New series all about mind games
Canada’s Greatest Know-it-all, one of the more inspired reality-tv show ideas of the past millennium, opens with a flurry of I’m-smart-and-you’re-not remarks from “ordinary, everyday Canadians” — the show’s 10 finalists — who know everything about everything. “I get things done,” one young man says. “I have a degree in physics!” another cries. But wait, there’s more. “I’m better than perfect,” another says. “I may be Canada’s greatest know-it-all,” another contender claims.
The Know-it-all finalists will engage in “head-to-head mind games,” as it were, under the watchful eye — and loud voice — of the show’s host, Daniel Fathers. Fathers, wouldn’t you know, is a Brit, chiefly known for playing Brown Cessario in the 2008 Disney Channel movie, Camp Rock, and its sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final
Jam. Fathers also had a small role in CBC’S Heartland.
Of course, Canada’s most serious, and genuine, know-it-alls are competing on Jeopardy. Canada’s
Greatest Know-it-all is pure ho
kum, in the vein of Canada’s Worst Driver or Canada’s Worst Handyman, but that doesn’t make it any less fun or entertaining. (Discovery Canada — 11 p.m.)
Kevin O’leary, a prime-time personality in two countries, is back with a new outing of Redemp
tion Inc., in which he challenges the remaining apprentices to sell a minimum of $3,500 in 50/50 tickets for charity. (CBC — 9 p.m.)
House tackles the U.S. class war in tonight’s hard-hitting episode about an underage homeless girl who needs emergency surgery. The surgery requires adult consent, but the girl’s mother is in no condition to make the call. (Fox, Global — 9 p.m.)
In tonight’s outing of Alcatraz, a prison escapee and unrepentant bank robber from the past (guest star Eric Johnson) reverts to old habits in the present, resulting in a
Flashpoint- style hostage situation. (Fox, Citytv — 10 p.m.)