6 Things the Canadian Screen Awards got right — and wrong
Every other week is seems as though there is some big awards show to be celebrating. The CMAS. The Globes. Emmys. The list goes on and on, with myriad sponsored events–“fake awards” as those in the industry often say–popping up in between.
Not so in Canada.
Sandwiched in between Sunday night’s Golden Globes awards and Thursday morning’s Oscar announcements was the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards nominations press conference, which took place Tuesday morning in Toronto. While the majority of Canadian television critics are out in California, covering the 2015 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour. But I digress. Everything needs to be timed for a reason.
As if to almost make up for the lack of any other TV industry award show in the country (save the WGC Awards), Canada’s Screen Awards casts a wide net by covering multimedia, film and television. There are so many awards they need to be doled out over the course of an entire week, a proceeding that’s made even more confusing by each award’s excruciatingly long title. But at the end of the day at least we’re celebrating our work, and there are many good things to be said for that.
So in the spirit of “fair” coverage, here are six things this humble Canadian critic thinks the nominations got right, and six things they got wrong on Tuesday morning.
Right: The inclusion of 19-2 across the board. Anyone who has ever come to this space knows I’ve filled it with lots of reasons to check out this Bravo cop drama. It was also my No. 1 pick of the year for our first annual Critics Choice Awards. I won’t go into all of the details again here, but I was happy to see the show, along with stars Jared Keeso, Maxim Roy, Benz Antoine, Dan Petronijevic and Laurence Leboeuf get nods. The new season starts Jan. 19 on Bravo. Check it out.
Wrong: Not including Adrian Holmes under the leading actor category. His portrayal of Nick Barron on 19-2 was an emotional roller coaster and one that deserves recognition.
Right: Mr. D. Although the third season wasn’t as shiny as some of the newcomer comedies last season, the show really hit its stride with some of the funniest episodes yet. From Gerry Dee’s ridiculous fashion show dance to the laugh-out-loud “Self Defense” episode, everyone who got a nod here truly deserved it. Here’s hoping the fourth season–which will be co-produced with Rogers for the first time–keeps the momentum going when it debuts Feb. 11 on CBC.
Wrong: I love me some Reign, and I love me some Megan Follows. But I do not love that this American show was included in the leading dramatic ladies category. In my mind, as it is in many others, Reign is most definitely an American show.
Right: Saying farewell to Seed with a bang. Adam Korson and Carrie-Lynn Neales were so delightful in this short-lived comedy, so I was happy to see them–along with the show–get some love with the voters.
Wrong: No Lost Girl. You know, that show that won fan favourite last year during the same awards show? No Anna Silk. No Kris Holden-Ried. No Ksenia Solo. No overall nod. So, no dice, as far as I’m concerned. Faes deserve better. At least Paul Amos got a nod for his portrayal of Vex …
Right: Lauren Ash. Spun Out had some bright moments in its inaugural season, but Lauren Ash guest starring as the crazy, stalking Julie Anderson in “Stalkblocker” was one of the brightest.
Wrong: Including Unusually Thicke in the reality category. This was a scripted show, people. Alan Thicke is the first to admit that. Sure, it’s based on his life, but everything–from the guest stars to the plot points were written.
Right: Including Jordan Gavaris in the Orphan Black lovefest. Hey, I love Orphan Black and Tatiana Maslany too. She does an amazing job on that show and deserves every single award and nomination thrown at her. But Gavaris deserves applause too. His Felix character and those interactions with the various clones is a large, underrated reason why all of those characters can actually work.
Wrong: No Rookie Blue. Again. Apparently the Academy isn’t a fan of slick, gripping dramas. But would it have really hurt them to have thrown a nod to Charlotte Sullivan, who had one of her best seasons yet as Gail Peck?
Right: Don McKellar’s nod for Sensitive Skin. His portrayal of Al Jackson was neurotic, sad, telling and by the end, literally heartbreaking. The fact that he directed each episode too only makes this nomination that much sweeter.
Wrong: Not including Sensitive Skin under overall comedy … or throwing a nod to Kim Cattrall and her role as Davina Jackson. Sure, it’s a dark comedy, and maybe doesn’t compete on the same playing field as the other laffers out there. But this was an intelligent portrayal of a middle aged woman trying to reclaim her voice. And Cattrall played it brilliantly. Some might argue that the show wasn’t that funny, but my feeling is this vote speaks more to the problem of a likeable woman not being recognized for her ability to play an unlikeable character.
The Canadian Screen Awards, hosted by Andrea Martin, air Sunday, March 1.
What do you think the Canadian Screen Awards nominations got right? Or got wrong? Chime in below.
Have a TV question? Email amber@thetvjunkies.com and be sure to check back every Monday for Ask Amber.
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About The Author
Amber Dowling
Amber Dowling is a bonafide TV Junkie, critic and freelance writer who watches countless shows and lives for dramatic (fictional!) twists. She currently serves as the vice-president of the Television Critics Association and has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows across North America. An advocate for Canadian Television and a lover of the medium in general, Amber founded TheTVJunkies.com as a spot for fellow enthusiasts to connect and collaborate. She previously spent almost eight years as the EIC for TV Guide Canada.
What has me scratching my head is that Vikings is in a separate category called Best International Drama but there’s only one other nominee for that category. Why can’t it compete with Orphan Black in the Best Canadian Drama category? Orphan Black is a co-pro as well. As is Continuum. As was Motive. What excludes Vikings from that category? And the funny thing is, they are just excluded from that category, not the ones for Best Direction, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, etc.
Amber, no “Wrong” mention for the no-good, terrible, horrible, very bad morning Continuum, which is only your country’s true best drama series, had? Every other drama series nominee got more than two mentions. Every other drama nominee…EXCEPT Continuum. I call bee-ess.
I get it; Orphan Black is filmed in Toronto, the CSA’s are in Toronto, and they want to give love to east coast productions. Never mind the fact it’s a really shoddy way to dish out nominations. Like today, BC productions got hosed last year, too; Continuum and Arctic Air got 30 Leo nominations between them. But at the CSA’s? All they could muster was a combined total of *3*.
Rachel Nichols, Erik Knudsen, Victor Webster for starters acted their hearts out in season 3 of Continuum, and Nichols does more with one role than Maslany’s bazillion of them. She doesn’t need a gimmick like Maslany to get over as a great actress. In fact, Continuum in the eyes of the CSA, REGRESSED from last year’s 2. A hideous slap in the face to Simon Barry, Pat Williams and the men and women who make Continuum an elite, quality Canadian drama.
Shame, CSA. Shame.
I agree with your Lost Girl & Roobkie Blue – What is wrong with our industry- they need to ask the fans! We get it RIGHT!
You forgot to add Zoie Palmer alongside Anna Silk, Kris Holden-Ried and Ksenia Solo in the “wrong” category for “Lost Girl”. She also won fan favorite along with Lost Girl during that same awards show!
Anna silk deserves the Fans Award Choice. She’s been working hard since 2009, rehearsing and training physically. She started season 4 after a month or so of giving birth to her son, Sam. Very dedicated and talented. It’s just not fair to not recognize what she had put into the show.
I was all set to watch the Critics choice awards and imagine my surprise when my friends and I discovered that none of the shows we have been watching wasn’t even mentioned except for one person from the shows that were nominated . what happened to all the people from Vikings, Murder 101 and American Crime? Worst award show of all time!!