Produced by: Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Bradley Cooper, Fred Berner, Amy Durning

More to come.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

April and May have been absolutely bonkers. Not sure if yours was the same? The Pandemic brought us a bit of downtime, but since this province’s reopening, it’s been literally everything all at once these past couple months in catch-ups. With multiple Red Carpet events back-to-back like the Juno Awards and the David Foster Foundation A Night on Broadway Gala, plus Premieres for Box Office smashes like Top Gun: Maverick and Downton Abbey: A New Era this past bit, plus family gatherings and a wedding even, we’re delighted to be in the thick of all the action again. But more so look forward to a slower pace in June!

We couldn’t have made it through Victoria Day weekend and all our commitments without the help of the gorgeous 2022 HONDA CR-V BLACK EDITION. While we’ve driven many CR-Vs in the past, none match the sophistication and style of the Black Edition with its perforated black leather seats, black woodgrain interior trim, and black-painted 19″ wheels which set it apart from the others.

Let’s get superficial for a moment, because looks matter and the SUV does not disappoint. Once glance it its Ambient Lighting front door handles and rear-tinted windows, you’ll see this is all in the details and the Black Edition possesses a sleek sense of mystery, and we’re all about it. We love also that its Panoramic Moonroof, can be adjusted to allow more or less light in, which can be crucial in these hot Summer months ahead.

This CR-V is powered with a 1.5 litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 179 -lb.ft. of torque. While acceleration can be a click behind to start, once you’re rolling, its sheer power is undeniable.

Gas prices are on all our minds of late with Ontario seeing $2 litres of gas for the first time in history. You’ll be relieved to know that the CR-V is economy-minded at a Fuel Economy of 8.7/7.4/8.1 L/100 KM (City/Hwy/Combined). Above this, the SUV benefits from having an ECON Mode and Idle Stop features.

Honda is known for its Driver and Passenger Intuitiveness and nails the mark yet again here. The Driver’s Seat goes 12-ways with power adjustment with added Lumbar Support here, and the Driver’s Position can be saved and set via Seat Position Memory. Front and Passener Seats come with warmers, as does the Leather Steering Wheel. We love that Climate Control once again here is customizable and sync-able for Driver and Passenger, really showing that Honda gets individual needs of Driver and Passenger. This, and also the many, many charging ports on the front and back sides, plus Wireless Charging plate. We love Proximity Entry and Remote Starter options, the latter which makes this a car for all the seasons we experience here in Ontario. How many cold mornings have you wished you could have had that car warmed and ready for you?

We cannot stress how important the Audio and Entertainment experience is on our drives. The CR-V Black Edition comes with a 331-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 9 speakers including subwoofer. This is an unparalleled sound experience and no matter whether we’re listening to SiriusXM™, or connecting to Spotify on our phone via Bluetooth, we’re hearing our Music exactly the way the Artist intended – full, crisp and full of detail.

Safety is always first and foremost with Honda and they round-up the troops again here to ensure you are as safe as can be with the 2022 Honda CR-V Black Edition. We appreciate always having an extra pair of eyes and that Multi-angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines makes reversing and parking so simple. Smart features like Auto High-Beam, Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers (and Rear-Windshield Wipers too!) are things we appreciate. We know how bad our weather can get – case in point – a destructive thunder shower Southwestern Ontario witnessed. Every added bit of visibility matters.

The CR-V benefits on the daily from features like its Blindpsot Information, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control, ensuring you’re alert and driving well even when you are just doing your best to make it through these exhausting times.

If you’ve ever had a flat tire (and we have a few times!), you’d know how important it is to have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System* (TPMS). The CR-V comes with this.

In addition to Collision Warnings, the SUV comes with a plethora of airbag protection: i-SRS airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system and SmartVent™ side airbags. These are the features that continue to save lives on the daily.

…and did we mention the incredible storage space here?

The 2022 HONDA CR-V BLACK EDITION starts at $45,370 CAN. More here.

Some highlights from our week. Some incredible taste-filled adventures, celebrations and sightings!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)