Upbeat ceremony sheds light on new CBC-TV season
CBC has raised the curtain on a schedule of slick, vibrant and youthful programming set to roll out over the 2007-2008 television season.
In a glitzy afternoon ceremony presided over by host George Stroumboulopoulos and peppered with the broadcaster's most famous faces, the CBC unveiled a raft of programming — both brand new and returning shows — scheduled to hit the airwaves beginning this fall.
The high-energy presentation kicked off with a nod to the CBC's recent runaway hit, Little Mosque on the Prairie, which was given the heady title of "saviour of the CBC" and is one of next season's highlights.
"I thought it was hilarious. My favourite headline of all time is 'The Muslims have saved the CBC,'" Little Mosque creator Zarqa Nawaz told CBC Arts Online.
Even before its January premiere, the sitcom drew international interest. It has since played to packed audiences in Los Angeles, New York and overseas, where it has been sold for distribution in France and piqued interest from Norway to Australia, said producer Mary Darling.
Other surprise hits set for sophomore seasons include crime drama Intelligence, the entrepreneur-based reality show Dragon's Den and a language-related edition of the quiz show Test the Nation.
Though many criticized the public broadcaster's entrance into the world of reality programming, the audience has warmed to it, said Kirstine Layfield, CBC-TV's executive director of network programming.
'[Audiences] saw that we weren't going to this kind of weird, Extreme Makeover plastic-surgery place … they understand we're doing this with a purpose.'—Kirstine Layfield, CBC-TV
"It was hard for people to understand what reality TV was in the world of CBC," she said Tuesday afternoon.
"Now that they've seen what we've done, I think it's less scary. Now that they've seen Dragon's Den, they've seen Test the Nation, they saw that we weren't going to this kind of weird, Extreme Makeover plastic-surgery place and they're less frightened and they understand we're doing this with a purpose."
Current affairs and entertainment show The Hour, hosted by Stroumboulopoulos, comedy hits like Rick Mercer Report, long-running drama Coronation Street and David Suzuki's venerable The Nature of Things are among other returning favourites.
Flagship newscast The National will be added to CBC-TV's expanding slate of high-definition programming, joining documentary specials and hockey broadcasts.
In addition to building on traditional strengths like hockey and curling coverage, CBC Sports will tackle the Olympics in Beijing, Blue Jays baseball games and two World Cup soccer tournaments: the FIFA U-20 and the Women's World Cup.
Noteworthy new CBC productions and co-productions will range from the sexy Henry VIII miniseries The Tudors and an adaptation of Mordecai Richler's St. Urbain's Horseman to the reality show No Opportunity Wasted and Garth Drabinsky's theatre world talent search Triple Sensation, hosted by CBC Radio's Andrew Craig.
Former theatre impresario Drabinsky called his show "the antidote of all the other reality shows" and a celebration of young Canadian talent.
"It's not about a publicity stunt to find an audience for an old and tired musical," he said. "It's not a karaoke contest."
For the three-episode series, competitors will be whittled down to a dozen finalists who will compete for a $150,000 scholarship to the world-renowned theatrical training school the winner chooses.
"We didn't follow any of those judging gimmicks," said actress Cynthia Dale, who joins Drabinsky as one of the show's five judges.
"It's scrutinizing talent in a very rigorous way and in an intelligent way," Drabinsky said. "Not to destroy talent, but to raise them up."
While Layfield admitted the schedule is an attempt to attract younger audiences, "I'm not going after 16-year-olds."
More importantly, she said, she wants to draw all viewers who want more than the "typical American programming that they're going to get on our competition.
"Television is about trying and risk and experimentation. It's also about doing it in as measured a way as you can," Layfield said.
"We have to try things that are different. We can't just make Canadian versions of American shows. We have to make things that are truly our own."
New CD Releases, May 29: R. Kelly, Richard Thompson, Jason Alden
R. Kelly "Double Up"
The R&B king has called upon a number of his talented pals, including T.I., Nelly, Snoop Dogg and Kid Rock, to help on his latest offering, "Double Up."
The set features the song "Rise Up," which was penned in response to last month's killings at Virginia Tech. According to a press release, Kelly and his label, Jive, will donate 100% of the net proceeds from the digital sales of that single to Virginia Tech's official fund, the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.
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Richard Thompson "Sweet Warrior"
The British troubadour, who first came to fame as part of the influential folk-rock band Fairport Convention, plugs in for his first electrified rock record since 2003's "The Old Kit Bag." The 14-song "Sweet Warrior" includes some overtly political numbers, notably the "War on Iraq"-inspired "Dad's Gonna Kill Me."
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Jason Aldean "Relentless"
The cowboy crooner will try to live up to his fast start(he was dubbed the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist for 2006) on this sophomore set. The album contains the mega-hit single "Johnny Cash" as well as a duet with Miranda Lambert on "Grown Woman."
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Perry Farrell's Satellite Party "Ultra Payloaded"
The former leader of Jane's Addiction, undeniably one of the most important bands in alt-rock history, is out to make some noise with a different cast of characters. Farrell's fellow Party-goers include The Red Hot Chili Pepper's Flea, dance-queen Fergie and--get this--classic-rock legend Jim Morrison, who makes a posthumous appearance on this set.
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Johnette Napolitano "Scarred"
The voice behind Concrete Blonde, the eclectic rock band best known for the hit "Joey," returns to the fray with this new solo effort. Napolitano performed some of the "Scarred" material during her set at South by Southwest earlier this year and is supporting the album with a tour that currently stretches through mid-June.
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More new releases:
Herb Alpert, "Rise" (Shout Factory)
Cary Brothers, "Who You Are" (Bluhammock)
Circa Survive, "On Letting Go" (Equal Vision)
Glenn Gould, "Bach: The Goldberg Variations 1955 Performance" (Sony)
Juliana Hatfield, Frank Smith, "Sittin' in a Tree" (EP) (Ye Olde)
Katatonia, "Live Consternation" (Peaceville)
Kool Keith, "Ultra-Octa-Doom" (2b1)
Gary Moore, "Close as You Get" (Eagle)
Piano Magic, "Part Monster" (Important)
Len Price 3, "Rent a Crowd" (Wicked Cool)
Ray Price, "The Essential Ray Price" (Sony)
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, "In Glorious Times" (The End)
Jay Soto, "Stay a While" (Nu Groove)
Spur of the Moment, "Urban Renewal" (SOTM)
Russell Watson, "The Voice: The Ultimate Collection" (Universal)
Cephalic Carnage, "Xenosapien" (Relapse)
Soundtracks and scores:
"Transformers: The Movie" (Sony)
There'll Be a 'Shrek 4' and '5,' But That's All
DreamWorks Animation plans to produce two more Shrek movies before shutting down the franchise, CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has told the Australian newspaper The Age.
"It's a finite story, has been from the beginning and I think that's part of its integrity, part of its strength, that we're not thinking this up as we go," he said in an interview with the Melbourne newspaper.
"Ultimately we will come back to understand how Shrek arrived in that swamp. We will reveal his story."
Although acknowledging that he is committed to making movies that will make money for DreamWorks' investors, Katzenberg maintained that he himself never thinks about money.
"I've never done anything in my entire life for money. ... I'm amazingly disengaged from it, always have been. I probably would have done even better had I ever paid any attention to it. [His wealth is estimated at $800 million.] My partner David Geffen is a genius at it. He's worth a gajillion times more than me because he does pay attention to it -- he's brilliant at investing."
Springsteen Rocks With 'Seeger' Band On CD/DVD
The last time Thom Zimny edited a Bruce Springsteen concert film, it was "Hammersmith Odeon, London '75," a recording that -- as the legend goes, anyway -- was literally forgotten and left in a cold dark corner of Springsteen's vaults.
When the tapes were finally discovered a few years ago, it took Zimny a while to figure out what they contained, as they had no labels, set lists, track titles, scribbled-on notebook paper, sticky notes -- anything that would have offered the slightest hint what he was looking at.
The new "Live in Dublin," due June 5 via Columbia, was probably a little easier. Shot at the Point in Dublin over three nights in November, it captures the final stand of Springsteen's Seeger Sessions band (credited on the live set as only The Sessions Band) as it roars through nearly two dozen traditionals ("Jesse James," "Eyes on the Prize"), resculpted folk and rave-up gospel numbers ("When the Saints Go Marching In," "This Little Light of Mine").
There are also radically reconfigured takes on songs from Springsteen's own catalog, including a 10-minute big-band take on the "Nebraska" track "Open All Night," a shimmering, violin-flavored "Atlantic City" and an effervescent run through "Blinded by the Light."
To capture "Live in Dublin," which will see release as a concert DVD, a Blu-ray disc (both featuring stereo and 5.1 surround sound), a two-CD release and a combination DVD/CD package, Zimny set up nine HD-ready cameras in the Point and operated under a rule he uses whenever shooting Springsteen in performance: try to stay out of the way.
"In all my experiences working with Bruce, the music is the central focus," he tells Billboard.com. "You want to make sure the energy is translated, but in a way that doesn't interfere with the dialogue between performer and audience."
Zimny's relationship with Springsteen began back in 2000, when he edited the Emmy-winning "Live in New York City," which documented Springsteen's reunion tour with the E Street Band. Since then, he's worked on 2003's Emmy-nominated "Live in Barcelona" and Springsteen's 2005 edition of "VH1 Storytellers."
"Each film really has its own unique journey," Zimny said, "With 'Storytellers,' for instance, it's a smaller space and you want to incorporate the sense of audience. But this was a really different experience. It's such a large band, and a great band, and it's crazy to see the effects of all the performers in this footage."
Zimny adds that Springsteen plays as big of a role behind the scenes as he does on stage. "Bruce and (manager Jon) Landau are always involved in the filmmaking process," Zimny said. "Bruce is very aware of that film process; he's always been there in the cutting room. I imagine it's what it's like to be working with him as he makes the albums: all the details are examined, from the writing to the stage design to how things translate to screen. All the choices are tried. That's the beauty of the cutting room: that's where you find the soul of the piece."
GM Place, Vancouver - May 28, 2007 - Police kick off reunion tour
VANCOUVER - And they said it wouldn't happen.
The reunion tour that no one ever thought was going to materialize finally did on Monday night as '80s New Wave kingpins The Police opened their 30th anniversary trek with a sold-out show at GM Place in front of some 20,000 ecstatic fans.
Singer-bassist Sting, 55, the lone holdout all these years - 23 to be exact since The Police last toured for their last studio album, Synchronicity - seemed genuinely happy to be on stage again with his former bandmates - drummer Stewart Copeland, 54, and guitarist Andy Summers, 64 - who have patiently been waiting for him to return to the fold while he enjoyed a hugely successful solo career.
For God's sake, the trio of two Brits and one American even hugged each other in front of the cheering crowd after performing a two-hour, hit-heavy set from their seven year career (1977-1984) that saw them sell a staggering 50 million albums while infighting broke out towards the end.
"Tonight is our first official concert in 25 years, we chose Vancouver, 'cause you're Vancouver, alright?" said Sting, who had been rehearsing with Copeland and Summers most recently in a log house on the Squamish Indian reserve in North Vancouver. "I like this city very much."
Still, anyone expecting the fierce punk-tinged reggae rock of The Police at their prime when they split up in 1984, instead got a jazzier, more mellow version of the acclaimed trio of accomplished musicians.
Many songs got some serious retooling and not always for the better: Don't Stand So Close To Me, Truth Hits Everybody, and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic were among the disappointments.
Still, The Police's show, a comparatively stripped down affair compared to the huge productions put on by the likes of The Rolling Stones and U2, opened strongly with Message In A Bottle, Synchronicity II, Spirits In The Material World and the combo of Voices In My Head/When The World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around.
But there was a serious lull in the middle portion of the show with plenty of slow songs or ballads - Driven To Tears, Walking On The Moon, Wrapped Around Your Finger, The Bed's Too Big Without You, and Murder By Numbers.
At a press conference earlier this year to announce their reunion tour, Sting insisted it would be just "three guys on stage, that's all. Simple but spectacular."
Well, he was mostly right.
Their in-the-round stage saw the trio playing in a pit with steps up to a semi-circular catwalk behind them so they could play to audience members behind them whenever the mood struck.
There was also small steps up to ramps on either side of the stage which Sting used to the delight of the crowd.
It has to be said that Sting looked and sounded outstanding with his brilliant blue eyes offset by a nice tan, chiselled arms and a tight-fitting sleeveless white shirt and narrow black pants along with black combat boots.
Whenever he performed a scissor-kick at the end of song or stood on Copeland's drum riser and wiggled his bum, the reaction from fans was palatable.
But other than genuinely slick lighting and a video screen, onto which footage of a moving dinosaur skeleton was projected during Walking In Your Footsteps, it was a surprisingly simple affair.
Musically, the most interesting choices came from Copeland, who looked like a mad scientist behind his enormous drum kit with white gloves, glasses and a head band.
He often alternated with a second set of percussion instruments that were placed on a riser above his drum kit, including a gong that he struck to kick off the entire evening.
By the final third of the show, such highlights as Invisible Sun, during which warn-torn video of Iraq was shown, I Can't Stand Losing You, Roxanne, King Of Pain, So Lonely, Every Breath You Take and Next To You, saw that old Police magic return.
Opening Monday night was Fiction Plane, a rock trio fronted by Sting's 31-year-old son Joe Sumner, whose upper register sounds uncannily like that of his father's. (Also seen in the audience was Sting's second wife, Trudie Styler and L.A Law alum Corbin Bernsen.)
Fiction Plane's 45-minute set was perfectly serviceable but hardly exceptional and given the circumstances, they can hardly be blamed for being a little overwhelmed.
With the passage of time, they are sure to become more relaxed, and hopefully, the headliners will pick up a little more steam in that troublesome middle section or just change the songs outright.
The Police return to the same Vancouver venue for a second show Wednesday night before heading to Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday where some tickets are available - a rarity on the otherwise mostly sold out tour. The trio don't arrive in Toronto until July 22-23 for shows at the Air Canada Centre followed by Montreal's Bell Centre on July 25-26 before a return to the ACC on Nov. 8.
SET LIST
What The Police played on Monday night at their world tour launch in Vancouver:
Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Spirits in the Material World
Voices Inside My Head/When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
Don't Stand So Close to Me
Driven to Tears
Walking on the Moon
Truth Hits Everybody
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
The Bed's Too Big Without You
Murder by Numbers
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking in Your Footsteps
Can't Stand Losing You
Roxanne
ENCORE:
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
SECOND ENCORE
Next to You