J. Kelly Nestruck
@nestruck
The Globe and Mail television critic and recovering theatre critic. I'm gonna bleet about baseball sometimes. Find me by email at knestruck@globeandmail.com. 🇨🇦
Canadian TV romance worlds collide as Heated Rivalry’s Sophie Nélisse set to star in next Carley Fortune adaptation.
Thirty years ago, Montreal Gazette columnist Nick Auf Der Maur (yes, Melissa’s dad) published a letter I had written him about Donald Duck comic books in his A2 column - and I was condemned to a life of cultural criticism.
Summer bliss for me is waking up and walking down Mont-Royal to grab a Cafélimo and the weekend Le Devoir.
This is new: My CIBC banking app trying to sell me a subscription to Disney+. Is this even legal?
My kids are always blown away by the concept of linear tv when we stay in a hotel. #treehouse
This recent Connections was clearly designed to trick people into thinking cartoon rodents was a category (Chip, Dale, Splinter, Pinky)… and I’m surprised no one fell for it.
CBC/Radio-Canada is now a full member of the European Broadcasting Union. One step closer to Eurovision glory.
Wordle, five years in, has become about chasing the feeling that I can at least once in a while outsmart the bot and, by extension, AI.
Begging politicians to get off X - and turn off replies on any and all social media platforms. In this case, Prime Minster @mark-carney.bsky.social’s post about a Montreal shooting several sources report was motivated by incel ideology has become… a vector for misogyny.
Went on a road trip to the Victoria Petrolia Playhouse to see Canadian stage legend/legendary grandpa Layne Coleman play in Ed Garage’s. These small-town/rural theatres do such a great job of connecting with their audiences in a joyful way in the pre-shows. Toronto NFP should study (also do 50/50s).
My other book buy this week from a Toronto writer is Mother Clown by Harriet Alida Lye, which is about a young Canadian going to clown school in Paris - apparently not just a Nestruck niche interest. Looking forward to getting my red nose into it this summer.
I’m only reading this book for the TV criticism - which makes up a surprising amount of it. Could be subtitled: Heteronorma-teevee. Congrats @phoebebovy.bsky.social on your desiring men-ifesto.
They’re doing Come From Away in Port Hope this summer and the Kevins are playing by the Kyles. Chef’s kiss casting. capitoltheatre.com/events/come-...
I regret to say that the Bathurst Streetcar lane is a bust. Just missed a bunched up pair and another bunched up pair are on the way. (I still think getting rid of left turns was the move to make.)
Does anything ever happen at the St. Lawrence Market North? I’m here every Sunday and it’s never open and there’s a steady stream of confused tourists who try the door and then realize that the actual market is across the street…
“Canada Strong will help make America great again,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said in New York today. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art... Meanwhile, the Canada Strong website says: "Support Mark Carney’s plan to stand up to Donald Trump and build a stronger Canada."
Not looking forward to Prime Video’s The Pig Farm Killer: xxxxx. No need to ever say that man’s name again. Ugh “true crime”.
At Amazon Canada upfront.. 2026-2027 CANADIAN PRIME ORIGINAL CONTENT SLATE: Nothing scripted. Michael Bublé and Drew Scott are doing a show about being co-owners of junior hockey team called the Vancouver Giants: Hometown Giants.
They’re doing a reading of the unproduced Slings and Arrows prequel pilot at the Stratford Festival on July 26. All my passions combined!
Happy Stratford Festival opening week from NYT Games and Connections.
The Traitors Canada has landed on Peacock in the US and it is fun to watch Americans discovering the wonder of Karine Vanasse and her stylists.
Meanwhile, @jimmykimmel.com’s here just for fun. That’s how he survives.