Manny from ‘Modern Family’ to appear at Citytv lineup launch
Posted May 30, 2011 9:11 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – The actor who plays Manny on the hit sitcom “Modern Family” is among the celebrities expected in town today to help preview Citytv’s fall schedule.
Canada’s third-placed network is the first of the homegrown outlets to reveal its upcoming slate of shows, a spring tradition that typically involves a parade of new and returning stars as broadcasters seek early ad deals.
Rico Rodriguez, who plays the wise-beyond-his-years tween on “Modern Family” will be joined by “Happy Endings” principal Elisha Cuthbert during a presentation at a downtown theatre.
Rogers Media was reportedly the biggest Canadian buyer of U.S. shows in Los Angeles last week, when the company sought fresh fare for its Citytv stations.
Shaw Media plans to reveal its Global TV lineup Tuesday while market leader CTV will announce its schedule Thursday.
CBC-TV details its slate June 8.
The fresh lineups follow a year of industry consolidation and new management regimes at each of the networks.
The former Canwest Global Communications Corp. was bought by cable giant Shaw Communications and renamed Shaw Media, while CTV was taken over by phone giant BCE.
Meanwhile, a management shuffle at Rogers Media brought in new leadership from former CTV exec Keith Pelley and CBC’s Kirstine Stewart took over the reins from English services honcho Richard Stursberg.
The U.S. networks announced their revamped fall slates earlier this month.
Offerings include Fox’s dinosaur drama, “Terra Nova;” NBC’s new Lorne Michaels sitcom, “Up All Night;” CBS’s revamped “Two and A Half Men” with Ashton Kutcher; and ABC’s jet-fuelled nostalgia drama, “Pan Am.”
