Friday, March 17, 2006

Tanya Huff TV series

Tanya Huff is one of my oldest and dearest friends -- we first met when were both students at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto in 1979. So I am just so totally tickled pink that Canada's Space: The Imagination Station has ordered 22 hour-long episodes of a TV series based on Tanya's popular Blood books. Way to go, Tanya! I'm also thrilled for my mystery-writing friend Maureen Jennings, who got a 13-episode order for a series based on her books. Woohoo! Here's the Toronto Star report:

Three new series for CHUM
Mar. 17, 2006. 01:00 AM

CHUM Television has ordered three new one-hour TV drama series for the fall and cancelled two others.

The Murdoch Mysteries from Shaftsbury Films, starring Peter Outerbridge, has been picked up for 13 episodes. Based on Maureen Jennings's novels and set in late-Victorian Toronto, the casting may prove to be a problem. Outerbridge already stars in another Shaftesbury series, ReGenesis. Will he be able to fit in two hour-long series a year?

Also picked up is Blood Ties, based on Tanya Huff's popular Blood novels. This one-hour series has a commitment for 22 episodes and will be shot in Vancouver with casting still to be announced.

Also picked up is the hour drama Across The River To Motor City about an insurance investigator in 1960s Windsor and Detroit. Six episodes have been ordered.

CHUM also cancelled two Canadian dramas. Demise of The Collector was expected but not the stylish Godiva's, which had garnered some critical praise in its second year, as well as popularity with younger viewers.

-- Jim Bawden


4 Comments:

At March 20, 2006 1:43 PM , Blogger Iden Pierce Ford said...

Thanks for the mention Robert, Maureen and I are still in the clouds. And I can tell you that CHUM/Bravo television had the highest ratings in their history for a movie of the week last September when they broadcast Under The Dragons Tail. This was the catalyst that created their desire for a whole series of original episodes. The good news is that Maureen will be the creative consultant on the show, which will be headed up by Robert Carney, known for Due South, ENG, and Night Heat to name a few projects he was involved in over the years. Talk soon, Iden

 
At March 20, 2006 2:14 PM , Blogger RobertJSawyer said...

Excellent, excellent news, Iden!

(For lurkers: Iden Ford is Maureen Jennings's husband.)

 
At March 20, 2006 3:10 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

While I'm happy for Tanya Huff, I am sad that her series came at the expense of Godiva's. It's too bad that most networks believe that there's only so much Canadian television to go around.

 
At November 19, 2006 6:21 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Iden Ford and I share something in common - our name! He is the only other person I have ever located with that name, although we probably don't share the same middle name. Iden and I have communicated with each other in the past. Just to keep us deliniated, please use his middle initial when metioning him on the internet. My wife Jeannette, saw this and wondered if I had another wife!

Thanks,

Iden C. Ford
WEstland, Michigan

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home