Check Out a Free Preview of ichannel on EastLink in February

February 4th, 2011
Intrepid reporter Louis Theroux returns in a series of documentary specials starting Feb. 22

Here’s some good news for EastLink subscribers: ichannel will be available in free preview until March 1. Check us out on EastLink channel 151. And to subscribe, call 1-888-345-1111 or visit www.eastlink.ca.

Here’s a taste of what’s in store in February:

Today, more than a billion people will light a cigarette. Humanity’s strange and deadly romance with tobacco is the subject of the eye-opening BBC documentary WE LOVE CIGARETTES (Tuesday Feb. 8 at 9 pm ET/PT).

Is Canada’s public health care system in critical condition? Host Karyn Pugliese tackles this contentious question on ichannel’s current affairs flagship @issue (Tuesday Feb. 22 at 8 pm ET/PT).

Intrepid British journalist LOUIS THEROUX goes where angels fear to tread — from the crime-ridden streets of Johannesburg to the notoriously homophobic Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas — in his acclaimed series of documentary specials (Tuesdays, starting Feb. 22 at 10 pm ET/PT).

Several characters reach a crossroads in the second season finale of the groundbreaking medical drama series ST. ELSEWHERE, starring Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon and Ed Begley Jr (Thursday Feb. 24 at 10 pm ET).
 

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Why We Love St. Elsewhere

January 20th, 2011

Remember the shock of discovering that troubled resident Peter White (Terence Knox) was the St. Eligius rapist? Bold, uncompromising story choices like that, and a willingness to take its characters to some very dark places — those are the qualities that made St. Elsewhere a series ahead of its time. In retrospect, NBC’s classic hospital drama has more in common with today’s taboo-breaking premium cable fare (like Breaking Bad or Nurse Jackie) than with a straightforward network drama such as Grey’s Anatomy.

Canada’s ichannel airs St. Elsewhere every Thursday night at 10 pm ET/PT, and on Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT. Here’s what’s coming up in February:

“The Women” – Feb. 3 and 6

In this Emmy Award-winning episode, three women sharing a room at St. Eligius (guest stars Eva LaGallienne, Blythe Danner and Tracy Nelson) become friends as they face the new realities forced upon them by their ailments.
“Cramming” – Feb. 10 and 13

Pressure mounts on the young residents as the dreaded National Board exams approach. Facing trial on sexual assault charges, White (Terence Knox) takes a big risk by agreeing to a polygraph. A stressed-out Armstrong (Kim Miyori) makes a tragic misdiagnosis, while Ehrlich (Ed Begley Jr.) is distracted by the arrival of his eccentric Aunt Charice (guest star Louise Lasser), who has romantic designs on Dr. Westphall (Ed Flanders).
“Rough Cut” – Feb. 17 and 20

As the first-year residents anxiously await the results of their exams, knowing some will be cut from the program, Armstrong (Kim Miyori) grows increasingly erratic. While Fiscus (Howie Mandel) poses for a provocative photo spread, Joan (Nancy Stafford) and Dr. Caldwell (Mark Harmon) attempt a romantic getaway to Paris – but all does not go as planned.
** SEASON TWO FINALE **
“Hello Goodbye” – Feb. 24 and 27

The residents scatter as vacation begins. Joan (Nancy Stafford) faces a difficult decision when structural problems close down the emergency room. Steven Craig (guest star Scott Paulin) returns home from rehab, and widower Morrison (David Morse) puts aside his wedding ring to spend his first night with another woman (guest star Helen Hunt). With his fight against liver cancer taking a turn for the worse, Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) collapses in the elevator.

 

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Coming Up on the Groundbreaking Drama ST ELSEWHERE

December 16th, 2010
Before ER, before Grey’s Anatomy or House M.D., there was ST. ELSEWHERE: the groundbreaking, Emmy Award-winning medical drama that helped to change the face of prime time television. 

ichannel, Canada’s political and social issues network, is the ONLY place to catch episodes of this now-legendary series: Thursdays at 10 pm ET/PT and Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT.

 

Next Week: ”In Sickness and In Health”
Thursday, Dec. 23 and Sunday, Dec. 26 
The Craigs (William Daniels and Bonnie Bartlett) host the wedding of Ehrlich (Ed  Begley Jr.) and Roberta (guest star Jean Bruce Scott), and encounter Ehrlich’s alcoholic Aunt Charise (guest star Louise Lasser). Joan (Nancy Stafford) makes some special plans on behalf of her terminally ill father (guest star William Windom). Chandler (Denzel Washington) makes a practice run for the Boston Marathon that proves dangerous.

 

Upcoming Episodes: 

“Drama Center” – Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 
A TV documentary crew follows Dr. Craig (William Daniels), and a rape takes place in the hospital parking lot. Michael Richards (Seinfeld) guest stars. 

“Attack” – Jan. 6 and 9 

Ehrlich (Ed Begley Jr.) is mortified when Roberta (guest star Jean Bruce Scott) broadcasts their marital problems to the whole staff, Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) is reunited with an old flame, and a ski-masked rapist continues to terrorize St. Eligius. 

“After Dark” – Jan. 13 and 16 

Dr. Craig (William Daniels) preeningly anticipates winning the coveted Doctor of the Year award, while Ehrlich (Ed Begley Jr.) and Dr. Caldwell (Mark Harmon) make decisions about their romantic futures, and the rapist strikes again. 

“Vanity” – Jan. 20 and 23 

Dr. Craig (William Daniels) tries to put a stop to the TV documentary when it casts him in an unflattering light, while Rosenthal (Christina Pickles) undergoes breast implant surgery and Martin (Barbara Whinnery) reveals the reason for her sudden disappearance. Michael Richards (Seinfeld) guest stars.


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ichannel adds ANY DAY NOW to lineup, starting Dec. 11

December 1st, 2010
ichannel, Canada’s political and social issues network, adds award-winning drama series ANY DAY NOW to prime time lineup on Saturdays, starting Dec. 11, at 10 pm ET/PT.
Birmingham, Alabama. The 1960s. In the city at the heart of America’s bitter struggle over civil rights, two young girls – one white, one black – become fast friends.
Fast-forward to the present day. After years of estrangement, these two are reunited. Picking up their friendship where they left off, M.E. and Rene confront both the legacy of their city’s troubled past and the complexities of life in the contemporary urban South.
Originally broadcast from 1998 to 2002, the award-winning drama series Any Day Now stars Annie Potts (Designing Women) as wife and mother Mary Elizabeth (“M.E.”) O’Brien and Lorraine Toussaint (Saving Grace) as Rene Jackson, an unmarried civil rights attorney.
Each episode of Any Day Now alternates scenes of M.E. and Rene’s present-day struggles with flashbacks to their younger selves. Created for the Lifetime network by writer-producer Nancy Miller (Saving Grace, The Closer, CSI: Miami), the series earned praise for its sensitive and subtle handling of issues such as homosexuality, women’s rights, alcoholism and poverty.
Above all, Any Day Now stands out as one of the few prime time TV dramas ever to deal head-on, week after week, with America’s racial history and its lasting consequences.
In addition to its award-winning lineup of documentaries and original current affairs programming, ichannel offers thought-provoking dramas and feature films that confront the most challenging issues of our time.
St. Elsewhere, the groundbreaking medical drama that changed the face of prime time TV, airs Thursday nights at 10 pm ET/PT and Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT. ichannel movies air Sunday nights at 9 pm ET/PT.

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