Bell Media Confirms 70 Original Productions for 2019/2020 Season

CTV

• TRANSPLANT
  CTV announced today that Hamza Haq, Laurence Leboeuf, and John Hannah will star in the one-hour, primetime medical procedural, with production beginning this month. TRANSPLANT tells the story of a brilliantly skilled emergency medicine doctor who fled Syria to Canada, as he’s challenged to make a place for himself in a new hospital and country. The drama blends the story of a new immigrant with an ensemble medical procedural, offering audiences a fresh take on a beloved genre. The first season consists of 13 episodes, with production set to begin in Summer 2019. (NBCUniversal International Studios with Sphère Média Plus)
• ALBEDO
  One-hundred-and-fifty years in the future, detective Vivien Coleman is dispatched to the edge of our solar system to investigate a scientist’s mysterious death on board an isolated space station. She soon finds herself trapped and cut off from Earth, along with the station’s small crew of brilliant scientists – all murder suspects, and all harbouring their own secrets… What begins as a classic murder mystery evolves into a fight for survival that may threaten the future of our species. (eOne)
• POP EVOLUTION
  This eight-episode series has one goal: to tell the richest, most fascinating tales from the ongoing history of pop music. Each stand-alone episode is a documentary portrait with its own unique voice, style, and vision. Through exclusive interviews and unprecedented access, archival depth, and critical takes, POP EVOLUTION dives deeper into the genre than ever before. (Banger Films)

CTV Life Channel

• LET’S BRUNCH
  This delightful cooking series is dedicated to everyone’s favorite leisurely and decadent mid-morning meal. Hosted by the bubbly Vanessa Gianfrancesco (ONE WORLD KITCHEN), LET’S BRUNCH offers a brunch menu for every occasion, showcasing sweet and savory recipes, along with the occasional refreshing beverage or cozy latte. (Gusto Worldwide Media)
• CHRISTMAS WITH BONACINI
  In this charming one-hour holiday special set in Michael Bonacini’s festive kitchen, the celebrity chef and his son Oscar cook up an elegant and flavourful feast of their favourite Christmas recipes. (Gusto Worldwide Media)
• WATTS ON THE GRILL FOR THANKSGIVING
  In his upcoming special, host Spencer Watts shows viewers how to barbecue like a pro throughout the holiday season. (Gusto Worldwide Media)

Crave Canada’s prestige entertainment offering recently announced a complete slate of upcoming conversation-worthy Crave Originals, headlined by:

• Crave heads to Montréal for the JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL this summer, shooting a series of four new specials featuring acclaimed Canadian comedians. These four new specials bring the Crave Original standup series total to 10 specials. (Just For Laughs Television)
• WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE
  A smart, distinctive, and caustic documentary about the end of the world, the newest original series from Crave goes into production this summer. Drawing together science, psychology, pop culture, and philosophy, WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE meets viewers’ fascination with the apocalypse head-on. Each episode explores one of the ways that humanity could meet its end – from nuclear war and asteroids to aliens – with the ultimate hope that humankind can come together to make the world a better place. (90^th Parallel Productions)
• ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND
  Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Brian Grazer, and Ron Howard, this documentary feature is a confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robertson’s young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music. Inspired by Robertson’s bestselling memoir, Testimony (Penguin/Random House, 2017), the film blends rare archival footage and interviews with many of Robertson’s friends and collaborators, including Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Scorsese, Taj Mahal, Peter Gabriel, David Geffen, and Ronnie Hawkins, among others. (Imagine Documentaries/White Pine Pictures/Bell Media Studios/Universal Music Canada)
• NEW EDEN
  Production kicks off June 17 in North Bay, Ont. on the darkly funny “true crime” comedy from two of Canada’s hottest comedic voices, Evany Rosen (PICNICFACE, BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW) and Kayla Lorette (THE BEAVERTON, SPACE RIDERS). (Peacock Alley Entertainment)

Discovery

• In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, MAKE IT TO THE MOON (narrated by Canadian actor Stephan James) features four trailblazing teams – contracted by NASA – who take up President Kennedy’s challenge to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade. These ‘unsung heroes of the unsung heroes’ must invent from scratch the innovative technology necessary to create the lunar module spacecraft, the onboard computer, the moon suit, and track it all through space. (eOne)
• VW WOODSTOCK BUS
  On the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, VW WOODSTOCK BUS is a one-hour special that explores the inspiring story of Dr. Bob, the man who painted the original Woodstock hippie bus with symbols he believed would usher in the dawn of a new age. (Arcadia Productions)
• CLEARED FOR CHAOS: 9/11
  This documentary special tells the gripping story of how air traffic controllers in Gander, Newfoundland pulled off the impossible on September 11, 2001. (Bristow Global Media)
• UNABOMBER: THE MAD TRUTH
  This four-part series tells the story of the nationwide manhunt for the terrorist known only as the “Unabomber,” which lasted from 1978 – 1995, until a tip led the FBI to a remote cabin in the Montana mountains. The tip that ultimately took down Ted Kaczynski, a.k.a. the Unabomber, came from his younger brother, David, and David’s wife, Linda. (Yap Films)

Investigation Discovery

• IF I SHOULD DIE
  As investigators piece together a murder mystery, sometimes the victim speaks from beyond the grave, communicating via their revelatory words written in a diary, journal, or private online blog. IF I SHOULD DIE explores how these emotional words can provide incredible insight into the victim’s life – and sometimes into their darkest secrets. (Cream Productions)
• UNEXPLAINED 911
  This immersive new series reveals the true-life stories of police and other members of law enforcement who found themselves face-to-face with strange and bizarre events. Each episode investigates cases involving ghostly haunting, demonic possession, alien abduction, and other supernatural emergency calls featuring the men and women who have devoted their lives to serve and protect. (Cream Productions)

Much Studios

• POSITIVE
  A Much Studios’ Original Documentary, POSITIVE profiles the lives of five diverse HIV+ millennials through a roundtable discussion and stigma-busting personal narratives. Moderated by Much Studios’ Michael Rizzi, the documentary creates an intimate and safe space for the group to discuss the themes of identity, community, sex, and the ongoing misconceptions surrounding HIV.

CTV

• Internationally successful and critically acclaimed series CARDINAL has wrapped production on its final season with stars Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse. (Sienna Films/eOne)
• The half-hour satirical news sensation THE BEAVERTON returns to CTV for Season 3, premiering July 23. (Pier 21 Films)
• THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the most-watched series of the summer, is set to deliver its seventh season Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning July 2 on CTV. Hosted by Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, the multiple Canadian Screen Award-winning series returns as nine all-new teams join fan favourites from Season 1, Jet & Dave, who were selected as Canada’s Choice to race again. The 10 teams head to the starting line to push themselves out of their comfort zones in a non-stop, action-packed race. (Insight Productions)
• New episodes of original culinary series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH continue Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV as host Mary Berg shares her delicious twists on classic dishes inspired by her family and close friends. (Proper Television)
• THE 2019 CANADA’S WALK OF FAME AWARDS, delivering the awards’ 21^stanniversary this November. (Insight Productions)

Crave

• Named a “must watch” series by the New York Times and an award-winning Canadian comedy program, an all-new six-pack of LETTERKENNY premieres on Oct. 11 and production on another season begins this summer in Sudbury, Ont. (New Metric Media)

CTV Comedy Channel

• Coming to the CTV Comedy lineup in the 2019-20 broadcast year are THE STAND-UP SHOW WITH JON DORE and four unique @JFL gala presentations from Montréal’s Place des Arts. (Just For Laughs Television)
• The most-watched original series ever on CTV Comedy, CORNER GAS ANIMATED (CTV Comedy) premieres Season 2 on July 1 with 11 all-new episodes. The new season includes a star-studded lineup of cameos, featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chris Hadfield, and EPIC MEALTIME’s Harley Morenstein, with a special guest star appearance by Michael J. Fox. (Prairie Pantoons/Moving Mountoons)

CTV Drama Channel

• The light hearted mystery-crime drama CARTER, starring Jerry O’Connell (BILLIONS) is currently in production for Season 2. Shot in North Bay, Ont., the sophomore season is set to debut later this year, exclusively on CTV Drama. (Sony Pictures Television)

CTV Life Channel

• Season 3 of SPENCER’S BIG 30 showcases healthy, hearty meals that can be prepared in 30 minutes. (Gusto Worldwide Media)
• Italian cooking series BONACINI’S ITALY, starring MASTERCHEF CANADA’S Michael Bonacini, returns for a second season. (Gusto Worldwide Media)
• Season 2 of WATTS ON THE GRILL continues to celebrate all things grilled with chef extraordinaire Spencer Watts. Each half-hour episode shows viewers how to barbecue like a pro, from sizzling steak, smoked chicken and steamy seafood, to fruit, cheese, and delicious desserts. Tips, tricks, and tasty recipes are all on Watts’ menu as he inspires viewers to think of ingredients differently and try new things on the grill. (Gusto Worldwide Media)

CTV Sci-Fi Channel

• The fifth and final season of CTV Sci-Fi’s most-watched original seriesKILLJOYS returns July 19. In the Quad, a planetary system on the brink of a bloody interplanetary class war, a fun-loving trio of bounty hunters attempts to remain impartial as they chase deadly warrants. Reprising their roles for the last time, Hannah John-Kamen (ANT MAN AND THE WASP) returns as Yelena “Dutch” Yarden / Aneela, along with Canadian Screen Award nominee for best lead actor Aaron Ashmore (CARDINAL) as John Jaqobis, and Luke MacFarlane (THE NIGHT SHIFT) as D’avin Jaqobis. (Temple Street Productions)

Discovery

• The captivating series MAYDAY, currently in the first half of its 19^th season, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET, continues to reveal the often harrowing truth behind plane crashes, providing viewers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most catastrophic aviation accidents in search of clues that might prevent similar tragedies from happening again. (Cineflix/National Geographic Channels International/Canal D)
• HELLFIRE HEROES returns this fall for Season 2. Featuring stories of strength, fearlessness, and dedication, a uniquely versatile group of firefighters risk their lives to serve and protect the residents of isolated areas of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. (Pixcom Productions)
• HIGHWAY THRU HELL is back for Season 8 in 2019, chronicling the lives of heroic rescue teams who often put their own lives at risk to help keep vital transport highways open and communities safe. (Thunderbird Entertainment Group)
• HEAVY RESCUE: 401, a Top 5 series on Discovery, returns for Season 4 in early 2020, documenting dramatic recoveries along Ontario’s 400-series highways – extending from Windsor in the west to the Québec border in the east. (Thunderbird Entertainment Group)

Animal Planet

• Biologist Niall McCann travels the world to understand the relationship between humans and some of the world’s most charismatic and formidable animals in the upcoming third season of the award-winning BIGGEST AND BADDEST. (Gryphon/Wild Planet Productions)
• KERI: PRAIRIE VET returns for a third season, continuing to follow the action-packed life of travelling vet Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal, on the road 24/7 to care for “all creatures big and small.” (Merit Morion Pictures)
• WILD BEAR RESCUE, the most adorable original Canadian series, returns for Season 3 on June 14 with heartwarming stories of injured and orphaned bear cubs at Northern Lights Wildlife Society in Smithers, B.C. (Omnifilm Entertainment)

Investigation Discovery

• FEAR THY NEIGHBOUR returns for Season 6 this fall. This true-crime thriller follows the disturbing tales of those with the misfortune to unwittingly take up residence within a stone’s throw of a psychopath or killer. (Cream Productions)