Toronto: In the Media and Pop Culture

[Benc7]

I'm sorry to say I agree with Filip and Grey Towers; this isn't what I'd hoped it would be. It could be set in America; apart from the Toronto buildings (recognizable as such to us), who would know the difference? It's as if they're ashamed to mention the location. In any American series, the identity of the city would have been established again and again with wide, lingering, panoramic shots and a million references to it. I'll watch another couple of episodes and then...well, I hope it isn't the complete sell out I fear it is.

[Nouvellecosse]

Yea, I personally don't view these "closeted" Canadian shows any differently than the American ones. I suppose they are technically better since they are helping the economy and local talent, but the sting of the snubbing cancels out the good.

[Canadian Chocho]

Can someone explain to me what the hell was the deal witht the crazy man? If the show din't intend for us to know, why the hell did we "follow" him 2 hours prior?

[Filip]

Yea that was another one of my pet peeves.. This crazy Croatian nutjob shoots up a building and we don't even know his story? Come on, the man had something on his mind.. Let's hear it!

PS My personal favourite was when he shot the woman he said 'kurvo jedno' which means 'you slut' yet the translation said 'go to hell' tsk tsk tsk... Who taught THEM Serbian? Also Croats say 'dom' instead of 'kuca' (meaning house) so they didn't even get the Croatian right..

[Canadian Chocho]

They never translate things properly I've noticed. Any Spanish insult is just translated to (ass or fuck).

[Taller, Better]

It may not be perfect, but it sounds like a step in the right direction. I'm so sick of all those quasi historical and "period pieces" that are boring to tears. The WORST are the productions they make that they try and make attractive to both Quebec and the rest of Canada by dubbing it into either English or French. I just cannot watch any serial made about hockey.

[Grey Towers]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I'm so sick of all those quasi historical and "period pieces" that are boring to tears.

So true. What about those embarrassingly stodgy heritage commercials, like the one about the first woman in medical school being ridiculed, or the aboriginals. I cringe at how wooden, pandering, and politically correct they are. Awful shite, but somehow so, so Canadian to the core.

[York Transit]

Well the show won Friday's primetime ratings in the US. Wonder how it did on CTV.

8:00 p.m.

ABC – Dance Machine
Viewers: 3.25 million (#4), 18-49: 0.7/ 3 (#5)

CBS – Ghost Whisperer (R)
Viewers: 5.23 million (#1), A18-49: 1.2/ 5 (#1)

NBC – Most Outrageous Moments (R)
Viewers: 4.52 million (#2), A18-49: 1.0/ 5 (#2)

Fox – Movie: 2 Fast, 2 Furious (R)
Viewers: 2.51 million (#5), A18-49: 0.8/ 4 (#4)

CW – Friday Night Smackdown!
Viewers: 3.35 million (#3), A18-49: 1.1/ 5 (#2)

———-

8:30 p.m.

ABC – Dance Machine
Viewers: 3.18 million (#4), 18-49: 0.7/ 3 (#5)

CBS – Ghost Whisperer (R)
Viewers: 5.41 million (#1), A18-49: 1.3/ 5 (#2)

NBC – Most Outrageous Moments (R)
Viewers: 5.24 million (#2), A18-49: 1.4/ 6 (#1)

Fox – Movie: 2 Fast, 2 Furious (R)
Viewers: 2.87 million (#5), A18-49: 1.0/ 4 (#4)

CW – Friday Night Smackdown!
Viewers: 3.77 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 5 (#3)

———-

9:00 p.m.

ABC – Duel
Viewers: 3.41 million (#3), 18-49: 0.8/ 3 (#5)

CBS – Numb3rs (R)
Viewers: 6.41 million (#1), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#1)

NBC – Dateline
Viewers: 5.92 million (#2), A18-49: 1.3/ 5 (#2t)

Fox – Movie: 2 Fast, 2 Furious (R)
Viewers: 3.28 million (#5), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#4)

CW – Friday Night Smackdown!
Viewers: 4.04 million (#3), A18-49: 1.3/ 5 (#2t)

———-

9:30 p.m.

ABC – Duel
Viewers: 3.71 million (#3), 18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#5)

CBS – Numb3rs (R)
Viewers: 6.75 million (#1), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#3)

NBC – Dateline
Viewers: 6.42 million (#2), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#1t)

Fox – Movie: 2 Fast, 2 Furious (R)
Viewers: 3.62 million (#4), A18-49: 1.3/ 5 (#4)

CW – Friday Night Smackdown!
Viewers: 4.46 million (#3), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#1t)

———-

10:00 p.m.

ABC – 20/20
Viewers: 5.01 million (#2), 18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#2)

CBS – Flashpoint (premiere)
Viewers: 8.03 million (#1), A18-49: 1.9/ 6 (#1)

NBC – Dateline
Viewers: 6.35 million (#2), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#2)

———-

10:30 p.m.

ABC – 20/20
Viewers: 5.47 million (#3), 18-49: 1.6/ 6 (#2)

CBS – Flashpoint (premiere)
Viewers: 8.23 million (#1), A18-49: 1.9/ 6 (#1)

NBC – Dateline
Viewers: 5.89 million (#2), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#3)

[Taller, Better]

Wow!! Very respectable. So, again, is this available online to watch streaming video? I am very curious to see it..

[York Transit]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Wow!! Very respectable. So, again, is this available online to watch streaming video? I am very curious to see it..

Yup, you can watch the full video @ http://broadband.ctv.ca

You have to snoop around to find Flashpoint

[vid]

Originally Posted by Jaye101

It's like Toronto is a bad word. In the Disney show Life With Derek, they'll say "let's go to a leafs game," or "I can't believe we moved from our condo in Downtown Toronto." But they will never say they live in Toronto. There's also another show, Naturally, Sadie, which is tapped in Riverdale and set in WHITBY!

1. You watch kids shows?
2. IIRC, Life With Derek is supposed to be set in London. (I only know this because my name is Derek and I wikied it.) It was filmed in Newfieland.

[DENTROBATE54]

Originally Posted by York Transit

Well the show won Friday's primetime ratings in the US. Wonder how it did on CTV.

I'm not surprised it won its timeslot. Look at it's competition: Talking Heads #1- Give Me A Break vs. Talking Heads #2- To Catch A Predator. No Contest. Plus Veronica Mars' dad's the lead. Why are so many new series written off before there's even a chance of them finding an audience (Jericho, Invasion, Men in Trees, Close to Home, even Shark)??

[Taller, Better]

Uhmm.. the competitors were 20/20 and Dateline. Both respected and popular shows.
Not everyone clicks off the tube when a political discussion show is on, particularly in the States.

Thanks for the link to the streaming video, York Transit!

[Jaye101]

Originally Posted by vid

1. You watch kids shows?
2. IIRC, Life With Derek is supposed to be set in London. (I only know this because my name is Derek and I wikied it.) It was filmed in Newfieland.

1. Yeah, common, I'm only 18.
2. I never knew it was set in London. And only the pilot was filmed in Newfoundland, after that it moved production to Toronto.

[Taller, Better]

I just watched Flashpoint and thought it was great! I'm confused by the criticism.. why is this a generic "anywhere" show? It is obviously set in Toronto, and the references are all to this city. Are they supposed to keep saying "Toronto" every now and then? Do they keep saying things like: "Gee what a wonderful day it is today here in Boston" in American shows? Anyhow, I thought it was quite entertaining. One way you can tell it is Canadian is that the actors have a higher pitch when talking than Americans. But I don't ever remember seeing a Canadian show done that well or slickly- I liked Street Legal, but the camera work and editing sucked the big one. I've enjoyed some shows in the past, but the production and camera work in this one is far superior.

[Filip]

Street Legal's plot was the inspiration for Law and Order down the road... THAT was a well done Toronto show.

[DENTROBATE54]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Uhmm.. the competitors were 20/20 and Dateline. Both respected and popular shows.
Not everyone clicks off the tube when a political discussion show is on, particularly in the States.

Thanks for the link to the streaming video, York Transit!

Yeah, but still it's a Friday night. How much seriousness can you handle then? I watch 20/20 every now and again, don't assume I don't because I said that.

Typically shows cast off to Friday's primetime are put on a deathwatch. Shockingly, Ghost Whisperer has thrived there but it's a noted exception. Check back the last five years on all the major networks and see just how many Friday night shows are still in production. Close to Home, which I mentioned earlier, had the 9 o'clock slot on CBS and now its kapoot despite great casting and interesting plotlines.

Flashpoint was great and being from Toronto I picked up on the landmark references right away, making me as a viewer swept right into the action. I agree with some posters that the dialogue and line delivery was a bit wooden and too technical at times, BUT it was only the pilot episode. If it gets picked up for a second season (probabaly will, the "procedurals" genre needs something fresh after the departure of the original CSI and possibly CSI Miami, hopefully soon ) I'm sure they'll polish out the kinks.

Street Legal's plot was the inspiration for Law and Order down the road... THAT was a well done Toronto show.

Oh, I have vague memories of that show from my childhood. I always found it odd that the lawyers too had to wear long black frocks into court, not just the judges.

[koolio]

I don't think 20/20 and Dateline are political discussion shows anyways. I haven't seen much of 20/20 but I'm quite certain it focuses on general interest topics within the States. Dateline is usually too busy luring child predators into random mansions for our viewing pleasure...not political thats for sure

But yeah, I just watched Flashpoint on ctv.ca.....it definitely was a good pilot. Looked quite polished (obviously not to the level of CSI though). My only issue with the episode was the fact that the sniper's emotional trauma was overplayed a bit too much without him saying much of anything. I know their intention is to set the tone for future episodes but it wasn't delivered properly (the actor playing the role seemed a bit stiff). Anyways, I hope it doesn't get canceled. Looks very promising and the cast is quite a nice ensemble as well.

[Filip]

Originally Posted by DENTROBATE54

Oh, I have vague memories of that show from my childhood. I always found it odd that the lawyers too had to wear long black frocks into court, not just the judges.

Hehehe.. Bravo is airing reruns at 6am, 12pm and 6pm... Very well done show, one of the rare shows that gets my attention.

Also the woman sniper in Flashpoint couldn't keep her mouth closed.. It was constantly hovering half open.. I just wanted to go over there and staple her shut!

[Grey Towers]

Originally Posted by koolio

I don't think 20/20 and Dateline are political discussion shows anyways. I haven't seen much of 20/20 but I'm quite certain it focuses on general interest topics within the States. Dateline is usually too busy luring child predators into random mansions for our viewing pleasure...not political thats for sure

I watch both regularly, and I wouldn't consider either anything approaching dry or erudite. Dateline (along with 48 Hours) has over the years gradually morphed into being all about true crime, which suits me just fine since I miss quality true crime shows like Unsolved Mysteries and Cold Case Files. 20/20 is still a general interest newsmagazine, like Canada's W5 but with a stronger tabloid bent; a little bit of this, a little bit of that, with John Stossel's nasal libertarian influence an irritant.