Canadian Idol Anchors Blockbuster Summer Schedule on CTV

As the U.S. Networks continue revealing their Fall '07 line-ups in New York, CTV announced today its blockbuster summer schedule bolstered by summer's most-watched series, Canadian Idol. The announcement comes as CTV continues to chart 8 of the Top 10 programs on Canadian television this Spring.

Toronto, ON (May 16, 2007) - As the U.S. Networks continue revealing their Fall '07 line-ups in New York, CTV announced today its blockbuster summer schedule bolstered by summer's most-watched series, Canadian Idol. The announcement comes as CTV continues to chart 8 of the Top 10 programs on Canadian television this Spring.* Returning for its fifth season on June 5, Canadian Idol anchors a summer schedule that will see the premiere of four new series, including On The Lot (May 22) and Pirate Master (May 31), the two greatly-anticipated reality series from Mark Burnett Productions. In addition to Canadian Idol, four other summer series return with new seasons, including So You Think You Can Dance? (May 24), Instant Star (May 27), Comedy Inc. (June 16) and Comedy Now! (June 16), which returns for its 10th anniversary season. Special event programming includes the Canada's Walk of Fame gala broadcast hosted by Eugene Levy (June 10) and the Canada Day music memorial Concert for Diana (July 1). In all, CTV's primetime schedule will be infused with more than nine hours of new, summer programming.

** Media Note ** Download photos for CTV Summer Programming at ctvmedia.ca.

New and returning summer series and specials unfold chronologically as follows (all times ET; visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times):

MAY 22 - "On The Lot" (Series Premiere)

- Tuesday, May 22 at 9 p.m. - One-Hour Audition Episode

- Thursday, May 24 at 9:25 p.m. - Half-Hour Audition Episode

- Monday, May 28 from 8 - 10 p.m. - A special two-hour "Film Premiere" episode

- Tuesday, May 29, 8 p.m. - First "Box Office" results show

- Monday, June 4 at 8 p.m. - (Regular Timeslot) - Weekly one-hour show

- Tuesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. -(Regular Timeslot) - Weekly half-hour results show

The new reality series On the Lot from Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg kicks off with two "audition" episodes that will reveal 50 filmmaking competitors from around the world including three Canadians competitors. The judging panel, comprised of author and screenwriter Carrie Fisher as well as directors Brett Ratner, Garry Marshall and Jon Avnet will pare down the contestants to a group of 18 undiscovered filmmakers who will be brought to Hollywood and divided into several teams. Every week, each team will produce a short film in an assigned genre. The films will be shown and critiqued in front of a live audience during the one-hour "Film Premiere" episode. On the half-hour "Box Office" results show, the director of the losing feature will be sent home.

As the competition continues, the remaining filmmakers will have to work individually, creating a new film every week until only the most talented individual is anointed the winner, whisked away to sign a $1 million contract with DreamWorks, meet Steven Spielberg and move into their new office ... On The Lot.

MAY 24 - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Season Premiere)

- Premieres Thursday, May 24 at 8 p.m. with auditions from New York

- Audition shows continue Wednesday, May 30 from 8-10 p.m. and Thursday, May 31 from 9-10 p.m.

- Las Vegas round airs Wednesday, June 6 from 9-10 p.m. and Thursday, June 7 from 9-10 p.m.

- Performance shows air Wednesdays from 8 -10 p.m. (Regular Timeslot) beginning June 13

- Results shows air Thursdays from 9-10 p.m. (Regular Timeslot) beginning June 14

From American Idol creator Simon Fuller and dick clark productions, So You Think You Can Dance returns with third season in search of America's favourite dancer. The series promises to keep viewers moving to a different beat, as dancers skilled in everything from the "street" styles of hip-hop, krumping and popping to salsa, quick step and jive compete to be named the best dancer in the country. Hosted by Cat Deeley, judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy return along with a third judging spot which will rotate among several choreographers weekly. In addition to being voted America's Favourite Dancer, last year's winner, Benji Swchwimmer, went on to receive $100,000, a new car and a contract to appear in Celine Dion's "A New Day" show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

MAY 27 - "Instant Star" (Summer Season Premiere)

- Sundays at 7:30 p.m. beginning May 27

Melody and melodrama collide in Part Two of Instant Star's second season, airing Sunday nights on CTV following encore episodes of the hit series Degrassi: The Next Generation. In the six all-new episodes, singing sensation Jude Harrison (Alexz Johnson) faces a new set of challenges as she leaves sweet 16 behind her. Faced with the upcoming release of her sophomore album, the singer's plans to have a "normal" 17th birthday are thwarted by family upheaval. And if that wasn't enough to deal with, Jude continues to feud with her sister Sadie and is stunned when she learns that she has failed music class. Jude seeks reprieve with her boy-next-door Jamie when she finds out that not only is her mom selling her childhood home, but suddenly all her money is missing! Following the completion of episodes of Season 2, the third season of Instant Star will premiere in July on CTV.

MAY 29 - "Traveler" (Series Premiere)

- Premieres Tuesday, May 29 at 10 p.m.

- Airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. (regular timeslot) beginning May 30

How well do you know your friends? Would you bet your life on it? That's the question in Traveler, an action-packed drama series that taps into 21st century paranoia with provocative themes, complex characters and pure adrenaline-fueled entertainment. In the series premiere, Jay Burchell, Tyler Fog and Will Traveler - friends who have spent virtually every minute of the last two years living, working and partying together as grad-school students - set off on a road trip to New York. Once there, the three enter New York's oldest art museum for an innocent prank: Jay and Tyler lace up their rollerblades inside and speed off to see who can make it out of the building first. When they're both outside, Will calls on his cell phone saying, "Sorry, I had to do this." And then the building blows up. Now, with Jay and Tyler's rollerblading prank on the museum's security tapes, blame for the attack focuses on them; they in turn realize that their "friend," Will, may have set them up. Unable to find him or indeed any evidence that the Will Traveler they knew even existed, Jay and Tyler flee the city and go on the run.

MAY 31 - "Pirate Master" (Series Premiere)

- Thursdays at 8 p.m., beginning May 31

The new Mark Burnett Productions reality series Pirate Master sends 16 modern-day pirates on a high seas adventure where they will live as buccaneers and travel around the Caribbean island of Dominica in search of hidden treasure that will total $1 million. Over the course of 33 days, these pirates will live aboard a massive 179 foot, square-rigged barque which carries 12,500 square feet of sail. Each week, the pirates will embark on extraordinary expeditions where they will decipher clues along the way in search of missing treasure. Gold coins - real money which the pirates may take with them beyond the show - will be awarded after each expedition, but only to some. The gold will play a key role as pirates strike deals with each other or plead for long-term security. In addition to claiming the lion's share of the week's riches, one pirate will become the captain of the ship and will assign roles and chores to the remaining crew members, setting the tone for either law and order or betrayal and sabotage, which could lead to mutiny by the crew. Each episode will conclude on the ship at Pirate's Court, a lively gathering of public speaking and judgment where one individual will be eliminated and "cut adrift." In the end, only one will be the first to find the largest booty, worth $500,000, and claim the title of Pirate Master.

JUNE 2 - "Thank God You're Here" (Series Premiere)

- Saturdays at 9 p.m. beginning June 2

From the producers of American Idol comes Thank God You're Here, the improvisational hit comedy series that originated in Australia. Hosted by David Alan Grier and presided over by Canada's own Dave Foley, Thank God You're Here showcases the improvisational skills of a group of four brave actors each week as they walk into a live sketch without a script, their only armor an unforeseen and unexplained wardrobe change. The only thing the celebrity can count on when walking into the scenario is a desperate greeting from a fellow actor in the skit, proclaiming, "Thank God You're Here!" Taped in front of a live audience, actors featured in the series include Jennifer Coolidge, Bryan Cranston, Joel McHale and Wayne Knight.

JUNE 5 - "Canadian Idol" (Season Premiere)

- Premieres Tuesday, June 5 with 90-minute audition episode, 8:30 - 10 p.m.

- Continues Tuesday, June 12 with 90-minute audition episode, 8:30 - 10 p.m.

- Top 200 episodes air Monday, June 18 from 9-10 p.m. and Tuesday, June 19 from 8:30 - 10 p.m.

- Top 22 performance episodes air Mondays/Tuesdays from 9 - 10 p.m. beginning June 25

- Top 22 results episodes air Wednesdays from 7:30 - 8 p.m. beginning June 27

- Top 10 shows air Monday/Tuesdays beginning July 17

Canada's most-watched summer series returns with a North American first: instruments. For the first time, Canadian Idol competitors in Season Five will have the opportunity to accompany themselves on guitars, pianos and any other instrument they so choose. The rule change brought out a whole new type of competitor to the audition tour, which for the first time saw more "gold tickets" given out to guys rather than girls. The result is what is being described by the Canadian Idol judges as "the best Top 22 ever." Canadian Idol kicks off with two weeks of audition shows featuring some of the 10,000 competitors who auditioned in 11 cities across Canada. In Week 3, two back-to-back "Top 200" episodes lead to the reveal of the Top 22, followed by the start of live performance and results episodes in Week 4. Back for Season 5 is host Ben Mulroney who, along with judges Farley Flex, Jake Gold, Sass Jordan and Zack Werner, welcomes new comedic correspondent Dave Kerr.

JUNE 10 - "Canada's Walk of Fame" (Special)

- Two-hour gala broadcast airs 7 - 9 p.m.

- Preceded by eTalk at Canada's Walk of Fame from 6:30 - 7 p.m.

The 10th Annual celebration of Canada's Walk of Fame will see eight, internationally recognized Canadian luminaries inducted into the walk during a two-hour gala special following a red carpet pre-show. Hosted by 2006 inductee, Eugene Levy, this year's honourees represent the worlds of sports, music, film, theatre and television. The 2007 inductees into Canada's Walk of Fame are: Johnny Bower, Rick Hansen, Jill Hennessy, Catherine O'Hara, Nickelback, Gordon Pinsent, Ivan Reitman and CTV's Lloyd Robertson.

This year's gala show marks the third year in a row that CTV will broadcast Canada's Walk of Fame. The two-hour broadcast joins CTV's industry-leading line-up of Canadian awards celebrations, including The JUNO Awards - the most-watched Canadian awards broadcast - and The Giller Prize. Last year's broadcast of Canada's Walk of Fame on CTV peaked at 867,000 viewers, the most-watched broadcast ever for the gala celebration.

JUNE 16 - "Comedy Now!" (Season Premiere)

- Saturdays at 10 p.m. beginning June 16

Set to kick-off its tenth season, Comedy Now! has featured more than 100 comics over the years and won numerous accolades, including several international awards and performance Geminis. The all-Canadian, uncensored stand-up series has helped pave the way for numerous Canadian writer/comedians including Brent Butt, Jeremy Hotz, Roman Danylo, Nikki Payne, Shaun Majumder, Seán Cullen, Gavin Crawford, Brigitte Gall and Elvira Kurt. This season's line-up of all-Canadian laughs features comics Dylan Mandlsohn, Toby Hargrave, Sugar Sammy, Kenny Robinson, Mark Forward, Trevor Boris, Terry McGurrin, Lachlan Patterson, Erica Sigurdson, Jason John Whitehead, Gavin Stephens, Mike Beatty and Wafik Nasralla. Comedy Now! premieres Sunday, June 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network.

JUNE 16 - "Comedy Inc." (Season Premiere)

- Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. beginning June 16

Comedy Inc. returns for a fourth season of edgy sketch, social/political satire and uninhibited physical comedy. The nine-member ensemble cast stars "comic's comic" Roman Danylo (Comedy Now!) and co-stars Second City alumni Aurora Browne (The Gavin Crawford Show) and Jen Goodhue (Comedy Now!), comedians Terry McGurrin (Gutter Ball Alley), Jenn Robertson (To Die For), Winston Spear (Comedy Now!) and Gavin Stephens (Comedy Now!), with Albert Howell (Improv Heaven and Hell) and Ian Sirota (Gutter Ball Alley). The 13-part, half-hour series premieres Monday, June 18 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network.

JULY 1 - "Concert for Diana" (Special)

 Broadcast times TBA

Broadcast live in Canada exclusively on CTV on Sunday, July 1 from Wembley Stadium in London, England, Concert for Diana will air live around the world to millions of viewers in over 140 countries. The event has been devised by Princes William and Harry as a celebration of their mother's life as plans continue to unfold for a memorial service marking the Princess of Wales' death 10 years ago on August 31, 1997. The date of the concert, July 1, would have been the late princess' 46th birthday. The day-long concert event features internationally acclaimed performers including Canada's own Nelly Furtado, Elton John, Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry, Joss Stone, Pharrell Williams, Lily Allen, Kanye West, Rod Stewart, Natasha Bedingfield, The Feeling, James Morrison, Orson, Status Quo, Take That, P. Diddy, Tom Jones, Will Young and the legendary voice of Supertramp, Roger Hodgson. The acts starring at the concert reflect both Diana's and Prince William and Prince Harry's favourites. In recognition of Diana's love of ballet and musicals, the concert will also include a performance by the English National Ballet and a musicals medley specially devised by Andrew Lloyd Weber and featuring a number of surprise cameo appearances.

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTV owns 21 conventional television stations across Canada and has interests in 15 specialty channels, including the number-one Canadian specialty channel, TSN. CTV is owned by CTVglobemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company. More information about CTV may be found on the company Web site at ctv.ca.

*Total Viewers, Feb. 19 - May 6, 2007 (BBM Nielsen Media Research)