Howie Mandel says Canadian ‘Price is Right’ spinoff will be ‘tariff-free’ and timely

Howie Mandel is coming home to host a Canadian spinoff of “The Price is Right,” and unlike softwood lumber or steel, he quips, his services come with no duties attached.

“I’m hosting tariff-free,” the Toronto-born comedian chuckles.

Dubbed “The Price is Right Tonight,” the prime time reimagining of the U.S. game show begins production this December in Toronto and will debut on Citytv next spring. Rogers opened a contestant call this month, inviting Canadians to apply for a chance to “come on down."

Of course, a game built on guessing the cost of groceries, appliances and cars may hit differently in 2025, when Canadians are grappling with inflation, a cost-of-living crisis and global unrest. 

Home Run: Toronto Blue Jays’ season finale a ratings hit for Sportsnet

TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays' regular-season finale — a 13-4 rout that clinched the division title — was a ratings home run for domestic rights-holder Sportsnet.

Toronto's victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday averaged 2.36 million viewers on television and via streaming, Sportsnet said, making it the network's most-watched Blue Jays regular-season broadcast ever. 

Alejandro Kirk homered twice as the Blue Jays secured the American League East crown for the first time since 2015. 

The previous viewership high of 2.07 million was set during the final game of the 2016 regular season, a network spokesperson said Tuesday in a text message.

Actor Josh Hartnett involved in car crash in St. John’s, N.L.

ST. JOHN'S - Actor Josh Hartnett was taken to hospital last week after being involved in a car crash in St. John's, N.L.

His publicist, Susan Patricola, says he was "thoroughly checked" before going home.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said in a news release on Thursday that it was investigating an early-morning crash involving an SUV and one of its patrol vehicles.

It said the 59-year-old male driver of the SUV and a 47-year-old male passenger were sent to hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries, while a police officer went to hospital as a precaution. 

‘Big Brother: Canada,’ ‘My Dead Mom’ among International Emmy nominees

The 12th and final season of "Big Brother: Canada" is among the homegrown fare up for International Emmy Awards.

The reality competition series has been nominated for best non-scripted entertainment, competing against the United Arab Emirates' "Love Is Blind: Habibi," Denmark's "Shaolin Heroes" and Mexico's version of "The Masked Singer."

Corus Entertainment announced last year that it was cancelling the Toronto-shot show.

Meanwhile, Crave's "My Dead Mom" is up for best short-form series. The dark comedy, created by Wendy Litner and directed by Chandler Levack, follows a woman who can’t escape her mother’s judgment — even from beyond the grave.

‘Severance’ cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné eyes erotic thriller after making Emmys history

Jessica Lee Gagné has been learning to surf in Los Angeles, letting the waves test her limits.

It’s a pursuit she took up after making her directing debut on Season 2 of "Severance," a leap she's avoided for years. 

“I promised myself ever since I had that directing experience to put myself in situations where I didn't feel comfortable. And surfing has been a part of that. I'm just trying to get my body used to the discomfort," she says.

For the Quebec-born cinematographer, that same instinct helped her make Emmys history, and now fuels her foray into directing and writing her own projects.

No simulcast deal this time around for Jays’ game against Rays on Friday night

TORONTO - Baseball fans in Canada should not expect a repeat of a deal that allowed Sportsnet to air a simulcast of Apple TV's Friday Night Baseball broadcast that featured the Toronto Blue Jays last week.

As a result of the agreement, the streamer was given the rights for Friday's game between the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays. 

"Apple has it exclusively," a Sportsnet spokesperson said Thursday afternoon in an email.

Sportsnet, the Canadian team's domestic rights-holder, reached a deal with the Blue Jays, Apple TV and Major League Baseball ahead of last Friday's game between Toronto and Kansas City.

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler to return to HGTV after inking deal with Rogers

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are laying a fresh foundation with Rogers Sports and Media.

The TV home reno stars are returning to HGTV in 2027 after entering into an exclusive production deal with Rogers.

The media giant says the couple will spearhead the creation and production of several new original unscripted series, which will air on HGTV in Canada.

Last year, Rogers inked a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery that saw it scoop the rights to HGTV from Corus Entertainment, along with several other key brands, including Food Network, Cooking Channel and OWN.

‘Hudson & Rex’ star John Reardon says he didn’t leave TV series by choice

TORONTO - The human face of the first seven seasons of dog-cop procedural "Hudson & Rex" says he didn't leave the show by choice. 

John Reardon, who played Det. Charlie Hudson, says the production company behind the TV show chose not to bring him back for Season 8. 

In a social media post, he says he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer partway through filming Season 7 and underwent treatment for several months. 

But he says even though his doctors gave him a clean bill of health and he was ready to return to work, "the team chose to go in a different direction." 

From breakups to babies, Mae Martin says real-life chaos shaped Netflix’s ‘Wayward’

TORONTO - Mae Martin’s “Wayward” explores a small town riddled with dark secrets, but the juiciest drama happened off camera.

The Canadian comedian says they were nursing fresh heartbreak while shooting their new Netflix limited series — and didn’t shy away from oversharing with everyone on set.

“I had a big breakup during filming,” explains Martin, who was last linked publicly to "Survivor" alum Parvati Shallow.

“I think maybe every day, I told 200 crew members exactly what I was feeling and going through. But it was a bonding thing, because then everybody tells you what they're going through.”

Kimmel is back on ABC to big ratings, but some affiliates still refuse to air his show

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel is back on his ABC late-night show, but it's still a mystery when — or if — viewers in cities such as Washington, Seattle and St. Louis will be able to see him again on their televisions.

ABC stations owned by the Nexstar and Sinclair corporations took Kimmel off the air last week on the same day the network suspended him for comments that angered supporters of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Those stations kept him off the air Tuesday, when ABC lifted the suspension. The unusual dispute attracted the attention of U.S. senators, who said they wanted to investigate the relationship between the affiliates and President Donald Trump's administration.

Kimmel returned with no apologies, but in an emotional monologue where he appeared close to tears, the host said that he was not trying to joke about the assassination. He also paid tribute to Kirk's widow.

And it got a large audience, with ABC reporting nearly 6.3 million people tuned in to the broadcast alone, despite the blackouts in many cities. As is often the case with late-night hosts' monologues, there was a larger audience online, with more than 15 million people watching Kimmel's opening remarks on YouTube by Wednesday evening. ABC says more than 26 million people watched Kimmel's return on social media, including YouTube.

Truth, consequences and five good stories

As in life, so goeth this latest batch of five viewing suggestions: Truth can be a hard and costly target to hit. Keep an open mind, keep a good thought but most of all, keep watching.

Residents of Dildo, N.L., express support for ‘honorary mayor’ Jimmy Kimmel

In 2019, Jimmy Kimmel became so enamoured with Dildo, N.L., and its risqué name that he repeatedly featured the community on his late-night television show and eventually became its honorary mayor.

Now, Dildo residents are expressing support for Kimmel following the show's suspension by American broadcast network ABC.

Andrew Pretty, a former committee member for Dildo's service district, says Kimmel is welcome to visit "any time."

"I'm sure he would love the community. It's a beautiful small town, very welcoming," he said.