Comments on: Yeah, we get it, Being Erica is set in Toronto

By: Gillian

Gillian — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:35:53 +0000

Ok, either I'm a bit dense (always a possibility) or just don't have a bee in my bonnet about Toronto but I didn't notice any of the Toronto references. In fact I came online having watched the first episode of Being Erica because I was interested to find out where it was set.

Oh, and I'm from Scotland by the way.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:56:42 +0000

I don't think TV shows should hide where they're set, but I don't think they should bang us over the head with it either. Make the references natural, not tacked on.

By: Brad

Brad — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:05:15 +0000

First off I'm not even from Toronto I'm from Ottawa. I just watched the first episode of "Being Erica." On the subject of it being set in Toronto with blatant references I say why not? It is quite frustrating how the rest of the country seems to hate on Toronto and whines that Toronto is so over represented when it comes to television etc. I'm sure that if the show referenced YOUR hometown you would be pretty excited about it. Given that Toronto is the largest city in Canada you would think that the rest of the country could relax a little and overlook a reference here and there (4 references is not really terrible for the first episode of a series, it is establishing where the show is set! and you'd have to be nitpicking and looking for it to notice it). A key element of the show is obviously memorabilia and so the people watching it who did live in Toronto back in those years would appreciate the fact that the Blue Jays world series is mentioned. I loved Sue's comment regarding how their company avoided booking conferences in Toronto because people would complain. It's so true, people avoid Toronto because the rest of Canada is just so hateful of it. Often I run into Canadian west coasters on vacation and when I say I'm from Ontario they moan and groan and say how awful Ontario is. Then I ask them if they have actually been to Ontario and most of them haven't! Am I the only one outside of Toronto who actually likes the city. I like all Canadian cities and if the show were set in Vancouver and mentioned Vancouver 3 or 4 times I'd be fine with it too! You really can't win, Flashpoint is the perfect counter-argument as mentioned here, they don't reference the city much and people are complaining about that! Can't we attain a level of maturity in Canada where we can just relax a bit and not moan and groan and complain where a series is set! Imagine this mentality in the States where probably some 50 percent of shows are set in New York or LA.

By: Fagstein » Being Erica’s regrets

Fagstein » Being Erica’s regrets — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:55:38 +0000

[...] know. I think I’m stuck between liking it and not liking it. I’m still annoyed a bit by the constant references to Toronto, as if living in Toronto to Being Erica is like living in New York to Sex and the [...]

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:30:25 +0000

Not that most of these shows are actually "set" anywhere, but the Mercer Report's studio is in downtown Toronto.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:29:48 +0000

um.. not all Canadian shows are set in Toronto. Corner Gas, Little Mosque on the Prairie, This Hour has 22 Minutes, The Rick Mercer Report, Trailer Park boys, Durham County, Project Runway Canada for examples. I would name more, but those are the only canadian shows (other than Canadian Idol, Flashspoint and SYTYCD) I actually know of. Your comment reminds me of the collective group in an Association I worked for. Even though we hadn't held the annual conference in Toronto in over 5 years and made it a point not to have it in Toronto for at least 3 more (and before that maybe once every 3 years, alternating with Ottawa and random smaller cities), 70% of our respondents to our most recent survey on the conference all bitched that it was always in Toronto. You can't win. You really can't. Personally, I didn't notice all the mentionings of Toronto, but I do agree that it is very annoying when they do that. No one does that in real life. Funny thing about Flashpoint, they don't mention the city at all and people are complaining about that, too. You can't win.

By: Richard Botsford

Richard Botsford — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:16:55 +0000

I thought the patio scene looked like it was in Port Dalhousie , Ontario, that is why I searched and found this web site, wonder if anyone knows where filming was .?

By: steve

steve — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:44:51 +0000

Although it was lots of fun to watch Denis blow a gasket, Being Erica doesn't beat the viewer over the head with Toronto references any more than, say, Intelligence bandied about the Vancouver setting.

The show's got a good "Single Weird Female" vibe, like Joan of Arcadia or Wonderfalls. I hope it does well.

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:56:56 +0000

Just watched the rerun and the show reminds me of Joan of Arcadia.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:04:56 +0000

I caught the last fifteen minutes, had a chuckle, and then looked up the repeat night online. Then, much to my surprise, I found the first episode available for free on iTunes. That's a great way for CBC to push the show.

By: zara

zara — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:20:43 +0000

Anyway, back to the subject at hand, I agree, it was nothing like I expected after seeing the excellent teaser clips on line. What it turned out to be was actually pretty good and considering the long list of "bad choices" she submitted to, euh, whatever that guy is supposed to be, they certainly have a lot of material to work with. But still, this theme could get old fast. Let us hope it does not just turn into some Canadian tv version of "Peggy Sue Got Married".

And btw, I read your post before checking out the show last night and well, I have to say that even looking for it, I did not feel assailed by TO branding. But yeah, that computer was ridiculous.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:34:10 +0000

Will you calm down and write a way to bring Nazneen Contractor back to The Border once Ontario's equalization payments kick in?

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:47:17 +0000

I don't have a problem with series set in Toronto (I wish some would be set in Canadian cities other than Toronto, but that's another matter). The problem is when a series is set in Toronto and screams "THIS SERIES IS SET IN TORONTO" all over the place to the point where it gets distracting. Just make it a bit more subtle next time is all I ask.

By: Denis McGrath

Denis McGrath — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:42:01 +0000

JESUS CHRIST. If it's filmed in Toronto and it doesn't call attention to the fact that it's in Toronto, it gets shit for that. If it's filmed in Toronto and it does call attention to the fact that it's in Toronto, it gets shit for that. If it's filmed in Toronto and it tries to stand in for another city, it gets shit for that. And if it's NOT filmed in Toronto and it's SET in Toronto (Blood Ties) it gets shit for THAT. If you're not in Toronto, you need to GET THE FUCK OVER IT. Seriously. The regional, provincial, bullshit hate thing is second rate, pissy anty WTF high school bullshit, and in an industry that's beleaguered at every turn, it's the one element that's just well nigh uncontrollable. For Christ's sake, WE ARE SORRY WE ARE THE LARGEST CITY IN CANADA. Okay? Ok? If a million people move to Montreal tomorrow, will you get all up in their grill? Or are you, the collective you, ever, ever, ever, ever going to let this go? Because if the answer is not, then it's hopeless, and the three million of us who pay the bulk of money for your social services are just going to have to dismiss you as a bunch of whining babies and move on. Fuck!