Ring in the New Year with CBC-TV

Share some laughs this New Year’s Eve as CBC-TV welcomes 2014 with comedy specials Air Farce New Year’s Eve 2013 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) and Gerry Dee Live at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT). At 11:30 p.m. (12 NT), join George Stroumboulopoulos as he sits down in the red chair with renowned American author and poet Dr. Maya Angelou in a Canadian exclusive interview. Then, start the year off in true Canadian style with hockey and Olympic specials including Defending Gold: The Making of Team Canada at 12 p.m. (12:30 NT), the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at 12:30 p.m. (1 NT) and a one-hour Olympic preview special, Road to the Olympics at 4 p.m. (4:30 NT).

Live from Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, don’t miss this celebration of hockey history as it leads up to the Jan. 1 broadcast of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®. Also available for live streaming at cbcsports.ca.

Air Farce is back with an all-new comedy special that takes a crack at some of the biggest stories of 2013, from Toronto’s troubled mayor, Ottawa’s scandal-plagued senate and Britain’s royal baby, to Breaking Bad, and yes, twerking. Special guests include Colonel Chris Hadfield, tennis superstar Milos Raonic, singer and songwriter Serena Ryder, opera diva Measha Brueggergosman, Hockey Night in Canada’s P.J. Stock and the return of Steve Smith as Red Green.

Hailed as one of Canada’s best comedians, Gerry Dee will be ringing in the New Year with his own unique brand of stand-up in this one-hour television comedy special recorded at the Centrepointe Theatre in Ottawa.

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight is counting down to 2014 with a special Canadian exclusive interview with Dr. Maya Angelou from her home in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The legendary poet, activist and Renaissance woman shares words on forgiveness, inclusiveness and hope for 2014. Also on the program, a countdown of Olympic proportions, and Bobby Orr like you have never seen him before.

This half-hour CBC original behind-the-scenes-documentary captures the Canadian men’s ice hockey team selection process, and includes exclusive unfettered access to the ‘war room’ where general manager Steve Yzerman and the Team Canada leadership openly and honestly discuss which NHL stars to select—and why.

Tune in as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Detroit Red Wings at The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan with this annual New Year’s day hockey tradition. Also within the live broadcast of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, the winner of the Hockey Night in Canada Song Quest will be announced. Also available for live streaming at cbcsports.ca.

With just over a month until the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, this one-hour preview special tells the up-to-the minute story of Canada’s Olympic preparations and introduces the key athletes and storylines we will follow throughout the Games. Host Scott Russell will present Canada’s defending gold medallists, including Sidney Crosby, Kaillie Humphries and Alexandre Bilodeau and their quest to improve on their impressive showing in Vancouver. We’ll also meet Olympic commentators and analysts as they bring us stories from their disciplines and introduce us to hopefuls like Patrick Chan, Kaya Turski and Mark McMorris, looking to make their mark in 2014. There will also be an inside look at making the team in Olympic hockey and curling, and an intimate off-the-ice portrait of Quebec’s speed skating superstars Charles Hamelin and Marianne St-Gelais.

Canadian recording superstar Maestro Fresh Wes contributes an Olympic-inspired version of his hit song “Reach for the Sky” to this program. Originally released on his most recent album Orchestrated Noise, the song was re-recorded with lyrics inspired by the athletes’ journey and their perseverance and dedication to their sport. Performed by Maestro Fresh Wes and featuring Blue Rodeo and Classified, it will debut in the one hour program and will be heard throughout the Games.

Additionally, leading up to the New Year’s festivities, catch actress, singer and Broadway sensation Kristin Chenoweth like you’ve never seen her before on Dec. 30 at 9 p.m. (9:30 ET) on Just For Laughs Presents: Kristin Chenoweth - Wickedly Funny. Showcasing her many talents, this aptly named special provides a magical evening of music and laughter as Kristin plays host to some of the world’s best comics, including Ryan Hamilton, Nate Bargatze, Pete Correale, Dave Hemstad, Steve Patterson, and musical duo Zabruso.

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CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

For a complete list of publicity contacts and for more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre. Follow CBC’s publicity team on Twitter @CBC_Publicity.

Natalie Petozzi

entertainment publicist, CBC Publicity

Natalie.Petozzi@cbc.ca 416 205 2221 (office) / 647 926 6954 (mobile)