We wouldn’t be surprised if reality TV producers, up in their fancy boardrooms, are actually just using Mad Libs to come up with new shows: x number of (people with a zany commonality) compete in weekly challenges to prove to a (media-loving celebrity) that they are the best at (skill) and win the grand prize. Fill in those blanks with “ex-cons,” “Kevin O’Leary” and “business stuff,” and you have Redemption Inc., CBC’s grittier version of The Apprentice. Each week, the former criminals perform some arbitrary challenge, and the weakest (or least telegenic) of the lot is sent off with a package of mentoring and educational gifts to ease the pain. O’Leary is clearly way too busy with Shark and Dragon duties to be on hand for the hijinks, but he’s arranged for ex-con businessman Brian O’Dea to watch the challenges and report back (“rat” in jail terms). Although we wish O’Leary were onscreen more to maximize the opportunity for gloriously arrogant monologues, last night’s episode proved that while O’Leary’s bons mots are lacking, at least O’Dea is bringing a fantastic fashion sense to the table. The man has great taste in an ear stud. Find out what shit O’Leary said and check out our TV brief of the pilot episode after the jump.
In the inaugural episode, O’Leary went to the clink for a night and did not enjoy its amenities: “I’d rather die than go back there,” he said. Competitors were introduced to a subtle soundtrack of jail bars slamming shut, because, in case the ex-cons weren’t aware, they used to be in prison. As hokey as the soundtrack is, some of the former convicts’ stories are nothing short of compelling: Alia, who we could tell on sight had certainly lived, was arrested for employing drug addicts to sell drugs from her home (that’s the kind of business savvy that got her on the show in the first place); Samuel sold and transported illegal firearms (not illegal fireworks, sadly); Adam was a corrections officer for five years until he started selling weed (oh, Adam!); and Jeff, our top dog, was charged with theft over $5,000 (of tools). There was something about Jeff, the 39-year-old Robin Hood of the tool-using community, that made us immediately jump on board with him—it might be that he bravely sports a dated haircut or dreams of owning “a shop where you can come and ask for any type of art, from airbrushing [to] glass etching portraits to tattooing.” We can only hope that our support will help him achieve his goal of owning a head shop–gallery.
Stupid challenge of the week: At Mississauga’s Auto Spa, the hapless group was asked to wash and detail 12 cars, yet they managed to crash three. The first day on a job never goes as well as we’d hope. And there were only two ladies in the mix, but gum chewer Nicole was cut for her poor work ethic and excuses. You should be ashamed of yourself for chewing gum, Nicole.
• “Look, I’ve been lucky. I have a stepfather who put me straight, but it could have gone the other way. When I was young, I had dyslexia, I was listless. I had no direction, I was failing in school. I was walking around with gangs in high school.” There’s nothing quite like a good ramble with gangs.
• “Being thrown in the back of a cruiser wasn’t on my schedule. It just, all of a sudden, happened.” What a day, what a day.
• “For those of you that don’t know me, I’m Kevin O’Leary. I run a billion-dollar investment company, my own, O’Leary Funds.” Over the course of the episode, he mentions his own name at least 10 times. They know who you are, Kevin. They’ve gone through what we can only imagine was a rigorous audition process, and presumably they’ve signed a contract.
• “I want to help you guys. Or one of you. I’m not sure whom yet.” Team Jeff!
Wow… nice… for a while I was scared before it came on that all the excons were gonna be black men… but refershing indeed to see so many whites for a change!
January 10, 2012 at 3:26 pm | by TodUh, Tod, that’s a pretty clear commentary on your own bias. Why on Earth would you “be scared” the ex-cons would be all black men?! Not only is that racist, Canada has a very small population (only 3-4%)of Canadians from a black heritage.
January 10, 2012 at 3:39 pm | by ShmeegShmeeg… cause thats how the world stereotype black people- did you read the commisioner report in december ? That small population has the highest & in jail. Its the reality….wake up and smell the BLACK Coffee!!
January 10, 2012 at 3:56 pm | by TodTod, your post is racist and needs to be deleted from this site! Sheesh. Grow up.
January 10, 2012 at 4:41 pm | by BahThis is the worst article ever written. I wish some websites were censored.
January 10, 2012 at 8:46 pm | by RealistWorst Writer Ever
I am a big fan of Kevin, Dragons Den, Shark Tank and his book. However, Redemption Inc (episode 1) is a big disappointment so far.
First of all, poorly presented, the shows identity & intro presentation isnt exciting at all, dull logo & animation, weak camera angles and graphic editing throughout the episode.. sadly has the appearance of a weakly conceived Canadian reality show.
Secondly, the actual contents; no strong presentation and filming of these ex-cons, now aspiring business people that could be potential company leaders. Where is the controversy!! There is a mystic thats missing. It doesnt hit you hard. We are talking about people that conducted criminal lifestyles and spent time in jail… the show has to depict some of that in their language, in their looks, as its an obvious part of their past.
Its all in the vision and direction. Oleary totally missed the boat in trusting & empowering the wrong team. Definitely needs to fire the shows producer, get someone that understand how to entertain and touch peoples emotions in a strong way in light of the concept (which is great if only executed effectively).
You played it too safe Kevin… the public is expecting something really controversial, and its the only way for you to get good ratings. This is not an mba film project… its on national TV.
January 11, 2012 at 10:05 am | by Fan of OlearyMost people won’t tune in for real controversy, they’re usually too busy watching uncontroversial American television in this country. A real social experiment that expects to get ratings? You have to be kidding! All shows rely on viewers and with Harper and Ford in power, the CBC and arts in general have to entertain people while provoking thought and dialogue (preferably not the racist garbage that goes on here). As far as shows go, I found the premiere episode completely engaging. Alia is hilarious. So is Aaron. Problem with Canadians and their TV? So many Canadians complain that it’s too Canadian. This is beyond Canadian. It’s at a new level. The Americans didn’t even bother thinking about this as a premise cause their prisoners belong to corporations who would prefer them to stay in jail. This is more than an opportunity for 10 (or 9) ex-cons to “redeem” themselves. It’s an opportunity for cops, professors, housewives -all Canadians- to see people who have paid their due debt in a whole new and refreshing light: as humans with dreams like the rest of us.
January 11, 2012 at 5:05 pm | by DuncanIt was an expected disappointment- it was Canadian and it showed; in agreement with comments regarding everything from camera angle to production being of low value. Can’t say any of them were “engaging” as it gave some college level shots of people leaning against walls (conveying what emotion exactly?) and saying a few lines. The ideas for their “businesses” were weak at best, but can’t even elaborate a comment as no-one’s stories were given any detail or depth to base anything on. One guy wore a suit and use the word “work ethic” at one point- that seemed promising in the context of the show, but didn’t measure up to the needs of showing low level drama with no heart. Overall its a thumbs down- sucks for the few on that show who actually had an idea worth a damn and thought this show was going to be a life-changer. Not that the “e-bike and online courses” don’t sound like a super-awesome “deal” for the contestants.
January 11, 2012 at 7:06 pm | by anonymousit was pretty boring and mostly just embarrassing for the people who made it- it looked like crap and felt like something students made with the camera angles and production value.
January 11, 2012 at 8:05 pm | by anonymousHow long was that guy jeff in prison for? from the mullet attached to his head i would estimate he was put in prison in the 1970s and recently released. the dapper don!
January 11, 2012 at 10:56 pm | by cassandraAaron looks like an elf and I am sure his penis is he same size as an elf’s penis. Merry Christmas Aaron. I’m sure by the next episode you will get beat up probably by Alia.
January 11, 2012 at 11:00 pm | by cassandralol cassandra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
betcha $100,000.00 aaron is a sociopath. don’t believe he’s reformed at all. sociopath cant be redeemed because they feel no remorse.
January 11, 2012 at 11:21 pm | by catsoaaron is definitely the boy everyone loves to hate.no way is oleary gonna hand him 100 thou.no way.did i hear aaron say he was gonna – in jail terms- “throw down” with that guy sam?amazing how people believe their own delusions.sam would – in medical terms – send him into a coma with a “stare down”.
January 12, 2012 at 1:04 am | by anonJoesph is just plain creepy, definitely not my fav ex-con. The man is still a con.
January 12, 2012 at 12:50 pm | by jessI was thinking it would be better than it was- it didnt really say anything about the people and the business ideas were pretty low-rent, only a few seemed like anything unique or worth bothering with. is a snow shovelling business for ex-con women worth giving someone a hundred grand? thats a lot of shovels…
January 12, 2012 at 8:53 pm | by anonymous