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The Ascendancy of Toronto

Apparently Murdoch Mysteries is really popular in England too. Which is awesome.

I know this isn't an example of a quality show, but we shouldn't forget that Degrassi is hugely popular in the United States, and that most Americans are well aware of the fact that it's a Canadian show. It's often the only media they're actually aware is Canadian.

I don't watch the show so I don't know how much the show mentions/showcases its Toronto-ness, but they're obviously doing something...
 
When I was overseas, the amount of people who brought up Degrassi High when learning I was Canadian was shocking.
 
MisterF said:
All three shows showcase and mention landmarks, streets, etc. but almost never actually say what city or country they're in. I think it's a deliberate move to make it less obvious to Americans that they're watching a foreign show. It's a shame because the identities that many cities have is partly a product of the media. Those shows are a step in the right direction though, and they're not half bad either.
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it's probably for the best, as these shows depict a city with high crime, segregation, and corruption.
 
^Even the new Degrassi is good! It presents real-seeming kids with real problems instead of the more lurid fantasy-land of the Hills, for instance. It features gay teens in a thoroughly non-stereotypical, non-exploitive light. The things we find embarrassing about our television programs - that they are incredibly level-headed, homey, accepting - are seen as assets by foreigners.
 
Though the "we" you talk of obviously doesn't apply to the net producers of our various cultural forms, just to some of the local net consumers of it for whom foreign models are inherently better, or sexier, or whatever. Provincialism sees the grass as greener everywhere else, but I don't think it's a common attitude amongst local creative people who actually produce anything.
 
Well as producer and consumer, I don't think it's provincial to say that English Canadians tend to produce more conservative art than Americans, for instance. This isn't to say that the quality is any less - there are plenty of great artists working here (or are Canadian and have moved elsewhere). As I used to research the differences between Canadian and American attitudes to advertising, a big thing that kept coming up was that Canadians don't like comparisons and superlatives and chest-beating ("X is better than any other product!"). Canadians prefer simple facts told to them in an upbeat way. I don't think this is a negative thing, but plenty of people get embarrassed (even I do, sometimes!) that we can't be a little more full of ourselves and a little less reasonable.
 
taal said:
barf, I hate that show.
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Really? I quite like Murdoch Mysteries. Seems generally well written, well acted, well shot, and entertaining. I haven't seen the Bridge ... but Flashpoint ... well it was well done and all, but the complete lack of characterization was ... well reminiscent of CHiPs. And I love all the old Toronto stuff ... or at least their attempt at it.

But then again, I find many police dramas these days just far too dry. I watched an episode of Hill Street Blues recently ... I hadn't seen an episode in about ... wow, 25 years. I'd forgotten just how funny and fun that show was to watch. Flashpoint just seemed ... well like getting stuck in a hostage situation ... no fun.
 
The reason I don't watch Degrassi is because it's like a soap opera. Honestly, whose high school had so many issues??

I can definitely see the appeal - when nothing else is on, sometimes I'll watch an episode and it always leaves you with cliffhangers that make you want more.

Just throw in some more dream-like cinematography and someone in a coma...

I will admit that the reason Degrassi, old and new, is so popular is because it dares to deal with pretty much any issue any teenager (or anyone really) could ever face ever. That's pretty ballsy. Even if it's unrealistic to have all these things happen to one group of people at one high school...
 
AlvinofDiaspar said:
What does all this have to do with the topic of the thread?
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The thread subject was "a positive thread about Toronto, it's present and future". Surely, a discussion of all the great TV shows made in Toronto that actually depict Toronto does indeed meet the criteria!
 
Degrassi, Flash Point and Being Erica (my favourite) are all shows shot in Toronto and take place in Toronto and they are all good shows. I watch them all. Being Erica is even doing a Pride Parade episode. I can't wait to see that. Some of my friends were extras. It was shot on Church Street, in front of Woody's.
 
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