MVP (TV series)

MVP
Cast of MVP
GenreDrama
Created byMary Young Leckie, Kent Staines
Directed byT. W. Peacocke
Michel Poulette
Chris Grismer
Stefan Scaini
StarringLucas Bryant
Dillon Casey
Matthew Bennett
Peter Miller
Kristin Booth
Anastasia Phillips
Deborah Odell
Natalie Krill
Olivia Waldriff
ComposerGary Koftinoff
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerHeather Haldane
ProducerMary Young Leckie
CinematographyGlenn Warner
Original release
NetworkCBC
ReleaseJanuary 11 (2008-01-11) –
March 11, 2008 (2008-03-11)

MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives (known as Trophy Wives in the United Kingdom) is a 2008 Canadian television series that debuted January 11, 2008 on CBC Television.

The program was cancelled by the CBC on March 7, 2008. Poor ratings and high production costs were cited as reasons for the cancellation.[1]

Summary

The show portrays the lives of hockey players and their wives when they are off the ice. The show is set in Canada, where hockey is a favourite sport.

The show centres on the Mustangs, a professional hockey team. After the death of veteran captain Adam McBride, there are many changes in store for the team and others connected: Gabe McCall, the coach's son, becomes the team captain; a rookie named Trevor Lemonde is controversially added to the team; McBride's wife, Evelyn, and their daughter Molly, must adjust to a new lifestyle after there is no money left to them.

According to producer Mary Young Leckie, the show is inspired by, although not a direct adaptation of, the British series Footballers' Wives.[2]

Cast

Production

The Screen Door production began filming in 2006 in the Toronto, London and Hamilton, Ontario areas and generated wide interest including from the National Hockey League itself. The budget for the first ten episodes was approximately $14 million. It was distributed by Screendoor International.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Game On"T. W. PeacockeKent Staines & Sherry WhiteJanuary 11, 2008 (2008-01-11)
The Mustangs' star centre suddenly dies they acquire the league's number one draft pick Trevor Lemonde.
2"Truth and Consequence"T. W. PeacockeKent Staines & Sherry WhiteJanuary 18, 2008 (2008-01-18)
Trevor becomes acquainted with Molly McBride; Damon's rape charge impacts Connie and Gabe's relationship.
3"Cover Your Man"T. W. PeacockeKent Staines & Sherry WhiteJanuary 25, 2008 (2008-01-25)
Tabbi comes into town and disrupts the relationship between Trevor and Molly.
4"Two for Interference"T. W. PeacockeKent Staines & Sherry WhiteFebruary 1, 2008 (2008-02-01)
Damon sets up a rookie initiation with his Mustang teammates for Trevor.
5"Double Over Time"T. W. PeacockeKent Staines & Sherry WhiteFebruary 5, 2008 (2008-02-05)
Trevor's life gets complicated when his agent hires the groomers and stylists to give him a makeover and the scheming Molly strikes up a friendship with Trevor's girlfriend Tabbi.
6"Trades and Rumours"T. W. PeacockeKent Staines & Sherry WhiteFebruary 12, 2008 (2008-02-12)
Connie fears she may lose Gabe when a new coach is hired and rumours of a trade run rampant.
7"The Code"T. W. PeacockeTim KilbyFebruary 19, 2008 (2008-02-19)
With the team on the road, all hell breaks loose when Trevor goes wild with the puckbunnies. Molly turns 18 and finally discovers the secret of the key.
8"Reality Check"T. W. PeacockeSherry WhiteFebruary 26, 2008 (2008-02-26)
The Mustangs' world is turned upside down when Damon seriously injures another player on the ice. Meanwhile, Molly goes missing and everyone's a suspect, including her mother, the distraught Evelyn.
9"Sudden Death"Stefan ScainiTim KilbyMarch 4, 2008 (2008-03-04)
Just as they are preparing to play a game, the Mustangs find themselves held hostage by an enraged Donald.
10"Mad Scramble"T. W. PeacockeKent StainesMarch 11, 2008 (2008-03-11)
Desperate to find Molly and the police search going nowhere, Evelyn turns to a psychic for help to find her missing daughter.

United States

MVP premiered Thursday, June 19, 2008 on SOAPnet, and had a special promotional airing Friday, June 20, 2008 on ABC after the Daytime Emmy Awards, where it was the lowest-rated Big Four network program of the week.[3] The promotional subtitle in the United States was changed to He Shoots, She Scores.

United Kingdom

Digital broadcaster Living TV has secured the rights to MVP in the UK, but only showed four episodes since airing it on May 4, 2009. The series has been re-titled Trophy Wives for the British market. After re-branding itself from Living Loves to Sky Living Loves starting January 2011, episodes have been re-shown (including those not previously broadcast on Living TV) every Thursday and Saturday.

References

  1. ^ "CBC axes Hockey Wives, jPod", The Globe and Mail, March 8, 2008.
  2. ^ "Sexy MVP worries NHL"[usurped], canoe.ca, January 8, 2008.
  3. ^ Lisa de Moraes - Disney's 'Camp Rock': Lodged at the Summit - washingtonpost.com