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)