Plenty to See This Week on CBC

By Brent Furdyk, Editor, TV Week | Jan 9, 2012

The CBC Debuts Its 2012 Midseason Lineup

With the bulk of the U.S. networks’ midseason shows launching within the next few weeks, CBC is taking advantage of this week’s dearth of fresh American programming by rolling out its new midseason lineup during a time of relatively light competition. It’s a smart strategy that will hopefully attract some eyeballs to its new offerings before we become caught up in the hype of all the new American shows.

Along with returning favourites such as Heartland, Little Mosque on the Prairie and Republic of Doyle (which features a special appearance by Oscar-winner Russell Crowe in the season premiere), Canada’s National Broadcaster will be launching three new series this week — a comedy, a drama and a reality show.

Mr. D

On Monday, stand-up comic Gerry Dee debuts Mr. D, a half-hour sitcom loosely based on Dee’s experiences as a schoolteacher before he launched into a comedy career. In the show, Dee plays Gerry Duncan, a gym teacher who fakes his way into a job at a prestigious private school teaching social studies, a subject about which he knows next to nothing.

Redemption Inc.

Later on Monday, Dragons’ Den moneyman Kevin O’Leary goes solo in Redemption Inc., an eight-part reality show in which 10 ex-cons compete for $100,000, which the winner will use to start his or her own business under the Dragon’s tutelage.

Each week, O’Leary presents the ex-cons with a new challenge — the contestant with the weakest performance will be given the choice to either leave the show with an “exit package” (which may include prizes such as scholarships, training or computer equipment) or stay and battle it out for the hundred grand.

Arctic Air

Finally, Tuesday brings the debut of a new drama called Arctic Air, which features a premise that should be familiar to fans of reality shows such as Flying Wild Alaska and Ice Pilots. Set in Yellowknife (but filmed in Abbotsford), Arctic Air follows the exploits of a small northern airline co-owned by cantankerous Mel (Kevin McNulty) and headstrong Bobby (Adam Beach of Flags of Our Fathers) as they struggle to keep their dysfunctional family business afloat.