[waterloowarrior]

I'm annoyed by all the commercials for the CTV Olympics DVD box set... "And Canada wins the bronze". And what if you pre-ordered this and Canada did terrible... "A new personal best for the Canadian, who is now sitting in 17th!" "Relive Canada's loss in the quarterfinals to Russia"

Apparently a lot of Canadians believe that the Olympics will be a failure if the Men's hockey team doesn't win gold
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/own-the-podium---or-let-down-majority-of-canadians/article1479868/

[SpongeG]

what was the deal with CTV playing a couple times an hour the USA victory over russia

was that to make Canadians feel worse than they were? just look how amazing the USA always was/is

[MolsonExport]

I'm annoyed by all the commercials for the CTV Olympics DVD box set... "And Canada wins the bronze". And what if you pre-ordered this and Canada did terrible... "A new personal best for the Canadian, who is now sitting in 17th!" "Relive Canada's loss in the quarterfinals to Russia"
Apparently a lot of Canadians believe that the Olympics will be a failure if the Men's hockey team doesn't win gold
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/own-the-podium---or-let-down-majority-of-canadians/article1479868/

:haha:

so true.

[crooked rain]

Are there only 6 companies in this country that can afford to advertise during the Olympics?

Has anyone else had the sudden penchant to book themselves a trip to Wapusk National Park?

[waterloowarrior]

Which provinces are advertising? So far I've seen BC (You gotta be here), Ontario (There's no place like this), Manitoba (Something about a slow pace and better lifestyle) and Quebec (something historical)

[dsim249]

Which provinces are advertising? So far I've seen BC (You gotta be here), Ontario (There's no place like this), Manitoba (Something about a slow pace and better lifestyle) and Quebec (something historical)

Maybe this hasn't been on any Olympic networks, but I've been seeing Newfoundland and Labrador (Ancient Land ad - very intriguing and well produced, IMO). As well as Alberta's, which is particularly lame, but I don't recall the theme.

QHNFsN7rqSY

[Bigtime]

Here in Calgary I have only seen the following provincial ads during the Olympics:

-BC
-Ontario
-Quebec

-Plus the national parks ad

[Ayreonaut]

Funny, I hated BC's "Best Place on Earth", but now my province has a very similar line. I've seen Alberta commercials (in Saskatchewan) saying "it's better here". Nice. :rolleyes:

[habfanman]

I've seen some great Newfoundland and Labrador ads.

[Ayreonaut]

I've seen some great Newfoundland and Labrador ads.

Yeah, they're usually the best.

[NetMapel]

Which provinces are advertising? So far I've seen BC (You gotta be here), Ontario (There's no place like this), Manitoba (Something about a slow pace and better lifestyle) and Quebec (something historical)

Yup that's what I see here in BC too.

[manny_santos]

for Me??? Wowwwwwwww!!!!!!

[kirjtc2]

I'm in Ontario yo!

It doesn't get more west coast than this. (seriously...what the hell does that even mean?)

[MolsonExport]

Ontario's tourism ads are bad. Stinky poo-poo bad. On par with the dreaded "Good things groohhh-oh! In On-ta-rio!" jingle.

[harls]

for Me??? Wowwwwwwww!!!!!!

Fee Freeze!

[NetMapel]

Really ? I actually really like the Ontario ads because I think it's more interesting. It shows a diversity of things you can do in Ontario, which is its strength because of all the cities/towns they got.

For me, if I rank the 4 provinces' commercials, I'll rank it as such:
1) Ontario (As explained before, I think it makes the province appears very interesting and diverse. If I am a tourist or trying to find a place to live, this commercial is great.)
2) BC (Breathtaking sceneries plus a sophisticated metro :P Although I wish they will spend more time for the city to showcase Vancouver as well.)
3) Manitoba (If I am looking to live somewhere, I like how this commercial highlighted that life is great here with great pace.)
4) Quebec (To be honest, I like the Tourism Montreal commercial (http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/MontrealTV) better on their website, but this is still a nice commercial. However, the whitish fade out borders make this commercial extremely cheesy.)

Definitely interested to hear what the rest of people think about those commercials and think how effective they are.

[manny_santos]

I actually like the Ontario commercial myself - I think it is quite thorough in showing various things to do all over the province, although it does seem to put a lot of weight on Prince Edward County.

MolsonExport - would you agree with me that the art gallery shot at the end of the commercial is inside Museum London in London?

[MolsonExport]

Quite possible, but I must admit to being massively underwhelmed by Museum London's collection.

[dsim249]

:haha:

Vancouver man arrested after allegedly holding Saskatoon woman's phone for ransom


The StarPhoenix February 25, 2010


A Saskatoon woman has her phone back after it was allegedly held for ransom during the Olympics in Vancouver.

Meaghan Dubois was in Vancouver enjoying the Olympics last Friday when she forgot her cell phone in a local coffee shop. When she reached the person who had it, he demanded a ransom of several hundred dollars for its return, said Vancouver police spokesperson Lindsey Houghton.

After Dubois called police, an undercover officer posed as Dubois’s husband and showed up to meet the man on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. As police tried to arrest him, the man attempted to run but was quickly wrestled to the ground, Houghton said.

An 18-year-old man faces charges of possession of stolen property, obstructing a police officer and possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes, as he was found to be carrying a canister of bear spray.

“It happens from time to time, especially with valuable items,” Houghton said.

Houghton said property crime is down significantly this month, even though there are thousands of tourists in town for the Olympics.

“The influx of 7,000 police officers might have something to do with it,” he said.

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/sports/2010wintergames/Vancouver+arrested+after+allegedly+holding+Saskatoon+woman+phone+ransom/2612014/story.html

[SpongeG]

are they showing the CTV news from BC across Canada?

[srperrycgy]

:previous: Yes.

[harls]

An 18-year-old man faces charges of possession of stolen property, obstructing a police officer and possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes, as he was found to be carrying a canister of bear spray.


I was in Vancouver a couple of years ago and I am not surprised.. the bear problem downtown is out of control!

[manny_santos]

are they showing the CTV news from BC across Canada?

No - the individual stations are producing an abbreviated newscast once a day throughout the Olympics.

[vid]

A local news site here has heard that CBC is pulling out of its affiliate agreements and will operate all of its stations directly. The debate will be over whether they will start up local operations in cities like Thunder Bay where the CBC is affiliated to a private station, or if they're just run repeaters. We're hoping for the former.

for Me??? Wowwwwwwww!!!!!!

Every time I see that commercial, I quietly hope she trips and cracks her skull open on a rock. Unfortunately, it was filmed in front of a green screen. (Look closely next time. I am 99.9% sure.)

[manny_santos]

A local news site here has heard that CBC is pulling out of its affiliate agreements and will operate all of its stations directly. The debate will be over whether they will start up local operations in cities like Thunder Bay where the CBC is affiliated to a private station, or if they're just run repeaters. We're hoping for the former.

They will have a fight on their hands with stations like CHEX Peterborough and CKWS Kingston, which will have no alternate programming sources. CBC pulling its affiliation from the station in Brandon is what led to it shutting down.

[vid]

I'm wondering if it might be possible for the license to actually be taken from the private company and given to CBC. :shrug: It would kind of save them.

To Kingston and Peterborough have CTV or Global affiliates?

[manny_santos]

I'm wondering if it might be possible for the license to actually be taken from the private company and given to CBC. :shrug: It would kind of save them.

To Kingston and Peterborough have CTV or Global affiliates?

Even if the licenses were donated to the CBC, I highly doubt they have any interest in operating standalone stations in Peterborough or Kingston. If CBC pulls their affiliations, the local programming may stay, but I would expect a whole lot more infomercials, and possibly some programming sourced from Sun TV, Citytv, or OMNI.

The existing stations have monopolies in their markets - in Peterborough CTV is relayed from Toronto and in Kingston CTV is relayed from Ottawa, and Global is the same signal from Toronto wherever you are in Southern Ontario.

[SpongeG]

I was in Vancouver a couple of years ago and I am not surprised.. the bear problem downtown is out of control!

it is :) they won't leave me alone so avoid their lair aka pump jacks

but lots of people carry bear spray here for protection against muggers and rapists

[crooked rain]

CTV really had nothing planned for the time between hockey and the closing cermonies. First of all it was Lloyd Robertson and Brian Williams sucking up to each other and now it is a bilingual version of that goddamn 'Believe' song.

Couldn't they have just run a rerun of CSI?

[jmt18325]

CTV really had nothing planned for the time between hockey and the closing cermonies.

I thought the memories of the games were really nice, and the bilingual duet of I Believe was amazing.

[kirjtc2]

In 2002, CBC filled the time by interviewing every Canadian player they could get their hands on for 5-10 minutes at a time.

And we will never hear that song again. Unless they hate us and bring it back for London.

[drew]

I thought the memories of the games were really nice, and the bilingual duet of I Believe was amazing.

Really? That duet was lip-synced schmultz. I had to change the channel to keep my dinner down.

I couldn't believe what I was watching after it was introduced as something "special" that had occurred on their set.

The only place that performance "occurred" was a recording studio, probably 8 months ago.

The lip syncing throughout the closing ceremonies was very disappointing IMO. Neil Young was live, as was Avril Lavigne. It seemed like Nickelback was live too.

Actually, other than Neil Young, Nickelback was the best performance by far. For shame. For shame.

[jmt18325]

In my view, a song isn't about people standing in a room lip syncing, it's about the sound. I love the song and I love the way the duet sounded.

[harls]

those Japanese girls sure loved Simple Plan and Avril.

The dude who sang the olympic anthem missed a lip synced verse near the end.. he made a O-face when it was supposed to be an 'eeeee'.

all night long, my wife was betting me Celine Dion would be the closer. I am glad that didn't happen.

(MolsonEx.. I taped the Michael Bublé segment for you, expect a tape in the mail.)

.. wtf was up with those inflatable beavers? :ack:

[crooked rain]

I was dissapointed with the musical artists selected to perform at the closing ceremonies, but I am not surprised since it has to be acceptable to the mass market that watches these things. I was actually hoping though that they'd buck the trend and show some of our innovative and better artists.

I seem to recall giant dolls twirling around Sydney's stadium to "Love is in the Air" in 2000, so this is no better or no worse than that.


I liked the segment with the inflatible beavers - but inflatable beavers would always be a recipe for a good time no matter what kind of celebration you are having.

[MolsonExport]

those Japanese girls sure loved Simple Plan and Avril.

The dude who sang the olympic anthem missed a lip synced verse near the end.. he made a O-face when it was supposed to be an 'eeeee'.

all night long, my wife was betting me Celine Dion would be the closer. I am glad that didn't happen.

(MolsonEx.. I taped the Michael Bublé segment for you, expect a tape in the mail.)

.. wtf was up with those inflatable beavers? :ack:

Haha! it will be returned to sender. Did you get my recording of the Nickelback segment yet? :D

[waterloowarrior]

http://www.truthandrumours.net/2010/03/01/huge-u-s-audience-for-mens-olympic-hockey-final/

A total of 16.6 million viewers watched Canada’s 3-2 overtime win against the United States, the largest viewership ever for a telecast on Canadian television.

CTV reports that 80 per cent of Canadians (26.5 million) watched some part of the game.

CTV also had a big number for the closing ceremonies. A total of 14.3 million watched, making it the second most viewed telecast of CTV’s Vancouver Olympic coverage.

[waterloowarrior]

and 22 million in Canada were watching when Crosby scored the winning goal!

http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/773601--gold-medal-hockey-game-watched-by-record-16-6-million

for the USA
"The game was actually viewed by more people south of the border, with NBC reporting an average audience of 27.6 million – the largest for hockey since the U.S. defeated Finland for gold at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics."

[waterloowarrior]

That Tim Hortons ‘Welcome Home’ ad: What’s the true story?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/work/that-tim-hortons-welcome-home-ad-whats-the-true-story/article1487186/

If the latest Tim Hortons ad didn’t make you well up, you’re part of the minority.

The ad depicts an emotional airport reunion between an immigrant, his wife and kids. The man gives his wife a Tim Hortons coffee and swaddles the whole gang – dressed in what appears to be traditional garb – in winter outerwear. Welcome to life in Canada.

Added intrigue: The words “based on a true story” appear during the ad.

Many viewers speculated about the family behind it. Where did they come from? Where are they now?

Sorry to burst your bubble, Canada, but it turns out that the phrase “based on a true story” was used liberally.


“It is an amalgamation of stories,” says David Morelli, a spokesperson for Tim Hortons.[...]

[harls]

Nice, sort of like how the movie Fargo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116282/trivia) was based on a true story.

[MolsonExport]

But Fargo had Wade Gustafson

http://www.youknow-forkids.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/harvepresnell.jpg
youknow-forkids.com

which more than makes up for any artistic license on the part of the Cohen Bros.

[MolsonExport]

Truth:

So, I'm tendin' bar there at Ecklund & Swedlin's last Tuesday and this little guy's drinkin' and he says, 'So where can a guy find some action - I'm goin' crazy down there at the lake.' And I says, 'What kinda action?' and he says, 'Woman action, what do I look like,' And I says 'Well, what do I look like, I don't arrange that kinda thing,' and he says, 'I'm goin' crazy out there at the lake' and I says, 'Well, this ain't that kinda place.".-

[waterloowarrior]

Did anyone watch "Hiccups" or "Dan For Mayor" last night?
here's a couple of reviews
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/battle-of-the-corner-gas-spinoffs/article1484593/
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=afe7f663-b303-48a6-8191-65c74eb223d3

Also "The Bridge" premiers this Friday at 9 PM
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/02/28/the-good-the-funny-and-the-ugly/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/so-what-if-cbc-goes-for-light-entertainment/article1487196/

[Cambridgite]

The first episode of Dan for Mayor is up on youtube.

(Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmwnGNla3xU&feature=related

(Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhSmnCF93w&feature=related

(Part 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkL1VBESekM&feature=related

(Part 4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yj2A2iGabM&feature=related

Pretty cool watching the show and being able to point out where virtually everything in "Wessex" is. It's like watching Republic of Doyle, but even moreso. At least in Republic of Doyle they actually use the real name of the city.

[vid]

My Newfie friend and I were recently lamenting the casting of Gorden Pinsent in that show. I haven't seen it but he has and he says it's "shite".

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Technically, it's a sin.

[Cambridgite]

My Newfie friend and I were recently lamenting the casting of Gorden Pinsent in that show. I haven't seen it but he has and he says it's "shite".

Haha, that's definitely a newfie word.

I'm hardly even able to follow the plot in that show because I'm too busy pointing out the different scenery and saying "hey, I know that building!" and "hey, I've been there!".

Though one thing that made me laugh was when Shaun Majumder was cast as a criminal 'tough guy'. It's hard to fathom him playing that role if you've ever been to one of his live stand-ups.

[kirjtc2]

To whoever's responsible for CBC News "Maritimes" Late Night: You're not going to get any viewers in New Brunswick by promoting stories about upgrades to Hammonds Plains Road.

Ever since it went on the air, I have never seem them promote a story that wasn't from Nova Scotia. And yet, our tax money still pays to bring it to us.

[manny_santos]

To whoever's responsible for CBC News "Maritimes" Late Night: You're not going to get any viewers in New Brunswick by promoting stories about upgrades to Hammonds Plains Road.

Ever since it went on the air, I have never seem them promote a story that wasn't from Nova Scotia. And yet, our tax money still pays to bring it to us.

So ATV actually is better than CBC in the late-night promotion-of-NB-news-department.

[WhereverIRoam]

That Tim Hortons ‘Welcome Home’ ad: What’s the true story?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/work/that-tim-hortons-welcome-home-ad-whats-the-true-story/article1487186/

Funny thing is that story is uncannily similar to how my family got to Canada minus the corney Tim Horton's part.

[harls]

I saw this ad tonight for a dental restoration outfit in Quebec called Lapointe.. they show a guy with 2 yellow teeth grinning at the camera, then presto-chango, a full set of pearly neon whites (like they were marinated in crest whitestrip solution aka JAVEX for about 3 months).

The guy's before face is forever fried into my memory.. no way someone could let their mouth go like this, for sure it must have been fake... good god what a horrible image to put on tv... I've got a two year old for christ's sake.

[MolsonExport]

^want white teeth? Learn trick discovered by a simple mom!




(trick: gargle with a cup of bleach each morning and evening. hold in mouth for 1 hour before spitting. Repeat. Maintain this program for 2 months.)

[manny_santos]

^want white teeth? Learn trick discovered by a simple mom!




(trick: gargle with a cup of bleach each morning and evening. hold in mouth for 1 hour before spitting. Repeat. Maintain this program for 2 months.)

Did you have to endure this as a child MolsonExport? :)

[MolsonExport]

^nahh, my teeth are not all that white. :D

[Bigtime]

Well it appears that Conan O'Brien is taking his "show" on the road, here are the lucky Canadian cities:

-Vancouver April 13
-Edmonton April 17 (@ the River Cree resort & casino)
-Toronto May 22

Should be a good time, anyone planning on going?

http://teamcoco.com/

[SpongeG]

that new tim hortons commercial is annoying eh

[Ayreonaut]

I've been to one of Conan's shows (Late Night), and I'd definitely love to see this tour, but I doubt I will.

He's actually doing two nights in Vancouver.

[vid]

The radio advertisements for "The Great Canadian Oil Change" make me envy the deaf.

[MolsonExport]

AHHHHHHHH! Ads for Global News at 530 with Kevin Newman. On SSP!

AHHHHH!

[harls]

Mommy, you have such nice eyes and such nice hair.. EWW what is that thing.. Oh that.. that's a skin tag, I wish I could get rid of it.. you can, with Dr. Scholl's liquid nitrogen skin blast... don't use too much or you could end up in pieces like that liquid terminator guy in T2.

[SteelTown]

X-Men to Cinderella Man: Hamilton in the movies

March 20, 2010
Brent Lawson
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/740183

They range from monsters of mayhem skulking through the streets in search of the living, to friendly movie stars happy to bask in the warm glow of recognition.

Famous faces have included the mysterious (Bob Dylan) and the engaging (Donald Sutherland).

The Hamilton area has seen its share of high-profile names as a popular location for moviemakers and TV.

Here are some of the more recent movies and TV series filmed, at least in part, in Hamilton.


Repo Men, starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker, has just opened. It's a grisly tale about repossessing organs.

Kick-Ass, opening in April. An unnoticed high school student and comic book fan's quest to become a superhero.

Splice, opening in June, stars Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley. They play two scientists exploring the dark side of genetic engineering.

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) Starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, the film topped $100 million worldwide. It's the romantic story about a man who has no control over his time travel.

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009) Starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Billy Connolly, the film grossed $40 million -- but doubled that with DVD sales.

Flash of Genius (2008) About Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) and his battle with U.S. automakers whom he claims stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper. The film had good reviews, but barely made a dent with a $4-million gross.

Fringe (2008) The top-notch U.S. TV series has found a small but devoted audience for its blend of science fiction and fact.

The Incredible Hulk (2008) The superhero movie scared up $263 million worldwide. Starring Edward Norton as the two-sided Bruce Banner, plus Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt.

Max Payne (2008) From a video game to the big screen. The story of a police detective seeking justice had worldwide ticket sales of $85 million. Starring Mark Wahlberg (Max Payne), Beau Bridges, Ludacris and Chris O'Donnell.

Traitor (2008) Took in $24 million worldwide box office. FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) probes an international conspiracy, where the clues point to a former officer, Samir Horn (Don Cheadle).

Hank and Mike (2008) Thomas Michael, Paolo Mancini, Chris Klein and Joe Mantegna star in a comedy about two downsized Easter bunnies.

Hairspray (2007) Worldwide ticket sales topped $200 million. John Travolta stars in drag as Edna Turnblad, a role miles away from Saturday Night Fever. Other stars include Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Queen Latifah.

Silent Hill (2006) Another popular film based on a video game, it sold about $100 million in tickets worldwide. A woman seeks her daughter in a desolate town called Silent Hill. Stars Sean Bean.

Cinderella Man (2005) Big-time director Ron Howard and big-name star Russell Crowe joined forces and the film eventually grossed more than $100 million worldwide. Crowe portrays real-life boxer James Braddock and Hamilton stood in for the docks of Depression-era New Jersey.

Four Brothers (2005) Worldwide gross of $92 million for this film, in which four brothers look to avenge their mother's death. With Mark Wahlberg as Bobby Mercer, plus Tyrese Gibson and Andre Benjamin.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) Took in more than $50 million in North America. Stars Milla Jovovich. Key elements? An outbreak, a top-secret facility and danger.

X-Men (2000) The comic book series came to life in spectacular fashion in this smash movie that went on to gross more than $375 million. The success spawned successful sequels. Starring Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Patrick Stewart (Professor Charles Xavier) and Ian McKellen (Magneto). Some local audiences cheered when familiar landmarks turned up on the screen.

American Pie Presents Beta House (2007 video)

American Pie Presents The Naked Mile (2006 video)

Sources: Hamilton Film and Television Office, Wikipedia.org, Internet Movie Database

[duper]

Did anyone watch "Hiccups" or "Dan For Mayor" last night?
here's a couple of reviews
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/battle-of-the-corner-gas-spinoffs/article1484593/
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=afe7f663-b303-48a6-8191-65c74eb223d3



It's pretty surreal watching Dan for Mayor, not only because we have Hank from Corner Gas, but a my friend Mary plays his ex-girlfriend. She used to be a server at a restaurant in the Bloor West Village. She's absolutely the nicest person you'll ever meet. Very happy for her.

[vid]

Mommy, you have such nice eyes and such nice hair.. EWW what is that thing.. Oh that.. that's a skin tag, I wish I could get rid of it.. you can, with Dr. Scholl's liquid nitrogen skin blast... don't use too much or you could end up in pieces like that liquid terminator guy in T2.

I first saw that commercial when 22 Minutes was mocking it in a skit. I was surprised to see that it actually exists.

[NetMapel]

Mommy, you have such nice eyes and such nice hair.. EWW what is that thing.. Oh that.. that's a skin tag, I wish I could get rid of it.. you can, with Dr. Scholl's liquid nitrogen skin blast... don't use too much or you could end up in pieces like that liquid terminator guy in T2.
That was one of the most insulting commercials I've seen in a long time.

[raggedy13]

Well it appears that Conan O'Brien is taking his "show" on the road, here are the lucky Canadian cities:

-Vancouver April 13
-Edmonton April 17 (@ the River Cree resort & casino)
-Toronto May 22

Should be a good time, anyone planning on going?

http://teamcoco.com/

Very interesting. There is also an April 14th date for Vancouver.

[Lindberg]

MONTREAL — Warner Bros. said it was talent and government incentives that lured it to open a new gaming studio in Montreal.

The multimedia giant announced Monday it will set up shop somewhere in the city, with an investment it hasn't disclosed. It pledged to create 300 jobs by 2015.

At a news conference, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said he's pleased Montreal was able to beat out other cities in a heated competition for the establishment of the new studio.

"With the credibility of Warner Bros., this confirms the position of Quebec as one of the major world capitals in the gaming industry," Charest said.

The province will give a $7.5-million grant through Investissement Quebec, and Warner will get a 37.5 per cent tax break on all jobs, as is standard for multimedia companies whose products are available in both English and French.

"This was the best offer on the table on both talent and financial incentives," said Martin Tremblay, the president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

He added he's impressed with the quality of graduates coming out of Quebec's universities.

Burbank, Calif.-based Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment is now the eighth-largest video-game company in North America. It produces products such as the Lego games, and has just acquired the rights to produce games under the DC Comics banner, some of which will be developed out of the Montreal studio.

Tremblay is no stranger to Montreal's gaming scene. He was the chief operating officer of Ubisoft from 1999 to 2006. Under his watch, the company tripled in size to 1,400 people and opened another studio in Quebec City.

Quebec Economic Development Minister Clement Gignac said the government has invested more than $100 million into the gaming sector over the last 10 years, and the investment has more than paid off.

"We think that the financial benefits more than justify the investment," Gignac said. "And the proof of that is that other provinces are now copying our lead."

He said it also creates quality jobs for programmers, engineers and artists.

There are about 14,000 people employed in about 700 companies working in multimedia in Quebec, most of them in Montreal.

Several economists disagree with Quebec's approach. The Montreal Economic Institute, a not-for-profit research and education organization, said it believes tax breaks for businesses are a bad idea.

"We believe subsidies don't create jobs; they just displace them from one industry to another," said David Descoteaux, an economist with the institute. "You have to keep in mind the government has to take this money from somewhere; it takes it from taxpayers. Taxpayers would have spent this money and stimulated jobs elsewhere."

He said the money would be better invested in the health-care sector, which always needs investment.

jmagder@thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Warner%20Bros%20open%20gaming%20studio%20Montreal/2712529/story.html#ixzz0iyYuRvZL

[SpongeG]

I can't find the commercial i saw but it was on a US TV channel - do they sell this in Canada? I've never heard of it

GFaP4vp-5Xc

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Must be brewed by Coors.

[kirjtc2]

So....the CRTC's ruling yesterday in a nutshell:

* networks get the right to negotiate with cable/sat companies
* possibly increased cable fees
* no increase in local programming
* networks may have the right to black out US channels whenever they air any show to which a Canadian channel has rights

Yup, the Canadian TV viewer sure came out on top here....

[duper]

^Must be brewed by Coors.

Since it's the Molson Coors Brewing company, I doubt they have anything to do with Labatt.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I know that, but the ad just reeked of a Coors commercial. Of course, most commercials for beer are pretty interchangeable.

[harls]

Blue Light? It's been sold in Ontario and Quebec forever, as far as I can remember. Out west it's Labatt Lite.

[waterloowarrior]

you guys don't have Blue Light in the West? this is like the moment I realized not everyone gets their milk in bags

[duper]

Blue Light? It's been sold in Ontario and Quebec forever, as far as I can remember. Out west it's Labatt Lite.

Uhhh.. why does everyone here know so much about light beer?

[MolsonExport]

I've said it elsewhere and I will repeat it here: Bud Light Lime is the vilest camel piss on the planet, along with perhaps Ann Coulter's douche water.

[waterloowarrior]

I think the Bud Light Lime guys were smart... who would have guessed the market for potable cleaning solution would have been so big.

[Proof Sheet]

I've said it elsewhere and I will repeat it here: Bud Light Lime is the vilest camel piss on the planet, along with perhaps Ann Coulter's douche water.

All I need for verification about how Bud Light Lime tastes in when my sister in law told me how much she loved it...that was proof enough for me as she has zero taste in beer and generally jumps on any marketing bandwagon there is in terms of beer.

[SpongeG]

never seen it out west and haven't seen milk in bags since the 70's out here haha

bud light lime - it seems popular here me and my friend were near a liquor store one time eating and was surprised by how many people left carrying out cases of bud light lime

[manny_santos]

Bud Light Lime was heavily popular for awhile a year or two ago among students at the bars. I never tried it, and I have no desire to try it. If I want a beer with lime, I get Corona and put some lime in it.

Back to my Rickard's Red, Guinness, and Creemore Springs. By the way, that last one is one good beer, if you've never tried it.

[harls]

Uhhh.. why does everyone here know so much about light beer?

:uhh: ;) That crap is like the de facto beer at your prairie social.. along with OV, Blue and Bud.


re: bud light lime... someone brought that to a bbq at my place last summer and left it at my house. There are still cans of that stuff in my basement. One night I was craving a beer and thought I'd open one up. ugh. it did leave my sink with a sparkling lime scent, though.

[urbandreamer]

The best dark ale in Ontario is Neustadt's 10W30.

http://beerblog.genx40.com/archive/2005/march/natioanlsixpack

Great to drink on a Lake Huron Beach.:)

[vid]

:uhh: ;) That crap is like the de facto beer at your prairie social.. along with OV, Blue and Bud.

White people drink OV? :shrug:

[manny_santos]

White people drink OV? :shrug:

My father used to, back in the late 80s. Is that stuff even still available in Ontario? I know Molson still brews it, but I can't remember the last time I saw OV at the local Beer Store.

Speaking of beer, I heard the "Make 'er a Laker!" jingle on the radio today for the first time in a couple years. Last time I heard that one it was "a-buck-a-beer".

For what it's worth, the Laker fan group on Facebook has only 37 members.

[artvandelay]

I don't think anybody in AB or BC drinks Labatt's anymore, the only people I know who drink Blue are ex-Manitobans.
Out here it's all Kokanee, Canadian or the ever-popular Pil.:haha:

[SpongeG]

i only drink becks

[SpongeG]

i had no clue we got this channel! I never have to change the channel again i love it :P

Sundance Channel launches in Canada on March 1

Corus Entertainment sets the stage for a new film and entertainment experience next month when Sundance Channel (Canada) joins Corus' premier portfolio of specialty services on Monday, March 1. Offering a home to movie enthusiasts, music fans, creative and socially engaged audiences, Sundance Channel gives Canadians a new way to look and talk about the world around them. Offering a lineup of award-winning, diverse and engaging titles, Sundance Channel features the best in feature films, festival-selected shorts, documentaries and innovative original series.

"We are very pleased to be launching Sundance Channel and introducing this world-renowned brand to Canadian audiences," said Paul Robertson, President, Television, Corus Entertainment. "The quality and diversity of Sundance Channel's programming gives viewers a wide variety of independent-minded films and original programming, creating a completely unique television destination for Canadians."

The schedule is built around six defined programming blocks anchored weeknights in prime time and on Saturday and Sunday nights:

On Monday nights, Sundance Stage focuses on film adaptations of stage plays and kicks off in March with the award-winning Canadian series Slings & Arrows followed by some of Hollywood and theatre's biggest names in American Film Theatre, including the films The Homecoming, The Maids, Rhinoceros and Luther.

The Tuesday night block, Critics Choice bows in with the ultimate Hollywood insider show In the House with Guber and Bart, featuring entertainment news and interviews hosted by legendary industry insiders Peter Bart (former editor-in-chief, Variety) and Peter Guber (producer Rain Man, Batman, The Color Purple), offering insights, opinions and conversations from and with Hollywood's major players. Each episode is followed by a critically-acclaimed film chosen from festival selections from around the globe. March titles include Tom Gilroy's Spring Forward, which takes an intimate look at a manufactured father and son relationship and won a Toronto International Film Festival Discovery Award; Errol Morris' off-centre documentary on pet cemeteries in the acclaimed Gates of Heaven, and the controversial Brother's Keeper, winner of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award.

Wednesday nights are dedicated to Sundance Series featuring the best of Sundance-produced original productions, with exclusive premieres including the world-travel treasure seeking eight-part series Man Shops Globe, about the buying excursions of Anthropologie's buyer-at-large, the eye-opening green series The Lazy Environmentalist, and the hard hitting Brick City, which documents efforts to renew and revitalize Newark, New Jersey, a city challenged by decades of urban decline.

Thursday nights are all about music with Sonic Screen, and features series such as Music Makers, 360 Sessions and London Live with performances by today's established and up-and-coming stars from Beck and Kanye West to Feist.

Weekends on Sundance Channel begin on Friday nights with Theatreland, an insightful documentary series on the London theatre scene. On Saturdays at midnight, Midnight Snack offers films that have earned a loyal cult following over the years such as Naked Lunch, Return of the Secaucus Seven and Brother from Another Planet. Asia Extreme rolls out on Sundays at midnight and features the new wave of innovative filmmakers from the Far East who are shaking up the world of genre movies with titles like Bloody Reunion, Divergence and Triad Election.

...

http://www.channelcanada.com/Article4017.html

[MolsonExport]

"Make 'er a Laker!" ...It's a buck a steer (piss).

[Gurnett71]

i only drink becks

:tup: :cheers:

[vid]

Speaking of beer, I heard the "Make 'er a Laker!" jingle on the radio today for the first time in a couple years. Last time I heard that one it was "a-buck-a-beer".

For what it's worth, the Laker fan group on Facebook has only 37 members.

They say "thanks for supporting local, Ontario!" but in reality, people only buy that shit because it's cheap and they want to get wasted.

---

TBayTel is partnering with Roger's. This will allow TBayTel to upgrade its network to 3G HSPA and have access to models of many cell phones as soon as they come onto the market, while Roger's will have access to TBayTel's regional infrastructure to provide better service to its customers in this area.

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/Default.aspx?cid=85449
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/rogers-allies-with-tbaytel/article1511639/

A radio commercial for a used car store:

Some guy: "blah blah blah three for three blah blah"
Loud chick: "Three for three?"
Some guy: "blah blah blah"
Loud chick: "THREEE FOR THREEEEE!!!"
Me: http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9433/faceiconsmallconfused.gif

[manny_santos]

I wish the Lap'n'Snack was real.

[vid]

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2662/im009965.jpg

Harmony Hills (http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=harmony+hills&meta=&cts=1269830241827&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=).

Someone wrote a letter into the paper recently about how great it was that a business on this street wasn't open on Sunday so that people could spend time with family...

[mr.John]

Anyone watch the Don(windbag)Cherry story on CBC,can't wait to get it on DVD so I can replay it over and over...our tax money put to good use

[MolsonExport]

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2662/im009965.jpg

Harmony Hills (http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=harmony+hills&meta=&cts=1269830241827&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=).

Someone wrote a letter into the paper recently about how great it was that a business on this street wasn't open on Sunday so that people could spend time with family...

first boobs, then burgers at the mickey d's. what a way to whet up an appetite for rotten ronnie's.

[vid]

Beside it is a vacant sex shop. The commercials for Colour Your World use some very creative angles to omit these two businesses.

[harls]

mVToZfaGCTw

Your music career is gonna take off now, whoever you are.

[manny_santos]

Anyone watch the Don(windbag)Cherry story on CBC,can't wait to get it on DVD so I can replay it over and over...our tax money put to good use

I saw it. Don Cherry seemed out of character throughout most of it - he seemed a lot more subdued than he really is. Mind you, I've seen very little footage of Don Cherry before he started on Coaches Corner, but the actor didn't seem very convincing to me.

[duper]

New movie adaptation of a top Canadian comic series.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
An Epic of Epic Epicness
Comes out in August

Teaser Trailer
xgOLmjhxVVU&hl

http://www.scottpilgrimthemovie.com/assets/downloads/iphone/iphone-wallpaper.jpg

[crooked rain]

mVToZfaGCTw

Your music career is gonna take off now, whoever you are.

For some reason his appearance reminds me of Geddy Lee. It's the glasses I think.

Of course, if it was actually Geddy Lee, the comercial would have a fifteen minute long synthesizer solo in the middle of it.

[HomeInMyShoes]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4503131118_5d000d6a83.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14303872@N05/4503131118)
photo by me.

Comment: hahahahhahahahahhahhah!!! Whew, I needed that.

[vid]

I thought beer wasn't supposed to taste like stale urine? :shrug: