Has anybody caught either of the two new Canadian productions on Showcase, Slings and Arrows or Playmakers?
They are both incredibly good.
I am so happy to have some good tv on again. I only have the enhanced cable - up channel 70 or so - but I think it is interesting that I almost never watch anything below 31 - and if I do it is inevitably 27 (W), ctv, cbc, or global (although that, admittedly some of these are Canadian simulcasts of American shows like CSI - cause its so damn sexy - or Chasing Jordan). There is actually, lots of stuff I like (although there is not a single sit-com you could convince me to watch except The Newsroom), which is a nice change from the exclusive litany of idiotic reality shows that we had been plagued with for a while. Now that the writers have figured out that they need to write these super complex ensemble cast character studies in order to keep the actors employed (and thus, themselves) in response, we are really finally seeing what creative talent is actually out there. And with the increase in cable channelling, the money is appearing to allow these shows to develop and be produced.
Showcase remains my favorite - particularly because of the high Canadian content. The new stuff is great, although (and I know I'll get flamed for this - but I wish you wouldn't bother cause I don't want this thread to be hijacked with it) I will never understand how Trailer Park Boys managed to sneak in.
I've just been so impressed with the super high quality of both of these new ones that I thought I'd mention it, in case you haven't checked them out.
Slings and Arrows - with Paul Gross - is based, likely, on Stratford - and deals with an theatre company in a smallish town. Its a "behind the scenes" look at the theatre, but the scripts are so brilliant that they have managed to work in enormous amounts of inredibly good Shakespeare (through rehearsals) and watching the process of a director getting response from the actors is awesome. The characters are wonderful, with the overt premise being the death of the Artistic Director forcing the return of a once brilliant actor who had a breakdown. He is still brilliant, but a little disheveled in his recovery and he is being haunted by the newly dead man, who keeps appearing and giving him moral support and advice. There is a nice mix of interpersonal and "acting" storylines. Really funny. And the writing is outstanding - some of the descriptions of the meaning of works are pure art. If you have any love for the theatre or Shakespeare, you will adore this show. Chances are you will love it even if you don't already have the appreciation - this show will surely create it. (Monday at 10?)
Playmakers, on the other hand, is a super slick presentation of the inner workings of a professional football team. Plenty of familiar faces, and lots of new ones. Enormous cast. Heavy story lines. Film noire naration from different players overlaying their thoughts with their actions. They outed a gay player this season, and the depictions of homophobia were so harsh I really had a hard time watching it. The manipulations of the management are incredible; lots of cover-ups and bullying. Most of these are not nice people. Storylines include personal relationships as well as the struggles of team mates and management. Most of the on field stuff is done in short scenes - usually depicting the outcome of some behind the scenes struggle played out during the game or practice. (Saturday at 10)
Whatever, I know its just tv, but these are so worth catching. Say what you want about the past, but Canadian tv rocks. (And, if you check out the past, about 1/2 of what was done here was always really good - look at Traders or Due South)
Anyone else watching?
They are both incredibly good.
I am so happy to have some good tv on again. I only have the enhanced cable - up channel 70 or so - but I think it is interesting that I almost never watch anything below 31 - and if I do it is inevitably 27 (W), ctv, cbc, or global (although that, admittedly some of these are Canadian simulcasts of American shows like CSI - cause its so damn sexy - or Chasing Jordan). There is actually, lots of stuff I like (although there is not a single sit-com you could convince me to watch except The Newsroom), which is a nice change from the exclusive litany of idiotic reality shows that we had been plagued with for a while. Now that the writers have figured out that they need to write these super complex ensemble cast character studies in order to keep the actors employed (and thus, themselves) in response, we are really finally seeing what creative talent is actually out there. And with the increase in cable channelling, the money is appearing to allow these shows to develop and be produced.
Showcase remains my favorite - particularly because of the high Canadian content. The new stuff is great, although (and I know I'll get flamed for this - but I wish you wouldn't bother cause I don't want this thread to be hijacked with it) I will never understand how Trailer Park Boys managed to sneak in.
I've just been so impressed with the super high quality of both of these new ones that I thought I'd mention it, in case you haven't checked them out.
Slings and Arrows - with Paul Gross - is based, likely, on Stratford - and deals with an theatre company in a smallish town. Its a "behind the scenes" look at the theatre, but the scripts are so brilliant that they have managed to work in enormous amounts of inredibly good Shakespeare (through rehearsals) and watching the process of a director getting response from the actors is awesome. The characters are wonderful, with the overt premise being the death of the Artistic Director forcing the return of a once brilliant actor who had a breakdown. He is still brilliant, but a little disheveled in his recovery and he is being haunted by the newly dead man, who keeps appearing and giving him moral support and advice. There is a nice mix of interpersonal and "acting" storylines. Really funny. And the writing is outstanding - some of the descriptions of the meaning of works are pure art. If you have any love for the theatre or Shakespeare, you will adore this show. Chances are you will love it even if you don't already have the appreciation - this show will surely create it. (Monday at 10?)
Playmakers, on the other hand, is a super slick presentation of the inner workings of a professional football team. Plenty of familiar faces, and lots of new ones. Enormous cast. Heavy story lines. Film noire naration from different players overlaying their thoughts with their actions. They outed a gay player this season, and the depictions of homophobia were so harsh I really had a hard time watching it. The manipulations of the management are incredible; lots of cover-ups and bullying. Most of these are not nice people. Storylines include personal relationships as well as the struggles of team mates and management. Most of the on field stuff is done in short scenes - usually depicting the outcome of some behind the scenes struggle played out during the game or practice. (Saturday at 10)
Whatever, I know its just tv, but these are so worth catching. Say what you want about the past, but Canadian tv rocks. (And, if you check out the past, about 1/2 of what was done here was always really good - look at Traders or Due South)
Anyone else watching?
