Upcoming new Showcase series and backdoor pilots for 2011

Showcase originals Lost Girl and Haven will also return in 2011

Dramas

Blackstone (Spring 2011)

8×60 min

Intense, compelling and confrontational, Blackstone is an unmuted exploration of power and politics on an Indian reserve. A newly elected female Chief struggles to lead a broken community against the betrayal and corruption of the old regime. The series stars Carmen Moore, Eric Schweig, Michelle Thrush and Nathaniel Arcand. A Canwest partnership with APTN, Blackstone is produced by Prairie Dog Film + Television and executive produced by Ron E. Scott. The series was created by Ron E. Scott and Gil Cardinal who share writing credits along with Selina Williams and Damon Vignale.



Endgame (Spring 2011)

13×60 min

Endgame introduces viewers to Arkady Balagan, a brilliant chess master. Traumatized by the murder of his fiancée, Balagan has become a prisoner in his luxury Vancouver hotel, terrified to step outside. To pay his bill, Balagan starts solving mysteries – using an unlikely band of hotel employees and chess fanatics to do his legwork. Using the skills that made him an international chess champion, Balagan solves the crimes that mystify others. Developed and produced by Thunderbird Films in association with Front Street Pictures; creator and showrunner, Avrum Jacobson; Michael Shepard and Harvey Kahn serve as Executive Producers.



XIII (Spring 2011)

13×60 min

XIII is the story of a man’s quest to uncover the truth about his identity. Named for the Roman numeral tattooed on his neck, XIII is a former secret operative who cannot remember his past. Hunted by a dark anti-government organization, XIII searches for clues that will lead him to who he is, and to the secret he carries that makes him so valuable—and so potentially dangerous. To gain information, the highly-trained XIII must take on missions from those he cannot trust, including the former President Sheridan, a possible traitor. Complicating matters, XIII is torn between two women: Sam, his friend and ally, and the enigmatic Jones, a Secret Service operative with whom XIII was once involved. Conspiracy, secrets and mistrust: XIII’s world is a dangerous place.

XIII is produced by Prodigy Pictures & Cipango and executive produced by Jay Firestone, Thomas Anargyros, Edouard de Vesinne and Gil Grant, who also serves as the writer on the series. Stewart Townsend, Aisha Tyler, Virgine Ledoyen, Caterino Murino,Greg Bryk, Stephan McHattie and Ted Atherton star



King (Spring 2011)

8×60 min

King is a sexy character-driven cop drama about Jessica King, a charismatic but flawed female detective. King is produced by Indian Grove Productions. Executive Producers are Bernie Zukerman and Greg Spottiswood, both of whom serve as series creators.



Combat Hospital (Fall 2011)

13×60 min

A Canadian/UK co-production set in a military-medical hospital in Afghanistan, the drama focuses on the doctors and nurses who often have to put their own lives at risk to help save the lives of others. Sienna Films and Artists Studios are producing the project with Look Out Point. Executive Producers are Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny for Sienna Films, Gub Neal, Justin Thompson-Glover, Patrick Irwin for Artists Studios and Simon Vaughan for Look Out Point; developed with Steve Lightfoot and created by Douglas Steinberg and Jinder Chalmers.



Comedies



The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour (Winter 2011)

6×30 min

Chaos ensues for Mike, Robb and JP when the entire cast of their new comedy series, The Happy Funtime Hour, ingest an addictive hallucinogen and begin to believe they really are the characters they portray on the show – including deranged pirates, drug-addled playboys from an 80’s television show and a group of not-so-super superheroes. The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour is written by Mike, JP and Robb. They also serve as Executive Producers on the series alongside Louis Thomas. Ron Murphy has been tapped as Director and Producer is Paul Pope. The series is produced by Happy Funtime Productions 2007 Incorporated in association with Showcase, The Canadian Television Fund, Film Nova Scotia and the Bell New media Fund.


The Kenny Hotz Television Program (Working Title) (Winter 2011)

6X30 min

Kenny vs. Spenny’s cult icon Kenny Hotz goes solo in a new series. Each week, Kenny is saddled with an insane Herculean task he must accomplish. The series is executive produced by Kenny Hotz and E1’s John Morayniss.

Single White Spenny (Spring 2011)

8×30 min

Poor Spenny can’t catch a break. After being tossed out of his marriage, he sets out to prove to the world that he’s not an, “emotionally inept lovetard incapable of having a functional relationship”. Good luck. He’ll need it. Single White Spenny is produced by Breakthrough Films and Television with Ira Levy serving as Executive Producer. The series is created by Rice and written by Howard Busgang and Tom Nursall.



Untitled Belleville Brothers Project (Spring 2011)

8×30 min

When the seemingly slick go-getter Terry inherits the comic book store he spent his life trying to escape, he has to return to the quirky strip mall where he spent his youth and team up with his socially awkward head-in-the-clouds brother Peter. Together they must put the past behind them, keep dad’s dream alive, and try not to kill each other along the way. E1 is producing with Jason Belleville and Ryan Belleville serving as Creators, Writers and Executive Producers on the project. The series is also executive produced by Laszlo Barna and Noreen Halpern.



Backdoor Pilots



Befriend & Betray (Spring 2011)

1×120 min

Based on a true story, Befriend and Betray tells the story of Alex Caine, a civilian infiltrator-for-hire who helps law enforcement agencies battle some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. His private life is no less complicated. Befriend and Betray is produced by DHX and executive produced by Charles Bishop, Floyd Kane and Michael Amo. The pilot is written by Michael Amo and is based on the book “Befriend and Betray” by Alex Caine.



Jack of Diamonds (Spring 2011)

1×120 min

Jack of Diamonds is a comedic drama in the vein of Ocean’s Eleven about a career thief and his young protégé who plan a series of heists against some of the wealthiest people in world – for all the right reasons. Jack of Diamonds is produced by Muse Entertainment. Michael Prupas, Joel Rice and Christian Davin serve as Executive Producers and Peter Hume as writer.



Rave Squad (Spring 2011)

1×120 min

A young international law enforcement team is recruited to investigate crime found in the most alluring global locales. Rave Squad is produced by Chesler/Perlmutter Productions Inc. with Lewis Chesler and David Perlmutter serving as Executive Producers. Rave Squad is written by Josh Kotcheff.

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