Commentary - Global TV's lack of Canadian content this fall

All I could do was roll my eyes and sigh as I read Global's fall lineup a couple months back. With only one scripted series--a sitcom called Da Kink In My Hair--on their fall roster, I noticed immediately that there was a major lack of Canadian dramatic content. Not that I was surprised or anything...after all, Global has a history of getting around the Cancon rules (rules? Ha!) by calling non-scripted series "dramatic programming" and completely Americanizing the dramas and sitcoms they do air. This past summer, a show called The Best Years aired. It was Canadian-produced but the characters and setting were in Boston, U.S.A. It's kind of a slap in the face to Canadians when networks use their Cancon money to create American shows. Basically the message that comes across, is Canada isn't good enough to have a show set there. The same can be said of the now-cancelled Falcon Beach, which tried to hide the fact it was Canadian--they set that in New England as well. I've listened to the logic used by Global to explain why they do that. It's claimed American viewers don't want to watch shows not set within America. However, I want to point out that Da Vinci's Inquest, Degrassi: The Next Generation and Instant Star all have Canadian settings and show many things that are Canadian, yet they are big hits south of the border. I think Global needs to get off its highhorse if you know what I mean and start showing some Canadian (and not Americanized) shows. I've been hearing that a Canadian drama called Search and Rescue will debut sometime midseason on Global but there's not much known about it. Hopefully it won't be another Global muckup.

News Article Commentary - Da Kink In My Hair

I was just at the TV, eh? site where they've posted Global TV's press release on their new series called "Da Kink In My Hair". TV, eh?, for those who don't know, is a site which posts news articles from around the web and they occasionally do podcasts as well, talking to Canadian TV industry insiders. I check out the site on a daily basis for news on the Canadian TV scene.

Well, anyways, today, as I've just said, they posted a press release on Da Kink In My Hair. It's Global's only Canadian fall show--the rest of their shows are from south of the border--something that hasn't escaped the notice of many who support homegrown television shows, I might add. Da Kink In My Hair is a 13-episode sitcom set to premiere on October 14th. It's based on an award-winning play I've never heard of by a playwright named Trey Anthony. It's set in a beauty salon in Toronto's Caribbean community, and centres around a group of zany characters.

I will at the very least, give this show a chance, but honestly, I'm not sure if it's a show I'll like. I'm not much of a sitcom person (I prefer dramas instead) and the title is kind of a turn-off--I realize that it's probably a cultural phrase, but still the title just doesn't appeal to me. Also, I'm not sure if the Toronto setting appeals to me either. I've never been to Toronto, but the people I've met from Toronto (mainly online) seem to be big bashers of Western Canada so maybe right now I have a distrust of anything Torontonian. Please tell me I'm wrong--there's nice people from Toronto, right?

Even with my above complaints, I will give this show a chance--after all, it is Canadian...right?