CTV finds up-market reality, raises curtain on Canuck dramedy

Finally, someone using reality TV as a force for good and not stupidity. CTV has picked up ABC's The Scholar, a new one-hour unscripted series in which the winner gets an all-expenses-paid university education. Ten qualified high school seniors, who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend one of America's top universities, compete for a $250,000 scholarship. They must demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, creativity and community service, while facing sudden-death oral exams from an Ivy League scholarship committee. The show preems Monday, June 6 at 9 p.m., then moves to 8 p.m. beginning June 13.

Also rolling out are Beauty and the Geek, Fridays, beginning June 17 at 8 p.m.; Dancing With The Stars, Wednesdays, beginning June 1 at 9 p.m. (see MIC May 26/05) and Veronica Mars, which premiered on Monday, at 9 p.m. and will move to its regular timeslot - Thursdays at 8 p.m. - tonight. This show about a teen P.I. in a modern-day Peyton Place was originally announced by UPN last August (see MIC Aug. 19/04.)

In homegrown fare, CTV is set to premier an original Canadian dramatic comedy series. Robson Arms will puts an interesting spin on examining the lives of apartment dwellers in Vancouver by peeking into a different flat each week. The show has already nabbed nine 2005 Leo Award nominations (for excellence in B.C. fare) and will air Fridays at 10:30 p.m., beginning Friday, June 17 with back-to-back eps at 10 and 10:30 p.m. the 13 half-hour eps will also air Thursdays at 10:30 p.m., starting June 23 on The Comedy Network. CTV is seeking an 18-34 aud, both male and female, with peripheral viewers up to age 49.

Robson Arms is complemented with a sophisticated Web site, robsonarms.ctv.ca, on which viewers can virtually step into the apartment building for the latest tenant info and sneak peeks. To kick off the series, visitors will have the opportunity to win a year's free rent or mortgage by e-mailing video post cards to as many people as possible and then answering contest questions relating to the first three episodes.
http://www.ctv.ca
By Staff 
June 2, 2005

Finally, someone using reality TV as a force for good and not stupidity. CTV has picked up ABC’s The Scholar, a new one-hour unscripted series in which the winner gets an all-expenses-paid university education. Ten qualified high school seniors, who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend one of America’s top universities, compete for a $250,000 scholarship. They must demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, creativity and community service, while facing sudden-death oral exams from an Ivy League scholarship committee. The show preems Monday, June 6 at 9 p.m., then moves to 8 p.m. beginning June 13.

Also rolling out are Beauty and the Geek, Fridays, beginning June 17 at 8 p.m.; Dancing With The Stars, Wednesdays, beginning June 1 at 9 p.m. (see MIC May 26/05) and Veronica Mars, which premiered on Monday, at 9 p.m. and will move to its regular timeslot – Thursdays at 8 p.m. – tonight. This show about a teen P.I. in a modern-day Peyton Place was originally announced by UPN last August (see MIC Aug. 19/04.)

In homegrown fare, CTV is set to premier an original Canadian dramatic comedy series. Robson Arms will puts an interesting spin on examining the lives of apartment dwellers in Vancouver by peeking into a different flat each week. The show has already nabbed nine 2005 Leo Award nominations (for excellence in B.C. fare) and will air Fridays at 10:30 p.m., beginning Friday, June 17 with back-to-back eps at 10 and 10:30 p.m. the 13 half-hour eps will also air Thursdays at 10:30 p.m., starting June 23 on The Comedy Network. CTV is seeking an 18-34 aud, both male and female, with peripheral viewers up to age 49.

Robson Arms is complemented with a sophisticated Web site, robsonarms.ctv.ca, on which viewers can virtually step into the apartment building for the latest tenant info and sneak peeks. To kick off the series, visitors will have the opportunity to win a year’s free rent or mortgage by e-mailing video post cards to as many people as possible and then answering contest questions relating to the first three episodes.

http://www.ctv.ca