TORONTO—The reality TV show Canada’s Got Talent has been on hiatus for the past decade, but it will soon be taking to the airwaves and Wiikwemkoong’s own Everett Morrison will be competing on the show which debuts March 22 at 8 pm on Citytv and Citytv.com.
Mr. Morrison was unable to comment to The Expositor prior to presstime Monday due to contractual obligations with the show’s producers, but Manitoulin Island will be rooting for him as he takes to the television stage.
The contestants will be judged by rapper Kardinal Offishall, comedian Howie Mandel, former late night host Lilly Singh and wrestling star Trish Stratus. The chance to find the centre of light has been elusive for Canadian talent which, since the previous iteration of Canada’s Got Talent that ended in 2012, saw performers trek to the US to seek a spot on America’s Got Talent.
With the rebirth of Canada’s Got Talent, outstanding talent once again will have a homegrown opportunity to strut their stuff.
Under the new format, participants move through competitive rounds while viewers vote on who will head to the live finale, where the talented winner will pull in a cool $150,000 prize. The new format is modelled after the original UK model and will more closely follow each contender’s story.
The decision to make auditions virtual has really opened up accessibility that will help represent our nation in a “fair and equitable way,” according to executive producer Scott McGillivray, whose McGillivray Entertainment Media is the force behind the revival.
Other changes to the format, due to COVID-19 protocols, includes the elimination of a live theatre audience for much of the premiere shooting at the Avalon Theatre in Niagara Falls.
Another departure from the single-run predecessor is that the judging makes a commitment to be a bit more “brutal” in its honesty, if comments by Mr. Mandel are anything to go by.
His concerns over a lack of authenticity in the original iteration was what prompted Mr. Mandel to give the 2012 version a pass when approached to be a judge.
Audience participation is an important part of the mix, so Manitoulin get out and show Mr. Morrison the love as he proves Manitoulin’s Got Talent.
