Remember Sebastian? Of course you do.
Well, he may not have won this season's Canadian Idol, but he's not exactly fading into obscurity either. This April, he'll be starring as a crab fisherman in the TV movie "Working on the Edge" on the Discovery Channel.
The movie will kick off the channel's new season of "Deadliest Catch" -- a program about real-life fishermen on the same stretch of water who risk their lives on high seas and vicious storms to catch king crab."You'd die within four minutes out there if you're not in a survival suit and this guy's kind of thrown into that," says Sebastian, an actor by trade, who finished Top 8 on Canadian Idol.
The movie was shot in October and November of 2008 in a studio in downtown Toronto, as well as on a real fishing boat in Nova Scotia.
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Written and directed by T.J. Scott, who has directed such TV shows as "Flash Gordon" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," the movie also stars Peter Outerbridge and Greg Bryk.
Sebastian is taking full advantage of his recent exposure. But never fear, music fans, a new album is also in the works.
An excerpt from CTV's Canadian Idol page:
Since Canadian Idol, Sebastian has appeared on "The Border" and is currently auditioning for the sci-fi TV show "Stargate Universe."He has also received Telefilm funding for a movie he wrote called "The Two Deaths of Henry Baker," about a family vendetta passed down through the generations. Sebastian will play the lead role in the flick, which is set to begin filming this summer.
But he hasn't totally left his singing career behind. He and his brother Oliver are currently working on an album that should be out in the spring.
Sebastian says Idol has given him both confidence and exposure.
"It makes you a more valuable commodity when you're a known face," he says. "And Canadian Idol, of course, brings with it a huge following, which is just a wonderful asset for any performer to have."
TAGS: Acting, After Idol, Film, Sebastian Pigott
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It's a sad day for Canadian Idol fans. And it will be a quiet year.
Canadian Idol will take a "rest" in 2009.
"As a result of the current economic climate, production of Canadian Idol will rest for the 2009 broadcast year," according to an official statement from CTV.
The network has also said the show has not been cancelled and could return in 2010.
Susanne Boyce, President of Creative, Content and Channels, with CTV Inc., said she is 'shocked' by the speed of the economic downturn and that the advertising revenues just weren't there for another season of Idol.
"We're facing serious financial challenges ... Ad revenues have taken a serious dive. We're looking at everything," Boyce told The Canadian Press.
Despite a drop in viewership from the show's early years, Canadian Idol was still a ratings heavyweight with an average of 1.47 million viewers in September.
It is not the first time Idol franchises have taken a rest around the world. The respective shows in Germany and Russia rested in 2005 between Seasons 2 and 3 and in the Netherlands, it rested both in 2005 (between Seasons 2 and 3) and 2007 (between Seasons 3 and 4).
"The light in this for me, anyway, is that around the world this has happened for 'Idol.' Where it's come back it comes back with full force," said Boyce, who hopes Canadian Idol will return as well.
To repeat: Canadian Idol has not been canceled. But until the economic situation changes, we're going to have to watch less expensive programming. Poor Ben. At least he's still got eTalk.
Happy holidays, folks!
TAGS: Article, Break, Canadian Idol, Canceled, Economy, Hiatus, News
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Last May, Ben Mulroney and Farley Flex visited to Malawi with UNICEF. Now, coinciding with World AIDS Day, a documentary of their experience is available online.
"Malawi's Song" is a 30-minute made-for-digital special that details Ben and Farley's time in the poverty-stricken country. With the entire adult generation wiped out from HIV/AIDS, the population is now made up of children (51 per cent of the population is under the age of 18). Starvation, disease and death are all part of their daily lives.The documentary introduces us to Naomi, who has been raising her five brothers and sisters since she was 15-years-old when her mother died and her father abandoned them.
Along the way, Ben and Farley, who are also National Ambassadors for UNICEF Canada, visit schools and learn the difference between the traditional muddy "classrooms" and the new facilities UNICEF is helping to build. They attend an "Edzi Toto" (Anti-AIDS) club that is teaching children as young as six or seven about AIDS awareness and prevention.
They also visit hospitals but discover these are not places people go to get better, but where they go to die.
Visit the documentary's official site to watch and learn more about Ben and Farley's eye-opening adventure.
TAGS: Africa, Ben Mulroney, Documentary, Farley Flex, Malawis Song
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Tara Oram has had a pretty great year. Her debut album exceeded expectations, hitting #1 on the iTunes country charts plus she starred in her own reality show "The Tara Diaries" on CMT. And before hitting the road to promote her album "Chasing the Sun," she has plenty of holiday music plans for us to enjoy.
Tara is planning a tour next spring but in the meantime you can hear her version of "Blue Christmas" on "Christmas on the Open Road," a compilation CD featuring artists such as Jason McCoy and Taylor Swift.And while she's crossing her fingers there will be a second season of "The Tara Diaries," she will also be appearing in her own holiday special on CMT called "Tara Oram's Christmas Carol" on Dec. 11th featuring Doc Walker, The Higgins and fellow Canadian Idol alum Jaydee Bixby.
"I was like, 'My own Christmas special? Are you sure? I'm not even famous. Are you really sure about that?'" says Tara of her reaction when CMT approached her. "So I was like, 'Absolutely!'"
She also plans to celebrate Christmas at home in Newfoundland.
"I cannot wait for Christmas this year and having a 'Christmas Carol' is just icing on the cake."
Check out her new official Website here, be sure to tune into CMT on the 11th, and stay tuned for future tour dates!
TAGS: After Idol, Album, Cmt, Concert, Tara Oram
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'Tis the season for Christmas music from our favorite Idol alums. Available on iTunes tomorrow are the newly recorded "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" and an original tune co-written by Tams, "Christmas Dream."
In the spirit of giving, Sony Music Canada will donate 100 per cent of the net receipts from sales of "Christmas Dream" made between Nov. 25th and Dec. 31 to Free The Children, Theo's charity of choice."Since my time spent in India volunteering at an orphanage, improving the lives of children both abroad and at home has been one of my priorities as both a human being and as an artist. I'm so thankful that I now have a larger platform to help create change. Being part of Free The Children is such an honour. I am so proud to share their vision of young people working together to impact change in the world," explains Theo in a prepared release, on his decision to donate to Free The Children, an international children's organization that to date has built over 500 schools in developing countries.
Theo co-wrote "Christmas Dream" with Luke McMaster, Simon Wilcox and Greg Johnston.
"It was amazing to work with these great writers, the song came together really quickly. It is a song about the spirit of giving and forgiving that a lot of people do around the holiday season, but to be honest I think it is a message that people should carry into their every day lives," says Theo.
Since winning Idol, the Lethbridge-born Tams has been living in Toronto, working on his debut album to be released this spring. But if you can't wait until then (or you just love the holidays as I do), head over to iTunes to hear his holiday tunes.
And if you really need a Theo fix, check out his tour dates on his MySpace page. He'll be at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on Dec, 6th, folks. So check him out.
And happy holidays.
TAGS: After Idol, Christmas, Concert, Downloads, Itunes, Theo Tams
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Hello! Canada is your inside source for all things Ben's wedding. If you didn't pick up the special issue filled with photos from his big day (13 pages!), be sure to check out the online articles.
Check out some of the images from the spread here.
And read the article about the lavish after-party two days later here.
Congrats, Ben!
TAGS: Ben Mulroney, Wedding
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Alrighty, ladies. Time to move on. Ben Mulroney is off the market.
It may break the hearts of many young Canadian Idol fans but Ben Mulroney has tied the knot.The Idol host married fashion designer and stylist Jessica Brownstein at a private ceremony in Montreal, Que., on Oct. 30th.
The couple wed at St. Patrick's Basilica with 75 of their closest friends in attendance, including Ben's dad Brian, his mom Mila and his two-year-old-niece as the flower girl, according to CTV's etalk.
Ben told reporters he wasn't at all nervous as he walked into the church. "I had a great night's sleep last night," he said.
Jessica wore a white gown and veil and was walked down the aisle by her father to the sounds of Metropolitan Opera singers.
Ben and Jessica wrote their own personalized vows.
Press waited outside to get the first glimpse of the newly wedded couple. When asked how he felt, Ben replied "Fantastic."
The father of the groom also had nothing but great things to say about the wedding - and his son.
"We love him dearly and we think the best decision he's made in his whole life is today," said the former prime minister of Canada. "We're very pleased. She's a lovely girl."
Read the rest (including engagement details) here.
TAGS: Ben Mulroney, Wedding
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Did you catch Eva Avila in Toronto this past Tuesday? Yeah, neither did I. She was in town for an intimate showcase, performing songs from her new album, "Give Me the Music."
The Canadian Idol winner from Season 4 had a crowd of contest winners cheering in adoration as she performed the chart-climbing title track, as well as new favourites like "No More Coming Back" and "Damned" off her sophomore release.Backed by a six-piece band, Eva moved confidently around the stage, dancing to the beats and showcasing her powerhouse vocals.
Taking a break between sets to answer the audience's questions, Eva explained she was working at a post office in her hometown of Gatineau, Que., prior to Canadian Idol and said if she hadn't auditioned for the show, she wouldn't be where she is today.
"The whole Idol thing was the best opportunity ever because it led me to my dream job, now I do this job full time and I'm so blessed. It's thanks to all of you here right now so I can't thank you enough," said Eva.
Read the whole article here. And if you caught the show, leave your thoughts in the comments!
TAGS: After Idol, Concert, Eva Avila
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Remember Keith? He was in the Top 22 on Season 4. Well, he and his bandmate Renee Lamoureux have an album out, "Revolution," and they're embarking on a tour (called "Generation Change") to share stories from their recent trip to Kenya, inspiring students to think globally and change the world.
Keith and Renee spent three weeks in an area called the Masai Mara with Free The Children's Craig and Marc Kielburger to build a school as part of the Canadian charity's Adopt A Village program.The extreme poverty of the area was eye-opening and Keith couldn't believe the conditions of a local market. Situated on a muddy street, it was filled with thousands of people scrounging for food, even though many of the fruits and vegetables were already rotting.
"It honestly felt like I was walking through the Winnipeg garbage dump," says Keith.
"I was just standing there trying to take this all in and it just became evident that we are so spoiled in North America. We can just go to the grocery store and pick out any food item we want ... For these people, their daily concern is, 'What am I going to eat for my next meal?'"
Keith and Renee brought their guitars and sang their uplifting music for the school children and other members of the community.
"What was amazing is music can speak to anybody, there's no language barrier, there's no separation," says Keith. "It's the one thing that unites everybody, whether you're from the poorest country in Africa or the richest place in the world."
They were touched by the open hearts of the people they met.
"I almost felt like North Americans could learn something from the Kenyans in the sense that they have nothing and material wealth is just not significant to them," says Keith.
Read the rest of the article here, which includes how you can submit a blog and share your vision for change.
And check out Keith and Renee's Official Website here.
TAGS: Africa, After Idol, Canadian Idol, Keith Macpherson, Season 4, Tour
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Did you see Theo Tams play at Me to We? Well, now you can.
Enjoy. And happy Monday.
TAGS: Concert, Me To We, Theo Tams, Video
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