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Steven Page Becomes A TV Foodie
I couldn't figure out why I was so nervous meeting Steven Page.One of the founding fathers of Barenaked Ladies, he's reinventing himself as a traveling food critic in the new series The Illegal Eater...
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Darknet: A TV Series Not On TV
The best TV series on Halloween night isn't even on TV.Have I got your attention yet?It's called Darknet and if I have to explain that term to you you'd better turn to something else.The highly...
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Pop Quiz Debuts On E!
ere has to be a reason why the new Canadian TV series called Pop Quiz is debuting this time of the season.I'm still trying to figure that one out.But Pop Quiz which will run weeknights at 9 on E!...
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At Least History Television Remembers
Talking to a group of smart Grade Sixers recently I was surprised more than half did not know what countries we were fighting in World War II.Any knowledge of the Korean Conflict? Forget it!So I'd like...
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Brave New TV: Stephen Hawking On The Future
I didn't know what to expect when I tuned into my preview copy of Stephen Hawking's Brave New World.After all the internationally famous host is virtually paralyzed and speechless because of ALS.And...
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Kevin Newman Wants To Reinvent TV News
How long have I been covering Kevin Newman, lately the amiable host of CTV's Question Period?I remember covering the stink when Newman left CBC's Midday (dubbed "the baby Journal") in 1994 as he jumped...
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Murder She Wrote Revival A Big Mistake
MEMO TO NBC: Stop talking about rebooting that old CBS hit Murder She Wrote, will ya?Angela Lansbury herself says the decision to mount a revival and call it by the same name is "a big mistake."And you...
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Lost Girl Finally Back for Season 4
One of the big successes of Canadian TV is the quirky sci fi opus Lost Girl which has returned for Season 4.For a Canadian drama to last that long is amazing and yet LG gets very little press coverage...
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Ford Nation: Sitcom Or Farce?
Perhaps this is what Mayor Rob Ford has wanted all along.I mean his own TV Show.Granted the only venue open was on little watched SUN TV which is way. way up my cable dial --Channel 163 to be exact.But...
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CBC-TV's Winter Schedule: A Winner
CBCTV unveiled its 2014 winter schedule at a low keyed party deep within the bowels of the Corp's flagship building on Toronto's Front Street West.The network should certainly emerge as the ratings...
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Meet The Sloths Is Soothing TV
Watching Meet The Sloths is just about the slowest and most soothing TV experience I've ever had.The eight part series from the U.K. has its Canadian premiere Saturday November 23 at 8 p.m. on Animal...
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A Canadian Crossover
So there I was the other day watching the very first episode of The Lucy-Desi comedy Hour, the hour long sequel to CBS's much loved I Love Lucy show.And I caught what seemed to be one of TV's first...
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Canadian TV Now Controlled By the Very Few
This isn't the way Canadian TV was supposed to evolve.I should know --during the 1970s as the kid TV critic from The Hamilton Spectator I was obliged to sit through hundreds of CRTC meetings about the...
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CBC In Crisis: Then and Now
In 1970 I started covering TV as the critic for The Globe And Mail replacing an ailing Blaik Kirby.I sat next to Kirby during my two summers at Canada's "Grey Lady" and enjoyed his wit --he was given...
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Where Am I?: Top CBC Fare
The burning question of the day is the future survivability of the CBC.So I'm asking every one to tune in to this week's Nature Of Things offering, a fantastic hour documentary titled Where Am I?It...
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Six By Sondheim: TV's Best For 2013
I've just previewed the new HBO special Six By Sondheim which is a sort of That's Stephen Sondheim as it ranges far and wide through the extraordinary Broadway career of the famed composer.And I'm...
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The Good Son: TV At Its Best
Three decades ago boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini killed his opponent in the ring.He hasn't forgotten that stunning moment, an accident to be sure, but something that also ripped apart his life...
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I Remember Eleanor Parker
"Hello, Mr. Bawden-- this is Eleanor Parker calling. You know, the recluse."It was 1988 and I was at my desk as TV critic of the Toronto star when I took the long distance call.Naturally I jumped when...
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Sheepdogs Are Top Dogs
In recent years Super Channel has been the place to go for top U.S. imports and many fine foreign TV series as well.Now it's time for the specialty service to shine in the dreaded area of "Cancon".I'd...
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Joan Fontaine: Tough And Rempermental
I had three tries at interviewing Joan Fontaine the lovely Oscar winner who died Sunday aged 96.Told in advance never to mention the name "Olivia de Havilland" her older (by one year) sister, I...
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