TCA: CTV greenlights ‘Satisfaction,’ ‘Played’
Luke MacFarlane, Ryan Belleville and Stephanie Lemelin in CTV’s new series 'Satisfaction'.
Amber Dowling, January 10, 2013 9:55:35 AM
CTV announced two new Canadian series during the 2013 Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour on Thursday morning, adding drama Played and comedy Satisfaction to its lineup of original productions.
Played (working title), revolves around a group of undercover detectives from the Covert Investigations Unit (CIU), who balance their personal lives with high-stakes, professional ones. Thirteen hour-long episodes will be produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Back Alley Film Productions.
Casting has not been announced, but the project is executive-produced by Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman (Bomb Girls, Durham County), Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Being Human). Creator Greg Nelson (Saving Hope), serves as the co-showrunner alongside Mitchell.
Production on the series begins in Toronto this spring; an air date has not been confirmed.
Satisfaction also begins production this spring on 12 half-hour episodes, in addition to the Toronto-shot pilot from last fall. The comedy revolves around a group of five friends working through the married and single lives, and stars Luke MacFarlane (Brothers and Sisters), Stephanie Lemelin (Bones), Ryan Belleville (The L.A. Complex), Vik Sahay (Chuck) and Leah Renee (The Playboy Club).
The laffer is produced by DHX Media’s Michael Donovan (Bowling for Columbine) and is written by Tim McAuliffe (Up All Night, The Office).
The shows join a CTV original production lineup that includes The Listener and Saving Hope, as well as new Vancouver-shot drama Motive and multi-cam comedy Spun Out.
According to CTV president of programming and sports, Phil King, these pickups are part of an overall strategy of bringing more Canadian series into the heavily U.S. reliant CTV and CTV Two schedules.
“The main thing that we’re trying hard to do, and it’s a major goal, is to add more Canadian content,” King tells TV Guide Canada. “You can either do the bare minimum, what the CRTC tells you, or you can do more. I look at it as an opportunity, because there’s an opportunity here. The way networks are evolving, the more content you can own a piece of, I think you’re better off in the future.”
Follow Amber on Twitter as she covers the 2013 Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena.
Have a TV question? Email your Ask Amber questions at amber@tvguide.ca.
No comments:
Post a Comment