Defiance returns

ON SCREEN:

DEFIANCE
Showcase -- Thursdays, beginning June 19


Defiance

Julie Benz Gets Set To Take
Her Character Down
A Darker Path As "Defiance"
Rolls Out Its Second Season

By Eric Kohanik 

Somehow, the future never seems to be pretty in the world of science-fiction TV shows. And Julie Benz says there are good reasons for that.

“I think, with the sci-fi genre, we're able to explore issues that we're all faced with today,” the 42-year-old actress points out. “We're able to explore them in a deeper, darker way.”

Benz is no stranger to the deeper, darker realm of the horror/thriller/sci-fi genre. Perhaps still best known for her role as Rita on Dexter, her TV credits also include such other gems as Roswell, Supernatural, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Buffy's spinoff/sequel, Angel.

“I love working in 'genre' material, I really do,” says Benz. “The given circumstances are so extreme that they really challenge you, as an actor, to bring them to life and make them believable. And that is exciting.”

Benz's most recent “genre TV” job has been in Showcase's sci-fi adventure, Defiance. Filmed in Toronto, the series is set in a radically transformed Earth in the not-too-distant future, where the city of St. Louis has been renamed as Defiance, a town where humans and extraterrestrial species manage to live side by side.

Much of the core action in Defiance revolves around Joshua Nolan, played by New Zealand native Grant Bowler. Nolan is a former marine who became the town's chief lawkeeper during the show's first season. At Nolan's side for much of the show has been his adopted alien daughter, Irisa, played by English actress Stephanie Leonidas. Others in the cast include Canadian actors Graham Greene and Jesse Rath.

The Pittsburgh-born Benz plays Amanda Rosewater, the mayor of Defiance who ended up losing her bid for re-election as the series wrapped up its first season. The show's season finale also saw the disappearance of Irisa, as well as Amanda's sister, Kenya (Canadian actress Mia Kirshner).

According to Showcase, Defiance was the channel's No. 1 program in 2013. The series kicks off its second season on June 19 (moving to Thursday nights this season), with the residents of Defiance in turmoil in the aftermath of the town election.

Meanwhile, Nolan is out in the badlands on a quest to find the missing Irisa, a storyline that the show's producers have already been priming viewers for online (on Showcase.ca), via five “webisodes” entitled Defiance: The Lost Ones.

As the new season of Defiance opens, Amanda is setting off on a journey of her own as well, embarking on “a much darker path,” according to Benz. “Amanda starts in a completely different place than where she ended at the end of Season 1,” she explains. “Her sister disappeared. She lost her job. And she has to redefine herself in a town that is redefining itself. It's nine months later and she's really struggling. She's having a hard time. You get to see her start to unravel a bit.”

Although Amanda is no longer the mayor of Defiance, that won't necessarily keep her out of the political scene. “I don't think Amanda could ever be separated from the town,” Benz laughs. “I think the town is always a part of her. Her love for the town of Defiance is always going to be present, no matter what role she has in the town. I don't think she could ever fully be away from the politics of the town.”

Benz has been pleased with the fan response to the first season of Defiance. She has also been pleased with her character's journey on the show.

“I love Amanda's strength,” says Benz. “And that she's still feminine but very strong. She is basically surviving in a very masculine world. Even though she's the heroine, she's not perfect. She's deeply flawed. She's an alcoholic. She obviously has commitment issues. She's very controlling. Sometimes, her idealism gets in the way. She's extremely flawed, but she's still a woman. We don't really see many female characters that can be as flawed as she is and still be loved.”

Defiance – Showcase – Thursdays, beginning June 19

(Published in Channel Guide Magazine -- June 2014.)

The MMVAs Celebrate Their 25th Anniversary

ON SCREEN:

THE 2014 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS
Much, CTV -- June 15


Street Party

CTV Hops On Much's Bandwagon
As The MMVAs Celebrate
Their 25th Anniversary

By Eric Kohanik 

When it comes to star-studded street parties, there aren't many in Canada that are as rousing – or as rockin' – as the one MuchMusic has been throwing year after year in downtown Toronto.

In fact, the MuchMusic Video Awards have been partying on for an incredible quarter of a century.

Every June, multitudes of exuberant music fans flock to the corner of Queen and John Streets to get a close-up look as MuchMusic cranks up the energy – and unleashes big-time star power – at its annual celebration. This year's 25th-anniversary edition of the MMVAs hits MuchMusic on June 15. And, as usual, viewers will get primed beforehand with the MMVA Red Carpet Special.

For the first time, though, the cable channel's corporate cousin, CTV, is jumping on the bandwagon, simulcasting this year's entire extravaganza live from coast to coast on its broadcast network, as well as on its CTV GO mobile app.

“It's a really great opportunity to put the show on a bigger platform,” says Sheila Sullivan, the longtime executive producer of the MMVA telecast. “That's great for the artists. It's great for the Much brand.

“The great thing about it is the CTV simulcast will ensure [that] millions of music fans – who might not have ever had the opportunity to watch the MMVAs on Much – can now watch it on CTV. It opens the MMVAs up to an entirely new, broadened audience, which is just perfect. The more people that can tune in and see this street-party spectacle, the better.”

This year's anniversary show will have “a nod” to previous MMVAs, but it won't dwell on the past. “It won't be too nostalgic,” Sullivan promises. Instead, viewers can count on a show featuring some of the music world's biggest names as performers. There will also be a stellar lineup of presenters to do their usual thing, as well as adding a few surprises.

“I've done enough [MMVAs] to remember most of the exciting things that have happened during the show over the years,” says Sullivan. Past years have had their share of dazzling moments, ranging from Lady Gaga's bra-shooting fireworks to Flo Rida making his way onto the MMVA stage via zip-line.

Sullivan and her team are still busily assembling this year's final list of performers and presenters – a task that has been ongoing since last fall. “We start talking to labels and to talent in the fall so that we can get it on the calendars of artists that we're hoping will come to the show to perform,” Sullivan explains. “We want to be on their calendars first. We're looking for the biggest and the best names. We are looking to give our audience exactly what they want to hear.”

Apart from the talent lineup, Sullivan says there is one other big challenge to putting on the MMVAs every year – the show's outdoor setting.

“When you're indoors, you can rehearse all day long in the dark,” Sullivan points out. “We can rehearse only from 9:30 to 11:30 because, at 9:30, it's finally dark and we can see what it's going to look like on TV. But, at 11:30, we have a noise curfew. And the weather, of course, is a big concern.”

Although storms have dampened some MMVA celebrations, the show has had surprisingly good luck with the weather over the past 25 years. “We have – and it's going to happen again this year, for sure!” Sullivan insists, knocking on wood. “I wish it was something I actually did have more control over.”

Sullivan does have control of the show, though, and she remains confident that it will be bigger and better than ever.

“We do try and take our production value to another level each year, as well as trying to ensure that we're featuring artists who our audience is listening to and loving right at this moment,” Sullivan stresses. “And that's certainly what we'll be aiming to do again this year.”

The 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards – Much, CTV – June 15

(Published in Channel Guide Magazine -- June 2014.)