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OTTAWA – January 29, 2026 – Tonight, the Prime Minister went to the cottage. Yes, that cottage. Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Crave Original, HEATED RIVALRY stars Hudson Williams and Sophie Nélisse, alongside Creators Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady on the red carpet at the Canadian Media Producers Association’s (CMPA) annual Prime Time conference in Ottawa.

The Prime Minister also addressed delegates and media before a surprise In Conversation With Heated Rivalry featuring Williams; co-star Sophie Nélisse (Rose); Creator, Writer, Director, and Executive Producer Jacob Tierney; Executive Producer Brendan Brady, and moderator, etalk’s Lainey Lui. The panel included curated clips and behind-the-scenes insights, offering audiences a rare look at the creative leadership behind one of Canada’s most talked-about and internationally successful television series. Additional remarks were given by Valerie Creighton, CEO of the Canada Media Fund; Sean Cohan, President, Bell Media; Reynolds Mastin, President and CEO, CMPA; and Kyle Irving, Chair, CMPA Board of Directors.

From its Canadian roots to global acclaim, HEATED RIVALRY has emerged as an international cultural touchstone, celebrated for challenging traditional portrayals of masculinity in sport and delivering a bold, honest portrayal of joyful queer love and relationships. HEATED RIVALRY is available to stream on Crave in Canada, HBO Max in the U.S., Europe (excluding UK and Ireland, Spain, and Turkey), Australia, Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Macau, Sri Lanka, Nepal), and Latin America, Sky (and NOW) in the UK and Ireland, Movistar Plus+ in Spain, and NEON in New Zealand.

From the Capital to the Cottage: Prime Minister Mark Carney Meets Crave Original’s HEATED RIVALRY Stars Hudson Williams and Sophie Nélisse, and Creators Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady at Prime Time in Ottawa

Click here to download high-resolution photography OTTAWA – January 29, 2026 – Tonight, the Prime Minister went to the cottage. Yes, that cottage. Pri...

JANUARY 30 – Crave Celebrates Black History Month  

 	To commemorate Black History Month, Crave highlights Black creators, talent, and cultural figures through a dedicated Black Excellence page which features collections such as: Black Movies Matter; TV Shows #ForTheCulture; Essential Black Episodes; Celebrating Black Comedy; Black Love; Docs &amp; Historical Dramas; Strong Female Leads; Excellence in Sports; and more. 

FEBRUARY 4 – Crave Original Series LYSANDRE + CLAUDE *Series Premiere* 

 	Lysandre Nadeau and Claude Bégin are one of Québec's most followed and influential couples, with over 1.5 million subscribers across all platforms. LYSANDRE + CLAUDE is an 8-episode docu-reality series offering an exclusive glimpse into their daily lives as they await the arrival of their second child (Claude's third). From diaper changes and moments of self-doubt to tender moments, the series explores their dynamic as a couple, parents, and creators. We are immersed in the big and small moments of this magnetic duo. Episodes 1- 2 premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 4 with new episodes streaming Wednesdays. 

***Media Note: Assets for Crave programming are available at the Bell Media press site, The Lede, here   

Programming Premieres and Key Finales for the week of January 29 - February 4 

*All Programming Subject to Change*    

Movies 

January 30 – ON SWIFT HORSES 

January 30 – JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE  

January 30 – NIGHTBITCH 

January 30 – THE BLACK DEMON  

January 30 – DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? 

January 30 – CRASH (1996) *Canadian Title* 

January 30 – REALLY HAPPY SOMEDAY 

January 31 – THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE 

February 1 – MAYBE I DO 

February 1 – AFTER 

February 1 – AFTER WE FELL 

February 1 – AFTER WE COLLIDED 

February 1 – AFTER EVERYTHING 

February 1 – AFTER EVER HAPPY 

STARZ  

January 29 – SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009) 

January 30 – DIRTY HARRY  

January 30 – THE LONG WALK 

January 30 – BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY  

January 30 – CRAZY RICH ASIANS 

February 1 – BLIZZARD 

Additional Highlights 

February 4 – French Crave Original LYSANDRE + CLAUDE, Season 1, Episode 1-2 (Series Premiere) *Canadian Title* 

Next Day on Crave

January 30 - NEXT LEVEL CHEF, Season 5, Episode 1 (Season Premiere) *following CTV 

February 2 – SNAPPED, Season 36 A, Episode 5 (Season Finale) *following Oxygen True Crime 

January 29 - February 4: Crave Weekly Streaming Overview  

JANUARY 30 – Crave Celebrates Black History Month   To commemorate Black History Month, Crave highlights Black creators, talent, and cultural figures...

TORONTO (January 23, 2026) – Crave delivers a mid-winter heat wave when the new romantic reality series TEMPTATIONS UNDER THE SUN: CYPRUS debuts with two episodes on Friday, February 13. With English audiences already tuning into OD: TENTATIONS AU SOLEIL, the #1 French-language reality series on Crave*, the one hour, 10-episode spin-off series follows 17 of Canada’s most daring singles as they face temptation, strategy, and unexpected twists under the Mediterranean sun. The series follows a weekly release schedule, with new episodes dropping Fridays.

Guided by renowned sexologist, intimacy expert, and host of the Lovers By Shan podcast, Shan Boodram, contestants are paired up to take on steamy challenges, wild parties, surprise arrivals, and heart-wrenching eliminations, all while earning valuable points that can unlock major advantages. Only the boldest and most magnetic duo is crowned “Canada’s Most Seductive Couple” and returns home with an impressive $50,000 cash prize.

As previously announced, the cast of hot Canadian singles soaking up the Cypriot sun, include:



Alexus

Age: 23

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Occupation: children’s party entertainer, bartender

&nbsp;



Emily

Age: 26

Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Occupation: bartender, makeup artist

&nbsp;



Emma

Age: 27

Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Occupation: self-proclaimed stay-at-home daughter

&nbsp;



Helena

Age: 28

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Occupation: salon owner

&nbsp;



Ite

Age: 25

Hometown: Calgary, AB

Occupation: personal trainer

&nbsp;



Jenny

Age: 26

Hometown: Laval, QC

Occupation: private jet flight attendant

&nbsp;



Josh

Age: 24

Hometown: Burlington, ON

Occupation: engineer, clothing brand owner

&nbsp;



Kaelen

Age: 22

Hometown: Kelowna, BC

Occupation: bartender, student

&nbsp;

&nbsp;



Mackenzie

Age: 27

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Occupation: model

&nbsp;



Matt

Age: 25

Hometown: Calgary, AB

Occupation: personal trainer, ex male dancer, house flipper

&nbsp;



Naomi 

Age: 23

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Occupation: bartender, supervisor

&nbsp;



Obi

Age: 25

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Occupation: content creator

&nbsp;



Quinton 

Age: 32

Hometown: Oakville, ON

Occupation: personal trainer, streamer

&nbsp;



Sam

Age: 29

Hometown: London, ON

Occupation: sales – home renovations

&nbsp;



Shemar

Age: 29

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Occupation: personal trainer

&nbsp;



Silas 

Age: 26

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Occupation: business owner – logistics

&nbsp;



Valentina

Age: 23

Hometown: Montreal, QC

Occupation: model, content creator

&nbsp;

TEMPTATIONS UNDER THE SUN: CYPRUS is produced by Productions J in collaboration with Crave. Francis Laforest is Executive Producer; Julie Snyder is Executive Producer, Carine Sansregret is Head of Development; Rose Gauthier-Robitaille is Line Producer; Sabrina Roy is Creative Producer; Jean-Philippe Perron is Consultant. For Bell Media, Alexis McLaren is Production Executive, Original Programming; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; and Justin Stockman is Vice President, Content Development &amp; Programming.

The series is distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus.

*Source: mparticle, Crave, avg streams, French-language reality shows min 1 min views.

Sun-Kissed and Hard to Resist, the New Crave Original TEMPTATIONS UNDER THE SUN: CYPRUS Debuts February 13

TORONTO (January 23, 2026) – Crave delivers a mid-winter heat wave when the new romantic reality series TEMPTATIONS UNDER THE SUN: CYPRUS debuts with...

TORONTO (January 22, 2026) – Crave confirmed today that its hit original comedy series SHORESY is set to hit the ice for a sixth season. Season 6 goes into production this fall, in Sudbury, Ontario.

Season 5, which saw Shoresy and the Bulldogs fight to protect the North American game, just concluded and is available for streaming on Crave. Since premiering on Christmas day 2025, Season 5 of SHORESY has become the most-watched season of the series on Crave, delivering a 36% increase in audience over season 4*. The series remains one of Crave’s top-performing originals, with each season ranking among the Top 5 Crave Originals in its year of release**.

At the same time, the series' cast is wrapping up the show’s hugely successful eight-city North American hockey tour, the Shoresy Classic, where the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs face-off against NHL alumni teams. It has seen sales of more than 65,000 tickets, with stops this week in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver selling out entirely.

SHORESY is created by, and stars, Jared Keeso as Shoresy. The series is produced by New Metric Media in association with Play Fun Games.

Developed by Bell Media for Crave, SHORESY is produced by New Metric Media, in partnership with Play Fun Games in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, OMDC Tax Credits to Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. Jared Keeso is executive producer, writer, star, and creator. Dan and Sean Skene are directors. Mark Montefiore and Kara Haflidson are Executive Producers for New Metric Media. For Bell Media, Alison Korogyi is Senior Production Executive, Original Programming; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Justin Stockman is Vice President, Content Development &amp; Programming.

The series is distributed by New Metric Media.

*Source: First 7-day streams, mParticle/Amazon Data

**Source: mParticle &amp; Amazon Internal Data, 1 min viewed filter, rank based on First 7 Day streams.

SHORESY Scores a Sixth Season on Crave

TORONTO (January 22, 2026) – Crave confirmed today that its hit original comedy series SHORESY is set to hit the ice for a sixth season. Season 6 goes...

Sunday Programming 

 	12 p.m. ET – NFL Countdown (TSN3) 
 	1 p.m. ET – FOX NFL Sunday (CTV) 
 	AFC Championship Game – New England @ Denver – Kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

 	TSN3, CTV Network, and RDS 


 	NFC Championship Game – Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle – Kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET 

 	TSN3, CTV Network, and RDS 


 	9:30 p.m. ET – FOX NFL Postgame (CTV) 

&nbsp;

This page will be updated as any changes to NFL programming on TSN, CTV, and RDS are confirmed. 

NFL on TSN, TSN+, CTV, and RDS – Conference Championships: Drake Maye and the Patriots Face Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos for AFC Championship, Matthew Stafford and the Rams Battle Sam Darnold and the Seahawks for NFC Championship

Sunday Programming  12 p.m. ET – NFL Countdown (TSN3)  1 p.m. ET – FOX NFL Sunday (CTV)  AFC Championship Game – New England @ Denver – Kickoff at 3 p...

TORONTO (January 21, 2026) – The votes are in! Following a buzzy sixth season of CANADA’S DRAG RACE that saw Van Goth snatch the coveted title of Canada’s Next Drag Superstar, fans have officially crowned their favourite queen of the season.

The inaugural Shark® Fan-Favourite Queen of the Season, and winner of $5,000 and a Shark® prize bundle, is Sami Landri!

Season 6 finalist Sami Landri is a major flag bearer for the Acadian drag scene and is considered a pioneer of New Brunswick drag.

Season 6 of CANADA’S DRAG RACE is available to stream on Crave, with a previously announced seventh season set to premiere later this year.

In association with Crave, CANADA’S DRAG RACE is produced by Blue Ant Studios with World of Wonder. Executive Producers for Blue Ant Studios are Matthew Hornburg, Mark Bishop, Donna Luke, and Laura Michalchyshyn. Trevor Boris is Executive Producer/Showrunner, Lori Greenberg is Supervising Producer. Executive Producers for World of Wonder are Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, and RuPaul Charles. For Bell Media, Justin Stockman is Executive Producer and Vice President, Content Development &amp; Programming. Senior Production Executive is Danielle Pearson. Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming. Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming.

CANADA’S DRAG RACE Reveals First-Ever Shark® Fan-Favourite Queen of the Season

TORONTO (January 21, 2026) – The votes are in! Following a buzzy sixth season of CANADA’S DRAG RACE that saw Van Goth snatch the coveted title of Cana...

By BILL HARRIS
Special to The Lede

&nbsp;

TV moves fast. Luckily, so does MacKenzie Porter.

The award-winning Alberta-born-and-raised country singer and songwriter was already intensely busy with music and acting gigs when she suddenly found herself in one of the starring roles on 9-1-1: NASHVILLE. With a vast ensemble cast that also includes Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, LeAnn Rimes, and Michael Provost, the hit series is in the midst of its first season, with new episodes dropping Thursdays on CTV and Crave.

“It was honestly just an audition for a small recurring character, but it was filming in Nashville, so my team was like, ‘hey, you probably have time to do that,’” said Porter, who plays Samantha Hart, an emergency-room doctor. “So, I auditioned for it, and they really liked me. They cast me, and then about two episodes in, they were like, ‘hey, we actually want you to be one of the leads of the show, so are you available?’”

Porter, who not only is a successful solo musician but also is part of a musical duo known as Thelma and James with her husband Jake Etheridge, had some rearranging to do. After all, the country music world works on a tight schedule of gigs and tours and albums.

“We had to move a few things around, but the past year has been such a big blessing,” Porter said. “There has been the odd time where I’ve had to fly through the night to get back to the set, but we film 30 minutes away from my house. I get to play a very cool character, and the cast is amazing. There are some crazy days, but you know, if I have to cancel something, it’s just one fun thing for another fun thing.”

Certainly being “in demand” is a great problem to have in show business.

“I always say to Jake, ‘how lucky are we that we're stressed by the things we prayed for?’” Porter said. “You know what I mean? Like, we're stressed by balancing parenthood, which we're so lucky to have had a smooth process with, along with big career things. What else could you ask for? Yeah, it's stressful sometimes. But it's all just good stress.”

Porter’s character on 9-1-1: NASHVILLE obviously is under stress as well, but it’s far less of the “good” variety, and much more of the “life and death” variety. Porter also played a medic for three seasons on the series TRAVELERS.

“I have zero medical training in real life, but every time I walk on set, they're like, ‘you just give doctor vibes,’” Porter said. “And I'm like, ‘oh, I don't think you know me, because I don't give any doctor vibes, but I'm glad that I'm convincing you and doing my job.’ I can’t even handle blood or anything like that. But of course, I’m dressed in scrubs, and I’m in the hospital scene. So, I don’t know, hopefully I'm just a good actress. I do feel comfortable in that setting, but I don’t know where it comes from. If you need real medical attention, you should try somebody else first. I should be your last resort.”

Having built formidable careers in both music and acting, does Porter – who also co-hosted the 2024 CCMAs alongside Thomas Rhett – have to draw from different parts of her creative psyche?

“I think they pull from a little bit different parts of me, for sure,” she said. “All the music that I write is so personal and based on me, or an experience I've had, whereas with acting, I'm portraying somebody else's experience. So, after songwriting and being in touch with my feelings all the time, I'm like, ‘uh, I don't want to feel my feelings anymore, I want to be somebody else, and get to know their story instead of mine.’ So, it's kind of refreshing to do that. Plus, when you’re writing a song, you really have no idea if it'll ever be heard, or if anybody will like it. So, it’s a little bit more of the abyss, whereas acting is like, you show up, you do your job, and then it does go on TV, right? There is a different experience both times.”

There was no chance that 9-1-1: NASHVILLE was ever going to fly under the radar, as it’s the latest series in a high-profile franchise that has included both 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: LONE STAR.

“Even though I knew it was a big franchise, and (co-creator and executive producer) Ryan Murphy is a massive name, you just never really know what’s going to click,” Porter said. “But the numbers (ratings) have been insane. We have a group chat with all the series regulars, and it’s just really cool to be a part of something that has so much momentum right now.”

MacKenzie Porter has plenty of personal momentum right now as well. So, thinking back to when she was a kid in high school, would her friends and classmates have pegged her as more of a future musician, or more of a future actor?

“Hmmm, well, I don't know … I think they would say musician, because I was always the girl who played the violin and sang,” Porter said. “But then again, I also missed a lot of high school to be on film sets. So, I really don't know what they would say. Hopefully they would just say that I was a nice person.”

billharristv@gmail.com
@billharris_tv

Being Busy is a Big Blessing for Canadian Country Musician and 9-1-1: NASHVILLE Star MacKenzie Porter

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede &nbsp; TV moves fast. Luckily, so does MacKenzie Porter. The award-winning Alberta-born-and-raised country singer a...

Key Tags: @Crave_PR, @CraveCanada, @TheLede_CA
TORONTO (January 20, 2026) – Crave is bringing hockey fans closer to the beloved game with its original docu-travel series HOCKEY FANATICS. Hosted by Dave Foley, the series launches February 6, with all eight episodes available to stream on Crave. HOCKEY FANATICS follows Foley and special celebrity guests as they travel across North America to explore the passion, culture, and heart-stopping action of hockey fandom.

From creator, showrunner, and director, Alex Scrymgeour, each episode of HOCKEY FANATICS takes viewers to a different North American city to explore the fandom around its home team. At every stop, Foley meets up with devoted superfans to chat about what their team means to them; tour the massive collections of memorabilia – even some that homes had to be built around; and learn about the impact the teams make in their communities. Along the way, Foley sits down for a meal with celebrity hockey fans to talk about their love and connection to their team before attending a game together.

The teams – and celebrity guests who love them – featured in HOCKEY FANATICS are as follows:

 	Nashville Predators with country music star Wynonna Judd and her music producer husband, Cactus Moser
 	Utah Mammoth with beloved actor Scott Wolf (PARTY OF FIVE)
 	Vancouver Canucks with Canadian actor, director, producer Jason Priestley (BEVERLY HILLS 90210)
 	 Louis Blues with Golden Globe-winning actor Scott Bakula (QUANTUM LEAP)
 	Toronto Maple Leafs with Canadian comedy legend Mike Myers (Shrek franchise)
 	Montréal Canadiens with Canadian actor and author Jay Baruchel, who wrote the book on being a Habs fan.
 	Florida Panthers with actor, musician, and author Nico Tortorella (YOUNGER)
 	Los Angeles Kings with Canadian actress and content creator Shenae Grimes-Beech (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION)

In addition to dedicated super fans and special celebrity guests, the series features appearances from past and present NHL players, including Wendel Clark, Terry Crisp, Josh Doan, Sean Durzi, Jim Fox, Mark Fraser, Barret Jackman, Michael Kesselring, Mark Recchi, Luc Robitaille, Stan Smyl, and Peter Worrell.

For Scrimmy Media, Alex Scrymgeour is Writer, Director, Showrunner, and Executive Producer. For Shadow Pine Studios, Michael McGuigan is Executive Producer. Miguel Sánchez Baranda, Jon Graham, and Dave Foley also serve as Executive Producers.

For Bell Media, Alexis McLaren is Production Executive, Original Programming; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; and Justin Stockman is Executive Producer and Vice President, Content Development &amp; Programming.

Crave Original Docu-Series HOCKEY FANATICS Hits the Ice, February 6

Key Tags: @Crave_PR, @CraveCanada, @TheLede_CA TORONTO (January 20, 2026) – Crave is bringing hockey fans closer to the beloved game with its original...

TORONTO (January 19, 2026) – Crave and CTV announce the debut of the new Crave Original crime drama THE BORDERLINE (fka UNDERBELLY). The series kicks off Sunday, Feb. 8, immediately following SUPER BOWL LX on CTV and Crave, securing a coveted post-game timeslot on one of television's biggest nights. Subsequent episodes of the high-octane thriller will stream Fridays on Crave, beginning Feb. 13. Produced by Shaftesbury in association with Crave, THE BORDERLINE follows a cop from the wrong side of the tracks who ventures beyond the line of duty to save a childhood friend, only to have everything unravel. When his plan backfires, his carefully constructed life begins to collapse, thrusting him into a dangerous collision course with backstabbing criminals, suspicious colleagues, and vulnerable civilians who need him more than ever.

Set against the backdrop of a quiet riverside town in the Thousand Islands, officer Henry Roland (Stephen Amell, ARROW), finds evidence linking a case of missing illegal substances to his childhood best friend, Tommy Hawley (Hamza Haq, TRANSPLANT), with whom he shares a dark secret. As Henry embarks on a mission to save his friend, a ruthless British crime family, led by matriarch May Ferguson (Minnie Driver, THE SERPENT QUEEN), is also on the hunt for the drugs and Tommy.

The series also stars Tamara Podemski (RESERVATION DOGS), Katia Edith Wood (8-Bit Christmas), Jeremy Watson (SURREALESTATE), Kate Corbett (CORONER), Anna Douglas (MRS. AMERICA), Thomas Craig (MURDOCH MYSTERIES), Christopher Heyerdahl (VAN HELSING), and Diego Klattenhoff (THE BLACKLIST). Click the image below to view trailer:



On the series premiere titled “Blue Beetle” (Sunday, Feb. 8 immediately following SUPER BOWL LX on Crave and CTV), when a double homicide disrupts the quiet Thousand Islands region, Canadian Border Intelligence Agent Erica Ross (Tamara Podemski) launches an investigation, suspecting ties to a growing drug trade. Local officer Henry Roland (Stephen Amell) is tasked with keeping her in check, but a discovery at the crime scene sends him on a personal mission of his own that links the lethal case to his childhood best friend, Tommy Hawley (Hamza Haq). Meanwhile, Ruby Waits (Katia Edith Wood) draws comic book enthusiast Miles King (Jeremy Watson) into a perilous scheme that spirals beyond control. As tensions rise, wealthy newcomer May Ferguson (Minnie Driver) makes her presence known in town, hiding a deeper agenda beneath her charm. With the drug trade tightening its grip, loyalties fracture, and past connections resurface in unexpected ways.

Set and filmed in the Thousand Islands region and on location across Southern Ontario including Grimsby, Brantford, Cobourg, Bowmanville, and Toronto, THE BORDERLINE is produced by Shaftesbury in partnership with Crave, with the participation of the Rogers Series Fund, in association with global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON who is also handling worldwide distribution rights (excluding Canada). The series is created by Graeme Stewart (SAVING HOPE) who also serves as Executive Producer alongside Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Aaron Martin, and Stephen Amell. All episodes are directed by Robert Budreau (Stockholm), who also serves as Executive Producer. Producers are Paige Haight, Patrick Cassavetti and Shauna Jamison.

For Bell Media, Alison Korogyi is Senior Production Executive, Original Programming; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Justin Stockman is Vice President, Content Development &amp; Programming.

&nbsp;
– Crave / CTV –

Crave Original THE BORDERLINE Lands Post-SUPER BOWL Premiere Event on CTV

TORONTO (January 19, 2026) – Crave and CTV announce the debut of the new Crave Original crime drama THE BORDERLINE (fka UNDERBELLY). The series kicks...

By BILL HARRIS
Special to The Lede

&nbsp;

It has been a fun, feisty, and fashionable year on PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA, which drops its dramatic season finale on Friday, Jan. 16, only on Crave (where all episodes are available for catch-up).

Here’s how Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha, who served as both the host and one of the judges, analyzed the entire enthralling experience:

Q: Did you get two cheques for hosting and judging?

COCO ROCHA: “We wish! I think it was all muddled into one.”

&nbsp;

Q: Sounds like time for a renegotiation.

COCO ROCHA: “There you go. You can be my lawyer.”

&nbsp;

Q: Which comes more naturally to you, judging or hosting?

COCO ROCHA: “I think host and judge were definitely very combined, but also just being an executive producer was the area where I was really wanting to put my hat in the ring. The reason why it was so important to me was because PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA was coming in with producers who all came from the world of TV, whereas I was very much wanting to make sure that the fashion component was there. I wanted to be the playful judge, and the playful host, but also making sure that we were hitting all those key targets of, like, what was true fashion? What are the stories we need to really be discussing? I think that balance was, well, I wouldn’t say the hard one, but just the one I was very much aware of.”

&nbsp;

Q: How would you rate the talent level of the designers on PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA this season?

COCO ROCHA: “I think we had a majority of highly skilled designers. There were some challenges where I could not believe they could produce such beautiful things, even when I wasn’t expecting it. They showed me that anything's possible, as long as you're a creative person. So I have to say there were moments I was absolutely shocked in the greatest sense, but also sometimes shocked in the worst sense (laughs).”

&nbsp;

Q: I guess those are the extremes that you’re looking for on a TV show such as this.

COCO ROCHA: “I was hoping for that, yeah.”

&nbsp;

Q: Do you have any specific takeaways?

COCO ROCHA: “I think the designers were very good when it came to challenges where we very much told them, ‘this is all you're allowed to use.’ But when they could use any material, it was interesting how they would panic under that kind of pressure. Not everyone, but some would. When you gave them, like, ‘here's the challenge, here's your material, here's the amount of hours, this is all you're allowed to do,’ that’s when they almost had the attitude of, ‘I'm going to prove to them I can do it.’ That’s usually when they were really good. So it was funny, if the challenge was more relaxed, and they had more time, what they came up with seemed to be less interesting to me. So I don't know, under pressure, they did well.”

&nbsp;

Q: Maybe that’s just human nature.

COCO ROCHA: “I wonder, because it was almost always the case, and we noticed it as judges. When they were given very specific parameters, they killed it, like, murdered it. But if it was just a theme, like, one of the ones we had was ‘futuristic’ – I don't know if that's exactly what we called it – but a futuristic theme, what will it look like? That was too big for them. And it was a challenge where they had to work together, too, and you know, working together as designers is already a faux pas (laughs). They're not usually good at that. But in general they had a hard time with that one because it was just too broad.”

&nbsp;

Q: What do you know about your fellow judges – fashion media icon Jeanne Beker, and award-winning designer Spencer Badu – that you didn’t know at the beginning?

COCO ROCHA: “So Spencer and I didn't really know each other at all until we met at the Bell Media Upfront (last June). Back then he was so quiet, and calm, and poised. And now he's like that little brother who you just nag in the best of ways. We made fun of each other 24/7, to the point where I'm sure Jeanne was like, ‘do they love or hate each other?’ She could not figure it out. But I mean, we would go out and have drinks and hang out, so we're good. But it is funny how you get so comfortable around the people you work with, to the point where you're just bashing them all the time! Not Jeanne, though, we would never … she's a classy lady! We can't do that to her. But just to give two cents about Jeanne, it was amazing to see when she would speak to the designers about their craftsmanship, or give them praise, how many tears would be on that runway. Hearing Jeanne Beker tell them, ‘I'm proud of you, you did it,’ they would just break down. It's a testament to just what she has accomplished, and will continue to accomplish, in our industry. To see how much admiration and respect this new generation has for Jeanne was so touching. And also to see her well up … like, in just about every episode, at least one of us was crying. Well, mostly not Spencer, let's be real.”

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Different Types of Pressure Meant Different Results on PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA, Says Coco Rocha

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