CBC is hoping to continue it’s recent hot streak and on Thursday the network hosted a big, giant party to celebrate their new 2010-2011 schedule.  Paul Gross, Debbie Travis, Erin Karpluk, Rick Mercer, Peter Mandsbridge, George Stroumboulopoulos, Davic Suzuki, Kurt Browning, Don Cherry and Ron Maclean all made appearances and talk about their shows.  (It is days like this I HATE living in Calgary.)

I’ll run down some of the highlights.

Debbie Travis will be taking on the Donald on Sunday nights with her new show  All For Fun.  The design and decor guru will be profiling real-life unsung heroes from across the country.   I’m going to try to find out how you can nominate people for this show, so get your gear turning!

CBC’s biggest hit from last year Battle of the Blades will be returning for a second season.  It was announced that former NHLers Theo Fleury and Russ Courtnall will be some of the celebs being teamed up with the professional figure skaters.  The show never caught on for me last season, but 2 million canadians can’t be wrong.

I don’t really have anything to say about this picture.  Actually I do: drool, drool and drool. Hot damn, CBC scored some good looking stars.

By now you know that Being Erica is returning for a third season.  Some of the cast was on hand for the big announcement.  Notably missing was Tyson Leitso who played Erica’s love interest, he’ll be sitting this season out.  But I’m guessing he’ll definitely be popping up again sometime soon!

Interestingly enough, Being Erica is scheduled for Tuesday night, airing at the same time as The CW’s Life UnXpected.  This  could leave to a very awkward Erin Karpluk vs. Erin Karpluk battle royale. Here’s hoping Being Erica wins over the all too boring Life UnXpected

A tv version of the film Men With Brooms will also be hitting the airwaves this small.  Paul Gross starred in the movie, but will be showing up as the narrator for the new show.  While I never saw the movie, I’m intrigued enough to give the show a chance.  With any luck, they’ll get Cheryl Bernard to make an appearance!

Here is the full schedule:

SUNDAYS (beginning September 26)

7 p.m.               HEARTLAND
8 p.m.               BATTLE OF THE BLADES
9 p.m.               ALL FOR ONE WITH DEBBIE TRAVIS

MONDAYS
8 p.m.              BATTLE OF THE BLADES – RESULTS (begins October 3)
8:30 p.m.         MEN WITH BROOMS (begins September 20)
9 p.m.              JUST FOR LAUGHS (begins September 20)

TUESDAYS (beginning September 21)
8 p.m.             RICK MERCER REPORT
8:30 p.m.        22 MINUTES
9 p.m.             BEING ERICA

WEDNESDAYS (beginning September 22)
8 p.m.              DRAGONS’ DEN
9 p.m.              THE TUDORS

THURSDAYS (beginning September 23)
8 p.m.              THE NATURE OF THINGS
9 p.m.              DOC ZONE

FRIDAYS (beginning September 24)
8 p.m.             THE RON JAMES SHOW
8:30 p.m.        RICK MERCER REPORT – Encore
9 p.m.             THE FIFTH ESTATE

SATURDAYS
6:30 p.m. ET   CBC’s HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
WEEKNIGHTS
10 p.m.            THE NATIONAL, with Peter Mansbridge (on-going)
10:55 p.m.       CBC NEWS LATE NIGHT (on-going)
11:05 p.m.       THE HOUR with George Stroumboulopoulos (begins September 20)

DAYTIME

7 a.m.             KIDS’CBC (on-going)
2 p.m.             STEVEN AND CHRIS (begins September 20)
3 p.m.             BEST RECIPES EVER (begins September 20)

Bad news for all of you Being Erica fans south of the border.   Disney announced today that SoapNet is closing it’s doors by January 2012.  This is obviously stressful news for fans the time-travelling series since SoapNet is the american home of Being Erica.

I have no freaking idea what happens to a series when the network shuts down, but I’m guessing someone will have to pick up the rights.  While Being Erica has found a nice home on cable, maybe this will be the push a network like ABC needs to pick it up as a summer series?!  And what about NBC?  It is not like they have anything better on the air!

And what does this mean for Being Erica here in Canada?  The series got a ton of buzz in the USA and if there isn’t a network willing to air it anymore, CBC might have  a hard time thinking past season 3, which is currently filming!

The CW won’t announce it until tomorrow, but the network has renewed the TV-series Life, UneXpected.

At first I thought this was great, but I quickly realized it’s main character was the 2010 equivalent of Dawson Leery (main character=annoying as hell).

So while I’m not a fan of the show, it is great news for the city of Vancouver, where the show is filmed.  This is also a happy day for Being Erica fans, as Erin Karpluk plays a significant role in this show as well.  No word yet on if she’ll show up in season 2.  I’m guessing that will depend on her BE schedule, which has already started filming.

It is official!

Being Erica is back for season 3!  CBC just released this press release!

“Kirstine Stewart, general manager of CBC Television, is pleased to announce that the critically-acclaimed series BEING ERICA is back for a third season this fall. The new season will feature thirteen one-hour episodes.  The popular relationship drama with a time travel twist stars Gemini Award-winner Erin Karpluk as Erica Strange, a young woman on a one-of-a-kind quest through past and present to come to terms with life and relationships.

“BEING ERICA resonates in a special way with CBC’s viewers,” said Stewart. “We have found a shining star in Erin Karpluk, whose portrayal of Erica is real, relatable and endearing.”

Winning the hearts of CBC viewers since its series debut in 2009, BEING ERICA is also capturing audiences south of the border. Simultaneously announced today is the third season pick up by SOAPnet, the Disney/ABC Television Group’s 24-hour soap opera channel with over 75 million household subscribers. BEING ERICA is one of SOAPnet’s most popular series. To date, BEING ERICA has aired in 38 countries worldwide.

Season two left Erica with no boyfriend, no job and a personal life in shambles. In season three, we find a newly single, more confident Erica on the path to forging a new identity for herself as she becomes the person she’s always wanted to be. Popular returning characters include Dr. Tom (Michael Riley), Erica’s ex-boss and new business partner Julianne (Reagan Pasternak), mother Barbara (Kathleen Laskey), father Gary (John Boylan) and sister Samantha (Joanne Douglas).”

I told you so!

Now let’s start the celebrations!  Who wants to help me flip a car?

Canadian’s have always known that Being Erica is one of best shows currently on television.  Now it seems that other countries are starting to figure it out too!

A production company called Big Talk Productions has picked up the format rights from Canada’s Temple Street Productions and they are looking to make their own Erica in the UK!

They are planning on calling the show You Again and are looking to produce six one-hour episodes.

But what about our Erica?  CBC STILL has not announced anything, but I confirmed a couple of weeks ago that Being Erica season 3 does in fact go into production next week in Toronto!

Holy Jean Chretien it actually happened!

Being Erica has been renewed for a third season! CBC hasn’t announced it yet, but trust me. It is true. So very true. I got a very reliable email today confirming all the details!

No word on the storylines for season 3 yet, but shooting starts on May 17th! So I’m working hard on getting some more details!

I’m so excited to have Erin Karpluk but on our TV screens. I can now end my 5 hour hunger strike!

Congrats Canadian TV, this is definitely a huge win!

Are you wondering if Being Erica will see season 3?

You should know the answer by the end of the week.

>
Dear CBC,

>
While the world’s best musicians were celebrating the Grammys, one of our Canadian actors was winning a pretty big award herself.

>Today is big day for Canada’s Erin Karpluk! The star of Being Erica, which recently wrapped up season 2 in Canada, is going to be on The View. That’s right, THAT View!

In case you missed it, here is the clip of Erin on today’s The View. Watch it and try to figure out how not to love her. Don’t waste too much time, it is impossible.