CBS Are Searching For Canadian Audience For 'Camelot'

From source: winnipegfreepress
CBC-TV SAYS IT'S CONFIDENT ITS UPCOMING FANTASY DRAMA "CAMELOT" CAN CONJURE UP A CANADIAN FOLLOWING DESPITE AN INAUSPICIOUS DEBUT IN THE UNITED STATES THAT EFFECTIVELY KILLED THE SERIES.

The sprawling Canada-Ireland co-production debuted south of the border in March, where it garnered mixed reviews and respectable ratings. Nevertheless, specialty channel Starz said in June it would not order more episodes.

The U.S. network attributed the move to production challenges, including scheduling conflicts with members of the cast.

The big-budget Arthurian spectacle had been promoted as a prospective ongoing series in the vein of "The Tudors," but a CBC executive says the 10 completed episodes work just fine on their own.

"We're really excited to present it as a limited series," said Tom Hastings, CBC's creative head of drama. "It's a self-contained, very satisfying season."

Based on the fantasy-rich legends of King Arthur and his realm, "Camelot" traces his rise to power from his days as a young man unaware of his royal lineage.

Jamie Campbell Bower (of "The Prisoner," and the upcoming "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn") stars as Arthur, an illegitimate son of King Uther who is raised by commoners until he is plucked from obscurity by the wizard Merlin, played by Joseph Fiennes ("FlashForward," "Shakespeare in Love").

Former Bond girl Eva Green ("Casino Royale") is Arthur's magical half-sister Morgan, who believes she is the rightful heir to the throne and wages a supernatural battle for the crown.
"Camelot"'s U.S. run garnered reviews ranging from "surprisingly satisfying" (Miami Herald) to possessing "a fatal lack of lyricism" (USA Today). But none of that should have an impact on the show's prospects north of the border, said Hastings.

"Canadian audiences are different," he said, pointing to the success of CBC miniseries "Pillars of the Earth" and drama "The Tudors."

Source: via Twilightish