What The...Still Standing? Helz Yes!

So yeah, like all bloggers it's been a while since I updated because...blah,blah,blah.

Anyway, with me is my editor Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy!)

Where do I start - Oh, yeah, Trailer Park Boys is continuing their TV series, long after creator Mike Clattenburg decided it should die (ed. well, after the TPB 3 movie which he needs to sort of stay above water after Afghan Luke and Those Guys That Move Furniture.)

But the TPB's themselves have bought themselves out of servitude so Ricky, Bubbles and Julien are calling the shots on show this time.  Freedom is scary.  They have no network (ed. traditional that is.) but its kind of like you're the only sign painter in a small town.  All you can do is paint signs to advertise your business.

Anyhoo, they're presently off shooting somewhere (ed. that's Truro) and we'll see what develops.

In other news, Bell has bought CTV,again!  So that means they have to spend money to prove to the CRTC that they really, really, really...care about Canadian content.

The last time they did this they financed 100% of Corner Gas which kind of backfired on them.

People liked it.

But I think they learned from their mistake.

Tonight I watched a show called "Satisfaction".  CTV obviously spent a lot of money on this.  In one half hour we saw:

Shaun Majumder
Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas)
Mark Critch (Who's role in this episode was the neighbour next door in a Halloween costume. Ka-ching! $ )
Pat Thornton (always a delight and apparently a CRTC requirement)
Ryan Belleville (who wrote the episode but I don't blame him.)  See Below
Jessica Pare - (Mad Men)  Obviously not wanting to be there but she must owe somebody here a favour.)

(ed. - They all participated in a sexy farce straight out of '70's England.)

These people aren't cheap. (ed. they're Canadian "not cheap").

Still, this show is a free for all.

I don't know much about the business side but if I was spending my own money on a show, I'd be worried about the cost of all those on-camera people.

And I'd wonder why we had a script writer (ed. the lovely Ryan Belleville; Almost Heroes) a "consultant" Kevin White (ed. "Insecurity, Blackfly") and six script consultants.  SIX SCRIPT CONSULTANTS.  On a half-hour "comedy".  Million dollar + American shows do not have this amount of talent!

But all that talent must have produced a quality show, eh?

No, this show is bad.  It's CTV saying to the CRTC, "we tried, but look..." bad.

And really no one cares.  It's a Canadian content attempt and at least this time a close circle of highly paid (ed. relatively.) Canadians jumped in, had a party and got a big paycheque.)

Bell's faith?  The 13 episode season is being shown on Monday nights at 8:00.  (ed. You'll remember 8:00 Monday nights in the summer being "prime Time", doncha?

This is a DHX production and they get to provide a feeding frenzy to their loyal subjects and it does't cost them a cent.  They won the "just get someone to make something Canadian" lottery this year.

Plus not only is there cash to be spread around (ed. Your tax dollars at work!")  the credits are interesting at IMDB. (ed. Do not look directly at the reviews!)

If you look at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2546024/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast you'll see all the Nova Scotia content (ed. sarcasm alert!) but I'm sure the astute folks at the NS Department of Finance will question the contribution to the province of these "fo'ners!"

After all Paul Pope the Newfoundland producer of "On Drugs and Drunk Show" was a Nova Scotia Resident for the tax credit purpose.  Somehow.  But I digress.  And my meds are wearing out.

Talk soon, my pets.

Oh, but wait.  Where the heck did Anne MacKenzie go?  April of 2012 she quit/was dismissed/left to pursue other opportunities.  A year went by and FilmNS managed to chug along without her (ed. travel and expense fees skyrocketed!  Down, I mean).  A new CEO was elected last month and today a new report came out to say that the film production numbers were higher than ever!

(ed. - Maybe Anne was on to something, ignore it and hang out in the Maple Leaf lounge and they will come!)