Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Debra McGrath Discusses The Show’s Final Season

6 02 2012
It’s been several months since we last connected with  Little Mosque on the Prairie’s  delightful, Debra McGrath[ Mayor Ann Popowicx]. With Little Mosque approaching its upcoming sixth and final season and Debra being kind enough to participate in another interview with us, I took the opportunity to discuss the show’s final chapter with her.

McGrath  discusses her response to the show’s cancellation as well as the mood which was present amongst the show’s cast throughout the final weeks .We also extensively discuss   some of the challenges involved with Mayor Popowicx‘s serious romantic relationship   this season as well as how the pursuit such a serious relationship speaks to how the Mayor has developed over the course of the show. With Sarah Hammoudi’s divorce, also being a key element in the final season, we learn how the two’s friendship is impacted as Ann tries to support her best friend.

 The actress also further reflects on her final experiences with the show, explaining why she thinks viewers will find the series finale satisfying as well as how she thinks both  Little Mosque and  the character of Mayor Popowicx  will be remembered. McGrath also gives us an update on a spinoff series which she has been working on with Little Mosque’s  Sheila McCarthy as well as some of her other recent acting projects.

 Take a read through our complete interview, below!

Abbas Karimjee:Since we last connected, it was announced that Little Mosque on the Prairie will end upon the conclusion of its upcoming sixth season. What was your initial reaction when you learned of this and what are your thoughts on the factors which led to the show’s cancellation?

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The cast of Little Mosque on the Prairie share a toast as filming for the series draws to a close[ June 2011

Debra McGrath:I was never sad to hear it.We all believed that season five was going to be the end which  made season six such a bonus, which it certainly turned out to be.

AK: Could you please describe the atmosphere and mood which was present on set, amongst the show’s cast and crew throughout the final weeks of production?

DM:The last weeks of this show were the finest I have known on a set. Everyone was emotional, more emotional than we expected I think. This cast and crew has been through lots together, births and deaths alike. We bonded over this time and we knew that the end would take us in different directions and that we would miss seeing one another at "Mosque camp". We had our own wonderful farewell celebrations, large and small, on and off the set. The mood was high and sweet. I will never forget it.

AK: In the upcoming sixth season, Mayor Popowicz will find love with Charles Thorne [Peter Keleghan], who is Reverend William Thorne’s younger brother. Could you please give us an idea of the circumstances and factors which draw Mayor Popowicz and Charles together?

DM:Like all good love stories, they start out despising each other and then find themselves dealing with a very strong sexual attraction. I don’t want to give too much away because the way in which they come together is fraught with twists and turns.

  AK: Could you please give us an idea of some of the challenges which the two will face over the course of their relationship?

DM:I will say one thing without giving too much away. The biggest challenge they face is the fact that Charles is engaged to be married to someone else. Always a bit of a stumbling block for a new relationship wouldn’t you say?

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Mayor Popwicx develops a true romantic relationship with Charles Thorne[ Peter Keleghan

 AK: When we last connected, you mentioned that one of your potential aspirations for the character of Mayor Popowicz would be that she leaves her position as mayor of Mercy for love. Does the Mayor’s discovery of true love influence her performance on the job or make her reconsider her desire to run as mayor of Mercy?

DM:Nope. In fact much to Charles chagrin, she remains very much a career gal.I could not have been happier that they gave her a true love. Better than leaving office methinks.

AK: Mayor Popowicz is a character who has been known for engaging in casual relationships. How do you think being involved in a real, serious relationship speaks to the character’s development over the course of the show?  In what other ways do you think the character has also developed?

 DM:Oh yeah the Mayor has done her share of dabbling!!! And the beauty of her relationship with Charles is that it has the best of both worlds, it was an affair and true love both! I think we have seen the softer side of Ann these last two seasons and what I have loved is that we have been able to see her true love for Sarah. The relationship between Ann and Sarah has been such a happy thing for both Sheila and myself. These characters had such a funny odd relationship and it became more and more layered as the years went on. When Yasir left, we were able to tap into that more. But don’t get me wrong, we really missed Carlo.

AK: Peter Keleghan recently mentioned that you two have been real life friends for over 25 years. How do you think you think a preexisting friendship enhanced the portrayal of Mayor Popowicz’ relationship with Charles?

DM:I think Peter and I had a built in rapport so that was great. But I did blog about the fact that it is hard when old friends have to make out on camera. I called it “Comedians. Don’t. Kiss.”

AK: According to a press release issued by CBC, Sarah and Yasser finalize their divorce in the sixth season. How does Sarah’s divorce impact the two’s friendship, in terms of the level of support Ann provides her with?

DM:Oh gosh, I should have read to the bottom of the page as I fear I will repeat myself. But to expand on what I already said, I think we finally see that Ann is really and truly there for her friend. She tries to get her out in the dating world, she really really tries to try and get her drinking, but mostly she becomes a supportive shoulder for Sarah. As a result of the divorce, they are now each others besties on a regular basis. Man we had some fun stuff this year!

AK:Could you please give us an idea of what else is in store for Ann Popowicz in the show’s final season, both in terms of her role as mayor of Mercy and as a member of the community?

DM:Without giving too much away, she saves the day in a big way towards Mercy having it’s own mosque and I think that becomes her greatest and ONLY unselfish act as Mayor. Mind you, I am sure she has wrestled with the idea of them naming it Mayor Ann Mosque!

 AK: In general, what else is in store for Little Mosque’s sixth and final season? How do you think this season will serve as a satisfactory ending to the six seasons of the show?

DM:I am speaking the truth when I tell you that the show is tied up in such a beautiful way. The end is true to the intention and a wonderful gift to the fans and more importantly to the tone and message of the show. I could not be prouder of the way it wraps up.

AK: How do you think both Little Mosque and the character of Mayor Popowicx, in particular will be remembered as?

DM:Little Mosque will be remembered I hope, as a groundbreaking CANADIAN show that dared to be humane, that tried to be inclusive and dispelled stereotypes. I think the mayor will remembered as that sassy little sarcastic gal who was often drunk, frankly.

AK. Sheila McCarthy has been working with you on writing a spinoff. Are there any details regarding the concept of this spinoff, which you are able to reveal? What progress has been made to date on its development?

DM:Sheila and I are working hard to get another series going for she and I to partner in. It has strayed from the spinoff formula. Right now we have many ideas we  are working on. We are throwing all our balls up in the air and seeing what lands.

AK: With Little Mosque coming to an end, is there a final message which you have for fans of the series?

DM:I would first say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the fans, many of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting over the years. And then I would say that they are lucky to see the show they loved have a proper and beautiful ending. Many times you find out your show has been cancelled between seasons and you never have that joy of finishing, really finishing. I have many TV shows in my life that have meant so much to me. And to those who have loved Mosque, I say you will love this final season.

AK: With both Little Mosque and your recent series on Showcase,Single White Spenny having concluded,  are there any other projects which you have been involved in?

DM:Yes, my writing partner, my husband and myself are developing something and working hard at that. Right now my husband and I are together shooting Stephen Leacock’s “Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town” and it is just a charming project filled with the Who’s Who of Canadian Comedy world.

Thanks so much for allowing me to say a farewell in this article. I will miss my Mosque. Already do.


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Live Chat With Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Debra McGrath Tonight at 9:00pm Eastern Time

6 02 2012

Debra McGrath has been  leading  a prominent career within the Canadian entertainment industry for years, having appeared in various television series such as This Is Wonderland, Burnt Toast, Paradise Falls as well as animated series such as George Shrinks, Babar, and Little Bear. Additionally, Debra has appeared in various film productions The Real Blonde, Termini Station, One Magic Christmas and Expecting. In addition to her official credits, Debra’s sketch group, Women Fully Clothed undertook a national tour and even appeared at the Edinburgh festival. More recently, Debra McGrath has  also been portraying  a role in a series called Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, which focuses on the stars of Canadian comedy.

Moreover, for the past six years,Debra McGrath has been portraying a  prominent role  on CBC’s hit sitcom, Little Mosque on the Prairie . On the show she plays the  sarcastic, self serving yet quite comedic  character of Mayor Anne Popowicx.

Join us tonight @ 9:00pm eastern time, right  after tonight’s new episode of Little Mosque on the Prairie airs, for a chat with Debra . YOU will have the chance to interact with the actress herself, through the comments section!

Feel free to discuss the most recent episode, ask questions/ share comments  related to McGrath’s work on Little Mosque on the Prairie  as well as some of the actress’ other past or current projects.With Little Mosque in its sixth and final season and tonight’s episode revolving around a new love triangle for the character of Mayor Popowicx, its both a great time and  way for fans to interact with the  delightful actress.

The comments section will open up  shortly before 9:00pm eastern standard time!Please note that after posting a comment, you should refresh the page in order to see your response[s] from Debra McGrath as well as to  see the additional discussion which  other readers are having  with the actress.

We look forward to hosting this event!


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Little Mosque on the Prairie Season Episode 3 Preview-Short Fuse

23 01 2012

Only 9 episodes left before the  revolutionary yet comedic sitcom, Little Mosque on the Prairie draws to a close!Take a look at the excerpt  for tonight’s new episode of Little Mosque on the Prairie below. Be sure to tune in for the episode @ 8:30pm eastern time in CBC.

Courtesy of Westwind Pictures.

After blowing out the old fuse box in their house, Amaar tries to impress Rayyan by playing Mr. Handyman but has to secretly enlist Sarah’s do-it-yourself expertise to get the job done.  Rayyan becomes suspicious of his sudden upsurge in Mr.-Fix-it skills and volunteers Amaar to fix Fred’s shower, Meanwhile, Baber and Thorne challenge each other to a fasting competition that escalates to insane heights, even for them[ CBC]

Will  Amaar admit that he has been seeking  Sarah’s help and how will his dishonesty affect  both his  marraiage with Rayyan and his own spirituality? Will his  sudden  increase in free time,  which  seems to be causing further complications for others, ultimately prompt him to explore  his next options?What are the circumstances behind   Baber and Thorne’s competition and what will be the end result in this risky challenge?Share your thoughts and speculations, below!


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Interview With Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Debra McGrath

17 03 2011
Actress, Debra McGrath  has been sharing her talent   in the Canadian entertainment industry for years, having  appeared in various television series such as This Is Wonderland, Burnt Toast, Paradise Falls as well as animated series such as George Shrinks, Babar, and Little Bear.Additionally,Debra has  appeared in various film productions The Real Blonde, Termini Station, One Magic Christmas and Expecting.In addition to her official credits, Debra’s sketch group, Women Fully Clothed  undertook a national tour and even appeared  at the Edinburgh festival.

Debra has now  been  starring in CBC’s Little Mosque on the Prairie  as the quirky, sarcastic  character of  Mayor Ann Popopwicx. With Little Mosque on the Prairie only a season away from  its series finale and Debra being kind enough to participate in a interview with us, we took the opportunity to reflect on how the actress’ came to be apart of the show’s ensemble cast, the aspirations she has for the character of Mayor  Popowicx before the series draws to a close,  how she thinks Little Mosque on the  Prairie represents Canadian culture ,other acting projects which the actress has  recently been involved in as well as much more.

 

 

 

 

1.Lets discuss your initial appointment to the role of Mayor  Ann.Were you contacted for the role or did you first audition for it? Could you please walk us through this initial process?

I was contacted and offered the role. I hesitated because it was being shot (at that time) in Regina and I was worried about it becoming a series. My son was in high school and I didn’t want to work out of town. But my agent said “go for the pilot at least”.
2.What has been the most challenging aspect of playing Mayor Ann and how have you coped with this challenge
I guess the most challenging thing for me is learning the lines. The mayor is often drunk! :-)

3.How do you relate to the character of Mayor Popowitcz?

I relate to the fun she is always having. If it isn’t fun for the mayor, she is not interested.

4.The role of Mayor Popowitcz was your first role as a political leader.What  preparation did you undertake in order to  play the role?

I didn’t really because I knew it would not involve political knowledge. Does the mayor even have political savvy? I did go to the Mayor’s office in Regina and meet he and his staff. The Mayor loves the chain of office and wants earrings to match.

5.As an experienced Canadian actress, you have also been involved in animated productions of various TV series including, Little Bear, Franklin, Babar and George Shrinks. Which type of acting do you  prefer to work in and what  particular  benefits  are  associated with your selection?

I like well run shows like Mosque because they are so well scheduled that you rarely wait around. It is the waiting to act that makes me crazy. I hate it. I want to get there, work, have some laughs, eat some craft table food and go home. But yes I do love animation and voice work period. You don’t have to worry if you look good, you just lend your voice. Stage work is wonderful too but I have voice issues so it is stressful for me. But when I have a good voice night, so rewarding.

6.With Little Mosque on the Prairie approaching its sixth and final season,what aspirations do you have for the character of Mayor both in terms of the character’s relationships within the community of Mercy and as a political leader?

I would love to see the mayor have an upset. Fall in love and abdicate (I guess you can only do that if you are Queen) I would love to see her resign for love or be involved in a huge scandal and have to resign or take off with Sarah on a Thelma and Louise adventure.

7.Little Mosque has been  such a  successful series both internationally  as well as in Canada, with the series   premiere having earned    2.1 million viewers. What impact do you think the series has had on Canadian culture and  how do you think the series represents Canada, given how it is the first of its kind?

I will always be proud of the fact that Canada was first in doing a show like this, dealing with this subject matter. It put an every day human face on a wonderful and sometimes misunderstood community. I have learned so much from my involvement with this show on the beauty of this culture and the fact that our differences are not really that different. We are all just people, trying to raise our families and get through the day with love and hope.

8.What  has been your  overall experience as a  role model and what are the various ways in which you have interacted with fans? Why do you think the character  of Mayor Popowitcz is so influential?

Thanks for saying I am a role model but other than my son and maybe our dogs, I don’t think that’s the case. At least I would hope not. The Mayor should not be a role model unless some young person wants to go into politics, do nothing, spend money that isn’t theirs, drink too much and break the rules…Okay I guess I am a role model because I have just described most politicians.I think people like the Mayor because she is funny and I am not tooting my own horn here. She is funny because she is written that way. The writers get all the credit. I just deliver the fun.

9.Have you recently been involved in any other acting projects, which you would like to share with viewers?

I would. Thanks for asking. I am in a new show coming out on Showcase called “Single White Spenny” I co-star with Spencer Rice of “Kenny vs Spenny” fame. It is a half hour comedy loosly based on Spenny’s life.

10. With Little Mosque on the Prairie concluding its run in its impending sixth season, what message would you like to convey to viewers of the series?

Our viewers are so loyal and I have met many of them over the years which has always been one of my favourite things about being on the show. So thanks everyone for standing behind this brave little Canadian show!

11. What activities do you enjoy during your spare time?

I love to ice skate, work out, read, play with my dogs, travel, spend time with my husband and son, go to theatre, movies, tv. I love to watch the birds, stare at the moon, laugh and eat. I love life really. Every single silly second of it.

 


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Interview With Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Brandon Firla

18 03 2011

Actor,Brandon Firla has been leading an exemplary  career as a comedian and an actor  within the Canadian entertainment industry.With the actor’s previous comedic experience  in the hit sitcom, Billable Hours,Brandon has been able to utilize his extensive experience for the past two seasons in CBC’s hit sitcom ,Little Mosque on the Prairie, as the conniving,manipulative and judgemental  character of Reverend William Thorne.

With Brandon being kind enough to participate in a interview with us and the development of Thorne having been a central aspect of the current fifth season of Little Mosque on the Prairie, we took the opportunity to discuss the actor’s response to the negative fan  reaction towards his character, how he prepared for the unique role of Thorne, the actor’s favourite moments for the character of Thorne in the current, fifth season and more.

1. When the character of Thorne was initially introduced in the fourth season of Little Mosque on the Prairie, there was a great deal of negative fan reception towards the character.What was your response to the fan criticism and how do you think the response has changed, given Thorne’s recent developments over the course of the current fifth season?

When I accepted the role, I knew I was going to make fans of the show unhappy. Not only was I replacing one of the most beloved characters, but I was also serving up a fairly negative representation of Christianity.

I was happy that people were passionate enough about the show to get angry over changes that were made. I think it’s rare for a Canadian audience to get riled up at a TV show unless it’s Hockey Night in Canada. I took none of the criticism personally, or at least that’s my therapist told me to do.

I’m not sure how the response has changed. I think Canadians might be warming up to him a bit now, but I don’t want them to fully trust him. They should think that something sinister still lurks behind that warm smile. Much like Stephen Harper.

2. Given your secular upbringing, what resources did you use to help prepare yourself for the role of Thorne?

When preparing to play a priest, there’s really only one book you need. No, it’s not the Bible. It’s “Christianity for Dummiez”. The Bible is a bit too dense for my limited comprehension. I also started attending Anglican services around Toronto and tried to blend in as best I could. For inspiration, I also like to think of who my character reminds me of in the real world, and somewhat model the character around that person. For Thorne I thought of the most bigoted, unapologetic asshole I could think of: Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly.

Also, with Thorne being rather un-Christian for most of last season, I would ask myself: “What Would Jesus Do?”, and then do the opposite.

3. This season Thorne has come to the realization that Mercy is his long-term home and has begun to develop various relationships in the community, including a friendship with Ammar and a romantic relationship with Rose. What has been the most challenging aspect of portraying the character of Thorne this season and how have you coped with this challenge?

Playing Thorne this season was a bit of a balancing act.  We were trying to open him up as a more 3 dimensional character this season, showing him falling in love, making friends, redeeming himself, etc, but I wanted to retain some of the bitterness that is truly at the core of his being. I see him as a tragic character really, because in the end, he’s the one who has to go through life as Thorne. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

4. Could you please share some of your favourite moments from the current season, in terms of Thorne‘s development  in  his relationship with  Ammar,Rose and others in the community.

This season was great because we got to see so many different colors of Thorniness. My only regret about last season’s Thorne was that his actions became predictable after the first few episodes. We knew that he was going to do and say the worst things possible, so we were always a couple steps ahead of him as an audience. But this season actually let Throne be unpredictable. I think one of my favorite moments was when he learns how much fun being honest can be, but goes too far in honestly telling Sarah how awful a Bridge player she is. It showed his utter lack of self-awareness. I also enjoyed the competition with Magee leading up to the wedding.

5.Could you please give us a brief idea as to  some of the challenges and  surprises which are store for Thorne towards  the end of the  current fifth season, particularly given Ammar and Rayyan’s wedding as well as the  awaited  return of Reverend McGee?

I won’t reveal much, but I will tell you that Thorne converts to Islam, takes over the Mosque for Amaar and retitles the show “Big Thorne on the Prairie.” And it’s revealed that McGee is actually an Extraterrestrial lifeform and is sent back to his home planet Zarbax 5 in the Omega Quadrant. The final laser battle kicks ass.

6.What message, would you like to convey to viewers of the series?

Well, as an actor, I try to refrain from conveying any messages to viewers. That’s not really the job of the actor. I think that’s more in the arena of the writers and producers if anyone. For me, it’s really important to remain objective and not judge the character I’m playing or anything he says or does, and just commit fully to his objective in any given scene. The last thing going through my head is what the audience might be thinking or what I might want them to think or what message I’m trying to send them. It’s really up to the audience to interpret whatever message they want out of any program they’re watching. That said, since Mosque is a comedy series, the one thing I’d like to convey is laughter.


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Interview With Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Neil Crone

28 03 2011

Neil Crone has been leading a  distinguished   career as a talented actor  within the Canadian entertainment industry, who has been involved in  the productions of a variety of different  television series, feature films as well as commercials. Neil has  had particular experience in animated productions such as Erky–Perky, Pearlie and The Adventures of Bob and Doug Mackenzie. Neil has now been staring on CBC’s hit sitcom,  Little Mosque on the Prairie as the  intolerant yet comical radio host, Fred Tupper.

With Little Mosque on the Prairie concluding its  fifth season and Neil being kind enough to  participate in a interview with us, we decided to take the chance to discuss the  challenges of playing Fred,  Neil’s favourite moments from the current, fifth season,  the actor’s perspective on how the series has influenced Canadian culture ,  Neil’s hopes for his post Little Mosque  career and  much more!

1.Lets discuss your initial appointment to the role of Fred Tupper.  Were you contacted or did you first audition for the role? Could you please walk us through the initial process?

The role of Fred came to me actually through one of those weird, karmic, out of the box, methods.  I write a weekly humor column for a number of newspapers.  I also have an electronic mailing list for people who want to read the column but don’t or can’t get the papers it’s in.  My brother, who is on the electronic list, had been forwarding a lot of my columns to friends, one of whom was married to Susan Alexander, one of the original producers of this new pilot called ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’.  She loved the tone of my writing and got in touch with me to ask if I would like to audition for the role of Fred.  It happened totally outside of the normal channels of casting.  I’m not sure if my agent had even become aware of the show before I mentioned this audition to him.

The other weird thing is that after my first audition, which I thought went very well, for some odd reason the tape was inadvertently erased.  I had to come back for a second audition.  That made me a little nervous, as I really felt I’d hit it out of the park on my first go round. Actors tend to be a superstitious bunch and I didn’t want to go back in there and mess it up this time around.  But, I guess things worked out.  I got the role.

2.What has been the most challenging aspect of playing Fred and how have you coped with this challenge?

Fred is actually very easy to play.  I kind of like him.  Yes, he’s a loud-mouthed boob, but he’s kind of a sweet boob underneath all of that.  The only real risk with someone like Fred is crossing the line into ‘mean’ territory.  But between great writers and my own spidey-senses, we never really have to worry about that.  The only other challenge, and I hesitate to even call it a challenge, is finding Fred’s sweetness and playing that.  I was blown away, and actually felt kind of honored when the writers gave me a remarkably touching speech to deliver in a scene immediately following Rayann’s failed wedding.  I loved that they let the normally boorish Fred, have that moment.  That they entrusted that to me.

3. How do you relate to the character of Fred Tupper?

There’s a little of Fred in all of us I think.  People who are afraid of change or anything different fro what they’re accustomed to.  So I understand that part of him.  But deep down, he’s just like anyone else too, in that he really wants to be loved and accepted.

4. You have done both voice work  on  series/ film productions such  as  Care Bears and Rolie Polie Olie as well as stage work on  productions such as Little Mosque. Which type of acting do you prefer and what benefits are associated with your selection?

Voice work is wonderful because in many cases the actor really is it.  There’s no lighting, no camerawork, no editor to speak of so it’s all about the ‘voice’.  And the actors are generally afforded a real respect, that is not always present in other media…unless you’re a huge A-list star.  Having said that, one of the reasons I so much enjoy my work on Little Mosque, is that we (the actors) are extremely well-respected and our input very much welcome.  The other nice thing about voice work is that there’s no worries about wardrobe or make-up.  No hot lights to work beneath, just a nice air conditioned studio.  I grew up addicted to cartoons, so whenever I get the chance to voice one, I’m over the moon.

5. How do you think the character  of Fred has developed over the course of the series and what aspirations do you have for him  as the series approaches its sixth and final season?

One of the storylines that was started and kind of got lost was a simmering love attraction between Fred and Fatima.  I loved that…and I think Arlene (Duncan) did as well.  I would love to rekindle that and see where it goes.  After all, what is more interesting than a man who is supposedly a bigot, falling for a woman of color?  And a Muslim to boot?

6.Could you please share some of our favorite moments for the character of Fred from Little Mosque’s current fifth season?

This is weird, because it was a little thing, but in Episode 503 titled ‘Kept Imam’, there was a scene where Fred, the Mayor, Manoj and Rev. Thorne were playing  bridge at the Manse.  It’s a very funny scene and we had an absolute hoot shooting it.  Debra McGrath is one of the funniest people I know, and when she and I get together on set, we can’t stop laughing.  Also, that scene had one of the funniest lines I think the writers ever came up with.  Sarah comes running into the Manse and sees all of us playing in a card game she has been cut out of .  She accuses the Rev of betraying her and Thorne comes back with the line:  “I’m sorry Sarah, but in my defence, I didn’t think you’d find out.”  Loved that, and Brandon delivered it perfectly.

7. The character of Fred is one who has previously exhibited signs of affection towards Fatema. What are your thoughts on Fred’s attraction towards Fatema? Could you please share your thoughts on yon the possibility of Fred pursuing  a romantic relationship  with her and what  challenges do you think Fred would have to encounter should he ever decide to  pursue this relationship?

Funny, that this question is here, after me bringing it up earlier.  Like I said, I love the whole idea.  In fact, I would love to push for an on-screen kiss between the two…I know this is supposed to be the 21st century…but that would definitely ruffle a few feathers.  But it would be so much fun to see Fred bending and reshaping himself all in the name of love.

8. Little Mosque on the Prairie has achieved international success , airing in over 68 countries as well  as in Canada, with the series premiere, earning a CBC .record breaking viewership of 2. 1 million. What impact do you think Little Mosque on the Prairie has had on Canadian culture and why do you think viewers have resonated with the series so well?

I think initially viewers were just plain curious.  Muslims?  A comedy about Muslims?  Muslims being funny???  After all, the only Muslims most people on  TV had been watching up to that point were firing AK-47’s into the air.  So I think there was a definite curiosity factor at first.  But people grew to love the show and the characters.  One of the things that the show has been accused of from time to time, is that it is too sweet.  Personally it’s the sweetness that I love most…and I think that resonates most with viewers.  People get enough edgy and realistic elsewhere on the dial. I think most people love to see humans working it all out.  I’m not at all ashamed of happy endings.

9.How has being a cast member on this series impacted your career and  how has it influenced your personal perspective on the Muslim community?

No question the show has raised my profile, certainly here in Canada.  It never hurts to be part of a hit.  And even though I’ve done a ton of television and film, I’ve never been a part of a show that received the kind of buzz Little Mosque did.  On a personal note, I love to tell this story:

One night my wife and I and some friends were eating in an Indian Restaurant in downtown Toronto.  We were having a wonderful time, gabbing away, enjoying the food, when I noticed someone standing beside our table.  I looked, and there was a little girl, about 7 or 8 maybe. She was standing with her Dad behind her, holding her shoulders for support and she was shyly trying to bury herself in his pant legs.  He gently turned her towards me and said ‘Go ahead sweetheart, tell him what you wanted to say’.  The little girl turned and said, very quietly ‘I really like you and your show’.

I was dumbfounded and delighted.  The family were obviously Muslim, as I noticed the Mom, not far away, wearing the Hijab.  So, she had watched our show…seen the kind of goof I play, and still wanted to tell me she loved me and the show.  That’s when I knew we were doing something right.

10. With Little Mosque on the Prairie approaching its  final season,  what plans or aspirations do you  have for the future of your career?

My son once came home from school when he was little and asked me if we were rich.  I said, why do you ask that?  He said that the kids at school said that because I was a television actor we must be rich.  I told my son, that Daddy is a Canadian television actor.  Canadian television actors aren’t rich!

I will continue to do as I’ve always done, keep auditioning, with many irons in many fires.  I do a lot of public, motivational speaking and I also write, I have a syndicated newspaper column that keeps me busy as well, and there are always new projects.  I love the diversity of being an artist.  There’s always something new and interesting coming down the pike.

11.Are there any other acting projects, which you have recently been working on which you would like to share with viewers?

Yes, definitely.  I just finished the first season of a very funny program for the Family Channel called Really Me.  It’s a great little show that will be premiering on April 23rd.  Tune in.

12. What message  would you like to convey to  fans of the series?

Just, essentially what I think the main thrust of the show is…underneath it all, we are all the same.  So live your life and treat others as you would wish to be treated…with love and respect.

13.What activities do you enjoy during your spare time?

I love to read and to write.  I have two dogs that I adore and who make me laugh constantly.  I love to canoe, fish, play golf and ride my bike.  I love going to the theatre and watching movies.  I love being a father to my two wonderful boys.



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Interview With Stargate Universe’s Julia Benson

29 03 2011

Actress Julia Benson has been leading a distinguished career,having recently been involved in Syfy’s feature film,Earth’s Final Hours and having played the role of the vibrant,independent and emerging character of Lt.Vanessa James on Syfy’s,Stargate Universe.

With Stargate Universe currently airing in its final episodes and Julia  being kind enough to participate in an interview with us,  we took the opportunity to chat with Julia about  the her experience with the fandom,  her perspective on the new direction which SGU  brought the Stargate franchise into , how Julia related to the character of James the actress’  perspective and on how the character of James has developed over the course of the show, Julia’s thoughts on the cancellation of SGU and much more!

1.Were you a fan of SGU prior to being appointed your role on the show and how familiar were you with the Stargate franchise, in particular?

Being a Vancouver based actor,I was fairly familiar with the Stargate Franchise.

I hadn’t really watched much Sci-fi before getting cast on SGU.Although,I did get into Firefly,which I can’t believe got cancelled,I loved it!

I had previously done an episode of Stargate Atlantis, and had a great time! Stargate has been a huge part of our industry for so many years so it’s weird to not have a Stargate show currently shooting

2. Science Fiction fans have been known for their great passion and loyalty towards genre entertainment. What have been the various ways in which you have connected with fans and could you please, briefly describe your experience in interacting with the fandom?

I think Sci-fi shows are lucky to have the kind of fans they do.  All of the fans that I have had the chance to meet in person have been fantastic.  I try to interact with people on my facebook  fan page and twitter.I will be going to my first convention in June- so I am excited to meet some more of our fans then!

http://www.wizardworld.com/juliabenson.html

3.  Stargate Universe brought the Stargate franchise into a new direction, with a greater focus on character driven relationships and an initial emphasis on the crew’s challenge of surviving in space. What was your opinion on the franchise’s new direction and what are your thoughts on the writer’s  initial emphasis on establishing the backgrounds of the series’ characters. How do you think this initial focus has impacted the storytelling of SGU 2.5?

I think that all great shows focus on character- that is the heart of storytelling.  The circumstances that characters are put in just teach you more about characters, so I love the direction that the writers took SGU.  It’s great to explore where the characters came from as it helps the audience understand why the characters react the way they do in different situations.

4. How have you related to the character of Vanessa James?

I think that Vanessa has both strength and vulnerability.  She can be one of the guys but also has a softer side; those are qualities that I definitely relate to.I also think that in difficult situations she wants to do what is right and even though it doesn’t always work out how she planned, she always gives it her all.

5. What has been the most challenging aspect of playing the character and  how have you coped with this challenge?

I have really enjoyed all the aspects of playing Vanessa James; I particularly loved working with Bam Bam (James Bamford) on stunts. You have to be so focused and precise while at the same time stay in the moment as an actor.  I have crazy respect for stunt actors, the things they do on set are mind blowing and…they make us look good!  I would love to play another role that has some fighting and stunt work as it is a ton of fun.

6.In the season one episode, Pain, viewers had the opportunity to learn that James still had strong romantic feelings for Lt Matthew Scott and had to cope with a great sense of abandonment, given that he moved into a relationship with Chloe. Why do you think James has had such difficulty in overcoming the loss of Scott and do you think her attitude regarding Chloe and Matthew Scott’s relationship has evolved?

James had real feelings for Scott, plain and simple.  He was messing around with her for one reason and she was there for another.  I think that being stuck on a ship with someone you care about and having to watch them fall in love with someone else is awful.  It makes it so much harder to get over when there is no distance.These things take time, and James takes it!

7. How do you think the character of James has developed since the series inauguration what aspirations did you have for the character

James went through a lot in the first season.  There is a Kino scene that was only released on the DVD and it is a nice description of her journey throughout the first season.  Since the beginning she has really been dealing with 3 things; trying to get home, her feelings for Scott, and her constant desire to find her place in Young’s eyes.I think that in season 2 she settles into her role on the ship.  She is a bit harder and she may have finally let go of Scott…you’ll have to wait and see.

8.Back in December, Syfy announced the cancellation of Stargate Universe, once the show concludes in its current second season. What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and why do you think SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series to continue? How do you feel about the series ending this season?

I am definitely sad that SGU got cancelled. We had a really great thing going and I am grateful for the experience.  But nothing in our business is permanent so you just have to appreciate what it was and move forward.

Our fans have been incredible since the show got cancelled and we all really appreciate the support, hopefully we get to make a movie to finish up our story!   It would be so great to work with the cast and crew again.

9.  Could you please give us an idea as to the challenges and adventures for the crew of Destiny in the second half of the season?

Some crazy stuff happens….spoiler, spoiler, spoiler. That is all I can say- WATCH IT!!

10. Which episode in the second half of the season is your favourite? Why?

Epilogue is a very cool episode and it was so much fun to shoot. There are a lot of  “changes” that we all go through as characters…should be lots of fun for the audience.

11.Although Stargate Universe has been cancelled as a TV series, producer Brad Wright has been negotiating with MGM to continue Destiny’s journey, in the form of movies or another medium. What are your thoughts on this and would you be willing to reprise as James? What type of role would you like the character to play in achieving the end of Destiny’s mission?

Shooting a movie with everyone would be a dream.  It would be great for the fans to have an ending and it would be really nice for the characters to get closure.  I want to see James kick some serious alien butt!

12. What message do you have for fans of the series, as SGU draws to a close?

Thank you for all of your support over the past two years; it has been an awesome experience.  I look forward to meeting some of you at conventions!

13. Are there any other acting projects which you have been working on, which you would like to share with viewers?

I have a couple of things coming up, but my most exciting venture is a project that my husband, Peter and I have with Ryan Copple (Riese).  Details are in the final stages but I will be updating everyone on my Facebook page when things are locked down.  This is a big year for us shooting our own work!  Also, I starred in a movie with fellow SGU cast mate Robert Knepper called Earth’s Final Hours that will air on Syfy later this year!


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Interview With Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Sheila McCarthy

13 05 2011

Actress  Sheila McCarthy  has been leading a distinguished  career within the Canadian entertainment  industry as an experienced  singer and a talented  film, stage and television actress.Sheila’s credits include a wide range of   credits ,including her roles of films such as I’ve Heard The Mermaids Singing and The Lotus Eaters, for which the actress  was bestowed  two individual Gemini awards . Additionally, Sheila has appeared in a variety of  other Canadian films, including, Being Julia, Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen, The Day After Tomorrow and Die Hard.Sheila’s television credits  include shows such as Picket Fences, I Was A Rat, Roxana, Missing, Wonderland and Road To Avonlea.

Sheila has now  been starring in CBC’s hit sitcom, Little Mosque on the Prairie as the empathetic  and  spontaneous  Muslim convert,  Sarah Hamoudi.

 With  Sheila being kind enough to   participate in a interview with us and Little Mosque on the Prairie  currently under production for its sixth and final season we took the opportunity to chat with Sheila about her initial appointment to the role of Sarah, how the actress has related to her character, what is in store for  the sixth and final season,  Sheila’s thoughts on   the show’s  impact  on Canadian culture and her view on why it resonates well with viewers  , Sheila’s exciting plans for the future of her  acting career and much more!

Abbas Karimjee: Lets   discuss your initial appointment to the role of Sarah. Were you contacted  for  the role of Sarah or did you audition for the role? Could you  please walk is  through this initial process and any challenges which  were  involved?

Sheila McCarthy:I was offered the role of Sarah without auditioning which was a gift. The producers originally thought of me for the role of the MAYOR ANN POPOWITZ but my agent, Perry Zimel, recommended they cast me as SARAH and they did

AK: How are you similar to the character  of  Sarah?

SM:The original role of SARAH was quite a straight ahead sort of part. The serious wife, a foil for the goofy husband. I had a lot of conversations with the original writers suggesting if they were going to really use me, perhaps they might beef up SARAH’s foibles and comedy so that she would become a more three dimensional part and so much more fun to play. We had a very inclusive writing team that first season and the collaboration was wonderful. SARAH and I are similar in many ways really. A little disorganized but well meaning and optimistic for sure! She is probably a tad more organizationally impaired than me but not much!

AK:What challenges are associated with playing  the Sarah  and how have you overcome these  challenges?

SM:I was not versed at all in the MUSLIM world so my learning curve was enormous. Having been raised a Catholic as a child , I really had my eyes opened to a whole new world of Islamic rules and tradition. It is one of the many perks of my business to learn new things and I loved immersing myself into this universe that was so foreign to me. I read a lot of material, we visited a mosque in Regina and I picked the brains of Muslims on set. I have also taken a much greater interest now in world affairs because of being a part of this special cutting edge show.

AK:How do you think  the character of Sarah has  developed over the course of the series and what  aspirations do you  have for the character , with the show drawing to a  close?

SM:SARAH has grown immeasurably over the last five seasons. From her marriage, to her new jobs, her daughter’s marriage, her new arc this season being on her own, SARAH has really matured in many ways. She is still a lovable under dog and very sweet, but maybe more vulnerable now as she faces a new life of singledom.  My challenge has been to bring dignity to her even as she screws up again and again. it is a fine line and I love the process. I would hope that now SARAH will move on in her life, stand up for herself with even more strength and maybe even find love again.

AK:Could you please  give us an idea as to what   is in store  for the sixth season of Little Mosque on the Prairie , in terms of  the  overall direction and general storylines which the series will pursue  this  season?

SM:This season the marriage of my daughter RAYAN and AMAAR will be put under the telescope as well as SARAH’S own newly found independence. Everyone will have a bit of closure as we know it is the final season. A rare thing indeed in television land!  SARAH will long for YASIR and her marriage and probably also long for the pitter patter of little grand children. Whether or not that will happen is up the writers! SARAH will grow up and realize she can stand on her own two feet and probably discover a strength she didn’t know she had!

AK :What challenges will the character of  Sarah are in  store for Sarah this season, both in terms of her  relationship with her family  as well as a resident of  Mercy?

SM :As I said above, SARAH will find herself in many ways and also probably find a newly won respect for her married daughter and her best friend Ann. That friendship will deepen after a lot of fun and dates and mishaps I am sure!

AK: Little Mosque on  the Prairie has  achieved international success , airing in over 68 countries  as  well  as in Canada, with the series premiere, earning a CBC    record breaking viewership of 2. 1 million. What impact do you think  Little  Mosque on the Prairie has had on Canadian culture and why do  you think the show has resonated with viewers so well?

SM :I think one of the most endearing and lasting impressions Little Mosque has had in Canada is our loyal fan base and also the audiences who love the show for it’s humour and sweetness. The politics are there but what I love is the relationships our audiences care about. It means people have somehow forgotten that it is about Muslims and Anglicans. It is just about people sharing a church and a community. Everyone snores! Everyone makes mistakes! Everyone loves and everyone has a community. The joy of people coming up to me  every day to discuss our little show is overwhelming.

AK:What  is your reaction to Little Mosque  ending this season and  how do you  hope  both the series and  the character of Sarah, in particular, is   remembered?

SM:I am always sad when a show ends but it is actually rare and wonderful to know it will be. Most often you shoot a TV series and you do not know that. This way, we can say goodbye to our little epic with a lot of fondness and love. I would hope that show has many more years of shelf life in reruns when future generations can tune in and get to know the town of MERCY!

 AK:How has being a cast  member on this series impacted  your career and  how has it  influenced your personal perspective on the  Muslim  community?

SM:I have loved being part of this show. It has been so great to be known and recognized for it and I am so proud of every season. I decided to stay in Canada a long time ago to work and being a part of this success story has been indescribable. I am grateful for it. I am 55 now and a lot of my peers in this precarious business do not get the chance to work as much as I do. I feel very lucky. As for the Muslim community, I can only hope we have portrayed even a fraction of life behind and in front of the barrier with truth and humor. it was everyone’s intention from producers to cast to directors to writers to educate and entertain in the best possible way. if we have achieved this in even a small way then I am thrilled.

AK:What  is your  reaction to  being a role model and   what  influence  do you think the  character  of Sarah exerts  towards Canadian  culture?

SM:I don’t know how much of a role model I have been portraying SARAH. I suppose I have been a sort of window in the Muslim world in the sense that SARAH married into the culture and wasn’t born into it. She has always had one foot in the door as a Muslim and one foot out in the secular world.  Perhaps people outside the Muslim world have been able to see through her eyes as it were with all her struggles to be Muslim and yet maintain her independence as well.

AK:Reflecting on your  experiences as a cast  member  to date, what  are some of  your favourite moments working on the series,  either on screen or  off-screen, in production?

SM:I realize know that a great part of being on LITTLE MOSQUE was getting to know and love and work with Debra McGrath who plays my boss on the show, the mayor Ann Popowitz. Deb and I bonded the first day and have become fast friends through thick and thin. This does not always happen and believe me our giggles on set are legendary. I will certainly miss  everyone involved in the show once we are finally done but there will be lasting friendships also because of it and six seasons of wonderful memories. I have also loved working and getting to know my daughter on the show Sitara Hewitt, through her marriage both on and off screen and motherhood in the wings. Her grace and compassion are unparalled and we will be friends forever as well.

AK:Have you been  working on  any other  recent acting projects which you would like to   share  with viewers?

SM: I have been developing other projects with my co-writer Brendan Howley and we are working with WESTWIND right now on a future TV series that will bring back all of our favourites! I have two beautiful daughters and I am watching them launch into their futures with great love and hope.
AK: With Little Mosque on the  Prairie  drawing to a close this  season, what  message do  you have for  viewers of the series?

SM:I don’t have any messages really for the loyal viewers of our little show except to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for watching us every week and following our little family through the years.  I hope you have enjoyed the show and maybe , just maybe, learned a thing or two about the world we live in and how we are all here to live and work and play together.  And for future audiences, I hope you will watch LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE and do the same.

AK:What activities do you enjoy during your spare time?

SM:In my spare time I write, work out every day, read, travel, stay close to friends and family and try to keep working and learning new things! I may even learn to play the grand piano I just bought on a bit of a whim! I also lend my support to Canadian Feed The Children, Meagans Walk, and am planning to work with the Canadian Lung Association in some capacity this fall. I teach a film class at Humber College which I find extremely rewarding. Seeing  young talent emerging is incredible.


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Interview With Stargate Universe’s Patrick Gilmore

17 05 2011

Actor,Patrick Gilmore has been leading a distinguished career as a Canadian actor ,having appeared in various Science fiction series such as Battlestar Galactica and Eureka.Patrick’s most recent  role  within  the science fiction genre  involves the astrophysicist,Dale Volker on Syfy’sStaragate Universe.

With Patrick being kind enough to participate in an interview with us and Stargate Universe having just  concluded its run after its  two seasons,we take the opportunity to discuss the character of Dale Volker and the challenges involved in portraying the character,Patrick’s experience in  interacting with the fandom ,his reaction to  SGU’s cancellation and   the actor’s  view on  the  factors which led  to the  cancellation. Patrick also shares his thoughts on the suitability of SGU’s finale, Gauntlet as an end  to the short-lived series, his thoughts on the future of the Stargate franchise and much more!

We also learn of Patrick’s experience working on AMC’s new Drama series, The Killer as well as  well as his aspirations for the future of his acting career.

Abbas Karimjee: In addition to having played in other science fiction series such as  Battlestar Galactica and Eureka , as well as having  aired in Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis.  Were you a fan of Science Fiction prior to gaining experience in genre entertainment and how did your previous experience both in genre entertainment and Stargate in particular impact your performance as Dale Volker?

Patrick  Gilmore:Admittedly I was not a SciFi fan.  Not that I didn’t enjoy SciFi movies, I just wasn’t one to actively search out the genre.  I was a child of the late 70s, early 80s, so Star Wars was prominent in my imagination.  I enjoyed the original Star Trek movies and I did see Stargate in theaters twice.  The feel of Stargate Universe to me was less SciFi and more Character Drama reacting to SciFi.  So I was comfortable going in, having not been influenced.  It felt more real & relatable that way.

AK: How did you relate to the character of Volker?

PG:I loved getting a script and seeing that Volker had a smart-ass remark or diffused a situation with an offhand joke. I’d see that and say “That is so my voice.”  And, for the most part, it was.  The writers, having gotten to know us as actors and people, were able to write in our voice.  Humor is something I fall back on when things get awkward…it became the same with Volker.

AK:How do you think the character of Volker has evolved over the course of the show and what aspirations did you have for the character?

PG: Like with all the characters, Volker found his place and role on Destiny.  He began the journey uncertain of where he would fit in and unsure of how to deal with unstable authority (Rush).  By the end Volker was a leading member of the science team, the go-to navigator on the Bridge and was able to hold his own against Rush.  I would have liked to have seen his journey continue that way, but for the sake of good story telling it would have been fun to see him get knocked down a few times.

AK:What aspect of Volker was the most challenging and how did you cope with this challenge?

PG:It was tough to negotiate the relationship he had with some of the military, especially in Season 1.  In such circumstances he would have become friends with many of the people on board but given the attempted coup those relationships would have become murky.  But as the story progressed, those connections became clearer.  As an actor, the science was challenging at times.  But thanks to Wikipedia & Writer/Producer Carl Binder’s astrophysicist daughter…I was covered.

AK: Science Fiction fans have been known for their great passion and loyalty towards genre entertainment. What have been the various ways in which you have connected with fans and could you please, briefly describe your experience in interacting with the fandom?

 PG: David Blue introduced me to Twitter early in the first season of SGU and two years later I’m a full on addict.  It’s like theater, instant feedback.  It’s also a great creative outlet and now my news source too.  My fan interaction, for the most part, has been humbling.  I’m still trying to make sense of it all and manage my reaction, but I hope I never get used to it, because then I’ll think it’s normal. (That’s a piece of advice Lou Diamond gave me.)

AK:Back in December, Syfy announced the cancellation of SGU once the current second season draws to a close. What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and why do you think SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series? What is your perspective on the direction which the producers took with SGU, by placing  an initial emphasis on establishing the background of  the show’s characters as well as the initial emphasis on survival?

PG:I, of course, was heartbroken to hear of the cancellation.  We had a lot riding against us but I had convinced myself that loyalty to the franchise and the superior quality of the show would ensure at least a third season.  There are so many factors involved in the number of viewers that tuned in live to give us such low ratings.  But what we have to start taking into consideration is the changing viewing habits of people.  I’ll use me as an example…In the last two years I have stopped renting movies, I have stopped buying DVDs and get all my movies from iTunes & I never, EVER, watch TV shows live.  Thanks to DVR I wait till all my favorite shows have piled up and I watch 5 straight hours of Fringe or Community.  The ratings that contributed to the cancellation of SGU do not take any of these things into account.  The rating system is archaic and is ruining TV.

As far as the direction the writers took SGU…I never watched SG1 & SGA, but SGU was a show I would have loved as a casual TV viewer.  It showed the incredible range of Brad Wright & Rob Cooper as artists.  It was the right move and I don’t think they would have changed a thing.

AK: This season, Volker showed signs of his affection for Lisa Park.  What do you think drew him to Dr. Park and what do you think of their suitability for each other?  Would you have preferred that the two develop a romantic relationship, had SGU continued and what challenges would you foresee in having this actually transpire?

Gilmore was hoping to see Drama ensue with further development of the love triangle between Volker, Park and Greer, had SGU been renewed for a third season

PG:Early in Season 1, Director Peter DeLuise gave us a note as secondary cast members to create our relationships with the other crew members.  When he said “maybe one of you is in love with Lisa Park” as an example, Peter Kelamis and I both took that note to heart, as a “friendly” competition.  So when the script started to hint at a possible connection between Volker & Park I was quick to throw that in Kelamis’ face.  Aside from her love of the military, I think they’d be a great match.  If there had been a Season 3 there would have been some great drama with Park, Volker & Greer, given that Volker regards Greer as a brother after the Kidney transplant.  I would like to think that Dale & Lisa ended up together, but, again, for the sake of good story telling, it would have been cool to see him sacrifice himself to save Ronald & Lisa maybe.

AK:With the series finale, Gauntlet, approaching in the coming week, could you please give us a brief idea of what is in store for the conclusion of the series, both for the crew and the character of Dale Volker, in particular? How suitable of an end do you think the finale will be  to the series?

PG:By the time you read this the SGU finale will have aired.  All of us in Stasis Pods and Eli on the observation deck.  I watched it live, I teared up when Volker stepped into his pod and immediately texted David Blue the moment the show ended.  That last scene was brilliant.  Alone, Eli looks out at the stars in wonder and his expression changes to a smile because, as he told his mom, he’s happy.  But then, quietly his face shows the slightest hint of apprehension.  And then Destiny leaves us behind.  Beautiful, poetic.  Not the ideal ending, but our future is left to the imagination of the audience.

AK Once the news of SGU’s cancellation had been released, producer, Brad Wright began a series of negotiations with MGM in an effort to have SGU continue either in the form of a movie or miniseries.  Though Wright recently announced at a Vancouver convention that these negotiations were unsuccessful, what are your thoughts on the future of the franchise? Do you think Stargate will be revived at some point? Why?

PGThere is no doubt Stargate will be back.  It’s a brand.  It’s a money-making franchise.  Above all else, Stargate is a really cool concept.  One day, years from now, someone will have an idea to restart the story and we’ll have another generation of Stargate fans.

AK:What message do you have for fans of the series, as SGU draws to a close?

PG:I really can’t think of anything more profound to say other than “Thank you.”  Their support has been humbling and I feel honored to have been a part of something that so many people love.

 AK:- What other acting projects have you been working on, which you would like to share with viewers and what aspirations do you have for the future of your acting career?

PG:Since the end of SGU I’ve kept busy with other projects.  “The Killing” on AMC has been my most notable work.  It’s one of the best shows on TV right now and I feel once again that I’ve lucked out with my involvement in such a high quality show. I’d like to continue to find fun work environments and roles that will make my fans say “I didn’t even recognize him.”  All the while I’ll be on Twitter,keeping people posted and saying irreverent & sometimes inappropriate things… @PatrickGilmore ;)

 

 


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Interview With Stargate Universe’s Jennifer Spence

26 05 2011

Actress Jennifer Spence has been leading a distinguished career as a Canadian actress,having played the recurring role of the brilliant yet chatty scientist, Dr. Lisa Park in Syfy’s Stargate Universe.

 With SGU having recently drawn to a close after two seasons and Jennifer being kind enough   to participate in a interview with us, we decided to take the opportunity to discuss playing the role of Lisa Park, the actress’ experience in interacting with fans as well as her favourite episode of Stargate Universe. We also discuss what Jennifer’s reaction to SGU’S cancellation has been and the factors which she thinks contributed to the show’s end. We also discuss the actress thoughts on what her hopes for Dr. Park’s relationship with Sergeant Ronald Greer [Jamil Walker Smith] were   as well as her thoughts on the future of the Stargate franchise.

Jennifer also talks about her recent work on a feature film with her finance entitled, Down River and the actress discusses her role on anAmerican documentary series, Exes & Ohs and her hopes for the show’s future as well as her work on a recent pilot  presentation supervised by SGU’S Visual effects Supervisor,Mark Savela.

Abbas Karimjee:Were you a fan of Science fiction prior to being appointed the role of Dr. Lisa Park and how familiar were you with the Stargate franchise, in particular?

Actress Jennifer Spence as Dr. Lisa Park

 Jennifer Spence: I always fear answering this question cuz I hadn’t been a fan of science fiction prior to Stargate to be honest! But SGU proved to me that it was possible for science fiction to be moving, funny and realistic – everything that I ever wanted as an actor in order to tell a story of what it means to be a human being..

AK: How did you relate to the character of Park ?

JS: I related a lot to her nerdiness, her desire to do the right thing and her need to prove herself.

AK: What challenges were associated with portraying the character of Dr. Park and how did you overcome this?

JS:I think the biggest challenges associated with playing her had to do with the sex scenes I did in season 1 – always a bit nerve-wracking but ultimately fun to do! Also in “Blockade” as part of the fire and water in the dome sequence, I had to put my head under water while still in my space suit helmet and water would always seep in. So I had to keep myself submerged as long as I could during a take while water filled my helmet! Fear of drowning was definitely with me but knowing I could just stand up at any time and open up the helmet was what allowed me to overcome the challenge. Bam Bam (stunt coordinator extraordinaire) also talked me through it and made me realize I was in control.

AK:How do you think the character of Lisa Park has developed over the course of the series and what aspirations did you have for the character?

JS:I was so happy to see the aspirations I had for her actually come into play over the 2 seasons! I think she came more and more into her own and found her own strength of character and value as an individual and as a team-mate. She proved her worth to both herself and others.

AK. What was your favourite episode of SGU and why?

JS:I can honestly say I’ve loved every episode and each for different reasons – part of the excellence of the whole team we had. One episode that I think is one of the best hours of TV you’ll ever see is “Epilogue”. When we got this script (penned by the fabulous Carl Binder) we knew how incredible it was and also how ambitious it was but the whole team far exceeded all expectations and created this mini-movie of sorts that left me sobbing in the way that the last episode of Six Feet Under left me sobbing! Just because it all comes down to that same basic stuff: love, connection, family, friendship, leaving your mark, faith, action, survival, doing your best, the journey of being a human being.

AK: Science Fiction fans have been known for their great passion and loyalty towards genre entertainment. What have been the various ways in which you have connected with fans and could you please, briefly describe your experience in interacting with the fandom?

 JS:Science fiction fans are the best! They’ve all been so supportive of us and the show and I’ve loved chatting with them on Twitter and seeing them when we did the Innerspace special on Space channel and on Canada AM. After the last episode of season 2 aired, fans of the show tweeted hundreds upon hundreds of standing ovations. I was blown away by that. I’m really looking forward to meeting more of these folks in person when I go to some conventions. First up Starcon!

AK: Back in December, Syfy announced the cancellation of Stargate Universe, once the show concludes in its current second season:What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and why do you think SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series to continue? What was your perspective on the decision of the producers to have SGU take the Stargate franchise in a new direction, with a strong emphasis on character  relationships and survival?

JS: My reaction when I heard we got cancelled was shock then anger then grief. I remember Patrick Gilmore and I were chatting on the phone right after I heard and we were commiserating on experiencing the feeling one gets when a relationship ends. Denial. Anger. Negotiation. Etc.

I don’t think I can ever fully know why the show was unable to attract the audience it needed for the series to continue. I do know it wasn’t a question of quality – that’s for sure. I think the biggest factor that influenced the numbers was when we got moved from Friday nights to Tuesday nights on the weekly TV schedule for season 2. We then had to compete with loyal, long-time viewers of “Dancing With the Stars” and “Glee” and so I think a lot of folks either missed SGU altogether and downloaded it later or PVR’d it. Either which way weren’t favorable to our ratings. It’s unfortunate because the Nielsen ratings system is no longer an accurate ratings assessment in this day and age with the way technology is. But my understanding is that it is still the predominant way of the industry.

I’m glad and grateful the producers and writers took the Stargate franchise in a new direction with SGU. Relationships, character and survival are what it’s all about for me and they created an outstanding show that will stand the test of time.

AK:With SGU having been cancelled as a TV series, Brad Wright engaged in a series of negotiations for SGU to continue on either in the form of a TV movie or as miniseries. At a recent convention in Chicago ,Wright reported that the negotiations were unsuccessful. What was your reaction to this and what do you think is in store for the future of the Stargate franchise? Do you think it will be revived at a later time. Why or why not?

JS:I was really grateful to Brad for his efforts. As I’m sure you’ve heard already, the SGU team is a family so we were all eager to work together again. I was really disappointed to hear the movie wasn’t a go but I still have this faith that we will all work together again in some form or another. I think the Stargate franchise will continue to be successful with DVD sales and like I said before, SGU will stand the test of time. I don’t know if there will be a revival. That’d be awesome but we just can’t know that at this time.

AK:In the final season, Dr. Park further develops a romantic relationship with Sergeant Ronald Greer, while being unaware of Dr. Volker’s romantic feelings toward her. Who would you have preferred to see Park with and why? What are your thoughts on who she may have ended up with, had SGU continued?

 JS: I think I would have liked to continue to watch her relationship with Greer evolve just because they were so different yet like most everyone else in this world simply wanted love and intimacy. I thought it was also a nice symbol of the possibility of harmony between the 2 different camps: military and civilian.

AK:Reflecting on your experience as a cast member of SGU, could you please share some of your favourite memories of working on the show, either from on screen or off?

Shooting SGU'S season 2 episode , Malice in the deserts of New Mexico was one of the most thrilling acting experiences for Jennifer Spence

 JS:Aw man, there are too many to list! I think one of the biggest thrills I got was when we got to travel to New Mexico to shoot “Malice.” Not only were we in the most beautiful surroundings and getting to experience some life experience/travelling on the side but I was so happy to have a close scene with Bobby. My parents have always been huge fans of his as have I and so the fact that I was acting with Bobby Carlyle in the desert was just so effing awesome!

AK:What message  would you like to convey to viewers of the series, with SGU having drawn to a close?

 JS:Sounds cheesy but gratitude. Gratitude and love to all the viewers and fans for joining us and supporting us on this journey. So glad they enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. We’re proud of the show and it means so much to know it has been appreciated.

AK. Have you been working on any other acting projects which you would like to share with viewers and what aspirations do you have for the future?

 JS: I’ve been working on a feature film with my fiancé called “Down River” which has been a hugely inspiring and creatively satisfying experience http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/reelman/archive/2011/03/21/memories-are-made-of-this.aspx

In terms of the future I would love for another show I did called “Exes & Ohs” to get a 3rd season. The 2nd season will air in the USA June 29th. Stay tuned for details! Besides that, I would like to continue playing roles that challenge me in the best ways possible. I recently shot a presentation pilot called “Echoes” created by the brilliant team of Mark Savela (visual effects supervisor on SGU) and Ken Kabatoff (production assistant on SGU and independent film producer/writer/director) that did just that. I play a woman who is forced by circumstances to become a strong, solid leader and it feels awesome to take the journey with her and stretch myself. I’m super excited about it and we’re hopeful of it getting picked up by a network. It was fun too to have all these scenes with the dreamy and talented Mike Dopud (Varro on SGU)! Most of the team that worked on it were SGU crew so it was wonderful to be surrounded by family once again. http://www.gateworld.net/news/2011/05/savela-sgu-vets-pitching-new-sci-fi-series-echoes/

 


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Interview With Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Derek McGrath

10 06 2011

Actor Derek McGrath has been leading a notable career within the Canadian entertainment industry,both as an actor as well as a singer.Some of  the actor’s roles on Canadian TV series include a wide range of animated series  such in roles for TV series such as Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Super Why! Wayside and Ruby Gloom.More recently, McGrath  has stated in CBC’S hit sitcom,Little Mosque on the Prairie as the cheerful and open-minded character  Reverend Duncan McGee,throughout the show’s initial three seasons.

With McGrath’s time on Little Mosque having drawn to a close last season and the actor being kind  enough to  partake in an interview with us, we took  the  opportunity to discuss playing the character of McGee,McGrath’s view  on the decision of the producers to  replace his character with Brandon  Firla’s, Reverend William Thorne  as well as the actor’s  return to Little  Mosque in the show’s  previous  fifth season. We also discuss McGrath’s  perspective on Little Mosque’s influence on Canadian culture and as well as how working on the show enhanced  both his acting career and  personal  perspective on the Muslim community.

The actor also  takes the time to share  some of the recent projects he has been working on,including a role on Vision TV’S , She’s The Mayor as well as details on his  latest CD.

Abbas Karimjee: Could you please walk us through this initial process and any challenges which were involved?

Derek McGrath: I was originally contacted by my  agent as per usual with an audition; I received an email with time and place for the audition, a brief description of the character and the material I would be reading. If I remember correctly, I auditioned twice. I was at a nursery, buying trees when I got the call from my agent telling me that I had been offered the role of Magee. I was really excited because I believed the show would have an important impact in terms of reducing misunderstandings about Islam. I also loved the character of Magee.

AK: What was the most challenging part playing Reverend Magee and what techniques did you use to overcome this?

DM:  The challenging part of playing Magee was in keeping him intelligent and witty as opposed to silly and one-dimensional. There are a lot of “over the top”characters on Mosque and I thought it was important to maintain a level of believability with Magee. I kept telling the writers “wise and witty, wise and witty…not silly”.

AK: How do  you relate to the character of Reverend Magee?

DM: I’m a great believer in tolerance. I think it very important to try to see the other guys point of view. I think it’s more powerful to stand up for my own views than it is to attack someone else’s view. That’s a subtle but significant difference. That’s how I think Magee approaches conflict.

AK:How do you  think Magee has developed over the course of the show and what aspirations do  you have  for him as the show draws to a close?

DM: I’m not sure you’re aware of it, but Magee is no longer in the show so I’m afraid I have no aspirations for him whatsoever.

AK:What was your reaction with the casting changes made upon the show’s fourth season which involved the character of Magee being replaced by Brandon Firla’s character, Reverend William Thorne? How do you think  Magee’s absence from the series has  impacted the overall storytelling on the show?

DM: I was very disappointed when I was told that Magee would no longer be part of the Mosque family but I was not bitter. I did not take it personally; I saw it as an artistic decision which obviously made sense to someone. In all honesty, I also believed it was a mistake. The audience reaction was very severe and I believe the decision alienated a large portion of the fan base as evidenced by the enormous number of negative emails sent to the Mosque website. As for Brandon Firla, I think he’s a wonderful actor and perfectly cast to play Thorne.  Again, in all honesty, I think the character as written is too harsh for the show, very funny but not right in the context of Mosque. None of the other characters is mean-spirited. Again, this has nothing to do with Brandon; he’s doing exactly what he was hired to do. Not sure why they didn’t correct this mistake and have us both on the show; but that’s not for me to decide.

AK: What resources did you use to help you effectively portray the character, given the religious background  of the character of  Reverend Magee?

DM: One of the things I did to prepare myself for the show was to read the bible in it’s entirety. And then to read the Koran as well as the Tao Te Ching. I wanted an understanding of where Magee was coming form and also where Amar was coming from. The Tao Te Ching to get another slant.

AK:As an experienced Canadian actor, you have also been involved in animated productions of various TV series including,  Super Why, Wayside and the 13  Ghosts of Scooby Doo  as well as  staged productions such as Little Mosque on the Prairie. Which type of acting do you  prefer to work in and what  particular  benefits  are  associated with your selection?

DM: Personally, I love being in front of a movie camera although there’s a lot to be said for the kind of regular work that a TV series provides. You get your own trailer and all the food you can eat…fabulous!!!

AK: Last season, you returned to the role of Magee after an absence of nearly two years. How did it feel  to return to the Little Mosque production  and what challenges were involved in readjusting to the role?

DM: Mostly, I just had to remember how I had played the role originally and try to be true to what I had already created.

 AK: Reflecting on your recent appearances towards the end of the fifth season, what were some of your favourite moments for the character of Magee, in terms of  his interactions with the  various members of Mercy?

DM: My favourite moments on Mosque were the times I got to work with Neil Crone and Deb McGrath and Sheila McCarthy because they were always so professional and so prepared. No B.S. with them.They show up on time ready to give their absolute best. And their best IS the best.

AK:How many episodes will you appear in for season 6?
 
DM:None

AK: What is your reaction to  Little Mosque ending this  season and  how do you hope   that  both the show and Magee,  in particular is remembered?

DM: I’m sorry to see the show ending because I think Canada, in fact the world needs shows like Little  Mosque which features people of decidedly different cultures learning to live peacefully alongside each other. As major centers become more and more multi-cultural, tolerance and acceptance will be absolutely necessary if we’re going to have any harmony in our day-to-day lives. I hope the show will be remembered as a genuinely funny and gentle reminder that people are people are people and I hope Magee will be remembered as the warm-hearted embodiment of that principal.

AK:Little Mosque on  the Prairie has  achieved international success , airing in over 68 countries  as  well  as in Canada, with the series premiere, earning a CBC    record breaking viewership of 2. 1 million. What impact do you think  Little  Mosque on the Prairie has had on Canadian culture and why do  you think the show has resonated with viewers so well?  How do you think it represents Canada, given that  the show is the   first of its kind?

DM: I think the show resonates with Canadians firstly because it’s genuinely funny and secondly because it enlightens us about an unfamiliar culture without ever getting preachy. I think they embraced the characters because they are  endearingly human with faults and qualities that we can all recognize in ourselves and in our friends and neighbours. As for the Anglo Saxons in the audience, I think the show was a comfort because it revealed Muslims as less frightening than they may have believed them to be and I think our Muslim audience was delighted to see their sisters and brothers portrayed as regular “joes” with the same hopes and fears as their Anglo Saxon neighbours.I think a lot of Canadians were surprised to see that Muslims have a sense of humour. The rest of course is just the mystery of show business.

AK: How has being a cast member on this series impacted your career and  how has it influenced your personal perspective on the Muslim community?

DM: Since the time that I was a very young boy, I have always insisted on being inclusive so that has not changed much. But, I think I’m much more educated on the subject of Islam. As I mentioned earlier, I read the Koran as a result of being cast in Mosque and of course I worked closely with genuine Muslims for the first time in my life and I could always for instance go to Zaib or Zarqua if I had any questions. Before this show, I was never certain whether or not a Muslim audience might embrace my sense of humour. In fact they did most warm-heartedly. People are people are people and humor is humor is humor.

AK:What other acting projects have your recently been working on, which you would like to share with viewers?

DM: Last summer I shot a series called SHE’S THE MAYOR for VISION TV. I play a corrupt politician named FRANK CRUMB. I think the show is very funny and it seems to be a hit on VISION. I believe the season is complete for this year but I’m certain there will be re-runs on VISION so do please watch for it. A lot of people don’t realize that I’m also a musician; I’m a singer/songwriter and I had the opportunity to work with some of the finest musicians in the world when I recorded my C.D. STRANGER. I warmly invite everyone to give it a listen at derekmcgrathmusic.com.

AK: What message do you have for fans  of the show, as Little Mosque draws to a close?

DM: I would never presume to preach but I will freely offer my opinion.There are only two basic emotions in the world, LOVE and FEAR. Fear makes you small and miserable; love makes you open and joyful. Fear kills; love creates. Choose love!


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Interview With Stargate Universe’s Peter Kelamis

21 06 2011

Actor Peter Kelamis has been leading a distinguished career within the Canadian entertainment industry,having recently portrayed the character of Dr.Adam Brody on Syfy’s Stargate Universe,over the course of the show’s two seasons.

With SGU having concluded its run last month and Peter currently in an exciting point in his acting career,we took the opportunity to discuss the actor’s experience in playing the role of Adam Brody.Peter particularly discusses how he related to the character of Brody as well as some of the challenges involved in the role.The actor also shares his thoughts on how well SGU’S series finale,Gauntlet served as an end to the show,his perspective on why SGU was cancelled and his thoughts on the future of  the Stargate franchise.

We also learn of how being a cast member of SGU influenced Peter’s career as well as his personal life and  his message to fans of the show as the franchise draws to a close.

Abbas Karimjee:Were you a fan of Science fiction prior to being appointed the role of Adam Brody and how familiar were you with the Stargate franchise,in particular?

Peter Kelamis: I was a huge Sci-Fi fan and had appeared in 2 Episodes of SG-1…”Space Race” and “Smoke And Mirrors”.I was very excited to be a part of a new SG Series.

AK: What was the most challenging aspect playing Brody and how did you cope with this challenge?

PK:The biggest challenge by far was some of the Science related dialogue.  All the theories were based on scientific fact and theory soo…I had to look like I knew what I was talking about…It took a lot of extra memorizing…

AK: How did you relate to the character of Brody?

PK:I instantly related to Brody…a character, much like the others, being forced into a situation beyond his control.As the Series went on and his comedic quirks came out…I really enjoyed portraying him even more.

AK:How do you think the character of Brody developed over the course of the show’s two seasons and what aspirations did you have for the character?

PK:  The Producers and Writers found out I was a stand-up comic,they began giving me more comedic freedom in scenes…and I loved them for it.I was looking forward to playing Brody for years to come, but unfortunately that was cut short…very disappointed.

AK: What are your thoughts on the SGU’S series finale, Gauntlet?How well of an ending do you think it served for SGU and what  were  your hopes for how the show would have continued ,had it been renewed for a third season?

PK:I thought “Gauntlet” was poetic and haunting, especially since I knew the show’s fate when I finally watched it.  I think we had some amazing possibilities ahead…it is a real shame that we didn’t get to continue our story. The Producers gave us a “Heads Up” as to where the story was headed…and I was looking forward to it.

AK:Back in December, Syfy announced that SGU’S second season would be its last.What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and why do you think SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series to continue? What was your perspective on the decision of the producers to have SGU take the Stargate franchise in a new direction, with a strong emphasis on character relationships and survival?

PK:I loved the Producers decision to take the show in such a bold new direction.It was amazing.There were a number of reasons as to why SGU was cancelled and none of them good ones as far as I am concerned.You can argue time slots, anti-SGU campaigns,the flawed Nielson system, but ultimately I suppose there is no SINGLE reason.

The news came as a great shock to myself and the rest of the cast.  I found out, like most of them, through Twitter…not the best way to find out your show was cancelled.  I have to look at those two years as positive otherwise I will tear up and get emotional.I had THE best time, with THE best people possible around me to share it…I will cherish it always.Not to mention the awesome Fans of the show that I still converse with on Twitter and Facebook.

AK: With SGU having been cancelled as a TV series, Brad Wright engaged in a series of negotiations for SGU to continue on either in the form of a TV movie or as miniseries. At a recent convention in Chicago,Wright reported that the negotiations were unsuccessful. What was your reaction to this and what do you think is in store for the future of the Stargate franchise? Do you think it will be revived at a later time? Why or why not?

PK:I know for a fact Brad tried his best to get a movie deal to finish our story.It didn’t happen, but not due to lack of effort.I don’t know if the Stargate Franchise will continue or not…The crew of the Destiny is in stasis for 3 years…maybe at that time a Network will pick up the show and bring us back…we are after all frozen, not dead.  Stranger things have happened in T.V.Maybe we come back in three years and Bobby Ewing steps out of the shower and kick starts the whole thing?

AK: Reflecting on your experience as a cast member on SGU, what are some of your favorite moments, either on – screen as Brody or behind the scenes?

PK:There are probably too many to mention…whenever we would film a scene in the Mess Hall, with all the cast present…we would get into soo much trouble cus we would be laughing our asses off too much.I truly miss the comradery  in a big way.I laughed solid to for two years.My sides still hurt.

My favorite Brody moments were probably the “2001” “Numa Numa”  sequence in “Hope” and the “Get off my lawn” grumpy Brody in “Epilogue”…with a million more in between.

AK: How has being a part of SGU impacted your career as well as your personal life, in terms of the friendships you formed?

PK:I have been recognized from my work on SGU in strange places…The Las Vegas airport subway tram, a cold beer and wine store, a cigar shop in Victoria..etc.  And each time, I am truly caught off guard.  As far as career goes, it has definitely opened up some doors and I hope to start working on a series project soon.  As far as personally, I have gained an entire cast members list of awesome new friends.  I love those guys, and gals, a great deal.

AK:With SGU currently being the last chapter for the Stargate franchise, how do you hope both the show and the character of Brody will be remembered?

PK:I hope people think I did the role justice and brought something of myself to it.  I hope I made them laugh, at times get emotional…all in all, I hope they believed that Brody was real and that I somehow made them care about him.  That would make me feel good.

AK:What message do you have for fans as SGU draws to a close?

PK:-I thank all of the Fans of SGU for watching and enjoying the show…your outcries of support are amazing.On the final night when Twitter was lit up with “Standing Ovation” comments…I would lie if I said it didn’t bring a tear to my eye.I have yet to appear at any SGU Convention, but hope to get invited in the near future.  I cannot wait to shake a few hands and share a chat or two about this great experience with people one on one.

AK:What other acting projects have you been involved in,which you would like to share with viewers and what future aspirations do you have for your acting career?

PK:I am currently splitting time between Vancouver and Los Angeles, but with more of a focus on L.A. right now.We have a home in both cities.I am excited about the possibilities that L.A. has to offer and my Management there is amazing.I know they will steer me into another great role on another great show very soon…I can’t wait.


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Little Mosque on the Prairie to End With Season 6

27 06 2011

 

Indeed, Little Mosque on the Prairie will conclude its run on CBC, with its upcoming sixth and final season. According to a press release issued by the CBC, the sixth season will mark the show’s final year and will consist of 11 episodes,which are set to begin airing in winter 2012.

 When Little Mosque made its debut in January 2007,the series earned a record-breaking rating for CBC, with over 2 million viewers.The program’s ratings decreased greatly over the seasons and the show was unable to garner the same audience, despite having made notable cast changes, such as replacing the character of  Reverend Magee[Derek McGrath] for Reverend William Thorne[Brandon Firla].By the end of the previous, fifth season, the show dropped to less than a quarter of its original audience.

The show’s  previous season saw Mercy Mosque’s Imam, Ammar Rashid [Zaib Shaikh] marrying  Rayyan Hamoudi and the couple embarking on their honeymoon, as they consider the possibility of relocating from Mercy to Montreal.

When Little Mosque returns for its final season, viewers  will note that Ammar and Rayyan have   returned  from their honeymoon early, only to find Sarah [ Sheila McCarthy] finalizing her   divorce with  her husband , Yasser[ Carlo Rota].Viewers will also  discover that Baber[Manoj  Sood] and Thorne[Brandon Firla] have been becoming best of friends and that  Mayor Poopwicx is in a  relationship with a man who may actually be the “one”.

Little Mosque on the Prairie, CBC

Ammar and Rayyan will also learn to live as a married couple on their own, without the support of chaperones. Viewers will have the chance to explore a wide range of scenarios in the town of  Mercy,such as fasting, town audits, sacred chickens, a haunted mosque and more , leading  into the epic series finale .

According to the press release, guest stars in the sixth and final season include Peter Keleghan (18 to Life), Mary Walsh (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) and Jennifer Robertson (Winging‘It)

To view the original  press release issued by CBC, click here.

Stay tuned for further information on Little Mosque on the Prairie’s sixth and final season as well as the circumstances regarding the show’s end in our exclusive interview with CBC’s Head of Media Relations, Jeff Kaey.

What is your reaction to on Little Mosque drawing to a close after six seasons? What are your thoughts on the upcoming storylines and which one are you the most excited for? How do you hope the show will conclude?Participate in  our poll below and elaborate in the comments section!


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Interview With Stargate Universe’s Brian J Smith

15 07 2011

Actor, Brian J Smith has been leading a prominent career as an American actor,having just finished his first prominent role as the character of Lieutenant Matthew Scott on Syfy’s Stargate Universe for the show’s two seasons.The actor also recently featured on Syfy’s recent movie, Red Faction Origins, which is based on the actual video game franchise as the character of Jake Mason.This particular movie took place after the events of Guerrilla and before the events of the upcoming Armageddon game.

With SGU having concluded its run  just a couple of months ago and Smith being kind enough to participate in an interview with us,we discuss the actor’s experience in portraying the character of Matthew Scott,his frank perspective on the factors which resulted in SGU’s cancellation as well as Smith’s thoughts on the suitability of Gauntlet as a series finale to SGU.The actor also reflects on the development of his  young Lieutenant Scott and the slightly different hopes which he had for the extent of his character’s development.

Smith also discusses how working on the show influenced his acting career as well as his professional life,reflects on some of his favourite moments working on SGU, and his final message to fans,with the show having drawn to a close.

The actor also reflects on his experience working on Red Factions Origins and contrasts the experience of working on the  Red Faction franchise to the Stargate franchise.

Abbas Karimjee:Were you a fan of Science fiction prior to being appointed the role of Lt Scott and how familiar were you with the Stargate franchise,in particular?

Brian J Smith:Wasn’t a huge fan of science fiction,just dabbled when I was a kid.And I think I had heard about Stargate before but I hadn’t watched any full episodes.But I’d say Sci-Fi is my favourite genre to work in,right now.Kitchen sinks are pretty boring after running from aliens for two years.
AK:How did you relate to the character of Lt Scott?

BJS:He was new at what he was doing and so was I.I think we also both felt that we had something to prove.

AK:What was the most challenging aspect of playing Scott and how did you cope with this challenge?

BJS:One of the biggest challenges was the post-lunch sugar coma.They fed us very well on that set,and I learned to pace myself during Season 2.Every day there were these massive cakes,it was crazy.

AK: Science fiction fans have been known for their passion for genre entertainment.What initial concerns did you have from this and how would you describe your overall interaction with the fandom.

BJS:I didn’t have any concerns about it initially because I had no idea what I was getting myself into.Ignorance is bliss,I guess.That being said I enjoyed most of the interactions I had with Stargate fans particularly those who embraced SGU and were supportive of us from the beginning.I think SGU fans felt very protective of the show,like they had to stand up for it and they even stood up for us,which is no easy feat when some dude dressed as a Gauold or Wraith or whatever is waving a staff at you and telling you that you have terrible taste.

AK:Back in December,Syfy announced that SGU’S second season would be its last.What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and in your view,what were some of the primary reasons for which SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series to continue?What was your perspective on the decision of the producers to have SGU take the Stargate franchise in a new direction,with a strong emphasis on character relationships and how do you think this affected the presence of long time Stargate fans?

BJS: Well, I was really sad,of course,but Brad Wright and the rest of the producers seemed pretty confident that we’d be back,and they worked their tails off for months to make it happen.But good intentions and hard work don’t always add up to dollars, and in the end money walks.And actually I think we did have a pretty sizable audience and I think we did do a good job of grabbing them.It’s too bad that not enough of them owned Neilson boxes.SGU fans are always asking what they can do to keep science fiction shows like this alive.My advice would be to sign up for the Neilson program.I would also suggest buying DVD’s but we all know how expensive those damn things are,and I sure wouldn’t buy a DVD set when I can watch the whole thing pretty much for free on Netflix or even on youtube.And I’m sure some people were upset that SGU took the franchise in a new direction, but those of us involved were excited by the challenge and ultimately found it very fulfilling to work on the material we were getting.And when I look back on episodes like Time,Human,Twin Destinies,Common Descent I feel that we did work to do be proud of.Different strokes for different folks.

AK:Throughout the second season,Lt Scott was forced to face various unique challenges in terms of his relationship with Chloe who was dealing the effects of her encounter with the aliens,having to deal with Colonel Young’s poor leadership as well as maintaining a relationship with his son on Earth.

What are your thoughts on the suitability of the character’s development over the course of the show?How satisfied were you with this development and had SGU continued,which character dynamics would you have liked to see explored and how would you have liked for his function to have evolved?

BJS:I just wanted Scott to have a more defined and inclusive role in what happened in the story,and I actually think most of the cast felt that way about their own characters at some point.It’s not about screen-time or stuff like that,but I think we could have explored the unique talents of the crew and really put those talents to use so that if something happened to someone, their death wouldn’t just have sentimental value but would actually be crippling to the mission.I’m not saying he should save the day every time,but I always wondered what his critical contribution was and I think fans did too.I remember once at a convention or something some guy came up and was like,“I don’t think you’re a bad actor, but I don’t get Scott.He doesn’t do anything useful.”I can’t say I disagree.I don’t think emotional impact is enough. They really did a bang up job handling the death of Riley and making his death and the way he died important in the unraveling of Colonel Young.I always had the uneasy feeling that if Scott died,sure the crew would be sad for a few episodes, but ultimately there wasn’t anything that he was doing that fifteen other people couldn’t do just as well, if not better.It wouldn’t have affected the course of the mission.And yeah, looking back on it,I’d consider that to be a problem.But I was confident going into Season 3 that this would start to shift, but as you know we nevergot to explore it further.I honestly thought the show went out with a whimper,and it’s a shame because there was so much left undone.

AK:What are your thoughts on the SGU’S series finale, Gauntlet? How well of an ending do you think it served for SGU and the Stargate franchise,in general?

BJS:Like I’ve said before -it worked as a brilliant season finale,probably one of the best season finales you’re likely to see.But it’s probably the most insulting series finale in the history of science fiction,especially to our fans who had invested in this journey and deserved a better ending than putting the crew to sleep and stranding Destiny in space forever.Nobody is to blame,it’s just the way the cards fell.Well,a lot of people are going after SyFy,but SyFy is a business and not an artist sanctuary.They work for Diet Coke and Downy, and when Neilson tells Ronald MacDonald that not enough people are watching his new fish filet commercial in between acts of SGU he’s going to take his business elsewhere.That’s the way it’s always been,unless you’re HBO.But I can understand now why some fans and even networks are continually wary about getting involved in long-arc storytelling in science fiction because those stories rarely get finished.I know the guys had an ending planned out.We just didn’t make it to the finish line.

AK:Brad Wright recently reported at a Vancouver convention that SGU would not return for the planned TV movie,which would wrap up the storyline.

What was your reaction when you discovered this and why do you think the movie was not approved?Are there any additional details which you knew about the movie,which you would be able to share?Had the film been approved, what kind of conclusion would you hope would be in store for  the crew of destiny and for Scott ?

BJS:I wasn’t surprised when I heard the news.It had been months since we wrapped the TV show,and the further away you get from the wrap date the less your chances are of going further.But we all immediately started emailing and calling each other,trying to find some closure. I wasn’t privy to the specifics as to why the bottom fell out. I would have loved to see where the background radiation story was going.I thought it was a promising idea because it brought up a lot of questions regarding science and religion,big questions, and that’s the kind of science fiction that really turns me on. I didn’t have any specific hopes for Scott.I think the writers knew where they were taking him eventually and I just enjoyed the ride.

AK: Reflecting on your experience on SGU, what were some of your favourite moments working on the show,either onscreen or off-screen?

BJS: Location shoots.Getting up early in the morning and driving with my coffee and my dog out to some beautiful place near a mountain or a river and doing a good day’s work out in nature.The stuff we did in New Mexico was the most fun I’ve ever had,and I get pretty nostalgic thinking about it now.It seems like it was forever ago and I miss that sense of going on a field trip with your closest friends and doing what you love to do.

AK:How has SGU affected both your career as well as your personal life,in terms of living in Vancouver and the friendships you formed?

BJS:Lots of memories,way too many.Maybe I should write a book.That’s what I’ll walk away with most,all those little moments in between set-ups,during lunch,traveling somewhere.

We had way too much fun,and man those two years went by way too fast.Maybe that’s the best thing I learned from the show-don’t take these kinds of experiences for granted, because they are rare and they are over in the blink of an eye.One day someone is cutting your hair for free or playing a prank on you or asking if you’re gonna eat the rest of your fries (that was usually Jamil), and the next day you’re schlepping around town going from audition to audition in the pouring rain. But hey, that’s the life I signed up for, and you’re always chasing after those kind of moments. That’s why you do it. You just can’t let it break your heart.

AK:Stargate Universe took the franchise in a bold,notable focus on character relationships and the ongoing issue of survival.In retrospect,how do you think the show and the character of Scott,in particular will be remembered as?

BJS: I don’t know.It’ll be different for everyone.I hope people look back on it as a high-quality, well-shot,well-written,well-acted show that had the balls to take itself seriously.Cute and quirky and light is very mode right now and that seems to be the way to create a hit, but I ultimately, in the long run, respect shows that don’t go for the easy laugh or the cheap effect.I think time will be kind to SGU.

AK:With Stargate having drawn to a close,what message would you like to covey to fans?

BJS:Just heartfelt thanks.You guys are troupers.

AK:You starred as the character of Jake on Syfy’s Red Faction Origin aired on Syfy last month.Could you please describe how the role of Jake was different from your previous roles,such as that of Lt Scott?Also,in terms of production, how would you compare working on a TV show of an established franchise,such as Stargate to working on a movie,such as Red Factions,which is also a part of a great franchise?Which do you prefer?

BJS: Well, SGU had the disadvantage of fan expectation.The only expectation regarding Red Faction was that it would suck.So people were actually surprised that some thought went into Red Faction and that we tried to tell a good story and not just blow stuff up.That being said,Stargate had lots of financial heft behind it, and I guess that’s the benefit of coming out of an established franchise.But Red Faction was an experiment and we shot that film on a very tight budget.Michael Nankin is the single best director I’ve ever worked with,and watching him create what he created with very little resources was a real lesson in directing.Directing is easy when you get unlimited takes,months of prep time,millions of dollars for special effects.Spielberg would have had a nervous breakdown.Michael Bay would have cried.The challenges he had to overcome were unbelievable.There was a medic on set who gave him the Bulgarian equivalent of Thera-Flu when he was getting a cold and he was actually fighting to stay awake all day.He somehow got through it, but that should give you some idea of what he was up against.And he also approached the story in an emotional way every single day,he was fully invested,which really isn’t easy to do when the set is falling apart and one of your actors is so ill that they can’t work and you’re running on five hours of sleep and the set medic has basically drugged you.He’s a real-life bad-ass.He taught me that who you choose to be when you’re faced with the impossible defines you.
AK:What upcoming projects are you working on which you would like to share with viewers?

BJS:I’m enjoying a much-needed break right now.It’s been a crazy couple of years,so I’m taking this time to get back in touch and get inspired again.Time to re-fill the well and find out who I am as a guy,not just an actor


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Interview With Stargate Atlantis’ Rachel Luttrell

22 08 2011

Actress,Rachel Luttrell has been leading a distinguished, multi talented career  as an actress,singer and dancer. Luttrell  experienced a strong  musical upbringing which included a great deal of inspiration from her father, who was a former member of the acclaimed Mendelsohn Choir  as well as  her piano  studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music.Luttrell’s strong background within the television industry  is evident from her many past television credits,which include shows such as ER,Charmed and Touched by  an Angel.

Rachel’s more recent and most prominent television role was on Syfy’s original series,Stargate Atlantis where she portrayed the Athosian leader and warrior,Teyla Emmagan.Rachel portrayed the character over the  course of the show’s five seasons, which aired from July 2004-January 2009.

With the Stargate franchise having drawn to an end earlier this year after the cancellation of  Atlantis’ spin off series,Stargate Universe and Rachel being kind enough to  participate in an interview with me, we discuss the actress’ initial experience in playing the role. Particularly,we discuss  some of the challenges involved  in portraying  the character of Teyla and how Rachel related to the character.

The actress also shares her perspective on Teyla’s development over the course of the show’s five seasons, her experience on having her real life pregnancy incorporated into the show’s fourth season and Teyla’s conflicted feelings between the father of her child, Kannan[Patrick Sabongui] and Lt. Colonel John Sheppard[ Joe Flanigan].Luttrell also comments on her perspective on the recent announcement that Stargate Extinction ,the follow-up movie to the series has been  cancelled as well as her thoughts on the future of the Stargate franchise.

 The actress also discusses the  recent  projects which she  has been working on since Atlantis ended, including  her musical CD which is  scheduled for release this September!

Rachel Luttrell as Teyla Emmagan

Abbas Karimjee:Were you contacted for the role of Teyla or did you audition? Could you please describe the initial experience and any challenges which were involved in the process?

Rachel Luttrell : Oh!  I had to audition, and audition and audition.It was a long process.But I always felt connected to Teyla.I initially found the fight choreography challenging but soon grew to enjoy it.  Another challenge was to preserve the “other worldly” quality of Teyla.Human but not of Earth.

AK: How did you relate to the character of Teyla ?

RL:Yes.  Very much.She resonated with the side of me that is from Africa.I really drew on aspects of my mother’s life and my grand parent’s influence on me as a young child.

AK:The role of Teyla is that of a warrior,which in turn deal of physical activity and action.What challenges did  this present to you and how did you learn to cope with this?

Luttrell trains with Atlantis stunt coordinator, James Bamford to help perfect her fighting moves. The actress comments on how she broke the moves down as dance choreography, to master the art.

RL:I had never fought on camera before.  I was a dancer.So, initially the fight sequences were daunting. But I soon began to see them as a type of dance choreography and could break them down that way.I began to enjoy them and certainly thought they were a vital part of bringing Teyla to life.

AK: How do you think Teyla evolved over the course of  the show’s five seasons and  was there any aspect of  the character’s background or personality  which you would have  preferred to see further  explored?

RL:Teyla  grew up over the course of the series.She had to make some pretty challenging decisions, including leaving her people  in order to further the greater cause of getting rid of The Wraith.  She became a mother (which changes everything). If the series had continued I would have loved to have explored her heritage more.  The mythology, the history….  I also would have enjoyed seeing Teyla truly in love.

AK:.In   season 5 , Teyla pursued a relationship with Kannan, who is the father of her  child, Torren.Though the two have a strong connection from Teyla’s  time with her people, what are your thoughts on  the inner nature of her relationship with Colonel Sheppard, in terms of the possibility of  romantic interests between the two? Who would you prefer to see Teyla with and why? What challenges may be associated   with  your choice?

RL:I believe that Kannan was someone Teyla dearly loved.I believe that he would have been the choice that her parents would have made for her had they been alive.He represented her connection to her people and Teyla desperately wanted to keep that strong.There was already a great deal of guilt for having joined Atlantis and “leaving” them in a manner of speaking.But I think that she did love Sheppard.In a way he was forbidden but longed for.

AK:On the show’s fourth season, Teyla’s pregnancy was incorporated into the  show, in order to  coincide  with your pregnancy. What were  your thoughts on the direction which the writers took Teyla’s storyline  as a result  of the pregnancy and how do you think it further developed the character’s personality?

RL:I thought that the writers did a great job and I will forever be grateful to them for running with my own pregnancy without judgment and with great imagination and care.I think it acted as a way to fully showcase Teyla’s strength and determination. You don’t mess with a mamma bear.

AK:In retrospect,how suitable of an ending do you think  Enemy at  the Gate was to SGA and  how do you feel about the Stargate franchise ending?

RL:Well, I think that everyone involved at the time really did hope and indeed expect a film.  So the session/series finale was not meant to fully satisfy.  And it didn’t.  But all good things come to an end making way for new good.  The franchise was an immensely successful one.Unprecedented success, really.And I am very happy to have been a part of it.

AK:Brad Wright  recently announced  at  a Vancouver convention that the Atlantis movie, Stargate Extinction ,as well as other Stargate productions ,including the pending Stargate SG1 film,Stargate Revolution  and a pending  Stargate Universe movie, has been cancelled.

What  is your  reaction to the cancellation of  the Atlantis  film and how did you  hope it would tie up both the overall story arc  of Stargate   Atlantis as well as Teyla’s journey,   in terms of her relationship with her people, her role as a  mother  and a member of Atlantis?

RL:I am not at all surprised by the announcement.Although the movie would have been fun and deeply satisfying.It would have been nice to see that Teyla had managed to find some marriage between her people and her love of her Atlantis team.There was such a huge “dot, dot, dot” at the end of the final episode and so many questions could have been answered.

AK;How has being a cast member of  SGA,  impacted your career as well as your  personal life, in terms of the various friendships you formed?

RL:I made some life long friends.  And it never hurts to say that you were on a successful series for five seasons in terms of my career.

AK:What do you think is in store for the future of the Stargate franchise? Do you think it will be revived at some point?

RL :P erhaps.Anything is possible.

AK:What message would you like to convey to fans ,as the Stargate  franchise draws to a close?

RL:Just know how grateful each and every one of us who were lucky enough to be involved in the franchise are to each and everyone of you for your support.It was a pleasure serving you!

AK:What recent  projects have you been involved ,which you would like to /share with viewers  and what   future plans or aspirations  do you have for your career, both as an actress and as a singer?

RL:I have been working on a CD for over a year and a half now and it will FINALLY be available September 2011!Yeah!I am still auditioning for shows and movies.Any number of those may bare fruit soon.And I am writing some pretty fun screenplays at the moment that I hope to see produced soon.I would like to be involved in all aspects of this industry from acting to directing.

AK:What activities do you enjoy during  your spare time?

RL:Being with my son doing, anything!Writing.Singing.Going to the movies.Going to the stables to watch my boy ride.Hiking.Hanging out with dear friends and family….


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Interview With Peter Keleghan on Little Mosque Season 6 and on the End of 18 To Life

25 08 2011

Actor,Peter Keleghan has been leading a successful career within the Canadian and American television industry.Born in Montreal,Peter has been described by the Toronto Star  in 2003 as “the funniest man in Canada” and has also been bestowed with four  Gemini awards over the course of his career.Peter’s lengthy experience as an actor  can specifically be seen from various television credits including Newsroom,The Red Green Show and Seinfield.

Peter’s more recent  role is on CBC’S 18 To Life as the intimidating yet conservative judge and father ,Ben Bellow.The show which recently aired its  final season,involves two middle class neighbors with opposing viewpoints who are forced to unite as family when their  18 year olds, Tom Bellow[Michael Seater] and Jessie Hill [Stacey Farber] run off and get married.

Additionally,Peter will be appearing in Little  Mosque the Prairie’s  impending sixth and final season as  the true love of Mayor Popowicx[ Debra McGrath].With Peter being kind enough to participate in an interview with me and Little Mosque approaching its sixth season, we discuss the background of  Peter’s character on the show, the circumstances which draw the Mayor and his character together, the number of episodes in which he will appear in for  the season, the challenges which the couple will face  and more!

With 18 to Life having recently concluded in its recent second and final season, we discuss Peter’s  reaction on the show’s cancellation and the factors which he think led to its end. Peter also reflects on Ben’s growth over the course of the show, reflects on the suitability of the way in which the show ended as well as offering his final message to fans of the show.

 Peter  also takes the opportunity to share details on some of his other current projects,his career aspirations and plans as well as the actor’s perspective on the value of Canadian television towards the North American entertainment industry.Read our exclusive interview with the actor,below.

Abbas Karimjee:You play Mayor Ann Popowicx’s [Debra McGrath] true love in the impending sixth and final season of Little Mosque on the Prairie.Could you please reveal your character’s name and  provide some details on his background?

Peter Keleghan:My character is Charles Thorne and is literally a thorn in the side of his younger brother Rev. William Thorne. I take great pleasure in calling him Billy! He first appears as a Canada Revenue auditor to audit the town of Mercy.He says he is there because of his little brother but soon Ann Popowicz usurps all of his attention.This despite he is already engaged!

AK: Could you please give us a brief idea of what draws both Mayor Popwicz and your character together? 

PK:Well, honestly? Sex initially. After a while they are inseparable. Soul mates. Charles breaks off his engagement and proposes to Ann.

AK:How many episodes will you be appearing in for the sixth  season of Little Mosque on the Prairie?

PK:3

AK: What are some of the challenges which the two will face over the course of the sixth season of Little Mosque on the Prairie?

PK:The major dilemma is Charles’ engagement. Billy, I mean William, tries to undermine his love for Anne calling him a cad. They are like feuding young brothers —quite funny actually.

AK:Are there any other plot points regarding the relationship, which you are able to reveal?

PK: Do they get married? Stay tuned!

AK: Are there any other main characters on Little Mosque, with whom your character will have notable interactions with? 

PK:I really just deal with William and Anne ,however Zaib’s Imam character helps us figure things out between our fragmented relationship.

AK:Little Mosque is currently in its sixth and final season. Could you please briefly describe the experience of joining the team in the final season and any challenges which were involved? 

PK:I felt like a party-crasher to be honest. I was embraced whole-heartedly which is a testament to the wonderfully giving nature of the production and especially the producers and cast. I came in at their 11th hour and still had sorrow when it was over. Not like they must have of course, but it was a lovely set to work on.

AK:As an experienced Canadian artist, what are your thoughts on how Little Mosque has represented Canadian culture, given that it is the first of its kind, in terms of building bridges between the Muslim community and western society?

PK:The more ways we can find ways to bring us together in this world the better. This show was certainly a fun and funny way to bridge the gap between unfamiliar religions

AK: You have previous experience of portraying relationships, particularly in CBC’S 18 To Life, as Ben Bellow, a right-wing conservative judge who was married to a Jewish character, Judith [Ellen David].

 How has such previous experience allowed you to enhance your performance in this role on Little Mosque and how is the relationship of Ben and Judith different from your character on Little Mosque’s relationship with Mayor Popowicz?

PK:The mayor and Charles have a tumultuous relationship. Charles is certainly no conservative! The trick with playing all relationships is to have honest good feelings for each other. To help with this, in 18-Life, I actually dated Ellen David in university, (I grew up in Montreal) and in Little Mosque, Deb and I have been good friends for about 25 years.

AK: Let’s discuss the recent second and final season of 18 To Life.  What was your initial reaction when you discovered the show has been cancelled and what factors do you think resulted in the series cancellation?

PK:It was a big disappointment when it was cancelled. Other shows that were not as well rated or reviewed were picked up and we weren’t, so it was very frustrating. I thought Montreal looked fabulous in the show and it is hard to imagine why it was not renewed for at least one more season –if only to prove it had legs. People seemed genuinely shocked to hear it was not renewed. It certainly has gotten more Gemini and Comedy Award nominations than most other Canadian series. The only explanation is that it was a financial decision.

AK: When 18 To Life first began, the character of Ben was  quite upset with his son Tom’s, marriage with   the girl next door, Jess , given that he had great hopes for his son’s future .Ben displayed his disapproval of the marriage in various ways, particularly when  he drafted an annulment, in his failed attempt to end the marriage .How do you think Ben has developed over the course of the show and had 18 To Life continued, how else would you have liked for the character to develop?

PK:Ben certainly mellowed through the 2 years. However, the show needed the dramatic counterpoint to continue to be interesting. So he didn’t change THAT much!

AK:What are your thoughts on the suitability of the episode, House of Cards as an ending to the show?

PK:We were not prepared to realize that the show would not be picked up. It came as a shock to us so we did not have a series ending.

AK: On 18 To Life you had a main cast role for the show’s two seasons.  How has working on the show impacted both your career as well as your personal life, in terms of the show’s central themes about family and love as well as the friendships which you formed?

PK:Honestly it has not. Ben could not be more opposite to me as a person. Politically and every other way. Charles on Mosque is also very different. It’s fun to play and expand. I’ve been told people enjoyed my performances, and that’s enough for me. It would be nice to see more Canadians watching Canadian shows however. We are being fed a constant diet of low brow food which I call ‘fast food culture’. Cheap, fast, glitzy and addictive—it is not about us – it’s American, and so it’s completely un-nutritious.

AK:  In retrospect, how do you think the character of Ben and 18 To Life, in general will be remembered as?

PK: As a blow-hard, soft hearted, insecure, conservative father!

AK:With 18 To Life having drawn to end, what message would you like to convey to fans of the show? 

PK:Sorry we didn’t do more of them. It would have been nice to have a proper ending to wrap things up. The show deserved at least that as did the fabulous Montreal crews and cast.

AK:As an experienced Canadian actor, you have also been involved in animated productions of various TV series including, Ned’s Newt and Ruby Gloom as well as productions such as Seinfeld, 18 To Life and Little Mosque on the Prairie. Which type of acting do you prefer to work in and what particular benefits are associated with your selection?

PK:I think most people see Canadian actors as being much more well-rounded performers because we have to be. There is work, but it pays much less. Something tells me that if I did 5 popular American series and had 4 Emmy awards, I could easily retire a rich man. Not so in Canada. It would be nice if Canada recognized it artists as much as it’s athletes. It’s the best country in the world in all other ways and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

AK:What current projects are you involved in or future aspirations do you have for your acting career? 

PK:I helped start a credit union in Canada for artists called The Creative Arts Savings and Credit union. I’m on the board of directors and that takes a good chunk of time. Also I am currently shooting episodes of Republic Of Doyle, and my continuing character Terrence Myers on Murdoch Mysteries. In the fall I start shooting Sunshine Sketches – a story about Stephen Leacock in Canada in the 1920s which stars my father in law Gordon Pinsent as Leacock. I also hope to have my own series within a couple of years called The Factotum.

AK: What activities do you enjoy during your spare time?

PK:I love traveling with my wife Leah and we share our home life with a neurotic cocker spaniel named Higgins. I also collect antique wrist watches and fly small planes.


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Manoj Sood Discusses Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Sixth Season and More

12 11 2011

Its been almost a year since we last connected with Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Manoj Sood[ Baber Siddiqui]. With the show approaching the commencement of its sixth and final season this January and Manoj being kind enough to participate in an interview with us,we discuss Baber’s upcoming  friendship with Reverend William Thorne[ Brandon Firla], the character’s relationship with his daughter Layla[Aliza Vellani] as she furthers her independence at University as well as some details on Little Mosque’s highly anticipated series finale.

Manoj also reflects on his time on the show,by sharing  his insights on how successful it has been in building bridges between the Islamic community and western society, how the show has impacted his professional life, his favorite moments from working on the show  and his final message to viewers of the program.

Read through our complete interview with the actor, below!

Abbas Karimjee:Since we last connected,it was announced that Little Mosque on the Prairie would end after its upcoming sixth and final season.What was your reaction about the show coming to an end and what do you think were the factors which led to the decision to cancel the show? Could you please describe the atmosphere which was present on the set of Little Mosque during the final weeks of production?

Manoj Sood: Every show has a specific life span and Little Mosque is no different.Rarely do TV shows last more than 5 or 6 seasons in Canada so to last 6 seasons is a real achievement. The atmosphere on set was like any other season.Filming a TV show is a very busy process and when we are on set we focus on doing the job we are there to do which is to act. We knew well before the season started that it would be the last season so there were no surprises or heavy sentiment. The end was expected.

 AK: This season Baber has a new storyline, in terms of becoming best friends with Reverend William Thorne [Brandon Firla] On the outset, the two seem like an odd pair given how Baber is an extremely conservative Muslim while Reverend Thorne is an Anglican leader who is also quite judgmental. Reverend Thorne also previously manipulated Baber, to help ensure that Mercy Mosque was evicted from the Church back in the show’s fourth season.

What was your initial reaction when you learnt of this storyline and could you please give us an idea as to the circumstances which help lead the two to becoming best of friends?

MS:I thought that a lot of humour would come from this unlikely friendship.That is the magic of TV: where very unrealistic situations become real and the result is laughter. The friendship began when Baber was running the Mosque while Amaar was away on his honeymoon.The details will become apparent in the first episode ;-)

AK: What are some of the challenges which the two will face with each other during the course of the season?

MS: They will face the challenge of maintaining a friendship in light of the fact they have very different views in terms of their religion and attitudes towards life.Of course these challenges force each of the 2 characters to face their own intolerances and make compromises to accept the differences in each other.

AK: Are there any other plot points regarding the friendship,which you are able to reveal?

MS: One aspect of a friendship is friendly competition.You will see the 2 competing in some very funny ways.

AK: Did portraying Baber’s relationship with Reverend Thorne present some acting challenges, given how the relationship has evolved to a genuinely friendly one as opposed to previous seasons?

MS: Fortunately we have very good writers on Little Mosque.When the writing is good much of the actor’s job is done and the rest is much easier. The challenge of portraying Baber as a friend of Thorne is no different to portraying Baber in any situation: the key is to be truthful to the character and everything will fall into place.

AK: How do you think becoming best of friends with Reverend Thorne, speaks to how Baber has developed over the years? Having played the character since Little Mosque’s inauguration in 2006, how else do you think the character has evolved over the course of the show?

MS: I guess I could dare say that Baber is a bit more tolerant but not too muchÉ.Otherwise he would become boring.Over the years Baber has become gentler yet he is still as ignorant and big-headed than ever.

AK: Last season Baber dealt with some of the challenges of being separated from his daughter, Layla [Aliza Vellani] who attended University elsewhere. Will viewers have the chance to see this relationship further explored in the final season? If so, could you please give us an idea of what is store for Baber’s relationship with Layla, particularly given how it was hinted in last season’s finale that Layla has become romantically involved at university?

Layla will be making some serious decisions about her future this season. How will Baber respond ?

MS: Layla is at university and she makes some serious decisions about her future…that’s all I can say about this though.

AK:Could you please give us an idea of what else is in store for Baber this season, as a treasurer/ member of Mercy Mosque?Also, what else is in store for Little Mosque’s final season, in general?
Baber continues to be a key figure and leader in the Mosque and his stubbornness and intolerance continues to raise issues in a very funny way. As for the show in general you will see new relationships develop between the different townspeople, some relationships will change and a few new-comers will show up. I also feel that you will see a more emotional side of Baber this season.

AK: The sixth and final season is all leading up to the series finale. What can viewers expect of the finale, episode itself?How suitable of an ending do you think the finale will be, in terms of how it wraps up the story lines of the characters of Mercy?

MS: The season ends with a bit of pageantry, a surprise for Baber a compromise for Amaar and a few goals being achieved. Sorry I can’t say more ;-)

AK: Little Mosque has been such a successful series both internationally as well as in Canada,with the series premiere having earned 2.1 million viewers.What impact do you think the series has had on Canadian culture and how do you think the series represents Canada, given how it is the first of its kind in building bridges between the Islamic community and western society? Also, how successful do you think the show has been in building bridges?

MS: The show has put a friendly face on a religion and group of people who have been tainted by unfortunate international events. I believe the show has done much to breakdown stereotypes. To a degree I believe that thanks to Little Mosque,Muslims are not automatically seen in a negative light as much as they once were.

AK: Has working on Little Mosque impacted both your career and your personal life? How?

MS: I like to think that working consistently on a show for so many seasons has developed and honed my acting skills. It has opened doors to other projects which came to me only because the producer or director knew my work on Little Mosque. I’ve been surprised when my agent tells me that she received an inquiry from a casting director in another country who liked my work on Little Mosque and wants to know if I am available for a new project.

AK: Reflecting on your experiences on the show, what are some of your favourite memories of working on Little Mosque, either on-screen or off-screen in production?

MS: I really enjoyed the Halloween episode in Season 1 and at a comedy award show I, as Baber, sang a lovely spoof of the Johnny Cash song, “Walk the Line”. I had never sung in front of an audience before so it was something I will never forget.

AK :In retrospect, how do you believe Little Mosque and Baber, in particular will be remembered as?

MS: Little Mosque was the first cultural sitcom in Canada that appealed to a broad audience.It will be remembered not only as a Canadian but an international success.It will be remembered as a show that built bridges between different peoples while at the same time making people laugh.I believe that Baber will be remembered as the first fundamental Muslim that people actually liked. He won’t be remembered for his dashing looks or sexy body….unfortunately ;-) .

AK: Do you have a final message which you would like to convey to viewers of Little Mosque, with the show having drawn to a close?
MS: I really do appreciate all of you who stayed with the show thorough all of its changes over its six seasons.Thanks so much for watching!!!!

AK: With Little Mosque having drawn to an end, are there any other projects which you have been involved in? Also, what aspirations do you have for the future of your acting career?

MS: Right now I am focusing trying to write and produce my own television show. That is my long-term goal.

AK: What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?

MS: I am a very passionate amateur astronomer and fly fisherman. I spent much of July and August fishing all offer BC with my son. Most of my spare time when I am not at work is spent with my son and our goofy dog named Mowgli.


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Interview With Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Zaib Shaikh

13 12 2011

 Zaib Shaikh has been leading a prominent career within the Canadian entertainment industry as an actor, producer, and director.Some of his most  recent work includes the Gemini  nominated  film,Othello,The Tragedy of the Moor.  Shaikh  was actively involved in its creation as co director, co producer and co writer. Shaikh’s long list of television  credits include series such as  Metropia, Da Vinci’s City Hall and The Dead Zone. Currently, Zaib also has a great deal of involvement with many television and film productions  through his  production company, Governor Films.

Zaib Shaikh is best known for his role on Little Mosque on the Prairie as the compassionate ,Imam Amaar Rashid .With the show approaching  its sixth and final season this  and Zaib  being kind enough to participate  in an interview with me,  we  discuss how he was initially appointed the role, the challenges which he faced as he learned  portrayed the character as well as  how  he has related to the character

Shaikh  also reflects on Ammar’s relationship with  Rayyan,[ Sitara Hewitt] from the two’s initial  chaperoned dating to the controversial kiss which the couple shared after having been  married.

Shaikh also  gives viewers an update on what is to come in the show’s sixth and final season, in terms of Amaar’s married life with Rayyan, his new dynamic with Sarah Hamoudi[ Sheila McCarthy] as a son-in-law as well as his continued challenges of being Imam at Mercy Mosque. The talented actor also makes a noteworthy comment  by sharing his perspective on how the series finale will satisfy viewers.

The actor also discusses his reaction to announcement of the show’s conclusion,shares his reflections on his favourite moments on the show,  discusses  his anticipations on how both Amaar and the show shall be remembered, Zaib’s experience  as a role model as well as  his final message to fans of the show.

Take a read through our complete interview with Zaib, below!

Abbas Karimjee:Lets discuss your initial appointment to the role of Amaar. Were you contacted for the role or did you audition? Could you please walk us through this initial process?

Zaib Shaikh as Amaar Rashid

Zaib Shaikh:The Producers of the show heard of me through the director of the 1st season and he basically recommended me for the role.I put myself on tape because I was living in Vancouver at the time and lo and behold, the rest is history.

 AK: How has being a real life Muslim allowed you to relate to the character? In what other ways have you also connected with Ammar?

ZS:I think Ammar is definitely connected to me because I’m a Toronto born Muslim who strongly believes in Canada, being Canadian and Canadian values but still has a strong spiritual connection to his faith. Ammar is actually a kind of perfect Canadian and that is something that has been my goal as a Canadian – to give the most I can to and for my country. Ammar is constantly striving to achieve the best of his Canadian-ness and the best of his connection to his faith every day and that’s something to admire.

 AK:What challenges were initially involved in portraying the character of Amaar and how did you overcome this?

One of the biggest challenges is that Ammar is the nicest man I’ve NEVER met. He is honest, straightforward, optimistic, fair and committed to the best of everybody. I’ve known a lot of people of all kinds of cultures, creeds and religions and I have never met that kind of man – ever – so it’s hard to play a character that almost doesn’t exist no matter what his faith or nationality.

AK:How do you think Amaar has developed over the course of the series, both through his various relationships as well as an Imam at Mercy Mosque?

Ammar began as the outsider to this world, this community, and this group of people. Basically he was like the 2.1 million Canadians that watched our premiere on CBC. He met Mercy for the 1st time. Now as we present our farewell season, Amaar, like all Canadians and those audiences who watch it on over 80 countries worldwide, has become a citizen of a town, and idea, called Mercy.

 AK:This season marks Little Mosque’s final season.What was your reaction when you discovered this and could you please briefly describe the circumstances which resulted in the show’s end?

ZS:This is a show that changed the world for the better and I think we were all thrilled that the show gets to have a farewell season as a kind of Thank You to our Canadian audience. So many successful shows don’t get that final chance to really give a proper ending to their story and I think it’s great that the Creative and Productions teams and CBC gave Little Mosque that chance.

AK:Last season Amaar and Rayyan became engaged and thus began dating through chaperone. According to Muslim law they refrained from physical contact. Could you please describe some of the challenges involved in this and the ways in which you think intimacy of their relationship was still conveyed?

ZS:It certainly is a unique romance on television. Typical love stories on Television shows have physical gestures and customs that everyone is used to seeing as they witness a progression of relationship between two characters. Sitara Hewitt and I had the challenge of showing all that progression through looks, smiles and physical distance until that first kiss for our season 5 finale.  Ammar and Rayyan  said “I love you” a whole season before they kissed. How weird is that? It’s incredibly challenging to pull of a romantic story arch in our setting and I’m proud of the work we achieved and the results it had for our audiences.

  AK: Last season ended with Amaar and Rayyan, kissing in their rented limo as wedded couple. A certain portion of the online fan base expressed their views on how they thought it was inappropriate, both on the blog as well as through the show’s official Facebook page.What is your response to this perspective and what are your thoughts on the suitability of the scene?

 ZS:I know a lot of married Muslims that kiss and some that don’t.The happier marriages are those with the kissing.The children of the marriages with the kissing are also better adjusted.That’s my experience.

 AK:This season, Amaar and Rayaan return from their honeymoon to Mercy. Could you please give us an idea of some of the challenges which are in store for the couple as they begin their married life together?

Ammar and Rayyan exchanging a kiss as a married couple in the show's upcoming sixth and final season.Shaikh comments on the benefits of married couples displaying their affection through kissing as well as the excitement in Ammar and Rayyan living together as a married couple..

 ZS:I think the audience will enjoy seeing this particular Muslim couple in their home behind the white picket fence as it were.With Ammar and Rayyan it’s the first time in Television that any Muslim couple has fallen in love, married and moved into their own home. It’s all new and challenging and rewarding

AK: This season Sarah and Yasser finalize their divorce. Could you please give us some idea’s Amaar’s attitude and level of support towards Sarah as she goes through this?

ZS:Amaar is committed to being the perfect Canadian the perfect Muslim, the perfect husband and now the perfect son in law as well.No wonder he’s always so flustered.

 AK: Could you please give us an idea of what this season is leading up to? What can viewers expect of the series finale itself?

ZS:They can expect something totally full circle and something that leaves an unforgettable smile on their faces by the end.

AK: How do you hope both Little Mosque and Amaar, in particular will be remembered as?

 ZS;Little Mosque has already been called the Cosby show for Islam by Katie Couric, it’s won amazing humanitarian awards, it’s been inducted into the Museum of Television and Radio Arts in New York & LA, it’s in over 80 countries world wide and wherever I have been around the world whether Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Capetown, London, Los Angeles (you get the picture) someone always knows about Little Mosque and Amaar. That’s already happening or happened so I could hope for nothing better.

AK: Could you please share some of your favorite moments of working on Little Mosque, onscreen and/ or off-screen?

ZS:This space isn’t big enough to list the amazing moments of laughter that has been shared in 6 seasons of Little Mosque in Toronto, Regina and Indian Head and across Canada.

AK;How has working on the show,influenced both your acting career as well as your personal life?

ZS:A show like Little Mosque has indelibly etched itself into the hearts, minds and lives of all those that have worked on Little Mosque and I am no different.

AK: What has been your experience as a role model and why do you think the character of Amaar is so influential?Has being a real life Muslim added to the pressure of your role as an influential figure?

ZS:It is simultaneously incredibly humbling and pride filling to walk in Amaar’s shoes. He is a character under tremendous scrutiny by Muslims and Non-Muslims as an Imam and Muslim man and it’s one of the most challenging roles I’ve had to inhabit. Amaar can never just be Amaar Rashid. He’ll always be the Imam, he’ll always be the first Muslim character played by a Muslim actor as a leading character on television in the English speaking world. Frankly, that is terrifying and I can’t believe I ever agreed to do it.

AK:With Little Mosque coming to an end,what message would you like to convey to fans of the series?

ZS:Thank you to all our audiences who have tuned in and lived with us these past 6 years.Thank you to Canada for being a courageous country to show this kind of work and thank you to the CBC for making it happen. Little Mosque is seen as a “game changer” around the world and Canada and the CBC are recognized for being the country that launched such a show.


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Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Season 6 Premiere-Home Again

5 01 2012

Amaar and Rayyan cut their honeymoon short and return home so that they can help Sarah deal with her divorce from Yasir. Rayyan tries to drag Sarah to a divorce support group but when Sarah won’t go Rayyan brings the group to her. Meanwhile, Amaar decides to sort out his Imam related issues with Baber and Thorne once and for all[ CBC]

Why have Sarah and Yasser divorced and  how will  Sarah respond to Rayyan’s attempt to help?Exactly, what issues will Ammar sort out with Reverend Thorne and Baber, how will they  try to resolve the issues and what will be the final outcome?Share your thoughts and speculations in the comments section, below!

Tune in for the season six premiere on Monday, January 9  2011@ 8:30pm eastern standard time on CBC!

Discuss the episode as it airs live with other fans of the show, in the comments section!


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Little Mosque on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 7 Preview-Mosque of Dreams

20 02 2012

 Only 5 episodes left!Tune in for  a new episode of Little Mosque tonight @ 8:30pm eastern time on CBC!

Amaar tries to get the town to support his new Mosque, but finds only disinterest and some outright derision when he reveals that his divine inspiration came from a chicken. Meanwhile, Baber is determined to prove the town isn’t ready for a new mosque by trying to get himself arrested.   Sarah has a crisis of faith and considers eating bacon, while Ann suffers a crisis of love while sexting the now absent Charles Thorne.[CBC]

Will Amaar manage to convince others of the supposed validity of his plan?  Does Baber’s behaviour seem uncharacteristic, given that he was initially  opposed to having the  mosque in  a church? Has his friendship with Thorne impacted his  position on the mosque being in a church? How will Baber’s arrest impact the relations between  Mercy’s  Muslim community and the  general population?

How will Sarah respond to her current  crisis and to what extent has her divorce impacted this  change in behavior?  What will become of Ann’s relationship  with Charles Thorne, given that  he is to be engaged?When do you think the fate of this affair  yet surprising  discovery of true love will be established?

Share your thoughts and speculations in the comments section below!

  Notes/ References

Peter Keleghan will reappear as his character in one more episode

http://abbaskarimjeeweblog.com/2012/02/06/little-mosque-on-the-prairies-debra-mcgrath-discusses-the-shows-final-season/[ Interview with  Debra McGrath]


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CBC Announces Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Series Finale Date

17 02 2012

Indeed, CBC has informed the blog that Little Mosque on the Prairie’s series finale, will be airing on Monday, April; 2 @ 8:30pm eastern time.  A title for the episode has yet to be  revealed.

The correspondence we received from CBC’s Digital Team  also mentioned that both the penultimate episode and the series finale will be featured as repeats in a hour long presentation  on the following  Easter Monday April 9 @8:00pm eastern time.

What is your response to Little Mosque ending n this season and what hopes do you have for how the show will end? Do you have any speculations  which  you would  like to share? Sound off in the comments section,below!


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Little Mosque on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 6 Preview

13 02 2012

 

Tune in for the episode tonight @ 8:30pm eastern time  on CBC!

Destination Chicken:Amaar is getting impatient waiting to find his new purpose when Baber sticks his nose in where it doesn’t belong, leading to an unexpected sign from above.  Meanwhile, Ann’s crush on Charles fuels old sibling rivalries when she encourages her new flame to help out with Rev. Thorne’s Destination Church Spectacular.  Sarah is left to deal with the town audit single-handed.[CBC]

What will be the result of Amaar’s impatience and does Baber’s  behaviour lead Amaar to  reconsider whether he should  reclaim his post as imam of Mercy? What exactly is Baber sticking his nose into and how does it affect the mosque?How does  Charles involvement in  Thorne’s event prompt further sibling rivalry and how will this impact the event? What will become of the Mayor’s reputation when Sarah is left on her own to deal with the audit? How will Sarah’s possible sense of abandonment, affect her own well-being? Share your thoughts in the comments section of the post!

To view a sneak peak of the episode, please visit the show’s official Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/littlemosque


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Chat Live With Little Mosque’s Debra McGrath on Feb 6

31 01 2012

 

 Join us on the blog on Monday, February 6 @ 9:00pm eastern time  right after  the upcoming episode of Little Mosque’s  current season airs, to engage in a live chat with Debra McGrath, who plays Mayor Popowicx. The actress will be chatting with fans   for half an hour, given that  the week’s episode will launch a story arc  based around her character, Mayor Popowicx.

A post will be created on the blog’s homepage, outlining  further details about the event and readers will be able to  interact with the actress in the comments section!

Will you be joining  the chat?Do you have any questions about the event? Let us know in the comments section!


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Little Mosque on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 4-

30 01 2012

Tune in for a new episode of Little Mosque on the Prairie, entitled The Dating Game@ 8:30pm  eastern time

Amaar needs Baber and Thorne’s cooperation to win a coveted Multi-Faith Award, but Baber and Thorne try to cut Amaar out when they discover the award comes with a cash prize. Meanwhile, Ann sets Sarah up on the worst first-date of her life, which leads to the worst second-date of her life. And Nate and Fatima team up to make a multi-ethnic sandwich[CBC]

What will be Amaar’s response be to the two’s attempt to have him removed from the situation? Given  Amaar’s more liberal approach to  multifaith events, how will Thorne and Baber’s more consrvative  and narrow mimded attutudes  affect their ability to win? What prompts Nate and  Fatema to make a multi sandwich  and how will this turn out?Share your speculations in the comments section and be sure to tune in.


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Little Mosque on the Prairie’s Sixth Season Now Available on iTunes

29 01 2012

Indeed, iTunes is now selling episodes of Little Mosque’s current, sixth and final season! This is a great way for viewers who have been unable to watch the show at its weekly time to  be able to watch commercial free episodes  at their own convenience or for those who simply wish to re- watch episodes.Little Mosque On the Prairie, Season 6

Episodes are available both in HD and irregular viewing, with HD viewing costing $ 16.99 for the entire season[ $2:99 per episode] while  the season can be purchased on regular format for a cost of 9:99[ 1:99 per episode}. Episodes are  posted within 24 hours of being aired on CBC  and therefore the  current season’s  first three episodes have been released. To purchase the episode, simply visit http://itunes.app Itunes.le.com/ca/tv-season/little-mosque-on-prairie-season/id492762509?s=143455.

Access to the episodes are only available for Canadian residents who  are members with iTunes. Readers should also note that  each episode also contains a brief excerpt.

 Will you be using iTunes  to follow Little Mosque this season?Drop us a line in the comments section to let us know!

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Showtime’s Web Therapy Renewed For A Second Season

29 01 2012

The blog is now launching its coverage of Showtime’s Web  Therapy as it  approaches it second season. Stay tuned for extensive, ongoing coverage of the show!

Indeed, Showtime  has announced that  Web Therapy has been renewed for a second season, according to a report from TV Guide.

The show was created by and  stares actress Lisa Kudrow [ Friends Phobe Buffay] who plays   the self-absorbed web therapist, Fiona  Wallace.Wallace provides  3 minute counseling sessions through web conferences, which  mainly center  around her using the issues of her clients to achieve her own personal or professional goals. The idea  of doing a three minute session is   based on her past experiences as a   conventional therapist , where she  apparently learned very quickly that  the bulk of the help was offered in three minutes and that the remainder of the typical  50 minute session was spent on  unnecessary “self-indulgent” reflections,  through recollections about dreams,  memories and past experiences!  This dark , improvised series provides a truly enjoyable perspective on a narcissistic   character as she  navigates the challenges of launching a new “ treatment modality’’  without actually being professionaly or emotionally suited to do so.

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Lisa Kudrow on Web Therapy as Fiona Wallice

The second season is expected to debut on Showtime in late Spring  2012 and will consist of 10 half hour episodes, just as the inaugural season did.Web Therapy was first brought to life as a web series, where episodes ran from 4-11 minutes.While the web-series continues in its fourth season this year, its earlier episodes were expanded into 30 minute episodes  which were suitable for television, when the show was picked up by the network.

The second season includes guest stars such as  Meryl Streep, Rosie O’Donnell, Conan O’Brien, Molly Shannon, Minnie Driver and Blair. Actress, Lilly Tomlin is set to  make reappearances  as Fiona’s blunt and  unaccepting mother, Putsy Hodge while  Victor Garber  will return as Fiona’s  allegedly unfaithful husband, Kip Wallace.

What are your thoughts on the show being renewed? Have you seen the webepisodes of Web Therapy and how do they compare to the  Television series?Sound off in the comments section, below!


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