Sons Of A Certain Age Can Spell Some Super Anarchy

Two great TV series make their Canadian debut tonight on Super Channel.



First up is the Season 2 premiere of FX's Sons of Anarchy. If you haven't seen it yet and need some Sopranos-like tee-vee crack, this gritty drama set in the biker world of southern Cali is must see, seriously. Check out a preview HERE. Season One was awesome and by all accounts Season Two is even better (yes, the second season has already aired in the U.S., but hey, what you gonna do). And furthermore, creator/showrunner Kurt Sutter has a wicked blog HERE.



And immediately following SOA is the series premiere of TNT's Men Of A Certain Age. Starring Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher, it takes a funny, and sometimes poignant, look at three friends hit hard by middle-age. Yes this series has also started airing down south, but the reviews have been great, and I strongly recommend you check it out.

Check them both out...in Canada, only on Super Channel.

Skins Me Alive Again, Please

Season 3 of the brilliant UK series Skins continues tonight with episode two...airing in Canada only on Super Channel. Any show that begins with Motorhead's Ace Of Spades gots to be worth watching, no?


Sample a taste HERE.

Superhero? Super Channel? Or Super Depressing...

Can good taste alone sustain a nation?

Good question...and the answer is, probably not.

A few years ago, Canadian filmmaker Michael Sparaga and director Blake Van de Graaf made Sidekick, a low budget but fun and clever take on the mythos of the superhero. But faced with the distribution and exhibition issues we all have to deal with here in Canada, Sparaga took his feature on the road, trying to drum up some grassroots interest. The result of that road trip is the documentary Maple Flavour Films.

Kate Taylor reviewed the doc in todays Globe & Mail.

Sparaga has tidily summarized the embarrassing plight of the Canadian film here and, as one of his subjects comments, it is now time for those in the industry to stop talking and start reviewing the possible solutions and either reject or implement them. There are lots of people in this doc ready to say they don't like Canadian movies, but my reaction is always: How would you know you don't like them if you can't ever find them at your local theatre?

Of course, this being the Canadian film industry, Sparaga's story does not have a fairy-tale ending. The point of his tour was to get enough word of mouth going that Sidekick would get a further theatrical release; it didn't. And now his doc is airing on a financially struggling pay channel that is largely eclipsed by its competitors. Oh well, you can also download Maple Flavour Films at iTunes Canada, and it will show up on free TV eventually. You want to be a Canadian superhero, you have to be long on patience.

MFM airs tonight at 8pm on Super Channel, you know, the other movie network you can't easily find on your local dial because of indifferent or biased cable providers. Maple Flavour Films might not be the feel good Canada Day movie you want to see today, but it's certainly worth watching.

Skins And Burn Notice...Effy(n) Super Shows

Watch a preview of Season 3 of super cool Brit series Skins HERE, coming in July to Super Channel here in Canada.

And tomorrow night catch the premiere of Season 3 of the super cool series Burn Notice, also only in Canada on Super Channel.



Some cool summer viewing. Sweet.

Super Channel Party's Down

Party Down, the new series from Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, premieres tonight here in Canada at 9pm EST on Super Channel.


From the press release, Party Down is about a group of struggling dreamers who are stuck working for tips while waiting for their big break. As employees of the L.A. catering company "Party Down," these misfits mingle with guests at everything from sweet sixteen parties to the most lavish Hollywood soirees.

The series is staffed with a combination of Veronica Mars alumni and airs on the Starz network in the U.S. (who has recently joined the growing list of cable nets creating original programming).

It's a pretty funny show...an ensemble half hour comedy in mockumentary vein of Curb Your Enthusiasm or The Office...I really enjoyed it. If you don't have Super Channel, subscribe! Or if you want to taste a sample first you can check out the first episode online at the SuperU website HERE.

Party on!

Crash! Ah-hahh

Sort of a work-related plug, but also kind of a cool tip for Canadian television viewers...


Like Burn Notice, The Closer, Skins, and Sons of Anarchy before this, Super Channel continues to add provocative and entertaining TV to its broadcast roster - next week its Crash, a new series, in fact the first original dramatic series, from the Starz network in the States.

Inspired by the Academy Award®-winning Best Motion Picture of 2006 of the same name, Crash explores the complexities of social and racial tolerance and the meaning of the American dream through characters whose lives intersect and collide as they strive to achieve that dream in Los Angeles California.

The production team headed by writer/executive producer Glen Mazzara (The Shield) includes executive producers Bob Yari, Bobby Moresco and Paul Haggis and co-executive producers Don Cheadle, Tom Nunan and Mark R. Harris – part of the group behind the Oscar-winning movie.

Add to the mix a large ensemble cast, including Dennis Hopper doing his best variation on 'Frank' in years, and you got Crash: the series.



And in a nice bit of cross promotion, you can find the entire first episode of Crash posted HERE on the short film sharing Super U website.

Check it out...it looks good (Alan Sepinwall reviews pilot here), but know this online exclusive will be available in Canada only until November 30, 2008.


Super Channel will premiere the Crash series on its premium pay television network with a double episode Oct. 20 at 10 p.m. ET.

Even YouTube Had To Start Somewhere

Though I'm sure most of us couldn't imagine life without it, YouTube has only been around for about 3 years. Isn't that wild? Who'd have thunk a video sharing website where users can upload, view, and share video clips could take the world by storm...but boy, did it ever.

And I don't know if anyone will ever be able to duplicate YouTubes's success, but I'm here to direct you to a recently launched Canadian 'online film portal' called Super U.

From their website:

SuperU.ca is an online community fostering the development of Canadian short film content in both French and English. Super U encourages filmmakers at all levels. Unique Contests challenge your film making skills and inspire your creative vision. Winners receive big cash prizes and the chance to have films broadcast on Super Channel, Canada’s only National Pay Television service.
Thousands of people will see your short film on Super U – and you’ll get respectful, constructive feedback direct from your audience. Or you can choose that your films only screen to private, invited audiences – the perfect way to distribute a rough cut or reel. You can also upload screenplays, film music, even your resume or bio. Super U is not limited to above-the-line. Every film enthusiast, craftsperson and support person is welcome at Super U.

Yeah, there's the Super Channel connection, but don't regard this as just shameless self promotion --- the two entities are very loosely connected. I'd say Super U is of primary interest to the blossoming Canuck film/video maker or film student...a place to expose your short film to viewers beyond your basement apartment, receive some feedback and/or criticism, and with some talent and a little luck you might actually get noticed.

Super U recently awarded a round of prizes for comedy submissions, and the winning video from a Calgary filmmaker can be seen HERE.

Hmmmm....well, it seems to have borrowed a page from the Roxbury Guys, and doesn't pack the punch of Matt Dancing...but at the end of the day, it probably has as much of a chance to go viral as the next video. Because nobody really knows why some clips click and others don't, though I'm sure those that do succeed has something to do with what McGrath said in his Dancing Matt post..."(it) speaks to me with all that is important and key about video content on the internet: it must punch, and be immediate, and evocative, and most of all -- convey its message in a short, sharp burst."

Wise words that wannabe's should take to heart...and with a site like Super U, the opportunity at least exists for your Canadian short vids to get out there and go wide.

Check out Super U HERE.

Super Channel Dream Team

Okay, it's official and I've also been outed...doing some work for the new Canadian movie network Super Channel.


So far so good...it's another side of the biz for me, but should be fun and I'm actually really looking forward to the experience. And interesting because have reconnected with several people I met when first starting out in the industry (my first ever real 'development deal/contract' as a freelancer writer was with the original Superchannel in the late 80's). Plus am joining a great group of colleagues who were enlisted to run the development end of things --- who I'm sure will all be happier once the mad scramble to get offices up and running is behind us.

More when things settle down.