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TV

Jennifer Whalen, left, and Meredith MacNeill are seen in an undated production still handout photo from the CBC comedy

Jennifer Whalen of CBC’s ‘Small Achievable Goals’ says show had more to explore

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:18 PM CDT

TORONTO - The co-creator of CBC's cancelled series "Small Achievable Goals" says the menopause comedy still has life left in it.

Jennifer Whalen says she would be interested in writing more about her character, a podcast host undergoing middle-age hormonal shifts alongside a similarly upended colleague, played by Meredith MacNeill.

"I would love to show what happens when you get to the other side — when you kind of really integrate it all and that there's like a wonderful life after the worst part of perimenopause. To show that, that would be fantastic," Whalen said earlier this week as she and MacNeill walked the red carpet at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Whalen and MacNeill, whose characters each swing through wild life turns that fuel raunchy gags and moving realizations, said they were proud of the series’ two-year run but Whalen was unclear on why CBC didn't renew the show.

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TV

Remaining 3 ’60 Minutes’ stars say they’re staying at CBS show, don’t want to see it die

Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Remaining 3 ’60 Minutes’ stars say they’re staying at CBS show, don’t want to see it die

Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:55 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Saying “We don’t want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die,” the three remaining correspondents at the turmoil-plagued CBS News program have decided to stay, for now.

A memo from Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim and Bill Whitaker to fellow staffers expressed anger — and grief — over the recent firings at the show, and said the three had had “a hard time” deciding whether to remain.

“Here’s why we are staying: We don’t want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die,” the three wrote in the joint memo obtained by The Associated Press on Friday.

They expressed their regret over the recent firings of colleagues implemented by Bari Weiss, the new CBS News editor-in-chief, and the executive producer she installed last week, Nick Bilton. He replaced Tanya Simon, who was let go after a 30-plus year tenure with the show. Also dismissed were correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, among other top staffers. Scott Pelley was then fired this week after a tense confrontation with CBS News bosses.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:55 PM CDT

Movies

Bell signage is pictured in Ottawa on Wednesday Sept. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Bell Media to revive ‘Big Brother Canada,’ Seth Rogen’s take on ‘The Littlest Hobo’

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Bell Media to revive ‘Big Brother Canada,’ Seth Rogen’s take on ‘The Littlest Hobo’

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Thursday, Jun. 4, 2026

TORONTO - Bell Media is reviving "Big Brother Canada," the reality TV series that was cancelled by Corus Entertainment two years ago.

Taking over as host is Andrea Bain of CTV's daytime talk show "The Social," with filming is set to begin next spring in Montreal.

The show is headlining the broadcaster's 2026/2027 programming lineup announcement, which also includes a remake of "The Littlest Hobo" produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and several new raunchy comedies such as TV version of the 1979 classic "Meatballs."

The "Big Brother" reboot is part of an overall franchise deal that will see the U.S. version of the show air on CTV and Crave in 2027. It also includes the Canadian series’ back catalogue, with 12 seasons to be available on Crave.

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Thursday, Jun. 4, 2026

TV

Carlos Ulberg, centre left, of New Zealand, celebrates after defeating Jiri Prochazka of Czechia by TKO to win their light heavyweight title bout at a UFC 327 mixed martial arts event on April 11, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

UFC ending pay-per-view model in Canada with Paramount Plus streaming deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

UFC ending pay-per-view model in Canada with Paramount Plus streaming deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, Jun. 4, 2026

TORONTO - The UFC and Paramount plan to expand their partnership into Canada next year, the mixed martial arts organization said Thursday.

Under the six-year deal, all UFC numbered-event main cards -- traditionally known as pay-per-view events -- will be available exclusively to Paramount Plus streaming subscribers in Canada.

"I think this is a testament to the evolution of our brand and partnering with an organization like Paramount Plus," said David Shaw, the UFC's executive vice-president, head of international and content. "Ultimately, what this comes down to is a really fan-friendly opportunity and deal for our fans, but also new fans alike to experience UFC content starting in January 2027."

Last year, Paramount and the UFC announced a seven-year, multi-territory media rights partnership in the United States, Latin America and Australia.

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Thursday, Jun. 4, 2026

TV

Corus expanding ‘The Morning Show’ into the afternoon with ‘TMS2’

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Corus expanding ‘The Morning Show’ into the afternoon with ‘TMS2’

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026

TORONTO - Corus Entertainment is expanding "The Morning Show" into a whole new frontier: the afternoon.

The broadcasting company announced the new program, "TMS2," at its upfront presentation on Wednesday, saying the hour-long show will debut on Global and StackTV starting in September.

It will be hosted by Morgan Hoffman, an entertainment reporter on "The Morning Show".

Christopher Mercer, Corus's senior vice-president of media sales and solutions, says it will be an ad-friendly program.

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Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026

TV

Ecuadorean journalist Andersson Boscan is photographed at his home in Oakville, Ont., on Thursday, May, 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

These exiled journalists are covering their home countries without fear — from Canada

Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press 9 minute read Preview

These exiled journalists are covering their home countries without fear — from Canada

Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press 9 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026

TORONTO - Until just a few years ago, Andersson Boscan ran La Posta, a digital media outlet he co-founded in Ecuador and helped grow into one of the country's most influential online voices.

Boscan and his wife Monica Velasquez, both journalists, published explosive stories on how powerful politicians colluded with drug cartels and organized crime rings at the expense of ordinary people.

One of their investigations played a key role in bringing the presidency of Guillermo Lasso to an end in 2023, fuelling impeachment proceedings that were cut short when Lasso dissolved the National Assembly and declined to run in the resulting election.

Exposing wrongdoings came at a hefty cost, however. The couple had to flee their home country out of concern for their safety and find a new base where they could continue their work without fearing for their lives.

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Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026

TV

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler lead Rogers’ specialty lineup, cementing its HGTV win over Corus

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler lead Rogers’ specialty lineup, cementing its HGTV win over Corus

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026

TORONTO - Rogers is betting big on Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, with the home renovation stars headlining the media giant’s 2026-27 original specialty TV lineup.

The Baeumlers will lead three new unscripted HGTV series under their exclusive production deal with Rogers, following the broadcaster’s takeover of HGTV in Canada and its swift move to bring some of the network’s most recognizable faces over from Corus Entertainment.

The company announced Tuesday that the TV power couple will host “Home Town Takeover Canada,” as well as produce and star in “Baeumler Ranch” and “Sarah Baeumler By Design.” Broadcast details are still to come.

In 2024, Rogers inked a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery that saw it scoop the rights to HGTV from Corus, along with several other key brands, including Food Network, Cooking Channel and OWN.

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Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026

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Movies

Hudson Williams holds a trophy after winning Best Lead Performer for his role in Heated Rivalry at The Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto on Sunday, May 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

‘Heated Rivalry’ sets record at Screen Awards with 16 wins including best drama

Craig Macrae and Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

‘Heated Rivalry’ sets record at Screen Awards with 16 wins including best drama

Craig Macrae and Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Monday, Jun. 1, 2026

TORONTO - "Heated Rivalry" dominated this year's Canadian Screen Awards with a record-setting 16 wins after taking home three trophies at Sunday night's televised ceremony: audience choice, best drama series and best lead performer for star Hudson Williams.

Fans of the B.C.-born actor were eager to see him at the awards show and receive the honour for portraying the reserved hockey player Shane Hollander, who gets caught up in a whirlwind romance with a rival.

Williams said he wished he could split the award down the middle with his co-star, "honorary Canadian" Connor Storrie.

Sunday night's wins added to the 13 statuettes the Crave series won at a gala dedicated to scripted TV on Saturday, including best direction and best writing for a drama.

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Monday, Jun. 1, 2026

Books

Prime Minister Mark Carney poses for a photo on the red carpet with, left to right, Brendan Brady, co-creator of the TV series

‘Heated Rivalry’ wins 13 awards at the scripted television gala

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

‘Heated Rivalry’ wins 13 awards at the scripted television gala

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2026

"Heated Rivalry" crushed the competition, winning 13 Canadian Screen Awards at the scripted television ceremony on Saturday night.

Those wins included two for creator Jacob Tierney, who picked up best direction and best writing for a drama.

Tierney's wins gave the Montreal-born creator a hat trick over the past two days, adding to his tally from Friday's unscripted gala, where he won best reality/competition series as an executive producer on "The Traitors Canada."

"Heated Rivalry" continues to be a worldwide hit, steaming up TV screens since its debut last year. It follows the love story between two hockey players, portrayed by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2026

Opinion

Magnific
The proliferation of sports gambling has eroded the communal aspect of watching sports.

Think you can beat the game? Don’t bet on it

Scott Montgomery 6 minute read Preview

Think you can beat the game? Don’t bet on it

Scott Montgomery 6 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2026

Trying to watch sports on television these days means accepting a basic and deeply annoying reality: the game itself is no longer the main event.

No, the main event is the endless parade of ads for gambling apps marching across every commercial break, crammed into every spare inch of space not occupied by actual hockey players.

And man, are these ads terrible. Not morally — well, yes, morally too — but we’ll come back to that. I mean esthetically. These things are obnoxious.

If you’ve watched any amount of hockey lately, you know the drill: betting on games can turn you into a legend, a hero, the life of the party.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2026

Movies

‘Heated Rivalry,’ ‘North of North’ to battle it out at Screen Awards

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

‘Heated Rivalry,’ ‘North of North’ to battle it out at Screen Awards

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2026

TORONTO - The most talked-about hockey romance series in the world and a groundbreaking Inuk comedy will compete to see who can collect more hardware at the Canadian Screen Awards' scripted television ceremony tonight.

Crave's "Heated Rivalry" has 18 nominations in the drama categories, while CBC/Netflix sitcom "North of North" has a leading 20 nods for comedy awards.

Among the trophies that will be handed out tonight are those for directing, writing and best supporting performances.

But fans who want to know which show is the top winner overall will have to wait until Sunday.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2026

Books

Brooke Lynn Hytes poses for a photo on the red carpet at the Canadian Screen Awards, in Toronto, Sunday, June 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Drag queens reign at Canadian Screen Awards reality TV gala

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Drag queens reign at Canadian Screen Awards reality TV gala

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Friday, May. 29, 2026

TORONTO - The queens rule again.

"Canada's Drag Race" picked up seven Canadian Screen Awards at a ceremony celebrating the best unscripted television on Friday night, including for best direction of a reality/competition series.

The Crave series also won for best writing, production design, casting, editing and sound, and hosts Brooke Lynn Hytes, Brad Goreski and Traci Melchor nabbed best host or presenter for a factual or reality/competition show.

The annual awards celebrating the best Canadian films and television are being handed out over a series of events this week, culminating in a televised ceremony on Sunday night when a handful of high-profile prizes will be handed out.

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Friday, May. 29, 2026

TV

Actor John Reardon is shown during an episode of

‘My soul is happy again’: ‘Hudson & Rex’ fans claim victory as John Reardon returns

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

‘My soul is happy again’: ‘Hudson & Rex’ fans claim victory as John Reardon returns

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Friday, May. 29, 2026

Elaine Byrne was starting to wonder if the $25,000-plus she spent fighting for John Reardon’s return to “Hudson & Rex” had been a mistake.

The devoted fan took out a full-page Toronto Star ad last year urging producers to bring Reardon back to the popular Canadian cop-dog drama after his abrupt departure. But in recent months, Byrne says financial stress and mounting home repairs, including flood damage, left her thinking about the money she poured into the campaign.

“More than once I’ve had the thought, ‘Oh my gosh, what if I had that money back?’” says the Texas real estate broker, who once found solace in the show after her husband’s death.

But on Thursday came the news she never expected to hear: Reardon is officially returning to the Citytv series.

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Friday, May. 29, 2026

TV

Actor Will Arnett is pictured with his star as he is inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame during an event in Toronto on Saturday, November 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

R.T. Thorne’s post-apocalyptic thriller ’40 Acres’ dominates Day 1 of Canadian Screen Awards

Craig Macrae and Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

R.T. Thorne’s post-apocalyptic thriller ’40 Acres’ dominates Day 1 of Canadian Screen Awards

Craig Macrae and Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Thursday, May. 28, 2026

TORONTO - R.T. Thorne's post-apocalyptic thriller "40 Acres" dominated the first day of the Canadian Screen Awards, winning nine statuettes on Thursday night.

The film, which centres on a Black-Indigenous farming family fighting off a marauding group of cannibals in a famine-stricken future, took home the prize for best original screenplay and best directing.

Its haul also included a best first feature win for Thorne, as well as awards for achievement in cinematography, art direction, sound editing, music, stunt co-ordination and casting.

The Canadian Screen Awards are being handed out at a series of galas this week, culminating in a televised ceremony featuring the marquee awards, which will be simulcast on several TV stations and streaming services on Sunday night.

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Thursday, May. 28, 2026

TV

Michael Bublé arrives for the Juno Awards, in Vancouver, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Prime Video to launch Michael Bublé and Drew Scott’s Vancouver hockey show ‘Hometown Giants’

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Prime Video to launch Michael Bublé and Drew Scott’s Vancouver hockey show ‘Hometown Giants’

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Thursday, May. 28, 2026

TORONTO -

When Michael Bublé and Drew Scott, part-owners of the Vancouver Giants, started working on a new docuseries about rebuilding the struggling hockey franchise, they decided to call a friend for advice — Ryan Reynolds.

"What are you doing, idiots? You know what you're getting into?" Bublé said while recounting Reynolds' advice through chuckles.

The conversation is featured in episode one of the series "Hometown Giants," and Scott said Reynolds — co-owner of the Welsh soccer club Wrexham — didn't hold back.

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Thursday, May. 28, 2026

Movies

FILE - Matthew Perry poses for a portrait in New York on Feb. 17, 2015. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP, File)

Matthew Perry’s assistant gets more than 3 years in prison for central role in his ketamine death

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Matthew Perry’s assistant gets more than 3 years in prison for central role in his ketamine death

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press 6 minute read Wednesday, May. 27, 2026

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matthew Perry’s live-in personal assistant, who had a central role in the “Friends” actor’s descent into ketamine addiction and injected him with a fatal dose of the drug, was sentenced Wednesday to three years and five months in prison, bringing an end to the legal saga surrounding the death of one of the biggest TV stars of his generation.

“You were privy to his struggle with addiction,” said Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who handed down the sentence to the 60-year-old Kenneth Iwamasa in federal court in Los Angeles. “Your conduct was reckless, not just on the day of his death but in the days leading up to his death.”

Iwamasa was the last person sentenced of the five who pleaded guilty in the investigation and prosecution that followed Perry's death at age 54 on Oct. 28, 2023. The group included corrupt doctors and a major street dealer, “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha, whose 15-year sentence was the only one longer than Iwamasa's.

The assistant was constantly at Perry’s side in his final days, acting as the actor’s enabler, drug messenger and de facto doctor. He was the last person to see Perry alive, and he was the one who found him dead in his Jacuzzi. He would eventually become prosecutors' most important informant.

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Wednesday, May. 27, 2026

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