There is only one more sleep until THE BRIDGE premieres in the USA (Saturday July 10th).
In today’s edition of “Welcome to The Bridge” here are some interesting/useless facts about ‘The Bridge’.

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Inga Cadranel (who plays Jill, one of the main characters on ‘The Bridge’), is married to Gabriel Hogan. Gabriel is also an actor and will appear in an upcoming episode of ‘The Bridge’ (1×05: Vexation of Spirit). Gabriel Hogan is the son of actor Michael Hogan. Michael Hogan played (yes, you guessed it) Col. Saul Tigh on Battlestar Galactica.

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Aaron’s BFF Colin Corrigan can be seen briefly in the pilot episode of ‘The Bridge’.

Colin played Marine Allan Nowart on Battlestar Galactica. If you’re a fan of SUPERNATURAL, that was Colin playing the demon (with the brief case) who got to beat up Sam Winchester in the alleyway in episode 5×14: My Bloody Valentine (You can watch a video clip of that HERE). Colin was also at DragonCon 2008 and joined in on the BSG panel.

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In the pilot episode of ‘The Bridge’, Aaron can be seen wearing this tshirt.

That is Aaron’s own tshirt. No he didn’t ‘steal’ it from wardrobe :) He’s been wearing their designs for years, long before ‘The Bridge’ even existed.

The t-shirt is from 7lightningbolt*. Below are some more items that Aaron owns from the same designers.

UPDATE: This is their ETSY page.

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Toby Proctor guest-stars in the pilot episode of ‘The Bridge’. Toby has appeared in some of Aaron’s tweets.

There are only three more sleeps until THE BRIDGE premieres in the USA (Saturday July 10th).
In the lead up to the big day, let’s play “Welcome to The Bridge” and meet the main characters….

(L to R): Billy (Theresa Joy), Ed (Michael Murphy), Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas), Abby (Ona Grauer),
Tommy (Paul Popowich), Bernie "Rabbi" (Frank Cassini) and Jill (Inga Cadranel)

 

Below is a copy and paste of the character bios from the CTV website

[Read more…]

Aaron has an interview with USA TV Guide on Monday for the CBS launch of THE BRIDGE.

For those that don’t know, I live in Australia, so I’m going to need you guys in the USA to please look out for this for me. THE BRIDGE premieres in the USA on Saturday July 10th, so expect the issue to show up in the next 3 weeks.

CBS have fixed their frak-up. The latest CBS press release now has THE BRIDGE listed as a 2-hour premiere on July 10th (8pm – 10pm) …

June 14, 2010

(Editor’s Note: The premiere of THE BRIDGE is now scheduled for a two-hour block)

AARON DOUGLAS, PAUL POPOWICH, INGA CADRANEL, FRANK CASSINI, THERESA JOY, ONA GRAUER, MICHAEL MURPHY AND GENADIJS DOLGANOVS STAR IN THE TWO-HOUR SERIES PREMIERE OF “THE BRIDGE,” SATURDAY, JULY 10

“Red Door/Paint It Black” – When dedicated street cop Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas) learns that there will be no police funeral for his fallen training officer and that his fellow officers are being railroaded for using excessive force, he stages a walkout. Motivated by the pressure of “the brass” who want to bring him down, Frank becomes the head of the police union and fights to bring more protection to the cops on the street; however, unbeknownst to Frank, another fellow officer is involved in a series of drug-deal rip-offs, on the two-hour series premiere of THE BRIDGE, Saturday, July 10 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

 

The previous CBS press release indicated that they were only going to air the first part of the 2-hour pilot episode on July 10th (8pm – 9pm) …

June 7, 2010

AARON DOUGLAS, PAUL POPOWICH, INGA CADRANEL, FRANK CASSINI, THERESA JOY, ONA GRAUER, MICHAEL MURPHY AND GENADIJS DOLGANOVS STAR IN “THE BRIDGE,” A NEW DRAMA, PREMIERING SATURDAY, JULY 10

“Red Door” — When dedicated street cop Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas) learns that there will be no police funeral for his fallen training officer and that his fellow officers are being railroaded for using excessive force, he stages a walkout. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Frank, another fellow officer is involved in a series of drug-deal rip-offs, on the series premiere of THE BRIDGE, Saturday, July 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

In a google email alert for The Bridge, there was a link to the SET (Sony Entertainment Television) website in South Africa that says The Bridge premieres there on Thursday July 1st at 8:30pm. There was a photo of Aaron and co-star Ona Grauer (Abby St. James) on there that I haven’t seen before.

Photo source: http://www.settv.co.za/shows/bridge

SPOILER WARNING: If you haven’t seen THE BRIDGE, don’t click on the link above because the episode synopsis has spoilers in it.

CTV had their Fall Upfronts earlier today and they announced that they have ordered a second season of THE BRIDGE!!!!!!

Below is copy & paste of just the parts about THE BRIDGE from the CTV Press Releases.

TV’S BIGGEST STARS LAND AT CTV: FALL 2010 SCHEDULES AND LINEUPS ANNOUNCED
June 3rd, 2010

CTV also confirmed today that the highly-anticipated original daytime series THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW premieres this Fall. The daily program joins an unprecedented seven other original Canadian prime-time series that have been ordered or renewed for the upcoming season, including the complex, unvarnished portrayal of one of history’s most infamous families in THE BORGIAS, FLASHPOINT (Season 4), THE BRIDGE (Season 2), THE LISTENER (Season 2), HICCUPS (Season 2), DAN FOR MAYOR (Season 2) and COMEDY NOW! (Season 13). The network also announced that award-winning Top 20 hit SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA returns with its third season on August 15.

Source: CTV Press Release and CTV Inside Shows

CTV Announces Industry-Leading 2010-2011 Canadian Television Package
June 3rd, 2010

– CTV renews entire scripted slate: more FLASHPOINT, more THE BRIDGE, more HICCUPS, more DAN FOR MAYOR, more THE LISTENER –

Original Scripted Series Ordered by CTV:
• THE BRIDGE (Season 2) – Canada’s #1 new Canadian drama series, which finished its first season with an average audience of one million viewers.

NEW & RETURNING SCRIPTED SERIES
THE BRIDGE – Season 2 (one-hour drama)
The #1 new Canadian drama of the season, THE BRIDGE returns for a second season of fast-paced, gripping police drama. Starring Aaron Douglas (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) as police union president Frank Leo, the series follows Frank as he struggles to uncover police force corruption and help protect his fellow officers and, ultimately society.

Cast: Aaron Douglas (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) as Frank Leo, Paul Popowich (ANGELA’S EYES, I ME WED) as Tommy Dunn, Inga Cadranel (RENT-A-GOALIE, MVP) as Jill, Frank Cassini (Vice, INTELLIGENCE) as Sgt. Bernie Kantor, Theresa Joy (ALL THE GOOD ONES ARE MARRIED, Sixty Days) as Constable Billy, Ona Grauer (STARGATE SG-1 and STARGATE ATLANTIS) as Abby St. James, Michael Murphy (Away from Her, X-Men: The Last Stand) as Chief of Police Ed Wycoff, Stuart Margolin (THE ROCKFORD FILES, TOM STONE) as Vic Leo

Credits: EP: Craig Bromell, EP: Laszlo Barna (‘DA KINK IN MY HAIR), EP: Alan Di Fiore (DAVINCI’S INQUEST, THE HANDLER), EP: Adam J. Shully (BLOOD TIES), EP: Robert Wertheimer (CHARLIE JADE), CTV’s Production Executive: Brett Burlock; President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.: Susanne Boyce

Production Company: E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions, in association with CTV and CBS Paramount Network Television

Source: CTV Press Release and CTV Inside Shows

Ona Grauer (Abby St. James), Paul Popowich (Tommy), Inga Cadranel (Jill) and Theresa Joy (Billy) at the CTV Fall Upfronts

UPDATE: Tweet from Aaron

Season One of THE BRIDGE has already aired in Canada but CTV have announced that they will repeat the episodes this summer. The encore episodes will air the same date/time as they are premiering in the USA on CBS.

Below is the CTV Press Release. I’ve only included the information about THE BRIDGE.

As the Heat Rises, CTV Announces Cool New Summer Schedule

Encore episodes of THE BRIDGE (July 10) to air in simulcast with CBS.

THE BRIDGE – Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET beginning July 10 – ENCORE EPISODES

THE BRIDGE, returns to CTV for a summer run after a highly successful first season as Canada’s #1 new drama, averaging more than one million viewers each week. The series follows beat cop Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) as he is voted into office as the police union’s dynamic leader. He begins his quest to put street cops first and clean up the force from the ground up as he battles criminals on the street, police department brass and corruption in the ranks.

Source: CTV Press Release

UPDATE: An article from The Hollywood Reporter about THE BRIDGE premiering on CBS and reairing on CTV.

‘The Bridge’ to air on CBS in summer slot
Canadian cop drama to premiere July 10 at 8 p.m.
By: Etan Vlessing
Date: May 25th, 2010

TORONTO — The Canadian cop drama “The Bridge” has landed a summer slot on CBS.

Canadian broadcaster CTV on Monday confirmed the E1 Television series will air on CBS on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. from July 10.

CTV launched “The Bridge” on March 5 on its main network here ahead of CBS after the U.S. network and co-producer delayed airing the Canadian drama about big-city union politics until a primetime slot opened up.

The Canadian broadcaster will repeat the first season of the homegrown cop drama day-and-date with CBS from July 10.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

We’ve already known about this for days but it’s now OFFICIAL.
THE BRIDGE will premiere in the USA (on CBS) on July 10th @ 8pm.

Below is the CBS Press Release ……

May 25th, 2010

“THE BRIDGE,” A NEW POLICE DRAMA, PREMIERES SATURDAY, JULY 10, 8:00-9:00 PM

THE BRIDGE, a new drama about a tough and dedicated police officer who is voted to become the police union’s dynamic leader, premieres Saturday, July 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The series, based on the insights of veteran insider and outspoken former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell, chronicles a charismatic union leader who is working parallel campaigns in a big city police force-battling criminals on the street and fighting his own bosses, and sometimes corruption in the ranks, to protect his fellow officers.
THE BRIDGE stars Aaron Douglas (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Smallville”), Paul Popowich (“Angela’s Eyes”), Frank Cassini (“Vice”), Theresa Joy (“All the Good Ones are Married”), Ona Grauer (“Stargate SG-1) and Michael Murphy (X-Men: The Last Stand”).

THE BRIDGE is produced by E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions in association with CTV and CBS Television Studios. Craig Bromell, Adam J. Shully, Laszlo Barna, Alan Di Fiore and Robert Wertheimer are executive producers.

UPDATE: I sent the press release to Aaron and he tweeted about it.

Rumour has it that THE BRIDGE will premiere in the USA this summer on Saturday July 10th.
There will be an official announcement about this from CBS next week when they reveal their summer schedule.

Below is the CTV Press Release on the season finale of THE BRIDGE. I have removed the episode synopsis from the below. It is safe to read, there are no spoilers. The article just talks about the great ratings for the show and how it is the “#1 Canadian drama of the year”

Frank Risks It All During the Heart-Pounding Season Finale of THE BRIDGE, May 21 on CTV

– Averaging more than one million viewers each week, THE BRIDGE is the #1 new Canadian drama of the season –

“In performance and production, THE BRIDGE is very slick.” – Sun Media

Toronto, ON (May 20, 2010) – The #1 new Canadian drama of the year locks things up in the season finale of THE BRIDGE this Friday, May 21 at 10 p.m. ET on CTV.

After premiering just following the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Games, THE BRIDGE quickly became a fan favourite, making it the #1 new Canadian drama of the season. With an average audience of more than one million viewers since its series premiere (1.01 million), THE BRIDGE consistently wins its 10 p.m. timeslot Friday night on CTV. THE BRIDGE has also found an online audience with almost 350,000 video views each month.

Aaron wrote the below on his autograph table at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo.

I know it doesn’t even have an air date for the USA yet but could everyone please help out and email CTV (programming@ctv.ca ) and ask them to pickup The Bridge for a second season? When emailing CTV we want them to think we’re Canadian viewers so don’t mention you’re in the USA (if you are) and ask when it will air on CBS because CTV have no control over that.

Above photo was taken by: David Chapman

On April 18th 2010, CBS posted a link to a synopsis for THE BRIDGE. When you click on that link it reads December 2010 above the synopsis. Hopefully this doesn’t mean anything. FOX, NBC, ABC have already released their summer schedules. Now we just have to wait for CBS to release theirs and pray to the Lords of Kobol we don’t have to wait until December 2010 to watch The Bridge :(

UPDATE (April 26th): Hmmmmm, now the date reads December 2009.

Way to go CTV on promoting ‘Frank is a womaniser’, the most ridiculous storyline on THE BRIDGE. At first I voted for Jill but then I thought it would be funny so I started putting in a bunch of votes for Tommy :)

You need to install the CTV ‘Primetime Widget’ to vote.
http://www.ctv.ca/primetimewidget

 

CTV have updated the layout of their website page for THE BRIDGE.

Old website design

New website design

 

Below is just the image of Aaron. Click on thumbnail to enlarge the image.

The pilot episode of THE BRIDGE is now available on the CTV Player. Thing is, it won’t play for anyone outside of CANADA.
I believe the networks also counts the figures of how many people watch the online episodes. So if you’re in Canada, play it (then walk off if you want).
http://watch.ctv.ca/the-bridge/season-1/the-bridge-ep-101-102-ctv-2-hour-special-series-premiere

CTV have updated their ‘Primetime Widget’ to include THE BRIDGE. The widget has the latest news, episode descriptions and video.
You can download the widget here http://www.ctv.ca/primetimewidget