Following a successful first season on @CTV, @TransplantCTV premieres Sept. 1 on NBC. Season 1 encores in simulcast Tuesdays at 10 pm ET/PT on CTV. For more information, visit @thelede_ca: https://t.co/jLoITlDaUc #Transplant pic.twitter.com/FfGSVkqDRx
— CTV Communications (@CTV_PR) August 12, 2020
We mentioned the Canadian TV shows making their debut on U.S. over-the-air television. We figured the debuts would come when the traditional fall season begins.
Coroner made its debut on August 5 on the CW. The CW also added Fridge Wars via the CBC. Now, NBC is launching the CTV show Transplant before Labour Day, airing tonight at 10 pm Eastern/Pacific.
Our initial concerns about whether all the episodes would air doesn't seem to be an issue now.
Unlike shows created to run in both countries, Coroner definitely has Canadian elements in the series. The show is made for the CW, though that isn't always a compliment. You have to suspend reality as Jenny is more crime-fighter than coroner, her "perfect" boyfriend who lives in the forest, the mystery gambling problem from her dead husband that forces them into a smaller house. The black dog part might eventually be relevant. The 3rd and 4th episodes are a 2-parter, highly rare to have so soon into a new drama.
Jenny Cooper is so illuminating that everyone and everything revolves around her. The show isn't bad just, well, made for the CW even though the agreement came recently.
Serinda Swan, who portrays Jenny Cooper, has guest starred on a couple of CW shows about a decade ago: Smallville and Supernatural.
Morwyn Brebner, who developed Coroner for television, also was a creator and producer of Rookie Blue and Saving Hope, shows that crossed over into the United States.
Fridge Wars from CBC to air on the CW
Fridge Wars has some cool elements and some very bad habits. Emma Hunter is well-suited and really seems like she is having fun (or she is a better actor than we realise). Hunter is good with the families. The chefs throw shade against each other in a fun way. The second-half challenge is gimmicky but works well most of the time.
You do lose track of what happened with the first family with the second family is on TV. The premise of using only what is in the refrigerator — the point of the show — doesn't last too long. A chef in one episode is making homemade wonton wrappers with ingredients that clearly aren't from the refrigerator. In another episode, the chefs use a specific snack food mentioned by name. Both chefs used that snack food. In the episode with the wonton wrappers, both chefs specifically mentioned a particular kitchen brand mixer.
Sneaking commercials in a show is worse than sneaking vegetables in a dish. The sneaky ads are bad enough but the fact that the show airs on a public broadcaster is worse. If the CBC went commercial free, these ads wouldn't be allowed within programming.
Canadian presence on 2020 U.S. TV upfronts
U.S. television turns to Canadian TV shows to fill gaps due to COVID-19
We have more hope for Transplant. The idea of Syrian refugees had a much different reaction in Canada than within certain pockets in the United States in real life. Some of those Americans might view Syrian refugees in a country that mostly speaks English as a fiction story rather than reflecting (a bit) about actual refugees in the country next door to them.
CanadianCrossing.com television coverage
The oddity of Coroner, Transplant, and other Canadian shows making their way to the United States is that they wouldn't be picked up by a simsub by another Canadian broadcaster, such as CTV, Global, and Citytv. The Canadian rights of Coroner and Fridge Wars rest with CBC and Transplant for CTV. As was noted in the Twitter capture, CTV is going to simsub the NBC feed, even though they are reruns in Canada.
Canadians can catch up on Transplant through the CTV Web site or they can watch the CTV simsub of NBC. The CW is a bit more difficult for Canadians to pick up, depending on their cable lineup. CBC shows are available on CBC Gem.
Would love a U.S. outlet, over-the-air, cable, or streaming to pick up Season 3 of Mary Kills People and Season 3 of Private Eyes. They have been abandoned by their U.S. outlets, Lifetime and Ion Television, respectively.
Twitter capture: @CTV_PR
photo credits: CBC (x2); CTV
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