Toronto: In the Media and Pop Culture

[Taller, Better]

If someone had stapled Cynthia Dale's mouth shut I may have enjoyed Street Legal just that much more! But it was a good series. Anyhow, in today's paper they said that Flashpoint greatly exceeded expectations. That is good news, and I am just happy for a local company that has made it to the big leagues. Good news for local actors and the industry. If it succeeds and gets on permanently, I am more than sure they will start tossing out the occasional frkn' "Toronto" bone to keep us all happy.

[York Transit]

Even though the show aired on Friday already, the repeat on Sunday got 5.7 million viewers.

[Taller, Better]

I don't doubt it. If I had been mindlessly watching the tv, and seen that intro, I think I might have been tempted to watch the whole show; regardless of where I came from.
That was one of the most beautiful opening shots I have seen on a tv show. Here is the direct link if anyone has
not seen it yet.

http://watch.ctv.ca/#clip64083

[ggaleazz]

Agreed Taller about the shot.

I caught the Sunday replay and I think it will do much better on Sundays (or even mid week) vs on Fridays. I thought it was a great show, it did remind me though of that stand off that happened downtown a few years back. Anyone remember that?

[Taller, Better]

That hostage taking was the inspiration for the episode's plot.

[DENTROBATE54]

Originally Posted by DENTROBATE54

The premiere's main plot was literally ripped from the headlines. About four years ago a man shot his wife and took another woman hostage in the CBD, with snipers eventually taking him out. The only diff, this show substituted the blacks involved with Croats. There also wasn't a crazy running out into the line of fire !!

Here's what actually happened in greater detail:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...ub=CTVNewsAt11

Toronto police free woman, kill hostage taker
Updated Wed. Aug. 25 2004 11:22 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Shock, horror and disbelief filled the heart of Toronto's financial district as police ended a hostage taking by shooting the gunman dead.

The dramatic and tragic incident was carried live on local TV. It tied up throngs of morning rail commuters at the downtown Union Station, and brought several city blocks to a virtual standstill.

The trouble began shortly after 8 a.m. in a food court in the nearby TD Centre office complex.

Police were called after a 45-year-old man from the east-end community of Ajax tried to shoot his estranged wife in the head. Police have not released the name of the man, but unofficial reports identified him as Tony Brooks.

"He fired shots in her direction but did not hit her," Toronto police said in a statement.

"She started to run away but she tripped and fell over. He approached her and started assaulting her."

The woman, who was on her way to work, wasn't badly hurt and needed a few stitches to her head. She was being kept in a downtown hospital for observation, police said.

Hundreds watched hostage ordeal

After that, a police officer spotted the man as he walked away. He ended up grabbing a woman passing by and holding her hostage in front of Union Station.

"She didn't really move around, she just did whatever he said," a witness told CTV affiliate CFTO News.

Austin Delaney, a reporter for CFTO News, says the suspect was very calm.

"He put a shotgun to her head and stood by a hot dog vendor and didn't say really anything to the hostage at all," Delaney said.

Reports say all this went on for about 50 minutes. Police yelled "Drop the gun! Drop the gun!" but the man would not comply.

"I was dumbfounded. I didn't believe it," said Susan Cormier, who works in a stockbrokers' office.

"It's what you see on television. It doesn't happen in real life," she told the Canadian Press.

"He just grabbed her," said a newspaper seller called Dave.

"Everybody else left the area and more police came."

Police opened fire

Concerned the situation would escalate and others could be hurt, a police marksman fired.

Witnesses said the sharp crack of the shot was clearly audible, and left witnesses in shock as police moved in to secure the area.

"I just saw the guy falling down and that was it," a man told CFTO news.

"Witnesses told me that he (the hostage-taker) just stepped back for a split second, and the police saw their moment and an officer close by fired the shot," Delaney said.

The hostage, a woman in her early 20s whose name was not released, walked away from the scene, traumatized but otherwise unscathed.

Police held red sheets around the body to prevent onlookers from seeing the man until he was taken away in an ambulance, at which point fire crews moved in to clean up the area

People said it was hard to believe what they'd seen happening.

"Like you see (such things) in a movie and you're all cool," one man said.

"It's not cool. It's not cool at all."

'No choice,' chief says

Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino commended his officers for setting the woman free and ending the crisis.

"We had a situation that is very, very volatile, extremely dangerous. There was no choice," Fantino said.

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit is looking into what happened. The unit is called in whenever there is serious injury or death involving police.

Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital, where the man's wife was taken after the first attack, released a statement from her family asking for privacy.

"We came close to losing a family member. We are asking that you respect our privacy at this time. Our main concern is for our family member to get the appropriate care."

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed relief that the hostage was unharmed.

Ontario' Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said emergency procedures around Union Station, the central point for all rail traffic in the region, may need to be reviewed.

[ggaleazz]

My only hope (aside from not getting all their scripts from real life occurrences) is that they use locations other than the CBD. There are lots of other very 'Toronto' parts of the city that this could be placed in. Little Italy, Danforth, Junction, The Village (sort of CBD), Yorkville, and Kensignton all come to mind.

[Jaye101]

Not to mention Corso Italia, Hillcrest, Little Jamaica, and Midtown as a whole.

[Canadian Chocho]

Originally Posted by Jaye101

Not to mention Corso Italia, Hillcrest, Little Jamaica, and Midtown as a whole.

I can see a mafia episode in the works already.

[Epi]

Mafia would be Woodbridge :p

[ggaleazz]

No Woodbridge would be more like wanna be mafia kids running around in their souped up Civics (paid for with momma and dadda's money), setting up street races.

YO!

[Taller, Better]

and getting ready for the long trek to drive down to the Entertainment District on Friday night!

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

http://watch.ctv.ca/#clip64083

the webpage said that the clip was not allowed in my region (SEAsia)...I guess there are disadvantages to being waaaaay out of town.

So...does anyone have an alternative source for the clip?

Cheers, m

[Benc7]

I watched "The Call" on CBC last night. It was a lesson in the "establishing shot"; the first 15 seconds had great panoramic views of the city and there was absolutely no doubt where this show was being filmed. The off-hand references to street addresses, neighbourhoods, the many shots of the city and it's surroundings gave this show the natural feel of Toronto that "Flashpoint" didn't have in the first episode. I hope the next episode is better.
The copyright date of "The Call" was 2006; the aerial shots of the city reminded me of how far construction projects have progressed in the mere two years since it was made.

[Canadian Chocho]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

and getting ready for the long trek to drive down to the Entertainment District on Friday night!

You're forgetting the quintessential Ferrari bumper sticker!

[vid]

Originally Posted by Canadian Chocho

You're forgetting the quintessential Ferrari bumper sticker!

I love those! It's as if they think sticking that on their car will make it go faster!

And then all along the side they have those bullet hole stickers!

"WeLcOmE to ThUnDeR BaY1!1!!!! "

[koolio]

Originally Posted by vid

I love those! It's as if they think sticking that on their car will make it go faster!

And then all along the side they have those bullet hole stickers!

"WeLcOmE to ThUnDeR BaY1!1!!!! "

WTF? There are guidos in Thunder Bay too? Sorry to hear that.

[vid]

No, we don't have guidos. The sticking of Ferrari stickers on cars is a passion of hicks, as well. They think it will make their car go faster.

[Benc7]

The second episode of "Flashpoint" was much better than the first; I guess my PVR can remain set to "record all episodes". The acting was great and the city looks so good in HD. I think I’m becoming a fan.

[DENTROBATE54]

I thought both episodes were great actually and looks very promising for upcoming entries . This show kind of reminds me of Cold Case in how the scenes are shot and stylized and the subtle dwelving into the characters' off-duty lives. The musical montage at the end is also a standard framing technique used by most procedurals of this nature.

One qualm though, who didn't see the heart transplant patient giving up the heart for Pheobe coming from a mile away? I mean c'mon!