The past year of my life is a blur. I gave it (semi-willingly) to my home renovation. A project that we thought was going to take four months, actually took twelve. The end result is gorgeous (thank the gods) but talk about a full-on experience of having my life turned upside down, shaken up, then spun around a thousand times.

 A similar effect is happening in the Canadian TV industry at the moment. The previous television fund (CTF) has been replaced with a new fund — the Canadian Media Fund (CMF). Basically, the Canadian financing structure has officially embraced new media as a critical aspect of the evolution of television.

After going to a CMF information session, I estimate that this fund renovation is only at the stage of receiving the construction permits. We’ve done the demolition of the old house and we’ve got the design drawings for the new house, but just how will this project pan out? That’s going to be a long, drawn out, and possibly painful process.

Now. It’s likely that this renovation will turn into a work of beauty, just like my home did. And hopefully, there will be a lot more room for our collective artistic family. As far as I can see, however, the contractor has great intentions, but he’s only ever done traditional, Victorian homes and this is a modern, eco-renovation.

As someone who has created a lot of digital and communications strategies, I’m particularly concerned with how the folks creating the digital content are going to make a living. Producers know they need to provide dynamic web/media content … but how much money will go to the creator?

I am beyond excited at the possibilities for the transmedia space, but a grrl needs to make a living. And a decent one at that.

You know, I had high hopes for this TV season. Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams were launching new shows. Geeks were held in high regard with Chuck and The Big Bang Theory. Even Grey’s Anatomy got its mojo back. 

My friends will tell you, I spend September and October searching for my must-watch shows. For something fresh and exciting and, OMG, even funny. They tolerate my hibernation period (I think) because they’re happy to have me wade through the silt to find the gems. After all, I’m always happy to share my plunder.

When I find a show I adore, I’m a one-woman advertising campaign. I can’t count how many people I’ve told about Life and Dexter. If they hadn’t heard of the show or were too scared to try, I had to convince them otherwise.  And I had just found my latest addiction: The Ex List. 

The Ex List had everything. Fresh setting, great premise, irreverent humour, sexy stars, incredible timing. It was the best show I had watched in ages. And I was damn well telling the world.

So, of course, CBS cancelled it.

Never mind that the show was barely advertised. Never mind that they dumped it in the black hole of television – Friday night. Never mind that in a sane universe, The Ex List would kick the Ghost Whisperer’s ass.

There are so few comedies on TV that push the boundaries of the safe, typical sit-com formula. If we’re pushing the threshold of the person we’ll elect for the highest office in the U.S., surely the networks can back an original show. I mean, really, people. Grow a pair.

This week I had a couple of trusted advisors tell me I should write for television. The reason? Character and dialogue are my strengths as a writer. Sure, I’m good at plot. But I kick butt at witty banter and genuine people.

So I feel what I’m about to write is appropriate. And, if you lived in my house, you’d know it was necessary. Because I’ve been obsessing about it for days. Here we go:

What the hell is up with Grey’s Anatomy?

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