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If The Poet: A True Success Story
First of all I had never heard of Ian French.And I was completely unaware of Slam Poetry.So why did I find the new CBC-TV documentary If The Poet so compulsively watchable?I think the secret lies in...
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Against All Odds: A Canadian Success Story
I've always found it passing strange that some of the best Canadian TV programming of the season always comes on Remembrance Day.And that's because Canadian networks can't import this content --it...
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I Remember Marty Milner
I'm finally getting around to saluting Martin Milner --the talented TV star died of heart failure September 15, 2015.In a business filled with bruised egos Marty was a standout --he was well educated...
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Lowdown Tracks: The Art Of The TV Documentary
Just when it seemed the Canadian TV documentary had seen better days along comes Shelley Saywell's positively brilliant new group profile Lowdown Tracks.Watch it Saturday night November 14 at 9 on...
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Who Watches Canadian TV These Days?
So there I was in a fancy Greek restro on the Danforth once again chatting up a veteran actress, a respected but retired producer and a know-it-all publicist as the conversation turned to the current...
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Bell Media Cuts Only The Beginning
Canadian TV is in terrible shape and the huge cuts at Bell Media are only the beginning.Technology is making Canadian TV redundant.The other day when I was chatting up a Grade Six class I was told...
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I'll Miss Jim Perry
Part of my decades long job as TV critic was to interview the game show hosts.And at the top of my favorites list was Jim Perry who has died at 82.In 1974 I had to venture to CFTO's cavernous studios...
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The Thread: Must See Documentary on TVOntario
What a surprise --director Greg Barker's new documentary on the Boston bombings, titled The Thread, comes in the month when TV usually showcases reruns of old Christmas specials.That makes The Thread...
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The Curse Of Clara: A Christmas Treat
Christmas on TV has always been a very strange time.The American networks foist on us animated specials which are decades old and feature the singing talents of such delightful but deceased stars as...
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Is This The End For Hamilton's CHCH-TV?
I remember it was the day after Labor day, 1971, that a scared, introverted 25-year old boarded the Grey Coach express on Elizabeth Street for Hamilton.I was that scared kid --the day before I'd said...
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Ron James Shines In His Latest CBC-TV Special
Speaking about his latest New Year's Eve Special (on CBC-TV (December 31 at 9 p.m.), Ron James chuckles that "it certainly was the hardest to write."When he sat down with his writers in July NDP...
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Murdoch Mysteries: A Christmas Celebration
I remember the first time I visited the set of Murdoch Mysteries.It was in the summer of 2008 and what had originally been three two hour TV mysteries starring Peter Outerbridge (and shot in...
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I Remember, I Remember
I lost a lot of friends in the entertainment business in 2015.Here's my personal tribute to some of my favorites:I remember spending an afternoon on the 1987 set of TV's Masquerade which cast Rod...
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Jekyll And Hyde Back --And On CBC-TV!
CBC-TV's biggest ever mistake?It came on that fateful day in 1984 when former CBC president Pierre Juneau announced an all Canadian policy for his network.Poof! In a season most foreign imports...
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Great News: Schitt's Creek Is Back
So far it's been a hitless season for new Canadian series with shows toppling all over the place.So here's some great news: Schitt's Creek is back for season two.You can catch the shenanigans on CBC-TV...
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Myth Buster: A Possible New Series
It's simply time for CBC-TV to order a full season of Myth Or Science.The fourth in this irregular series on The Nature Of Things comes up Thursday night at 8 on CBC.And once again the photogenic Dr....
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Global TV Sold : Here We Go Again
So there I was in the fall of 1973 wandering through the maze in Don Mills that was the headquarters of Canada's latest TV network: Global TV.Leading the way was innovative founder and president Al...
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Wasted: A Must-See Nature Of Things Documentary
Wasted is a top Nature Of Things documentary that puts a face on the compelling subject of alcohol addiction.You can catch it Thursday night at 8 on CBC-TV. Got that?The hour begins with film maker...
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Hold Your Fire Is Finally on CBC-TV's Firsthand
It's a coincidence, of course, but CBC-TV's new and compelling documentary on alcoholism Thursday night at 8 gets followed by an equally compelling new documentary on Toronto police procedures titled...
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Canadian TV Needs X Company
I sat down to watch the first new episode of X Company on CBC-TV Wednesday night.And it reminded me once again how Canadian stories are disappearing on Canadian TV with alacrity.A teacher friend of...
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