A Minor Entertainment Media Peeve

Watching some TV today I noticed something which seems new and a minor oddity. Just short of an irritation. The number of shows with the same actors. I don't mean one role ends and another starts but same. I don''t mean as guest stars, that I enjoy & it seems to make sense. I mean one actor having a major role in two or more shows at the same time. Probably never would have noticed if I didn't have a habit of noticing locations and recognizing where there they were shoot. A hangover from helping on so many shows while working and knowing locations most don't from do lots of work underground. The first person I read of doing this was Kirsten Kirik (hope I spelt that right) when she was Lana Lang on Smallville. The other was a teen show so I don't recall. Both of those were shoot in Vancouver. Logistics would not be to tough. These new shows though are one in Vancouver one in Toronto. Some in Calgary too I haven't noticed any Montreal but it only has a few streets I know by sight. Montreal has a lot of French style buildings and often passes for Paris or New Orleans. I spot the odd from Halifax or St Andrews New Brunswick. The Rockies I can usually tell exactly where on what mountain. At least time never changes them.

This new trend is interesting because unlike Kirsten shooting 2 shows in Vancouver these newer shows are shoot in cities 500 to 4000 miles apart. Not impossible but a touch odd. Likely odder I have been at so many of the set locations. My guess is it no more strange than pro sports teams playing in cities 1000's of miles apart on two days running. I suspect it may be part of the move to ensemble casts rather then two or 3 main characters perhaps twice that or even more.

Perhaps it is because most of these shows are shot in Canada. Movies are doing it too and if you rent the movie RED and watch the extras they point out that while US cities have a distinctive look Canadian Cities especially Toronto can look like almost any US city by simply changing neighbourhoods. Sometime by simply turning a corner. What we can't look like is the wilderness parts of the southern states.

As I said a personal observation but wondering if anyone else noticed? BTW I watch mainly Science fiction, crime shows ( most of those seem shoot in the US except breakout kings) and the odd comedy. Question for Tracey, why do most BBC shows now seem to be shoot in wales ( never been there but notice credits )

A brief note. While getting much better physically, I just got the best results on a physical in over 10 years ) mentally & emotionally I have been having a tough time a tend not to write then. Also my main Computer is in the shop and has been over a week. This was done on my laptop.