– Instant Star Named as New Canadian Dramatic Series –
– Corner Gas Renewed For Second Season –
– The Eleventh Hour Gets Third Season Order –
– Degrassi: The Next Generation Green-lit for Season Four –
– 10 Original Movie Titles Revealed –
2004-2005 Production Order poised to place six Canadian Series on the CTV schedule
Another new Canadian drama series is on the horizon. CTV President of Programming Susanne Boyce today confirmed CTV has ordered Instant Star, a new 13 x 30-minute dramatic series slated to air as part of CTV’s 2004-2005 broadcast schedule. What happens when a regular teen becomes an overnight pop star and is transported into a life of fame and fortune? The new series, described in full below, is just part of CTV’s 2004-2005 Production Order, the largest ever for CTV. The order is subject to the usual funding requirements and producer / distributor commitments.
With today’s announcement, Boyce also confirmed CTV has ordered a second season of the comedy / drama Corner Gas. The series, funded through BCE-CTV Benefits, will see 18 episodes head into production for the 2004-2005 season. Six episodes into its inaugural season, viewers have made Corner Gas the most-watched Canadian series of the 2003-2004 television season. The series averages more than 1.1 million viewers each week.
CTV today also confirms it has ordered a third season of its critically acclaimed series The Eleventh Hour. The 13-episode renewal comes on the heels of a strong premiere (83 per cent increase over season one) and continued critical acclaim. This year’s second season has been called one of the best dramas series on television.
A full, 22-episode fourth season of teen crush Degrassi: The Next Generation has also been ordered. The series, which is enjoying its best season ever, is currently ranked as Canada’s most-watched original dramatic series amongst Adults 18-49.
CTV also confirms its commitment to Canada’s most-watched Canadian dramatic series Sue Thomas F.B Eye. The series will return for Season 3 next year.
“Committed and comprehensive, CTV’s production order speaks for itself,” said Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group. “Today’s announcement is as much about quality programming and not just sheer quantity. Im happy to say that our production order will guarantee both.”
CTV’s production order for 2004-2005 also consists of 10 original dramatic movie titles. Included in the 10 are three Signature Series titles. They are SARS, One Dead Indian and North of Hope. Other titles include Friend of the Family, Playing House, The Man Who Lost Himself: The Terry Evanshen Story, Spirit Bear and Tripping The Wire: A Stephen Tree Mystery. Two additional movies remain untitled.
Today’s announcement comes just two days following Monday’s March 1 start-of-production date for CTV’s newest dramatic series Robson Arms (formerly Keys Cut Here). Shot in Vancouver by Water Street Pictures, the 13 x 30-minute drama series follows the lively tenants of an apartment building in Vancouver’s vibrant West End.
Below is a complete outline of CTV’s 2004-2005 Production Order
NEW SERIES
· Instant Star (13 X 1/2 hr) – The O.C. meets Canadian Idol. The weekly series, with strong musical crossover and broad dramatic appeal, centres around 15-year-old “Jude Harrison”, a feisty SK8RGRL who defies the odds and wins a national singer/songwriter contest and a guaranteed recording contract. With a soon-to-be released single and an all-too sexy video in the works, Jude’s about to get shaken up worse than a mosh pit at an Evanescence concert. She’s wading through a world bigger than her wildest rock n’ roll dreams – parties and publicity, groupies and paparazzi, managers, producers, release dates, and concerts. She’s desperate to prove she belongs here, but she’s not even old enough to drive. Produced by Epitome Pictures Inc.
RETURNING SERIES
· Corner Gas – Season ll (18 x ½ Hr) – Brent Butt and the Corner Gas ensemble cast return for an expanded 18 episode run. It’s another season about a bunch of nobodies who get up to a whole lot of nothing in the middle of nowhere. Produced by Prairie Pants Productions.
· The Eleventh Hour – Season III (13 X 1 Hr) – The critically acclaimed drama takes us backstage into the gripping world of investigative news for a third season.
· Degrassi: The Next Generation – Season IV (22 X ½ Hr) – It’s a new school year at Degrassi. Attendance is mandatory. Produced by Epitome Pictures Inc.
· Sue Thomas F.B. Eye – Season III – Based on a true story this series follows the adventures of hearing-impaired agent Sue and her dog Levi, who together bag the bad guys in places listening devices can’t penetrate. Produced by Pebblehut Entertainment.
NEW MOVIE TITLES
· North Of Hope – After a horrendous accident on a remote stretch of BC’s highway, Joe Spring goes missing. Only the heroism of those who love him can change his fate. Produced by Shaftesbury Films Inc. From the Heroes Champions and Villains Strand of Movies.
· SARS – A Signature Series Production. Outbreak meets Toronto’s very own SARS epidemic. Produced by Slanted Wheel Entertainment Inc.
· One Dead Indian – A Signature Series Production. Based on the true story of the killing of Dudley George – a native who was gunned down by a policeman during a peaceful land claims protest in 1995. His brother Sam fights for justice in this political suspense movie. Produced by Sienna Films Inc.
· Friend of the Family – A psychological thriller based on the true story of Alison Shaw, a young mother who discovers her husband’s best friend is the “Cottage Killer”, David Snow. Produced by Slanted Wheel Entertainment Inc. and Alberta Filmworks.
· Playing House – A gutsy romantic comedy about prolonged adolescence, the unexpected joy of parenthood and ultimately, falling in love. Produced by Blueprint Entertainment
· The Man Who Lost Himself: The Terry Evanshen Story – A celebrated football player has to return to his life after a debilitating brain injury. Produced by Sarrazin Couture Entertainment and Vérité Films Inc., in Saskatchewan.
· Tripping The Wire: A Stephen Tree Mystery – Detective Stephen Tree’s catastrophic love life, troubled past, and loner mentality combine to make him a volatile cop determined to get his man — at any cost. Starring Clark Johnson. Produced by Galafilm Inc.
· Spirit Bear – One boy’s fight to save the rare white Kermode bear in BC’s wilderness. Time Magazine’s “Hero of the Planet”, Canadian Simon Jackson shines in this true story of the power of one. Produced by Tapestry Pictures Inc.
Note – All audience numbers courtesy Nielsen Media Research
