Old-timey sleuths, headstrong crime fighters, business-savvy dragons and Canada's border-hopping boyfriend are all returning this month to CBC stations across the nation.
It's a line-up dominated by burgeoning hits (Cracked), long-running favourites (Murdoch Mysteries; George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight), and the predominant national distraction (Hockey Night in Canada). And while there are few new outings on the schedule, the fact that so many series are coming back speaks to the national broadcaster's overall good health, according to Sally Catto, CBC's executive director of scripted and commissioned programming.
"To me it's one of the greatest signs of success that we have Republic of Doyle in its fifth season, Heartland in its sixth season, and so many other returning series," said Catto at a recent season preview event that was also attended by veteran interviewer Jian Ghomeshi, Vancouver-based actress Pascale Hutton, dragon David Chilton, and other CBC glitterati. "I'm excited about seeing where those shows continue to evolve this year, especially some of our newer series like Cracked because in Canada, we really develop on air, more so than in the US. We learn from the first season and then really get into it in the second."
What new additions do exist fall into the event programming category: movies and mini-series that allow the CBC to, as Catto put it, showcase new Canadian culture in a different way. This includes Still Life, an atmospheric made-for-TV mystery set in Quebecs Eastern Townships, and the crime drama acquisition Crossing Lines, a Donald Sutherland vehicle about a police unit specializing in cross-border crimes. Coming mid-season: an adaptation of Terry Fallis award-winning novel, The Best Laid Plans.
One thing that you won't find on the CBCs Fall schedule (besides its juggernaut hit Arctic Air, which returns for its third season in January) is any series set in the Lower Mainland — but if the Vancouver-based Catto has her way, we'll be seeing something 604-centric sooner than later.
"I would like to see a show in Vancouver. We haven't had that from the CBC in a long time, and it's time," said Catto. To date, a major reason for the lack of Vancouver-shot series on CBC stations has been the CRTC's strict regional requirements (which haven't recognized Vancouver as a region).
Another barrier to shooting locally is the ongoing tax credit shortfall. "When the tax credits are more appealing elsewhere and we have limited money, it's hard to fill that gap," said Catto. "We'd love to see better tax credits here for producers."
But change is afoot. The CRTC's regional requirements were lifted the day before the season preview event, and Catto — a recently transplanted Torontonian — is hopeful for the future. "Would I love to see a show that is Vancouver for Vancouver? Absolutely," said Catto. "We do have a number of shows right now in development set in Vancouver, and we're very cognizant of the fact that we aren't representing Vancouver, and we completely want to be."
For the full Fall schedule, visit cbc.ca/television/index.html.
