TV Review!
“Jann” on HULU Review by Suzanne 2/5/21
Canadian singer/songwriter Jann Arden stars in this series, which she also helped create. It’s about a middle-aged singer/songwriter who had some hits back in the 90’s, but now she’s having trouble booking gigs. She’s “washed up,” according to the rest of the world. She has a manager, Todd (Jason Blicker) who’s not very good; an ex-girlfriend, Cynthia (Sharon Taylor) that she still pines for – who ditched her for a younger woman; a mom, Nora (Deborah Grover) with memory problems: and a married sister, Max (The wonderful Zoie Palmer), who keeps getting pregnant and isn’t happy about it. Jann even has to rent out her home to celebrities when they visit her town. One of the best characters on the show is Cale (Elena Juatco), who is not too polite but later helps Jann out. The series is a wry commentary on family, the entertainment world and fame.
It’s a pretty funny show, but I felt that the second episode dragged a bit. It picks up later. This was a hit in Canada, where they’ve aired the first two seasons. HULU has picked it up now. The 3rd season will be filming soon. Since Jann is a real-life person, with real hit songs, they play those in the series, and we do hear her perform as well.
The show is only semi-autobiographical, according to Arden. Just sit back and enjoy the laughs and the music. Check out our interview with Jann Arden below.
Read My Interview with Jann Arden!
MORE INFORMATION:
CTV Original Comedy JANN to Exclusively Stream in The U.S. on Hulu
− Premium streaming service to become U.S. home to Seasons 1 and 2 of hit comedy from Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films –
− Co-created by series star Jann Arden, with Leah Gauthier and Jennica Harper, new episodes of Season 2 of JANN continue Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV –
− The critically acclaimed series was the most-watched new Canadian comedy series of the 2018-19 broadcast season −
“JANN blew everyone out of the water, establishing Jann Arden as a comic force on television.” – TV, eh?
“JANN is the real deal: a funny, biting satire about the entertainment industry that isn’t afraid to make fun of its star.” – NOW Magazine
“Arden aces it. She is fearless, a born comedienne, as in on the joke as a Second City veteran.” – Bill Brioux
“Jann Arden’s narcissistic alter ego shines in CTV’s JANN… Arden, with her sheer force of personality, breezy blunt speak and take-no-prisoners delivery, manages to showcase remarkable comic chops.” – Toronto Star
TORONTO (October 21, 2020) – CTV, Project 10 Productions, and SEVEN24 Films announced today that hit CTV Original comedy JANN has been acquired by streaming platform Hulu. In a deal executed by Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films, Hulu secures exclusive U.S. rights for the first two seasons of the Canadian Screen Award-nominated series. The half-hour comedy, which was the most-watched new Canadian comedy series of the 2018/19 season, was co-developed by Bell Media and Project 10 Productions and is produced by Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films in association with CTV. The first season, consisting of six episodes, and the eight episode second season of JANN will stream in the U.S. exclusively on Hulu early next year.
“Jann has done such an incredible job bringing this character to life, and the series is enjoyed by viewers across Canada,” said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. “Along with our partners at Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films, we’re absolutely thrilled to introduce JANN, and the hilarious and heartwarming world they’ve created, to U.S. audiences through this sale to Hulu.”
“JANN is quickly becoming an iconic comedy sensation in Canada, and launching on Hulu is the first step in sharing this series with the rest of the world,” said Andrew Barnsley of Project 10 Productions and Jordy Randall of SEVEN24 Films in a shared statement.
“I cannot even begin to express my excitement and sincere gratitude to be partnered with the incredible people at Hulu,” said Jann Arden, co-creator, star, and executive producer. “We look forward to having JANN join their lineup of world class programming and we can’t wait to launch south of the border.”
JANN is created by multi-platinum award-winning Canadian singer, songwriter, broadcaster, and author Jann Arden, who is also an Executive Producer alongside co-creators Leah Gauthier and Jennica Harper, who also serves as Showrunner. In JANN, Arden plays a fictionalized, self-deprecating version of herself: a singer songwriter of a “certain age” in severe denial of the harsh reality that her former music career is slowly (okay rapidly) fading away. But it’s not just Jann’s career that’s on life support – she’s newly single (don’t remind her), her sister may disown her, and her mother may be showing early signs of memory loss. Jann’s personal life is in shambles and she’s convinced that the cure-all is to enlist a new manager to help rebrand her image. Jann is at the crossroads between who she was and who she wants to be. Can Jann stage a comeback, reclaim fame… and be there for the people who love her?
Starring alongside Arden in JANN are Zoie Palmer (PURE, DARK MATTER) as Jann’s sister Max; Deborah Grover (ANNE WITH AN “E”) as Jann’s mom Nora; Patrick Gilmore (TRAVELERS; YOU, ME, HER) as Jann’s brother-in-law Dave; Elena Juatco (OPEN HEART, SCHITT’S CREEK) as Jann’s new manager Cale; Jason Blicker (F/X: THE SERIES, STATE OF GRACE) as Jann’s long-time manager Todd; Sharon Taylor (BAD BLOOD) as Jann’s ex-girlfriend Cynthia; Alexa Rose Steele (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION) as Jann’s eldest niece Charley; Ceilidh MacDonald as Jann’s niece Sammie; and Keaira Pliva (TIN STAR) as Jann’s niece Frankie.
Guest stars in the inaugural season of JANN include Canadian indie pop singer-songwriter and guitarist Leslie Feist, Canadian singer and multi-instrumentalist Kiesza, and TV personality Rick Mercer. Guest stars for Season 2 include singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan as herself; Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang as herself; actress Elisha Cuthbert (THE RANCH, HAPPY ENDINGS); singer, host, and actress Keshia Chanté (SOUL, PRIVATE EYES); and more.
Season 2 of JANN airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, with episodes from both seasons streaming on CTV.ca, the CTV app, and Crave.
JANN is executive produced by Andrew Barnsley and Ben Murray for Project 10 Productions, Tom Cox and Jordy Randall for SEVEN24 Films, and Randy Lennox for Bell Media. Jann Arden, Leah Gauthier, and Jennica Harper created the series and also serve as Executive Producers with Jennica Harper showrunning. For Bell Media, Chris Kelley is Production Executive; Sarah Fowlie is Director, Comedy Original Programming; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, Programming, CTV and Specialty. Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media.
Source: Numeris, Broadcast Season 2018-19 (Sept. 24, 2018 – May 26, 2019). Final data.
Social Media links @CTV_PR @CTV @TheLede_ca @JannArden @ZoiePalmer @PatrickGilmore @ElenaJuatco @AlexaSteele @SharonCTaylor Facebook.com/CTV @CTV_PR @CTV @TheLede_ca @JannArden @Zoiepalmerzeeeps @PatrickGilmore @ElenaJuatco @JasonBlicker @AlexaSteele @Sharontwashere
About Project 10 Productions
Project 10 is a global television production company with offices in Toronto and Los Angeles specializing in scripted comedy. The company works closely with high-profile talent to develop and produce compelling content for the worldwide marketplace. The principal executives for Project 10 Productions Inc. are Andrew Barnsley, Ben Murray (Toronto) and Andrew Moncrief (Los Angeles). Leveraging their considerable strengths and decades of experience with those of partner and three-time MLB All-Star Vernon Wells, Project 10 has established itself as a go-to partner for domestic and international creators, broadcasters and distributors alike.
About SEVEN24 Films
SEVEN24 Films is an independent film and television production company whose work has spanned over two decades. Executive Producers Tom Cox and Jordy Randall have produced dramatic series, mini-series, television movies and feature films garnering over one hundred industry awards and nominations. Their focus on integration of scripted programming with interactive content and social media has helped make Heartland and Wynonna Earp two of the most dynamic scripted television projects in the digital space.
In addition to the People’s Choice Award winning series, Wynonna Earp, current projects include: Family Law, a one-hour legal series for Global, JANN, the #1 new Comedy on CTV, and the hit family series Heartland, the longest running one-hour series in Canadian history, now in its fourteenth season for CBC and UPtv.
Previous projects include Fortunate Son, a political thriller for CBC and NBCU International, Dark Cargo, a noir thriller for YouTube Premium, Young Drunk Punk for Rogers and CBC, the Canadian Screen Award winner Borealis, the Gemini Award winning movie Mayerthorpe and Gemini Award winning Mini-Series Burn Up. Tom Cox and Jordy Randall were also co-producers on numerous high-profile feature films including the Academy Award nominated Brokeback Mountain, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Resurrecting the Champ and are both recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of their contribution to the arts.
About Bell Media Original Productions
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include #1 Canadian drama TRANSPLANT; record-breaking Canadian formats THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA; #1 new Canadian comedy series JANN; culinary series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH; and CANADA’S WALK OF FAME AWARDS. Upcoming new series include CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING from the producers of LETTERKENNY and the inspirational lifestyle series HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT starring Mike Holmes, his son Michael, and daughter Sherry. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are CTV Sci-Fi Channel’s WYNONNA EARP and upcoming THE SURREALTOR; CTV Drama Channel’s mystery dramedy CARTER; and CTV Comedy Channel’s CORNER GAS ANIMATED. Crave Originals include hit comedy LETTERKENNY and much-anticipated CANADA’S DRAG RACE; dozens of original stand-up specials; original feature documentaries THE NEW CORPORATION and INCONVENIENT INDIAN, and more. Discovery is home to Bell Media’s hit factual series and franchises HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and DISASTERS AT SEA, in addition to upcoming docu-series MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS and THE LAST OF THE GIANTS, and others. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.
About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 television brand. CTV provides unparalleled entertainment programming across two broadcast television networks; a powerful suite of specialty channels including CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, and CTV Sci-Fi Channel; and digital channels CTV Throwback and CTV Movies, streaming on demand from CTV.ca and the CTV app. CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 19 years in a row and features a wide range of sports and information programming, including CTV News, Canada’s highest-rated national and local newscasts. CTV’s parent company is Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and out-of-home advertising.
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