Paul Gross news archive

January-December 2009

PLEASE NOTE: Links in this news archive are not updated and information may be out of date

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15th December

Paul Gross says he's donating the $25,000 from his 2009 Governor General's Performing Arts Award to the Remix Project, a group that fosters young artists in Toronto. Read more here. Thanks, Claudine!

5th December

Dee has compiled a list of the top advertisers for the first 8 episodes of Eastwick. Please write to them and thank them for sponsoring the show. Direct pressure on the advertisers may have more impact than pleas to ABC to keep Eastwick on the air, although we recommend you email ABC too. See the list here .

30th November

  • Passchendaele will be released on Region 2 DVD on 25th January. It can be pre-ordered from our amazon.co.uk store for only £8.48. Thanks, Catherine!
  • Video: Paul Gross at Rideau Hall, talking about winning the 2009 Pierre Berton award. Sadly, the sound quality is poor. Thanks, Felicity!

22nd November

Watch a short video of Paul talking about Eastwick here. It's a hard life.

20th November

Passchendaele's Gross humbled on eve of receiving Canada's top history award - Canwest News Service with pictures here, here, here and here. Thanks, Dee!

19th November

Reminder: Eastwick starts on the UK Hallmark channel (Sky 130, +1 150; Virgin 162, +1 163; Tiscali 8) on 24th November at 9 pm.

18th November

  • A rumour is circulating that the Lifetime Television network has expressed an interest in continuing Eastwick. If you'd like to express your enthusiasm for this project, send postcards only to:

    Lifetime Television
    309 W. 49th St.
    New York, NY 10019
    USA

They will only consider postcards, so don't waste your time with a letter. Thanks, Dee!

17th November

Paul Gross is the recipient of the 2009 Pierre Berton award which he will receive on Friday 20th November from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Congratulations, Paul!

12th November

  • http://twitter.com/SaveEastwick
  • Has news of Eastwick's cancellation left you wanting to saw the president of ABC in half? You’re not alone. “I’m pretty furious, too,” vents executive producer Maggie Friedman. “We have such an amazing group of writers and actors — best people I’ve ever worked with. None of us can believe this is really happening.” ... read more. Thanks, Diane!
  • If you're a fan of Eastwick and you'd like to provide some feedback about the cancellation to ABC you can write via snail mail to:
  • Re: Eastwick
    Mr. Stephen McPherson, Chairman
    ABC, Inc
    500 S. Buena Vista St
    Burbank, CA 91521-4551
    USA

You can also send an email here. Thanks, Dee!

  • Eastwick has been nominated for a People's Choice Award in the Favourite New TV Drama category. You can vote for it (as many times as you like!) as a guest or member here. Update: Eastwick has been removed from the poll - we don't know why.

11th November

  • It is with great regret that we report the cancellation of Paul's current American TV drama, Eastwick. According to TVbythenumbers.com- which cites James Hibberd's live feed- ABC has declined to order additional episodes of the series. The item does indicate that ABC plans to show all 13 Eastwick episodes, though they are not yet sure exactly when they will air. Thanks to Lee for the news.
  • A petition has been set up to stop the cancellation of Eastwick. Check it out and pass it on! Thanks, Lisa!
  • The due South convention for next year now has a name! RCW139:Dueser's Day Off will be held from 13-15 August 2010 at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville hotel. Registration for the convention will start in November. Rooms at the hotel are now opening for booking and will be available three days before and three days after the convention for anyone interested in doing some sightseeing around Toronto. Thanks, Sonia!
  • Tube Talk Podcast - Paul Gross with the editor of TV Week. Thanks, Dee!
  • Eastwick’ is season’s best new show - New York Post. Thanks, Dee!
  • At the Directors Guild of Canada Awards, Passchendaele won best film ('Team Feature Film') and Carol Spier won for Production Design but Paul missed out on the Best Director award. Thanks, Felicity!
  • Eastwick starts on the UK Hallmark channel on 24th November at 9 pm. Thanks, Felicity!
  • For those fans of Paul Gross who are also fans of classical music, you may want to check out the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on 23rd and 24th January 2010 to hear "Mozart: Beyond the Score" narrated by Paul Gross. Thanks, Dee!
  • According to The Hollywood Reporter, Corus Entertainment has ordered a comedy pilot for "The Yard" from Whizbang Films for its Movie Central pay TV service. The Sopranos-style mockumentary portrays three brothers, ages 12, nine and six, who have wrestled schoolyard power from their rivals, the Guarducci brothers, who plot their own return to the top. Paul Gross and Frank Siracusa are producing, with Dave Eddie and Michael Mabbot penning the pilot script. Thanks, Dee!

19th October

15th October

The first two episodes of Slings & Arrows (1st season) are going to be aired on the Swiss Channel SF1 on 20th November, 4.10 am to 5.40 am. With SF1, one can generally choose between the original language and the dubbed version. However, it seems that this time the series is not aired in the two-lingual mode but in English with German subtitles. Thanks, Corinna!

14th October

4th October

19th September

RCW 139: 2010 will take place from 13-15 August 2010 at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville hotel in Toronto, the site of the last four RCW 139 conventions. More details at the RCW 139 website.

12th September

Interview with Paul Gross: Star of the new ABC series Eastwick - Our Prattville. Thanks, Melissa!

15th August

Due South is finally (almost) out on DVD with a German soundtrack!

Ein Mountie in Chicago - Staffel 1.1 ~ Paul Gross, David Marciano, Catherine Bruhier, und Beau Starr. Dieser Artikel wird am 3. Dezember 2009 erscheinen. Amazon.de. Danke, Petra!

14th August

'Passchendaele' opening at

The Odeon, Panton Street, London SW1Y 4DP

on 4th September 2009

More details here and here.

Thank you, Felicity!

12th August

  • Dee has found some great Eastwick cast photos from the ABC Summer Press Tour event last Sunday. And ... Zydeco? Go here to find out what that means! Thanks, Dee!
  • A man and his mullet - National Post. Very funny! Thanks, Felicity.

11th August

  • There's an Eastwick picture gallery at TVguide.com. Look out for Paul in #15, 16 and 20. Thanks, Jean!
  • There are lots of pics of Paul at the 2008 TIFF here. Thanks, Diane!
  • Passchendaele has picked up Directors Guild of Canada award nominations for Team Feature Film, Direction, Production, Picture Editing and Sound Editing - details here.
  • Answers to a recent Q & A with Paul are here. Thanks, Felicity!
  • We knew it all along: Paul Gross is the devil - Thestar.com, with one picture from Pasadena here and another here. Thanks Felicity and Dee!

3rd August

Comic Con: The Eye Candy on YouTube - Paul appears briefly at around the 2 minute mark. Thanks, Yolandie!

2nd August

  • Here is a video from the "Eastwick" panel at Comic Con. Paul doesn't speak, but watch his face. Thanks, Dee!
  • Congratulations to Paul for making it into the Urban Dictionary. Harem pants are so in. Thanks, Tara!
  • More pics from Comic Con. Thanks, Felicity!
  • The U.S. Television Critics Association is starting the annual "up front" press tour, where the cast and producers of new shows promote their products. Go to TV Guide's website to post a question for the Eastwick cast. Their day at the press tour is Saturday 8th August. Thanks, Diane!

26th July

20th July

It has been confirmed that Paul will be attending Comic Con as planned.

15th July

It appears that a shooting schedule may interfere with Paul's plans to attend Comic Con on Saturday 25th July. A slight change in wording on the Comic Con website could be interpreted as meaning that only Maggie Friedman and David Nutter are actually confirmed as members of the Eastwick panel. Thanks, Felicity!

14th July

In Eastwick, a new TV series based on the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick and on the novel of the same title by John Updike, Paul plays the role of Daryl van Horne. In this review he is described as having "just the right balance of charm and sleaze to pull it off. There's a bit of Nicholson in his performance, but thankfully Gross doesn't try to imitate ol' Jack. His devil is a mix of Clooney, Shatner and fluffy-haired '80s hunk (think Lorenzo Llamas). It might sound odd, but it works, and it helps establish Eastwick as fun and quirky ...".

Eastwick is set to air on ABC in the US on Wednesday nights at 10 pm ET and on 'A' Channel in Canada. Thanks, Margaret!

12th July

6th July

21st May

Eastwick teaser trailers and photos are here!

Auf Serienjunkies : "Die Serie „Eastwick“ ist eine Adaption des Buches von John Updike, auf dem auch schon ein bekannter Film von 1987 beasierte. Darin entdecken drei Frauen an sich magische Kräfte, kurz nachdem ein mysteriöser Fremder in die kleine Stadt Eastwick kommt." Danke, Tanja!

On Zap2It: Sneak Peek. Thanks, Margaret!

On YouTube: Trailer 1 and Sneak Peek and Voiceover by Paul. Thanks, Felicity!

Multipleverses.com - Eastwick info and promo photos.

17th May

TV network ABC has decided to take the pilot of Eastwick to series, with Paul in the role of Daryl Van Horne. Read more. Thanks, Felicity!

12th May

Paul received his National Arts Centre Award at the weekend.

The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards - CTV Ottawa

Glitz, glamour and a singing GG - Ottawa Citizen

Photos from The Speaker's Reception - Maclean's

Photos here and here, with Governor General's speech transcripts from 8th May Presentation and 9th May Gala. Thanks, Felicity!

10th May

  • Paul's fifth interview of the National Screen Institute series, this time on 'First Time Directors', is now on YouTube.
  • The Spring edition of the University of Alberta's Work Of Arts magazine contains photos and an interview with Paul. Thanks to Felicity for both these stories!

8th May

  • The Canadian Press reports that Paul is in Ottawa at the moment. He was on Parliament Hill on Thursday as part of a series of events marking the Governor General's Awards for the Performing Arts. He's receiving his special National Arts Centre award for outstanding contribution to the arts over the previous year at a ceremony tonight, the 8th, and will be feted again at a gala on Saturday. Thanks to Felicity for the news!
  • For anyone who may have missed it before, CBC Radio has reposted a terrific radio interview with Paul Gross and Peter Gzowski from 1996. This interview was reposted as part of a tribute for the 2009 Governor General's Award Winners, so it may not be up too much longer. It contains an early version of "Ride Forever" referencing North Dakota instead of Alberta. Thanks, Dee!
  • Passchendaele has picked up four awards and been named Alberta's best movie of the year at the 2009 Rosies, also known as the 35th annual Alberta Film and Television Awards.
  • A short video roundup clip from etalk:"After celebrating on a family vacation in Japan - Paul Gross turns the big 5-0! etalk honours this milestone with a look back at his incredible career." Thanks, Felicity!

Happy Birthday!30th April

Happy 50th Birthday, Paul!

(and Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada!)

29th April

  • Ray Bradbury Theatre - Paul's episode is on in the UK on Friday 1st May at 5.25am on Zone Horror. Thanks, Catherine!

  • For any London (UK) folks curious about Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme (Paul played the part of the young Kenneth Pyper back in 1988 - paulgross.org/stage.htm), it's being staged at the Hampstead Theatre from 18th June to 18th July. Details are here. Thanks, Angela!

  • Bravo! presents a new original series that uncovers the full stories behind the artists. In THE O'REGAN FILES, premiering Wednesday 13th May at 8.30 pm ET/5.30 pm PT, journalist Seamus O'Regan conducts in-depth one-on-one conversations with arts luminaries and other prominent figures. Paul's will be aired on 10th June. Full story. Thanks, Margaret!
  • The scenic Kettle Valley Steam Railway will be the backdrop for part of a Canadian movie scheduled for filming later this spring. Jo Ann Reynolds, marketing manager with the steam railway, said the cast and crew of Gunless will spend three days in June filming scenes along the railway bed. Full story. Thanks, ktu!

  • Read Paul's answers from a First Weekend Club Q & A one week ago. Thanks, Dee and Felicity!

  • Click to enlargePaul Gross joins more than 40 other celebrities who have designed/signed plates to be auctioned on eBay in support of the Parkinson Society’s efforts to fund research, support services and education. Other celebrities include Johnny Depp, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Malcolm Gladwell, Robert Downey Jr., Peter Facinelli, Nickelback, Hilary Duff and many more! Paul’s plate will be auctioned worldwide on eBay beginning 30th April 2009. Please visit http://stores.ebay.ca/parkinsonsociety to bid or www.parkinsonmaritimes.ca to view his plate and more!

7th April

5th April

The 2009 Genies were announced last night and while Paul missed out on an acting award for his performance in Passchendaele, the movie won every other award for which it was nominated - including Best Motion Picture. As a producer on the film, that gives Paul his first Genie ever. (In a bit of Due South solidarity, former co-star Callum Keith Rennie took home the Best Supporting Actor award - his second - for his role in Normal.) Thanks to Lee for the news!

Download complete list of winners

23rd March

Thanks to Felicity for telling us about this article in Playback:

Paul Gross stops short of calling Toronto's filmmaking community a bunch of snobs. He says unabashedly, however, that Toronto's artistic "intelligentsia" has "made trouble in making our artistic output relevant to the population that pays for it."

In this one-on-one with Playback, Gross later turns down the critical volume and adds that he likes "cerebral" and festival films, "and watches them."

Of course, in his mini-diatribe Gross is ultimately empathizing with ordinary Canadian taxpayers who are indirectly the largest financier of movies in this country. And he says his background in the overtly populist medium of television - and its obvious reach to mass audiences - is the largest single deciding factor in why he is the only Canadian director to ever make a homegrown film to take in over $4.4 million at the English-Canadian box office. [... read more at playbackonline.ca]

20th March

Thanks to Dee for both the following items!

This short documentary, narrated by Paul Gross and made in 2008, looks at life in the trenches in the First World War. Front Lines features veterans' letters to their families and images from the NFB archives, the Canadian War Museum and Library, and Archives Canada.

More of this film is available at the National Film Board of Canada website.

10th March

From www.dreadcentral.com, courtesy of Margaret:

"Variety reported today that Rebecca Romijn is joining the cast of "Eastwick" that is based on the John Updike novel, which also served as the source material for the Eighties flick The Witches of Eastwick. [...] For this TV update, Romijn joins the already assembled cast of Lindsay Price, Jamie Ray Newman, and Paul Gross."

We have received confirmation that this news is true. We also understand from Wendy that Paul has been cast in the role of Daryl Van Horne. Thank you to both our informants!

3rd March

Many thanks to the web team at The Hour for sending links to the recent interview with Paul and a funny skit they did with him the same day.

2nd March

From newswire.ca (thanks, Felicity):

Paul Gross is this year's recipient of the National Arts Centre Award presented for exceptional achievement over the past performance year. Known foremost as an actor, Mr. Gross is also an award-winning writer, producer, director and singer, and a tireless promoter of Canadian culture. Mr. Gross - whose outstanding work in theatre, television and film has garnered international acclaim - is being recognized for Passchendaele, a sweeping World War I epic inspired by his grandfather's wartime experiences in Canada and Belgium. The $21-million production, the most ambitious Canadian war movie ever made, opened the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and set records for English Canadian film, grossing almost $5 million in Canada and abroad. In addition to a commemorative medallion struck by the Royal Canadian Mint and a cash award of $25,000, Mr. Gross will receive an original piece of artwork designed by Québec-based artist Paula Murray. CONGRATULATIONS PAUL!

27th February

  • The screenplay for Passchendaele has been nominated for The Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award. Thanks to Dee and Felicity for letting us know!

  • At flickr.com there are some excellent pictures of Paul from his recent "The Hour" interview.

10th February

Passchendaele has been nominated for six Genies: Best Motion Picture (Niv Fichman, Francis Damberger, Paul Gross, Frank Siracusa); Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design (Carol Spier, Janice Blackie-Goodine); Achievement in Costume Design (Wendy Partridge); Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Gross); Achievement in Overall Sound (Lou Solakofski, Garrell Clark, Steve Foster); and Achievement in Sound Editing ( Jane Tattersall, Kevin Banks, Barry Gilmore, Andy Malcolm, Dave Rose).

In addition, Paul Gross and producer Niv Fichman of Rhombus Films will be honoured with the 2008 Golden Reel Award offered by the Academy of Film and Television for the highest-grossing Canadian film, and the ShowCanada's prestigious Hector G Ross Award rewarding box-office success. Passchendaele was the number-one Canadian production in 2008, ending the year with a total take of almost CA$5 million. Thanks to Felicity and Dee for this news!

8th February

The DVD of Passchendaele is now available from amazon.ca in regular and Blu-ray format. (Using our link earns PaulGross.org a small commission to help with web hosting.)

6th February

The Passchendaele DVD is now available from third-party sellers on amazon.com.

2nd February

Part 2 of the National Screen Institute interview with Paul is now available. (Part 1 is here.) Thanks to Regine!

28th January

Paul Gross will receive the NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction at the 30th edition of the Banff World Television Festival, which takes place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Canada, June 7-10, 2009. Thanks, Felicity, and MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO PAUL!

23rd January

  • Paul Gross will be on The Hour on Tuesday 27th January at 11pm, on CBC.
  • Passchendaele will be screened at the Brandon Film Festival, Manitoba from 30th January to 1st February. There will be a special screening on Friday 30th January when Museum Director Marc George will speak about his experience as Artillery Technical Advisor on the movie. Also on 30th, there will be three draws for copies of the Passchendaele DVD and movie posters signed by Paul Gross.

    Time: 7:30 pm
    Venue: The Evans Theatre, Brandon University

Thanks to Felicity for these news items!

18th January

Look out for the premiere of ZOS: Zone Of Separation on TMN and Movie Central on Monday 19th January from 10 pm-11 pm. It's an eight part Whizbang Films series, co-executive produced by Paul Gross, about UN peacekeepers trying to enforce a ceasefire in the fictional, Sarajevo-like town of Jadac.