Sat. November 26

W-Five

CTV 7 pm

The CTV  program is always competing with the CBC’s Fifth Estate for the title of best investigative reporting program in the country. W-Five has the advantage of including stories from 134-year-old lead anchor Lloyd Robertson. His report on the submarine fire on the HMCS Chicoutimi was in-depth-issue reporting at its very best.  This weekend, reporter Allan Fryer looks into the case of Kristen Dyell, a  Canadian exchange student who was murdered in Mexico more than one year ago. Authorities haven’t done much to pursue the case, but expect CTV to ask the hard questions.

Sun. November 27

93rd Grey Cup

CBC starting at 2 pm

For the third time in four years, it’s Edmonton- Montreal in the big game. CBC has a very full day planned, with coverage of the Grey Cup parade, a retrospective show for the past season, and the eighth edition of Walby’s Warriors in the afternoon. 

Once all the talking heads have had their say, the football game will finally begin. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 pm Mountain time. In a bizzare show of persistence, the Esks will start Ricky Ray yet again, despite the fact that his backup has performed brilliantly in the post-season. Montreal isn’t likely to give Edmonton the chance for a dramatic comeback in the final stages.

Sun. November 27

The War at Home

Fox and Global 9:30 pm

Fox has a reputation for producing horrible and repugnant programming, and with good reason. However, Sunday nights have recently been the bastion of some legitimately funny shows.  In the War at Home, a new “comedy” starring Michael Rappaport, Fox has regressed to its usual level of quality.

The War at Home is meant to provide a humorous look at modern family life, but instead succeeds only in perpetuating gender, racial and sexual stereotypes and making awkward jokes at the expense of the obese, developmentally challenged and vegetarians. 

Rappaport has talent, but he is wasted here. In fact, everything about this show is a waste. 

Tues. November 29

Da Vinci’s City Hall

CBC 9 pm

This new series sees Dominic Da Vinci following in the footsteps of his real-life 

inspiration Larry Campbell, who moved into the Vancouver mayor’s office from his post as coroner.

Nicholas Campbell and most of the excellent Inquest cast are still involved, which means there has been no discernable drop-off in quality  as the show moves away from the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

The first episodes have been just as gripping and energetic as those seen during the run of the crime-driven prologue, but the minutiae of civic politics might prove less fertile ground for stories over the long run.

Let’s hope that producers intend to leave this saga with Campbell’s retirement as mayor. I don’t think anyone wants to see “Da Vinci’s Senate.”