‘Bria Mack’ creator ‘disappointed’ Bell cancelled Screen Award-winning show

TORONTO - The creator of “Bria Mack Gets a Life” says she’s “disappointed” Bell Media cancelled her acclaimed series after just one season, and she questioned the broadcaster's promotion efforts and commitment to cultivating new stars.

Toronto’s Sasha Leigh Henry says she learned of the cancellation a few weeks before her show claimed the best TV comedy trophy at the Canadian Screen Awards on May 31.

Henry says the win “confirmed for me what I knew in my heart” about the quality of the show, which was well-received by critics and sought-after by U.S. networks, according to executive producer Mark Montefiore.

Bell said that it cancelled "Bria Mack Gets a Life" because "the show ultimately could not find an audience on Crave," calling the decision "incredibly difficult."

Pat Sajak says goodbye to ‘Wheel of Fortune’: ‘An incredible privilege.’ Seacrest pays tribute

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After 41 years and over 8,000 episodes, Pat Sajak made his final turn as the renowned host of “Wheel of Fortune” on Friday.

The season 41 finale, dubbed the “Thanks for the memories” show, opened with a clip from Sajak’s first episode as the host of “Wheel of Fortune” in 1981 and closed with Sajak’s warm message of gratitude.

In his farewell message, Sajak thanked the viewers of the beloved game show for granting him the “incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, year after year, decade after decade.”

Sajak, 77, also gave a heartfelt thanks to his “professional other half,” Vanna White, who has co-hosted with him for over 40 years and delivered her emotional tribute to Sajak a day earlier.

Bell Media’s 10 FAST channels set to launch on Plex, Roku Channel

TORONTO - Bell Media's 10 free ad-supported streaming channels will launch on new platforms this year.

The so-called FAST channels, which include original programming from CTV News, "Corner Gas," and TSN, will debut on Plex, The Roku Channel and, as previously announced, Samsung TV Plus, the media giant announced Thursday.

Bell launched the channels in April on LG Channels. Among them are lifestyle channel CTV @Home, lesser-known sports channel TSN The Ocho and comedy channel CTV Laughs.

The company detailed the plan as Canada’s major broadcasters roll out their upcoming lineups in annual presentations known as the upfronts.

New fee for streaming companies serves Canadian interests at Americans’ expense: U.S.

OTTAWA - American streaming companies are being unfairly targeted by a new Canadian fee that "disproportionately" serves interests north of the border, the United States is charging.

This week, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission directed foreign streaming companies such as Netflix and Spotify to put five per cent of their Canadian revenues toward local news and Canadian content.

Members of the U.S. Congress and trade organizations have raised concerns over the mandate, saying it discriminates against American companies.

Some organizations are floating the idea of retaliation.

New Pamela Anderson, Bryan Baeumler shows among Corus’ fall/winter plans

TORONTO - A Pamela Anderson cooking show and a new docuseries from Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are among the homegrown highlights of Corus Entertainment’s TV plans, with the broadcaster’s content boss touting a focus on unscripted “Canadian content that can compete with the rest of the world and isn’t hamstrung by regulations.”

Corus revealed a fall/winter lineup for its specialty properties and flagship Global that add “Pamela’s Cookin’ With Love” to Food Network Canada and “Building Baeumler” to HGTV Canada.

Also heading to HGTV Canada is Kristen Coutts' "Beer Budget Reno," the fall luxury reno show "House of Ali" with Ali Budd, and a second season of Anderson's reno show "Pamela’s Garden of Eden," set for winter.

Troy Reeb, executive vice president of networks and content, said the media giant is leaning into lifestyles and reality fare after the CRTC eased rules around its obligations to produce homegrown scripted drama and comedy.

Foreign online streaming services must now pay into fund for Canadian news, content

OTTAWA - Online streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify are being told they must start contributing money toward local news and the production of Canadian content.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission directed foreign streamers to pay five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues into a fund.

That fund will be devoted to producing local TV and radio news, Indigenous content, French-language content and content created by those with a diverse background.

The CRTC said the fund is expected to inject about $200 million into Canada's broadcasting system every year beginning in September.

What to stream this weekend: Willie Nelson, Chip & Joanna Gaines, Jim Henson and Ben Platt

Willie Nelson's 152nd album and Benedict Cumberbatch playing a curmudgeon puppeteer in “Eric” on Netflix are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: George Clooney’s sports drama “The Boys in the Boat,” the British musical comedy “We Are Lady Parts” returns for a second season and home improvement gurus Chip and Joanna Gaines fix up a mid-century modern lake house on HGTV.

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

– Jim Henson died in 1990 at the age of 53 but his Muppet creations and their rambunctious spirit have long outlived him. Ron Howard’s “Jim Henson Idea Man” (Now on Disney+) is an attempt to document the life and imagination behind one of the most beloved entertainers. Howard made the film with the involvement of the Henson family and use of its extensive archive. ( Read AP's review.)

‘BlackBerry,’ ‘Little Bird’ nab top trophies at Canadian Screen Awards

TORONTO - Matt Johnson’s “BlackBerry” may have ended in tragedy but it saw nothing short of triumph as it dominated the Canadian Screen Awards in an evening full of self-referential jabs about the industry and some moments of protest Friday.

The Toronto filmmaker’s chaotic dramedy about the rise and fall of an era-defining smartphone won best picture, while Johnson won for achievement in direction and Montreal’s Jay Baruchel took home the prize for best lead performer in a comedy film.

“I think there is an ideology in this country that you can't make the things that you want, and that it's not possible to stay in Canada. I want to tell you that it's all in your head,” Johnson said while accepting the best picture award, addressing young Canadian filmmakers.

“This country's having a renaissance, we have role models again, and if you stick with it, Canada will have a voice in cinema again. It won't be us. This movie was a joke. But it will be you.”

Chicago Bears are set to be featured on ‘Hard Knocks’ for first time

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears are set to be featured on “Hard Knocks” for the first time. HBO and the NFL announced Thursday the founding NFL franchise was chosen for the 19th edition of the Emmy-winning series that first aired in 2001. Chairman George McCaskey had long resisted having the Bears participate in the training camp documentary. The five-episode series debuts Aug. 6, with subsequent episodes airing on Tuesdays through Sept. 3. “We are honored to feature such an iconic NFL franchise on ‘Hard Knocks,’” NFL Films senior director and supervising producer Shannon Furman said in a statement. “The […]

NBA media negotiations are in the 4th quarter. The outcome remains very much in doubt

The conference finals and Bronny James’ decision to remain in the draft are far from the only things dominating NBA conversations lately. In fact, both have been trumped by the drama surrounding where fans will be able to watch games for at least the next decade. The NBA media rights negotiations for deals beginning with the 2025-26 season are well into the fourth quarter, but trying to assess how the final packages will look is difficult. Commissioner Adam Silver will deliver his State of the League speech before Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Boston on June 6. The […]

‘BlackBerry’ dominates at Canadian Screen Awards ahead of main event

TORONTO - For the first time in more than a decade, "BlackBerry" dominated on Thursday night — at least at a Canadian Screen Awards gala.

The satirical reimagining of the smartphone's rise and fall won 11 of the 28 awards handed out at the industry event recognizing excellence in cinematic arts, including best adapted screenplay and achievement in casting and cinematography.

Glenn Howerton also nabbed the prize for best performance in a supporting role in a comedy for his portrayal of Jim Balsillie, the tech giant's former CEO.

The film is still in contention for three prizes — best film, best director and best lead performance in a comedy — which will be handed out at a televised gala on Friday night.

Movie Review: Muppets creator Jim Henson gets a documentary as exciting as he was

There are moments when the spark of creation suddenly ignites and history stops. Like when the Wright brothers got a plane to fly. Or when Oreo added double filling. Maybe just as resonant was when Jim Henson cut up his mother’s green coat into odd shapes and added ping-pong balls for eyes. At that moment, he birthed Kermit the Frog, who would go on to enchant generations. Kermit’s humble beginnings are part of the engrossing and enlightening documentary “Jim Henson Idea Man” and it’s apt to start with the sweetly outgoing Kermit, who is in many ways Henson’s alter ego. […]

Darke and Donovan to head Fox Euro 2024 coverage, Strong and Holden work Copa America

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ian Darke will pair with Landon Donovan as Fox’s lead broadcast team at this year’s European Championship, while John Strong and Stu Holden work the Copa America. With the tournaments overlapping, the network said Thursday it will use seven announcing teams. Darke is a longtime ESPN broadcaster who first worked for Fox when he was paired with Donovan at the 2022 World Cup. Darke is among seven British broadcasters on the four Euro 2024 announce teams. FILE - Fox Sports broadcasters Stuart Holden, right, and John Strong pose for a photo before an international friendly soccer […]