Television | torontolife.com

The comprehensive index of every blog post, magazine story and restaurant review that appears on Torontolife.com

All stories relating to television

More facts about the Bachelor Canada’s Brad Smith—the white football player everyone’s talking about

Brad Smith (Image: The Bachelor Canada)

It was revealed earlier this week that ex-CFLer Brad Smith has been granted the ultimate honour of being the first-ever Bachelor Canada. Given that The Bachelor franchise has been accused of racism lately, it is interesting to see that its Canadian iteration has cast a white bachelor—but Smith is so much more than just a white football player. He’s the son of Larry Smith, a member of the Canadian senate, and the brother-in-law of ex-Montreal Alouettes kicker Damon Duval. He also served as a bartender at Earl’s Steakhouse on King Street before he started filming. So, to summarize, he’s an ex-bartender and an ex-football player. Chances are, whoever wins the last rose is going to become an ex too. We’re just saying.

The Hype

Telling Tales

May 3, 2012 | 11:10 am

Comments

Lorne Michaels fuels rumours about high-profile cast member departures

Lorne Michaels (Image: David Shankbone)

Toronto native Lorne Michaels has been dodging queries about SNL’s cast changes, stating in a conference call with the Canadian Press that he could comment, but he’s actually not certain himself. Rumour has it that Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis and Andy Samberg are all set to leave come season’s end (May 19), but no official statement has been made. Michaels noted that he’ll be spending the summer scouring dark comedy clubs for possible additions to the show’s cast (it could be you!). If some of the best cast members do end up calling it quits, at least we’ll always have Penelope.

• Lorne Michaels talks about SNL cast changes [Toronto Star]

The Hype

Prime Time

May 2, 2012 | 11:43 am

1 Comment

Canada’s Got Talent, episode 18: who is Dina Pugliese’s bespoke microphone designer?

In this episode of Canada’s Got Talent, mostly everything goes as we expect it to, with a few minute differences: host Dina Pugliese has yet another sparkly microphone, only this time it’s black (Seriously, what is the microphone budget on this program?); the celebrity of the week isn’t even in the audience (How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders pre-recorded a congratulations to the winners); and judge Stephan Moccio performs a song off his new album “Elements” (the instrumental “October”, with a staggeringly large orchestra). The voting, however, goes the way we imagined it would.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Goods

Cuckoo for Coco

May 1, 2012 | 4:41 pm

2 Comments

Canada’s Best Beauty Talent, episode 8: the great side pony slip-up of 2012

The judges are at odds in this results episode of Canada’s Best Beauty Talent, which is kind of exciting. Coco Rocha loves Matt and Jenna’s wet hair and cat eye makeup, but “the mean one,” Flare editor-in-chief Lisa Tant, is not into it at all. YSL makeup artist Eden Bluestein and Tant think Marcia didn’t brow block correctly (they feel it doesn’t look smooth because she hasn’t combed the brows enough), while photographer Max Abadian digs the treatment. Everyone’s full of opinions this week—we even get to hear a post-judging rant from Isabelle, who thinks the judges are approaching the competition like it is some big joke. In full melodramatic mode, she goes so far as to refer to doing hair as her raison d’etre.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Hype

Prime Time

May 1, 2012 | 10:23 am

22 Comments

Meet the Bachelor Canada—another white football player

Would you accept Brad Smith’s rose? (Image: The Bachelor Canada)

Twenty-eight-year-old CFL wide receiver Brad Smith has been named the first-ever titular unwed man of The Bachelor Canada, and he’s continuing in the 10-year tradition of conventionally attractive white men getting picked for the opportunity (over the franchise’s 23 seasons, every single Bachelor has been white). Smith grew up in Quebec, is a graduate of Queen’s University and has played wide receiver for the Montreal Alouettes, Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos. He’s currently not playing for any of them, which is why he has the time to embarrass himself by making out with several loutish women in the span of one-to-two-hour-long weekly episodes (if it ends up anything like The Bachelor). Touchdown!

The Goods

Cuckoo for Coco

April 30, 2012 | 4:27 pm

1 Comment

Canada’s Best Beauty Talent, episode 7: Max Abadian to the rescue

Caylee fixes her model’s hair (Image: CBBT)

Let’s be honest: this show hasn’t been great so far. Sure, makeup contestant Marcia has taught us how to make a face beautiful (see here and here), and we’ve gotten a few giggles out of Coco Rocha’s robotic delivery (see here, here and here), but the show has been short on the kind of entertainment that keeps audiences begging for more. (Sorry, but intentionally flubbing the catchphrase “ready, set, style!” by saying “ready, set, don’t style!” is just painful to watch.) We were even thinking of giving up on it—and then internationally renowned photographer Max Abadian came on for this week’s Flare cover shoot challenge, and what a difference he makes. Abadian’s presence adds something to the show that has been lacking: action. The contestants are tasked with the challenge of creating the perfect high fashion cover look, which they have 45 minutes to finish before heading straight to Abadian for the shoot. The six remaining contestants struggle to keep their models’ head still enough to work simultaneously (turns out it’s tricky to do delicate makeup application while someone else is jerking her hair around), and when it comes time for the shoot, we witness some seriously impressive eye rolls from makeup contestant Cait. (We love you Cait!) Find out what we thought and what we learned »

The Hype

Prime Time

April 30, 2012 | 12:45 pm

2 Comments

Canada’s Got Talent, episode 17: Martin Short doesn’t make a sexual come-on

In this episode of Canada’s Got Talent, we encounter something that’s been missing for ages: the Moccio sway. Judge Stephan Moccio has remained remarkably stoic, judging silently in his scarves, but beatboxing contestant KRNFX has Moccio out of his chair, ever-so-briefly. Other crowd pleasing standards of the show are firmly in place: someone makes a comment about Measha Brueggergosman’s hair (there were stars in it this time), and host Dina Pugliese wears a ball gown (a lemon yellow one with revealing cut-outs at the waist—girl looks good). Absent from this episode is a dose of Short’s sexually charged commentary, and we’ll leave you to decide whether that’s a good thing or not. Of the six semi-finalists, this is the first we’ve seen of two groups: Silvia Ricciotto, a busker-singer, and Karen and Jeffrey Chang of Jive, a brother-sister dance duo. Though both performances are strong, it’s hard to feel invested in these acts when, 17 episodes in, this is the first time we’re seeing them do anything. Check out our picks for the best and worst acts this week »

The Hype

Prime Time

April 30, 2012 | 11:30 am

1 Comment

Way Off Broadway, episode 8: Are you a good witch or a bad witch?

There’s a lot going on during rehearsals this week—from musical guest stars to toddlers in tap shoes—and it all ends in a whole lot of tears and reality checks. But first, Taz cooks for everyone. “This is my comfort food; this is how I love,” says our favourite hot-and-cold cast member who went to cooking school in a previous life (lobbying for her own Food Network Canada show, perhaps?). We’d love the opportunity to break bread with the woman we love to hate (but not really hate), even though we’re thinking like Matt, the funny Aussie, who asks how healthy her incredibly delicious-looking Greek food is. TV chef moment aside, there are actual freak-outs and breakout moments to report on. Take a trip to Oz »

The Hype

Prime Time

April 26, 2012 | 10:48 am

2 Comments

Arrested Development will not be available to Canadians in 2013 (not legally, anyway)

Tobias and Michael (Image: Arrested Development screengrab)

Michael Cera may have officially signed on for the rebirth of Arrested Development, but apart from downloading the 10 new episodes using questionable practices, the series will only be available for purchase on American Netflix. Netflix’s vice-president of corporate communications Steve Swasey made the announcement this week, and frankly, the only people who are upset are the people who don’t know how to use the Internet.

The Hype

Prime Time

April 24, 2012 | 10:56 am

2 Comments

Canada’s Got Talent, episode 16: the men cry a lot

In this results show episode of Canada’s Got Talent, host Dina Pugliese is the focus of our attention, instead of the somewhat hammy judges Measha Brueggergosman, Martin Short and Stephan Moccio. The statuesque Pugliese shines in a purple column dress, and she proves that Brueggergosman won’t always eclipse everyone else with her kooky hairdos (her side ponytail—outfitted with what we presume to be extensions—looks inspired by Princess Leia’s slave girl hairdo). Pugliese takes some friendly ribbing from Short, who jokes “You’re beautiful. Whatever cosmetic surgery you’ve had, I would say 20 per cent more, then stop!” (It’s actually less offensive than it seems written down.) And did anyone notice that Pugliese has two bejeweled microphones—one white and one gold—for this hosting gig? Is one for the results show and one for the talent portion? We have so many questions about these microphones alone: Who designed them? How much do they cost? Is a special ruby and white diamond one being made for the finale? Find out who stays and who goes this week »

The Hype

Prime Time

April 23, 2012 | 3:52 pm

1 Comment

Way Off Broadway, episode 7: Look at the circles under my eyes. I haven’t slept in weeks!

This week’s episode of Way Off Broadway is the beginning of the end—at least it seems that way for director Sarina, who’s channelling Debbie Allen in Fame a little more each week. She’s on a mission to remind these cast members that while they’re having fun, it’s time to, you know, actually focus on the show. Sarina opens a rehearsal saying, “I’m a kickass director…and I will kick your asses.” Snap. Throughout each episode, the overarching theme has been that Sarina has her work cut out for her. That’s the point of the show, but it’s time for us to see some fresh material, complete with cast struggles. Can someone have a legit mental breakdown and drop out? Maybe Taz? Short of that, our faithful cast is going strong (so far), and you can tell they’re getting much more comfortable with each other. But they’re exhausted, and it shows. Take a trip to Oz »

The Hype

Prime Time

April 23, 2012 | 1:35 pm

1 Comment

Canada’s Got Talent, episode 15: someone else makes fun of Stephan Moccio’s scarves

When a celebrity joins the audience of Canada’s Got Talent, it’s a sure thing that the producers are going to make a fuss. Roberto Alomar is on hand for this episode, and host Dina Pugliese says hello, talks about Twitter and even throws out a reference to his 1994 McCain juice campaign, Catch The Taste (timely!). Measha Brueggergosman jokes about how her enormous Mohawk has its own postal code, Stephan Moccio wears a scarf (this time hidden under the lapels of a jacket) and Martin Short gets in the filthiest innuendo we’ve heard yet—talking about a magic act, he says, “How many swords can you put in one box? I mean, I guess that’s the old joke.” A prize has been added to the pot, too: an all-inclusive trip to Tobago. Find out who we think should stay and who should go »

The Goods

Cuckoo for Coco

April 23, 2012 | 11:49 am

5 Comments

Canada’s Best Beauty Talent, episode 5: a lack of colour

Andrea and Isabelle work on their bride-to-be (Image: CBBT)

It’s wedding week on Canada’s Best Beauty Talent, and contestants are tasked with creating the perfect look for a real bride-to-be. The premise is good—some of our favourite Project Runway episodes involved real clients or brides. Sadly, unlike that show, which is packed full of drama, this episode of CBBT runs the length of a leisurely trip to the bathroom (10 minutes, 32 seconds), so the drama is underplayed. While we do pick up some tips from Roger (who actually looks as perfect on camera as he does in his headshot—it’s weird), Marcia and Cait, and while Isabelle and Andrea do get paired with a somewhat needy bride, that’s not enough to make it a meaty episode—and no one cries. (Remember when Jeffrey Sebelia made Angela’s mom cry in season three of Project Runway? That’s the kind of entertainment we’d like to supplement our learning with.)

Read the rest of this entry »

The Goods

Reel Fashion

April 19, 2012 | 1:51 pm

4 Comments

Fashion Television is out, Style Bio is in?

MV5BMjA0MDkzMTU5Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDc4MzE2MQ@@._V1._SY317_CR51,0,214,317_

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen will appear on Style Bio

Last week the Internet was shaken by the news that Fashion Television had ceased production after 27 years, and now Bell Media has announced that it will be picking up 60 episodes of a show called Style Bio that will air on its E! network. Seems a touch sudden, but Scott Henderson, vice-president of communications for Bell, says the show has “been in development for E! for some time, and is not directly related to the suspension of production of Fashion Television.” The show, a documentary series about how stars (like Beyonce, Kim Cattrall and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen) have gone, in Ricki Lake terms, from drab to fab, seems to bear no close resemblance to Jeanne Beker’s FT, but we figure Bell’s move to invest in a program with a panel of experts over Beker’s one-on-one interviews has got to sting a little.

Shenae Grimes is on a Tyler the Creator-hosted episode of MTV’s Punk’d tonight, and she seems pretty shaken up about her experience. Backstage photos and video roll reveal that the prank involves an adorable puppy (perhaps there will be an elaborate pup-napping of some sort), playing to Grimes’ status as a dog lover. Grimes’ post-show reaction was simply, “I’m not cool enough to be Punk’d,” but when was it ever cool to be part of an Ashton Kutcher-related project post-The ’70s Show? Is she cool enough? Answer in our poll »

All stories relating to television

Contests

Links and Offers

The latest from across the St. Joseph Media network