CTV Orders Two Pilots, Drama Series

TORONTO: Two new one-hour original pilots, Saving Hope and Stay with Me, have been ordered by CTV, which also gave a pickup to the drama series Highland Gardens.

Saving Hope is a fast-paced drama set in a Toronto hospital that follows the lives of its doctors and staff. The pilot comes from Ilana Frank (Rookie Blue).

The second pilot, Stay with Me, comes from Suzette Couture and Pierre Sarrazin from Sarrazin Couture Entertainment (The Man Who Lost Himself). The legal procedural centers on a stay-at-home mom turned lawyer, who uses her wit and maternal intuition to find justice for her clients. She must also balance being a mother and the cut-throat world of law.

The pilots begin production in spring 2011.

Highland Gardens (working title) is being produced for MuchMusic and CTV from Epitome Pictures’ producing team of Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn (Degreassi). The six hour-long episodes delve into the ins and outs of an apartment-style motel in Los Angeles, which draws aspiring Canadian hopefuls who are chasing their Hollywood dreams. The series heads into production in summer 2011.

“The production orders reinforces CTV’s priority in delivering critically acclaimed original programming with compelling storytelling to a wide Canadian audience,” said Susanne Boyce, the president of creative, content and channels at CTV. “We look forward to working with the talented writers and producers behind these exciting new projects.”

These new projects join the Canadian originals Flashpoint, The Listener, The Bridge, Hiccups and Dan for Mayor, which have all been picked up for another season by CTV.