Amazing Race Canada takes its competition to P.E.I.
Canada’s top rated reality show airs Island show Tuesday night on CTV
Prince Edward Island is set to take centre stage on the most-watched Canadian television series on record.
Producers describe the P.E.I. show saying “…racers take a step back in time; but others step in something completely different. And there’s no horsing around as the race comes to a dead heat.”
Mark Lysakowski, supervising producer of The Amazing Race Canada, says the 150th anniversary celebrations of the first meeting of the Fathers of Confederation was a great story to tell, which helped seal the deal in bringing the award-winning show to P.E.I.
“Where the country started is a big deal,” Lysakowski said in an interview with The Guardian.
“The P.E.I. show is amazing – it’s actually one of my favourites this season.”
With an average audience of 3.5 million viewers each week, P.E.I. tourism officials had no problem handing over the $5,000 the show wanted to assist in production costs.
Brenda Gallant, director of marketing for Tourism P.E.I., said while the province had no control over what the show was shooting on the Island, they felt it was a “no brainer” given the show’s reach.
The show, she added, helps keep P.E.I. top of mind and in conversations with travellers across Canada.
“Their viewership is fantastic,” said Gallant, adding it is the number one show in Canada on the number one network in Canada.
“We were very confident that there was great value for money because they were only looking for $5,000 towards production.”
A handful of tourism staff also provided logistical support.
Lysakowski said he’s been to P.E.I. many times, but the day he brought The Amazing Race Canada to the Island the skies were blue, the weather was warm, and it was a beautiful spring day on the Island.
Mark Lysakowski, supervising producer of The Amazing Race Canada “The P.E.I. show is amazing – it’s actually one of my favourites this season,"
“The race was intense. I don’t want to spoil it. Because we’re getting down to the end of the series and teams can really possibly see that they could actually win the show.”
Commercials airing to promote the P.E.I. broadcast show contestants testing their knowledge with the Fathers of Confederation at Province House, running around the track at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park and digging deep into a pile of fresh, steaming manure.
The Amazing Race Canada airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CTV.
Whenever the show goes into a location, Lysakowski said they like to work with the province to ensure the story they tell is accurate. He said they would have taken the show to the Island regardless of the support from the province.
“Tune in on Tuesday to see what happens in Charlottetown and then we go from there. Eventually, one team will win a half million dollars in cash and prizes.”
Source:http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2014-09-06/article-3860714/Amazing-Race-Canada-takes-its-competition-to-P.E.I./1
