Canadian Crossing

Canadians wanting football are stuck watching the NFL on TV

The Buffalo Bills have a significant number of Canadian season ticket holders. The Bills have announced that money will be refunded accordingly as long as the border is closed.

The Bills aren't allowing any fans at its first two home games at Bills Stadium in accordance with New York state guidelines.

Buffalo opened up its home season yesterday with the New York Jets. The next home game is September 27 against the Los Angeles Rams. Yesterday marked the first time Buffalo had major league baseball and football in the area at the same time.

We noted that those in Buffalo couldn't get the Toronto Blue Jays on television. The Buffalo Sabres had a limited deal with Bell Media to get their games in the immediate southern Ontario area from 2013-2016.

Toronto fans of the Buffalo Bills can easily watch the team. The sim sub usually ends up on CFTO-TV Channel 9, the CTV station in Toronto. Fans with an antenna can get the games via WIVB-TV 4, CBS in Buffalo, and WUTV, Fox 29 in Buffalo.

The Detroit Lions get a lot of Canadian fans to cross the border in season ticket holders and fans for individual games. The Windsor bus systems runs buses straight to Ford Field on game days. The Seattle Seahawks get a lot of Canadian fans even if the drive is longer than Windsor to Detroit.

Some NFL teams are allowed to have home fans if their state's rules are more lenient. The Miami Dolphins are scheduled to let in 13,000 people for its first home game.

NFL fans in Canada could travel to the U.S. to watch the games. The problems are that they have to fly to their destination and have to quarantine for 14 days when they get back.

Canadians can easily get their games on television with no border crossings.

CFL dream: What if U.S. sports fans suddenly cared about the CFL

Super Bowl LIV through the eyes of Canada

Toronto fans can finally root for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL playoffs

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has changed the sports world. The CFL cancelled its season in great part because they couldn't let in significant crowds. Quebec has a 250 maximum; the MLS Montréal Impact allowed that number in for recent games against Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Long-time readers will remember that the Buffalo Bills used to play games in Toronto at Rogers Centre. That certainly couldn't have happened in 2020.

The Buffalo Bills got snowed out in 2014 and moved a game to Detroit. The thought of moving the game to Toronto was thwarted since not all the players had passports.

CanadianCrossing.com NFL coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Despite the attendance issues in the Bills Toronto series, the NFL is very popular in Canada. Without the CFL, the NFL will grow in stature, especially in Toronto and Vancouver.

U.S. NFL fans might think they get a decent amount of games on a Sunday. Canadians get way more games thanks to CTV stations across the country (with time shifting on cable or satellite) and TSN. Now that TSN doesn't have CFL games, Canadians may get even more NFL games.

@KennyAlbert has been in a safe bubble in #Edmonton for the @NHL playoffs. The @NFL made up a rule where anyone who has been outside the U.S. has to #quarantine for 14 days to call a game on site. #Canada is safer than any NFL city right now. https://t.co/ljs9aEMSTr

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) September 12, 2020

Kenny Albert has been in one of the safest places in North America in the NHL bubble in Edmonton for NBCSN. Albert was scheduled to leave the bubble to cover the NFL for Fox. The NFL has had this peculiar rule, even more odd since the NFL plays in London and Mexico City and used to play in Toronto. Albert flew from Edmonton through Toronto to Detroit when he found out en route that he wouldn't be able to call the NFL game.

Fox replaced Albert for the game in Detroit with Dick Stockton, who reportedly came in from Arizona. Edmonton, even outside the bubble, is safer than Arizona.

We profiled Kenny Albert's life in the bubble. The NHL gets full credit for how the bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto have gone. The NFL could learn something from the NHL.

The NFL rule doesn't specifically say Canada, yet the national announcers are either in Canada (Albert) or the United States (everyone else). Sam Rosen, who is calling NHL playoff games on the radio, isn't on Fox's list of NFL announcers.

logo credit: Buffalo Bills/NFL
Twitter capture: @canadian_xing

Transplant makes U.S. debut on NBC

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

2020 Canadian Screen Awards television winners

Emily Hampshire won a pair of 2020 Canadian Screen Awards last night in an online ceremony. Hampshire won Best Lead Performance, Web Program or Series for Save Me and Best Supporting Actress for Schitt's Creek.

The venerable CBC comedy won 4 awards Wednesday night: Best Comedy Series along with individual honours for Eugene Levy (Best Lead Actor) and Catherine O'Hara (Best Lead Actress).

Kim's Convenience got the other 2 acting awards: Andrew Phung for Best Supporting Actor and Amanda Brugel for Best Guest Performance.

Baroness von Sketch Show won Best Sketch Comedy Show & Ensemble Performance and Best Writing, Variety or Sketch Comedy.

Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney of Letterkenny won Best Writing. The other 4 contenders were from Schitt's Creek.

Tatiana Maslany won 2 awards in 2017 for Best Actress, Drama (Orphan Black) and Best Actress (The Other Half).

Cardinal dominated the drama portion. Just like Schitt's Creek, the CTV show won Best Drama Series and acting awards for Billy Campbell (Best Lead Actor), Karine Vanasse (Best Lead Actress), and Kristen Thomson (Best Supporting Actress).

Thom Allison won Best Supporting Actor for Killjoys. Dalmar Abuzeid won Best Guest Performance for Anne with an E, the only acting award for this series.

Cardinal won Best Writing for Patrick Tarr, Noelle Carbone, and Aaron Bala.

Could build an all-star Canadian TV lineup out of shows that are leaving

2020 Canadian Screen Awards to be unveiled online May 25-28

Canadian Screen Awards ceremony scheduled for last night but remains in limbo

COVID-19 forces TIFF Bell Lightbox to close for a month, cancel Canadian Screen Awards

Anne with an E, Schitt's Creek dominate 2020 Canadian Screen Awards nominations

Anne with an E cancellation might be start of fallout with CBC and Netflix

The Golden Screen Award for TV Drama or Comedy goes to the most-watched Canadian TV series. This year's winners were in a tie with Murdoch Mysteries (CBC) and Private Eyes (Global).

You can catch up with all of the winners going back to Monday night.

I wondered if Noah Reid might get the call for Best Supporting Actor but Andrew Phung had a great year on Kim's Convenience. Was partial to Caroline Dhavernas to win for Mary Kills People since that show is done for the awards. As we noted earlier this week, you had 3 strong contenders in that category.

Have loved Kristen Thomson since Away From Her but Elizabeth Saunders was terrifying in Mary Kills People.

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

Each segment of the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards had its own narrator in lieu of a host. Monday's narrators were legendary news anchor Lloyd Robertson, Toronto Raptors PA announcer Herbie Kuhn, and writer, director, producer, and actor Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers. The Tuesday list consisted of actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and previous host Emma Hunter (The Beaverton). Last night, we had Evany Rosen and Kayla Lorette in the first segment and Eric McCormack in the second segment.

The 2020 Canadian Screen Awards are presented by CBC and CTV with the support of Telefilm Canada and Canada Media Fund.

photos credit: Schitt's Creek; Cardinal

Could build an all-star Canadian TV lineup out of shows that are leaving

In the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards television awards handed out online tonight, 4 of the 5 Best Dramatic Series contenders aren't producing any more episodes.

Cardinal, Mary Kills People, and Vikings left on their own terms while Anne with an E came to an abrupt end. Coroner is the only contender that will return with more episodes.

On the comedy side, Schitt's Creek is done and Baroness von Sketch Show will be done this fall.

Baroness von Sketch Show to end after 5 seasons this fall

Saying goodbye to Cardinal

2020 Canadian Screen Awards to be unveiled online May 25-28

These are nominees in the individual Canadian Screen Awards categories who aren't coming back in their shows:

Drama

Best Dramatic Series: Anne with an E; Cardinal; Mary Kills People; Vikings
Best Lead Actor: Billy Campbell (Cardinal); Shawn Doyle (Unspeakable)
Best Lead Actress: Amybeth McNulty (Anne with an E); Caroline Dhavernas (Mary Kills People); Karine Vanasse (Cardinal)
Best Supporting Actor: Rossif Sutherland (Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey); Brendan Fehr (Daughter of the Wolf); Hugh Thomson (Forgive Me)*; Thom Allison (Killjoys)
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Thomson (Cardinal); Karen Robinson (Forgive Me)*; Kelly McCormack (Killjoys); Elizabeth Saunders (Mary Kills People); Rosemary Dunsmore (Street Legal)

*uncertain if Forgive Me will have a Season 4

Comedy

Best Comedy Series: Schitt's Creek
Best Lead Actor: Daniel Levy, Eugene Levy (Schitt's Creek)
Best Lead Actress: Annie Murphy, Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek)
Best Supporting Actor: Chris Elliott, Noah Reid, Dustin Milligan (Schitt's Creek)
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Walsh (Little Dog); Emily Hampshire, Jennifer Robertson, Sarah Levy (Schitt's Creek)

Depending on the status of Forgive Me, Brandon Oakes (Diggstown) is the only supporting nominee, male or female, in a show that is likely to come back. You could easily justify giving the Best Lead Actress to McNulty, Dhavernas, or Vanasse.

Mark Forward (Letterkenny) along with Andrew Phung and Nicole Power (Kim's Convenience) are the only supporting nominees that are presumably coming back.

We should point out that the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards can contain nominations from Cardinal, Vikings, Anne with an E, Schitt's Creek, and Baroness von Sketch Show since their final seasons will fall in the 2021 window. Still, you get the idea.

Anne with an E cancellation might be start of fallout with CBC and Netflix

Adieu to Schitt's Creek

Top 10 best Canadian TV shows in the 2010s

Celebrating Mary Kills People in humanizing assisted suicide

Canadian TV dramas are hot on U.S. television lately

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

The good news is there will be a lot more room for award nominations for the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards. Kim's Convenience and Workin' Moms can contend for more awards on the comedy side.

This is the part where we might suggest other shows and actors that would get future Canadian Screen Awards nominations. The uncertainty with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic means we don't know the near future for anything.

Besides, the 2021 and 2022 versions of the Canadian Screen Awards may have some good surprises. Canadian television is stronger than ever before and that cream will rise.

photo credit: Mary Kills People/Global

Saying goodbye to Cardinal

We do give a lot of love to CBC comedies and dramas but we need to give more love to fine Canadian shows on the private networks.

Cardinal only had 24 episodes over 4 seasons on CTV but proved to be a well-done Canadian television drama with a significant viewing audience in the United States.

Cardinal features detectives John Cardinal (Billy Campbell) and Lise Delorme (Karine Vanasse) in fictional Algonquin Bay.

Most shows choose the best weather to shoot: Schitt's Creek shot its only Christmas episode in the summer. Cardinal was set in winter in seasons 1 and 4 with spring in Season 2 and autumn in Season 3. The show is based on the Giles Blunt books: Forty Words for Sorrow (Season 1); Blackfly Season (Season 2); By the Time You Read This (Season 3); Until the Night (Season 4).

Cardinal was a great outlet for wonderful Canadian talent such as Brendan Fletcher, Allie MacDonald, Kristen Thomson, Kris Holden-Ried, Orphan Black veterans Kevin Hanchard and Kathryn Alexandre, Susan Coyne, Jennifer Podemski, and Devery Jacobs.

Farewell, Cardinal (tv-eh.com)

The show was also intriguing since Vanasse got to play a French-Canadian character. She has played a French character on U.S. television (Pan Am).

Thank you to everyone who joined us tonight and for the past four seasons. Thank you all and goodnight. #Cardinal #UntilTheNight pic.twitter.com/6ZbkfK7vJ5

— Cardinal (@CardinalCTV) May 12, 2020

Cardinal offered a gritty portrayal of small town life in Ontario. Definitely not boring.

The series is broadcast on Hulu in the United States as well as BBC Four in the United Kingdom, C More in Scandinavia, Calle 13 in Spain, and SBS in Australia.

U.S. television turns to Canadian TV shows to fill gaps due to COVID-19

Top 10 best Canadian TV shows in the 2010s

Celebrating Mary Kills People in humanizing assisted suicide

Mary Kills People debuts final season in Canada but doesn't have a U.S. TV home

Canadian TV dramas are hot on U.S. television lately

Karine Vanasse latest to play French-Canadian on English language TV

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

Since we are honouring Canadian TV dramas that aren't from the CBC, we have a couple of non-updates.

Season 3 of Private Eyes started just under a year ago on Global (May 29) and ran through August 7 with 12 episodes. We have not heard a peep about whether Ion will show Season 3 in the United States or when that might happen.

We have noted that Ion is an odd network for the show since the death count on Private Eyes is much lower than their lineup of shows.

Private Eyes had 12 episodes in Season 3. Global has a 12-episode Season 4 scheduled to air this summer.

We also haven't heard anything from Hulu on Season 3 of Mary Kills People. Hulu has had Seasons 1-2 of the Global drama. Lifetime carried the first 2 seasons on cable TV but dropped the show before Season 3.

We wish we had much better news on either show.

photo credit: Bell Media
Twitter capture: @CardinalCTV

Stronger Together to honour those on the front lines of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic

Stronger Together | Tous Ensemble is a Canadian pandemic benefit for those in need during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, including ways to raise money for Food Banks Canada. 

The benefit will run 6:30 pm (7 pm in Newfoundland and a section of Labrador) local time for 90 minutes on CBC, CTV, Global, Citytv, and a number of cable channels, online streaming, and radio.

The list of Canadian talent involved in the special is overwhelming. Here are more than a few:

Amy Poehler (American), Andre de Grasse, Avril Lavigne, Bad Child, Burton Cummings, Charlotte Cardin, Christine Sinclair, Cirque du Soleil, Command Sisters, Dallas Green, Dan Kanter, David Foster, Desiire, Donovan Woods, Fefe Dobson, Geddy Lee, Georges St-Pierre, Hamza Haq, Johnny Orlando, Josh Ramsay, Justin Bieber, Kiefer Sutherland, Measha Brueggergosman, Mike Myers, Morgan Rielly, National Chief Perry Bellegarde, Olivia Lunny, Pascal Siakam, Robbie Robertson, Ryan Reynolds, Ryland James, Sam Roberts, Scott Helman, Serena Ryder, Serge Ibaka, Shawn Hook, TIKA, The Tenors, Tyler Shaw, Walk off the Earth.

Schitt's Creek cast members including Annie Murphy, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Elliott (American), Dan Levy, Dustin Milligan, Emily Hampshire, Eugene Levy, Jenn Robertson, John Hemphill, Karen Robinson, Noah Reid, Rizwan Manji, and Sarah Levy.

Alessia Cara, Arkells, Barenaked Ladies, Bianca Andreescu, Bryan Adams, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Céline Dion, Chris Hadfield, Connor McDavid, David Suzuki, Eric McCormack, Hayley Wickenheiser, Howie Mandel, Jann Arden, Jason Priestley, Margaret Atwood, Marie-Mai, Michael Bublé, Penny Oleksiak, Rick Hansen, Rick Mercer, Russell Peters, Sarah McLachlan, Shania Twain, Sofia Reyes, Tessa Virtue, Will Arnett, William Prince.

Made | Nous, designed to promote Canadian talent and content, is one of the sponsors of the program.

Unlike One World: Together At Home, which also ran last weekend on Canadian television, this is a fundraiser for Food Banks Canada. You can start the ball rolling or get ready for Sunday night. You can text COVID to 30333 to donate or make a donation online.

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COVID-19 notebook: How Canada is faring in the coronavirus pandemic

CBC News needs to bring back local news in wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus

Canada-U.S. border closes to non-essential traffic over COVID-19 coronavirus

There will also be a "star-studded, virtual ensemble performance of a timely and treasured classic" that will be released to help raise money for the Canadian Red Cross.

We are hoping for options outside Canada to tune in via YouTube, Facebook, or some other combination. Stay tuned. If you can donate within Canada, please do so. Food Banks Canada needed help even before the pandemic arrived.

photos credit: Stronger Together | Tous Ensemble

CBC News needs to bring back local news in wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus

Editor's Note: CBC News has reversed policy and as of March 25, "CBC will continue to restore our local TV news offer for local audiences with an expanded 30-minute local news segment on CBC News Network. Viewers in all our regions will see their trusted anchors back on air reporting the local news that pertains to their communities."

CBC has worked to make its CBC News Network coverage of the COVID-19 coronavirus more available to Canadians. That is great news. Unfortunately, another CBC News move is hurting Canadians wanting to get information.

CBC News is running CBC News Network instead of supper-hour TV newscasts at 6 p.m. and local newscasts at 11 p.m. after The National.

The COVID-19 coronavirus is a worldwide story, a Canadian story, and a local story. Those local stories are being lost because CBC doesn't have the person power to cover those stories. That is what we are being told.

"We are an essential public service, and we will be here for Canada through it all. That is our mandate and promise to all Canadians."

"Television is resource intensive, and much of it can't be done from home. The spine of our television broadcast infrastructure and the support for many of our local supper-hour newscasts run through Toronto facilities. On Monday, with fewer technical staff in the Toronto building, that spine was at risk of breaking."

"More importantly, we see what's coming: more cases, more illness, more people in isolation, more restrictions on travel, more staffing challenges in all of our newsrooms. To get ahead of the curve and the enormous strain we expect it will place on our news service, we were forced to act."

So, we put a temporary pause on one piece of what we do — local TV newscasts at 6 p.m. and some at 11 p.m. — in order to protect everything else: local and national reporting; local and national radio service; local and national digital service; our national nightly newscast; and our 24-hour news channel, CBC News Network (NN)."

These words are from Brodie Fenlon, editor in chief and executive director of daily news for CBC News. We don't doubt the integrity of anything said or the issues of limited resources.

We just think shutting down the local supper hour newscasts is a huge mistake.

CBC isn't just The National and CBC News Network. Viewers have a relationship with their local news people. Canadians need more security, not less.

The promise of CBC Gem was CBC News Network and getting streams of other CBC channels across the country. If you live in Ontario and your parents live in British Columbia, you will want to check in on what is going on there. No local news means you don't know what is happening in another part of Canada.

As far as resources, the late night comedy shows have been resorting to doing videos from couches and backyards. A local CBC anchor could give an update from their home. Local information delivered by local people. Doesn't even have to be a whole half-hour: 12-15 minutes would work.

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com journalism coverage

As we have noted, Canadian journalism isn't that strong. Most of Canada can get updates from CTV, Global, and Citytv. Those markets would have a leg up on CBC once the crisis is over since their local anchors are still delivering local news.

Prince Edward Island as well as Newfoundland and Labrador have a different issue: CBC is one of the few news outlets in those provinces.

CBC North is exempt from the changes.

National newscasts aren't going to break down Alberta or Manitoba numbers. They might mention Edmonton or Winnipeg, not so much Red Deer or Flin Flon.

The private networks have more money and American shows as lead-ins to their news. Canadians want good local news. If they can't get from CBC, they will turn elsewhere.

CBC is great but can get locked in unfortunate decisions made by people not thinking above and beyond a limited box. This is one of those times.

Canadians and non-Canadians can watch CBC News Network online. They don't need CBC News Network to interrupt local newscasts.

Bring back the supper-hour broadcasts. Make them hybrids with some local coverage and fill the rest of the half hour with CBC News Network. Better than what is happening now.

photo credit: CBC News

2020 MLS preview

Editor's note: MLS announced on March 12 that the schedule will be delayed by 30 days due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Jozy Altidore's only postseason goal came on a header in the 93rd minute for Toronto's lone goal in the 2019 MLS Cup. Alejandro Pozuelo, a key cog in the Reds playoff drive, got the assist on the pass to Altidore. The 2020 MLS season starts on Saturday, about 10 weeks after that game in Seattle.

Toronto FC had a heroic postseason after a solid 2019 season. The other Canadian Major League Soccer (MLS) teams are eager to forget 2019 as well as 2018.

Toronto FC starts its 2020 MLS season in San Jose on Saturday. The Reds open at home March 7 at BMO Field against New York City FC.

The Montréal Impact opens at home on Saturday against New England at Olympic Stadium. The Stade Saputo debut is April 18 against Houston. Vancouver hosts Sporting Kansas City at BC Place on Saturday.

Toronto FC falls 3-1 to Seattle in 2019 MLS Cup

Toronto FC advances to 2019 MLS Cup with 2-1 win in Atlanta

Toronto FC advances to Eastern Conference Final in 2019 MLS playoffs

2019 MLS recap: Toronto FC clinches a home playoff game

Montréal hired Thierry Henry as the team's new coach. The Impact did not bring back interim coach Wilmer Cabrera, who went 2-4-1. Rémi Garde had a 10-13-4 record to start out 2019. The team missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Toronto FC will be without captain Michael Bradley, who suffered a right ankle injury in the 2019 MLS Cup on November 10. The diagnosis of the injury came under fire by teammate Jozy Altidore, who criticized the more than 2-month delay before determining that surgery was needed.

The midfielder signed a new 3-year deal plus a club option in the offseason. The surgery on Bradley was performed in late January and the prognosis is he will be out until June.

The MLS Cup rematch will have the Seattle Sounders against Toronto FC July 18 at BMO Field. TSN will have the game in Canada. There are no plans to carry the game on television in the United States.

This is the first season that the league starts in February (February 29). The final regular season day is October 4.

MLS will now have 26 teams with the addition of Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC. Each club plays 34 games; conference opponents twice and 10 games against the other conference. This is also the first season where a team doesn't play all the other teams.

2019 MLS preview

2018 MLS season wrapup: no Canadian playoff teams

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

The U.S. over-the-air window is wider than ever for regular season MLS telecasts (46) on ABC, FOX, Univision, and UniMás. ESPN has 31 matches while Fox Sports 1 has 28 games.

This does not apply to Canadian MLS teams. The 2019 Eastern Conference champions get 0 telecasts on U.S. television.

"ESPN and Fox Sports have to reconsider their MLS TV packages in 2020 to include Toronto FC. They along with MLS should be ashamed at shutting out the Reds, a team in its third MLS Cup in 4 years. ESPN and Fox Sports look rather foolish to blow off Toronto FC from its 2019 regular season schedule. Also, Toronto FC should have all its playoff games on either ESPN or Fox Sports."

I wrote that last fall. They should be ashamed. They aren't. MLS needs to explain to us what Toronto FC and the other Canadian teams need to do to get on U.S. TV. Winning the MLS Cup might not be enough to get on TV.

All games will be available via ESPN+. You are set if you already get the service for CFL, NHL, or some other purpose.

Toronto FC had 4 U.S. TV dates in 2018, the last time a Canadian team got on U.S. television in the regular season.

The TSN MLS schedule will carry all Reds and Whitecaps games as well as select Impact telecasts. TVA Sports will have all the Impact games en Francaise.

CTV will have 8 games, all in the early part of the season. The Canadian OTA network carried 8 games in 2019; 9 games in 2018; and 7 games in 2017.

Here is the CTV schedule, all games on Saturday afternoons:

March 14 Nashville @ Toronto, 4 pm
March 21 Toronto @ Cincinnati, 3 pm
April 4 Toronto @ Columbus, 4 pm
April 18 LA Galaxy @ Toronto, 2 pm
April 25 Toronto @ Miami, 3 pm
May 2 Vancouver @ Toronto, 3 pm
May 9 Toronto @ Sporting KC, 4 pm
May 23 FC Dallas @ Vancouver, 4 pm

MLS Canadian teams playoffs results

Year	Date	Teams	Winner	Score
2019	November 10	Toronto @ Seattle	Seattle	3-1
2019	October 30	Toronto @ Atlanta	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 23	Toronto @ New York City FC	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 19	D.C. United @ Toronto	Toronto	5-1 (ET)
2017	December 9	Seattle @ Toronto	Toronto	2-0
2017	November 29	Columbus @ Toronto	Toronto	1-0
2017	November 21	Toronto @ Columbus	Tie	0-0
2017	November 5	New York Red Bulls @ Toronto	NY Red Bulls	1-0
2017	November 2	Vancouver @ Seattle	Seattle	2-0
2017	October 30	Toronto @ New York Red Bulls	Toronto	2-1
2017	October 29	Seattle @ Vancouver	Tie	0-0
2017	October 25	San Jose @ Vancouver	Vancouver	5-0
2016	December 10	Seattle @ Toronto FC	Seattle	0-0 (5-4 PK)
2016	November 30	Montréal @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	5-2 (ET)
2016	November 22	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-2
2016	November 6	Montréal @ New York Red Bulls	Montréal	2-1
2016	November 6	Toronto FC @ NYCFC	Toronto FC	5-0
2016	October 30	NYCFC @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	2-0
2016	October 30	New York Red Bulls @ Montréal	Montréal	1-0
2016	October 27	Montréal @ D.C. United	Montréal	4-2
2016	October 26	Philadelphia @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	3-1
2015	November 8	Portland @ Vancouver	Portland	2-0
2015	November 8	Montréal @ Columbus	Columbus	3-1 (ET)
2015	November 1	Vancouver @ Portland	Tie	0-0
2015	November 1	Columbus @ Montréal	Montréal	2-1
2015	October 29	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-0
2014	October 29	Vancouver @ Dallas	Dallas	2-1
2013	October 31	Montréal @ Houston	Houston	3-0
2012	November 1	Vancouver @ LA Galaxy	LA Galaxy	2-1

photo credit: Major League Soccer

Super Bowl LIV through the eyes of Canada

Emily Hampshire and Charlie Day were in a Tide commercial that sprinkled in Bud Light and the Pepsi halftime show during Super Bowl LIV. Hampshire dressed as Stevie Budd from Schitt's Creek. Hampshire gets a stain on Day's shirt. Day did the subsequent ads about delaying laundry until tomorrow.

Hampshire and Day played older versions of themselves and replicated that in a later ad.

While Hampshire appears in the commercial as Emily (herself), visually she appears to be Stevie Budd. A small Canadian TV show on a U.S. outlet that most cable subscribers have never watched is connected to an American Super Bowl ad.

Lilly Singh (comedian) and Busy Philipps (actor) with actual astronaut Nicole Stott played astronauts in an ad for Olay Regenerist. The theme was about how girls/women can do anything. The company is donating $1 to Girls Who Code for every mention of #MakeSpaceForWomen.

Cobie Smulders came along to rescue people left behind in a Toyota Highlander that can travel through time and dimensions.

Mike Myers, the late John Candy, Matthew Perry all said "no" in an ad for whether the Discover card has annual fees. The appearances came from the Austin Powers series (Myers), Uncle Buck (Candy), and Friends (?) (Perry). Not quite sure how you can appear in an ad without permission. There was a similar Discover ad where "yes" was the theme. In the "no" ad, there were 8 people and 3 of them were Canadian.

Will Arnett appeared on promos as the host of Lego Masters, a new Fox series.

Canadians won't be able to watch Super Bowl LIV ads

CTV aired American ads during Super Bowl LIII with no confirmed trade deal

Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦#football #nfl #chiefs #chiefskingdom #canada #quebec pic.twitter.com/5SlMsM1fl3

— Laurent D. Tardif (@LaurentDTardif) July 1, 2019

Canadians have made very few on the field contributions to the Super Bowl. Most of those contributors are kickers and punters.

Kansas City's Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, born in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC, is only the fourth non-kicking Canadian to start in a Super Bowl.

Duvernay-Tardif is the 16th Canadian to start in a Super Bowl and the first medical doctor from any country to play in a Super Bowl.

Ryan Hunter (North Bay, ON) would have been the 17th player but Hunter was a healthy scratch for Kansas City.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau beamed with pride for Duvernay-Tardif in part because both of them were McGill University graduates.

Here are the previous non-kickers, according to NFL Canada:

Austin Collie (Hamilton) wide receiver, Indianapolis, 2010
J.P. Darche (St-Laurent, QC) long-snapper, Seattle, 2006
Nick Kaczur (Brantford, ON) offensive lineman, New England, 2008
Allan Kennedy (Vancouver) offensive lineman, San Francisco, 1982, 1985
Mike Labinjo (Toronto) linebacker, Philadelphia, 2005
Mark Rypien (Calgary) quarterback, Washington, 1988, 1992
O.J. Santiago (Whitby, ON) tight end, Atlanta, 1999
Luke Willson (LaSalle, ON) tight end, Seattle, 2014-2015

Here are the previous kickers, according to NFL Canada:

Mitch Berger (Kamloops, BC) punter, Pittsburgh, 2009
Steve Christie (Oakville, ON) kicker, Buffalo, 1992-1994
Roy Gerela (Sarrail, AB) kicker, Pittsburgh, 1975-1976, 1979
Eddie Murray (Halifax) kicker, Dallas, 1994
Jon Ryan (Regina) punter, Seattle, 2014-2015
Shaun Suisham (Wallaceburg, ON) kicker, Pittsburgh, 2011
Klaus Wilmsmeyer (Mississauga, ON) punter, San Francisco, 1995

Non Canadian-born players who grew up in Canada and played in the Super Bowl:

Ken Clark (Southampton, England; Mississauga, ON) punter, Los Angeles Rams, 1980
Orlando Franklin (Kingston, Jamaica; Toronto) offensive lineman, Denver, 2014
Harald Hasselbach (Amsterdam; Tsawwassen, BC) defensive lineman, Denver, 1998-1999
Israel Idonije (Lagos, Nigeria; Brandon, MB) defensive lineman, Chicago, 2007
Markus Koch (Niedermarsberg, Germany; Kitchener, ON), defensive lineman, Washington, 1988, (IR) 1992
Tom Nutten (Toledo, Ohio; Magog, QC) centre, St. Louis Rams, 2000, 2002

Super Bowl LII ads light on Canadian content

Bell Media Super Bowl LI ratings drop 39% from last year

Canada makes little presence in Super Bowl LI ads

Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure

Super Bowl XLIX preview: CRTC to allow Super Bowl ads in 2017

Canadians get a lot of U.S. TV, but normally get shut out of Super Bowl ads

CanadianCrossing.com NFL coverage

CanadianCrossing.com advertising coverage

UPDATE: The Canadian ratings for Super Bowl LIV were significantly improved. The CTV/TSN/RDS average numbers were 9.5 million compared to 5.3 million. Some of those figures won't convert with what we posted before the Super Bowl since these numbers include RDS. The U.S. numbers were down, the second-least-watched over the last 11 years.

We are curious but not as curious as Bell Media is about the Super Bowl LIV ratings. CTV gets credit for people watching on the Fox affiliates in cable and satellite since Bell Media wasn't able to carry the U.S. Super Bowl ads. We will be intrigued to see if CTV returned to the 2016 numbers, especially if the U.S. ratings fell over last year.

photos credit: Tide; Olay
videos credit: YouTube/Tide; YouTube/Toyota USA
Twitter capture: @LaurentDTardif

Canadians won't be able to watch Super Bowl LIV ads

The CUSMA | USMCA has a petty provision that nullifies the CRTC ruling that allowed Super Bowl ads to be shown on Canadian television. The NFL and Bell Media, holders of the Canadian rights to the NFL and the Super Bowl, worked hard to get the ruling reversed.

The language in the trade deal had Canada agreeing to rescind "Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-34 and Broadcasting Order CRTC 2016-335."

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 7-2 last month that the CRTC went too far outside the Broadcasting Act. So CTV and TSN won't have to show the American ads during the Super Bowl.

Whatever side you are on this battle, Canadians should make that decision, not Americans.

The U.S. Congress has passed the new trade deal earlier this month. Canada has not passed NAFTA 2.0.

CUSMA passes through U.S. Congress

Simultaneous substitution during live programming allows Canadian networks to acquire programming from the United States and simsub Canadian ads to cover the U.S. ads. This policy applies to the Canadian broadcaster. Canadians who can pick up the U.S. digital feed (Windsor, Toronto) can see the U.S. ads. Digital signals travel shorter distances than analog signals and are less reliable.

Fox will carry the Super Bowl for those desperate to see the U.S. ads. Those in Windsor can tune into Fox 2/WJBK from Detroit. Those in Toronto and Hamilton can get Fox 29/WUTV Buffalo. Montréal is a long shot but those in the region can try to pull in Fox 44 WFFF in Burlington, Vermont.

CTV aired American ads during Super Bowl LIII with no confirmed trade deal

Bell Media Super Bowl LI ratings drop 39% from last year

Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure

Super Bowl XLIX preview: CRTC to allow Super Bowl ads in 2017

The CTV page for Super Bowl LIV isn't filled with incentives to get viewers to watch the Super Bowl. No contests to keep you glued to the Canadian feed. CTV knows you will watch because the Super Bowl is the biggest NFL game. Canadians will likely see many not-so-great ads for Canadian Tire and other companies. A Canadian Super Bowl ad wouldn't have to be that expensive to produce. The bar is really low. Give Canadian viewers something fun to watch in between tackles.

CTV had been drawing about 7 million Canadians in 2016 before the CRTC stepped in on the Super Bowl ads for the last 3 Super Bowls. The numbers fell to about 4.5 million where the American ads could air on the U.S. stations. Bell Media hopes those numbers will rebound substantially.

TSN 1/3/4/5 will simulcast the CTV Super Bowl LIV feed because, why not. TSN2 will have a rebroadcast of the Toronto Raptors game from earlier in the day.

Super Bowl LII ads light on Canadian content

Canada makes little presence in Super Bowl LI ads

Canadians get a lot of U.S. TV, but normally get shut out of Super Bowl ads

CanadianCrossing.com NFL coverage

Super Bowl LIV will air this Sunday at 6:30 pm Eastern on Fox in the United States and CTV and TSN in Canada.

photo credit: Bell Media