The 2 hour premiere of THE BRIDGE is airing tonight (Friday, March 5, 2010) on CTV (Canada) from 9pm – 11pm.

For those of you in Canada, here is a list of Aaron’s tv appearances for Friday March 5th, 2010.

Canada AM
Your World This Week *
InnerSpace (The Circuit)

* Apparently ‘Your World This Week’ only airs in Toronto on Digital Channel 1.

I’m expecting that there will be a LOT of interviews and articles released on Friday. Instead of bombarding you with posts about them, I’ll collate them and make one post. If you’d rather not wait to see them they will be posted on the INTERVIEWS or ARTICLES page of TheBridgeTV website. Everything added to the website is listed on the NEWS page.

Aaron is currently in Toronto and below is his schedule for television and radio interviews for The Bridge. There may be more appearances added to his schedule. If there is I’ll update this list.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

TELEVISION: CP24 Morning Show (live on-camera)
TELEVISION: InnerSPACE (on-camera taped interview) (will air March 5th)
TELEVISION: eTalk (on-camera taped interview)
RADIO: 95.3 Virgin Radio Vancouver – Nat & Drew (taped phone interview)
RADIO: BOOM 97.3 Toronto (taped phone interview)
RADIO: MY96 FM (taped phone interview)
RADIO: 102.1 The Edge – Fearless Fred (taped phone interview)

Friday, March 5, 2010

TELEVISION: Canada AM (live on-camera)
RADIO: 104.5 CHUM FM – Casting Couch (live interview)

On top of all of that there will be a ‘Online Video exclusive for CTV’

A day with Aaron Douglas : The digital media video crew follows Aaron on his press day in Toronto promoting “The Bridge.” The crew rides along as Aaron is picked up at his hotel, goes backstage when he does interviews for CP24 and eTalk. In free moments, talks with the crew a little about the pressures of doing press, his interview style, and why he’s passionate about “The Bridge.”

The photo of Aaron on the home page of the official CTV website for THE BRIDGE has been changed.
The images on the left is the old layout. The images on the right is the new layout.

Aaron has started doing interviews to promote THE BRIDGE.

Below is a list of the 4 interviews he did today (February 25th, 2010) that we need to keep an eye out for.

Metro News Toronto – Ian Johnston
t.o.night newspaper – David Weisz
AOL Canada – Chris Jancelewicz
The Vancouver Province – Glen Schaefer

Over the last few weeks I’ve been working on a fansite for THE BRIDGE.

http://thebridgetv.com

In the Photo Gallery section you can find Cast Photos and also the Episodic Photos from the 2 hour pilot episode. I do have the hi-res version of these images but I’ll wait until the CTV website post the images first (which will be low-res from looking at the websites for their other shows) and then I’ll post the hi-res images. The Episode List is almost complete, it’s just missing the names of two episodes. I have no idea what the Cast list order is. You know how on BSG Eddie was number 1, Mary 2, Katee 3, Jamie 4, etc? I know that Aaron is number 1 on The Bridge but I don’t know what the rest of the order is. I’ll have to wait until the first episode airs and get the order from the opening credits and then I’ll amend the website to make it match.

I made the website using wordpress and I can’t say I’m entirely happy with how it looks so let’s call it a work in progress. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for improvements please let me know. And of course if anyone comes across any content (images, interviews, etc) that can be added to the website please forward it on to me.

CTV’s official website for THE BRIDGE has been updated with Character and Cast Bios. Below is a copy and paste of just Aaron’s character and actor bio.
Visit the CTV website for the bios of his co-stars.

Aaron Douglas
Frank Leo, Union Head

Frank Leo is charismatic and self-confident, which makes him a natural-born leader. As a tough-as-hell-street-cop, Frank brings to his new job as President of the Police Protective Association an inborn sense of justice and loyalty with intelligence and passion. Frank can also be charming with a mischievous glint in his eye, which is why women are drawn to him.

About Aaron Douglas

Aaron Douglas was born in the Vancouver suburb of New Westminster, BC. He spent his early adult years working various jobs only to realize what he did not want to do with his life, until he discovered the William B. Davis Center for Actors.

In 1998, Douglas enrolled in the full-time program and by the end of the school year, had found an agent. It wasn’t long before he began steady work guest starring and playing supporting roles in television and major motion pictures.

Douglas starred on Syfy’s hit series, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, as Chief Galen Tyrol for four seasons. He’s appeared in major motion films including, The Exorcism of Emily Rose; Man About Town; X-Men 2; The Chronicles of Riddick; Walking Tall; Paycheck; Catwoman and I, Robot, alongside Will Smith.

Below is the episode name and synopsis of the 2 hour premiere episode of THE BRIDGE.

Red Door / Paint It Black
When beat cop Frank Leo becomes fed up with the corrupt police brass, he leads a walkout strike and makes himself a target as a renegade union rep.

Below is the more detail episode synopsis from the CTV Media Release on Feb 11th, 2010.

In the special two-hour series premiere (Friday, March 5 at 9 p.m. ET), beat cop Frank Leo is fed up. Bridge Division is understaffed, and good cops are being blamed for a spate of mysterious drug rip-offs. Then Frank’s mentor, framed by the corrupt police brass, commits suicide. When Frank realizes the brass won’t give his mentor a police funeral, it’s the last straw. He leads a walkout strike, putting his career and the careers of his entire division on the line. Then, when Frank and his fellow officers are blamed for an act of “Contagious Fire”, the brass sees the perfect opportunity to get rid of Frank once and for all. Frank realizes that in order to save himself and change things, he must take over the reigns of the Police Union. He soon finds himself thrust into a treacherous world of politics, intrigue and violence. And just as he’s become head of the Police Union, Frank is forced to make a critical decision that could ultimately bring him down.

This Sunday during the Super Bowl there will be a one minute promo for The Bridge (only on CTV).
Is there anyone in Canada that can tape the Super Bowl and upload The Bridge promo?

Super Bowl XLIV
New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday February 7th @ 6pm ET, 5pm CT, 4pm MT, 3pm PT, 7pm AT.

UPDATE (February 7): Just heard from Aaron that the promo didn’t play during the game. He was told it would :(

Below is the CTV press release (copy and paste of just the parts about THE BRIDGE) …..

Olympic Games Launch Pad: New CTV Original Series HICCUPS, DAN FOR MAYOR, and THE BRIDGE Get Post-Olympic Games Premieres

Toronto, ON (February 2, 2010) – CTV announced today it has strategically scheduled three new Original Canadian series to debut next month, immediately following the conclusion of the VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES. The three series will benefit from weeks of promotion during what is to be one of the most-watched television events of the year.

Aaron Douglas heats up Friday Nights in new police drama THE BRIDGE, March 5

The much-anticipated premiere of CTV’s newest one-hour original drama series, THE BRIDGE. Starring BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’s Aaron Douglas, THE BRIDGE is an authentic and unique twist on the police procedural told through the lens of a charismatic police union leader. The series debuts Friday, March 5 at 9 p.m. ET with a special two-hour series premiere before moving to its regular Fridays at 10 p.m. ET timeslot beginning March 12 on CTV.

Episodes of HICCUPS, DAN FOR MAYOR and THE BRIDGE will also be available on demand in HD on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca following their television broadcast. HICCUPS and DAN FOR MAYOR also air Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 8:30 p.m. ET/PT beginning March 6 on The Comedy Network and will also be available for purchase from popular download sites.

THE BRIDGE After the rank and file unanimously vote tough and dedicated street cop Frank Leo (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’s Aaron Douglas) 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. But the old boys’ network running the police force and the city’s self-serving politicians are not about to sit idly by while a former street cop makes up his own rules. Frank walks the thin blue line as he battles criminals on the streets, corruption in the ranks and the politically motivated department brass, letting nothing stop him from fulfilling his unwavering vow that when cops are in trouble, he will be there to protect the protectors.

THE BRIDGE also stars Paul Popowich (ANGELA’S EYES, I ME WED); Inga Cadranel (RENT-A-GOALIE, MVP); Frank Cassini (Vice, INTELLIGENCE); Theresa Joy (ALL THE GOOD ONES ARE MARRIED, Sixty Days); Ona Grauer (STARGATE SG-1 and STARGATE ATLANTIS); Michael Murphy (Away from Her, X-Men: The Last Stand); and Stuart Margolin (THE ROCKFORD FILES, TOM STONE).

Source: CTV Media Releases

My new series, The Bridge, will premiere March 5th at 9pm on CTV. My friends in the US will have to wait a little longer for CBS airing.

— Aaron Douglas (@theaarondouglas) February 3, 2010

Looks like we’re going to have to wait even longer to see The Bridge. The CBS 2010 Mid-Season schedule has been updated until April and there’s still no news on when The Bridge will premiere.

There’s a new drama called MIAMI MEDICAL premiering on Friday April 2nd at 10pm. That is Numb3rs old time slot that we were hoping The Bridge would get to have :(

Today CBS released their 2010 Mid-Season TV Schedule and there’s no mention of THE BRIDGE. Looks like we’re going to have to wait until March 2010. I guess we kind of expected that because of the Olympics happening Feb 12th – 28th. I wonder if it would help if we started to ‘politely’ enquire on the CBS Facebook fan page for The Bridge, on when the show will air.

While we’re on the subject of The Bridge … Inga Cadranel (Aaron’s co-star on The Bridge) was interviewed yesterday. Here’s part of the interview where she mentions Aaron. Not really any big spoilers if you’ve already seen the trailer for The Bridge.

You play Jill, a major crimes detective. How does she fit in the world of the show?

Jill is definitely the female with the attitude. She’s a bisexual cop and she’s also having an affair with Frank (Aaron Douglas), the show lead. He constantly comes to my partner and I for information even though we’re not supposed to give it to him. But he’s trying to solve the internal side of things. That’s kind of where I fit into the show. He literally pumps me for information!

You can read the full interview with Inga posted over on the thebridge_tv
http://community.livejournal.com/thebridge_tv/2878.html

CBS have created an official facebook fan page for The Bridge.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bridge/84128448196

If missed the previous entries regarding this, here are the links to the facebook fan pages for The Bridge (run by CTV) and the fan page for Aaron.

http://www.facebook.com/CTV.TheBridge
http://www.facebook.com/AaronDouglasFans

There is now an official CTV website for THE BRIDGE.
http://shows.ctv.ca/TheBridge.aspx

There’s nothing on there yet except for a synopsis of the show.

I managed to do a quick screen cap before the page fully loaded and got a nice grab of just the banner before the menu bar loaded over his chest.

CBS have had a website for The Bridge since May 2009 but same thing there, nothing more than a synopsis and cast list. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_bridge

UPDATE: Thanks to schneefloeckli, here’s the whole image.

Let’s not get too excited just yet until we hear something official, but …. Numb3rs will have 16 episodes this season instead of 22 to make room for a midseason show. There is talk about which shows that will be and The Bridge gets mentioned.

CBS cuts ‘Numbers’ to 16 episodes
‘Flashpoint’ may take over Friday night slot
By: MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
November 4th, 2009

“Numbers” has been given a new one: 16.

CBS confirmed Wednesday that it had reduced the order of the Friday night drama from 22 to 16 episodes. According to Eye execs, net decided to make the adjustment in order to make room for midseason fare.

CBS has few holes on its schedule — but nonetheless has several shows on the bench, including reality skein “Undercover Boss” and fresh dramas “Miami Trauma” and “The Bridge.” Returnee “Flashpoint,” which performed decently for the Eye on Friday nights, is a top contender to take over the “Numbers” slot.

Net execs stressed caution in reading too much into the fate of “Numbers” — it is only November, after all, and a final decision on a “Numbers” renewal wouldn’t come down until May. But episodic reductions are never a good thing, and “Numbers,” now in its sixth season, is a contender for bubble status when the time comes.

Among CBS’ new shows, the fate of “Three Rivers” is still in the air — but a back-nine pickup is unlikely at this point.

Source: Variety

Numb3rs Countdown
By: Andrew Ryan
November 6th, 2009

The end appears to be nigh for the crime-drama Numb3rs. According to a report in Variety, CBC has reduced this season’s show order from 22 to 16 episodes in order to make room for the return of the Canadian-made Flashpoint and the new dramas The Bridge and Undercover Boss. Currently in its sixth season, Numb3rs has been gradually waning in U.S. Nielsen ratings since returning to the Friday-night lineup in September. At the same time, CBS extended the episode order for the new sitcom Accidentally on Purpose, which now joins NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife as rookie CBS shows with full-season pickups.

Source: The Globe and Mail

You can comment on these articles over on THE CHIEF’S DECK.