Wild thing

Toronto: Lifetime Television in the U.S. has renewed Zoe Busiek: Wild Card, a second season of which will go to camera in Toronto on May 17, staying at Toronto Film Studios until September.

Producers at Fireworks Television have not confirmed any directors, but it is expected that several names from season one – George Bloomfield, John Bell – will be back. DOP Malcolm Cross (The Eleventh Hour) and exec producer Doug Steinberg (Boston Public) have signed on, along with co-exec producer Kevin Inch (Queer as Folk).

The 18 hours will run next season on the woman-friendly cable channel, and up here on Global. Each ep of Busiek runs about US$1.3 million, backed by licence fees, according to producer Tony Thatcher.

Fireworks is waiting to see if a recent, untitled soccer pilot will be picked up by Nickelodeon, or if its Blake Holsey High will be renewed at NBC. -Sean Davidson

Alien girls are easy

Vancouver: New episodes of the Brightlight Pictures series Alienated will air on Space: The Imagination Station beginning April 6. The second season of 11 half-hours sees the Victoria, BC-based Blundell family – alien abuctees – deal with strange new sexual energies, a result of alien experimentation.

Teenage Isabelle is a magnet for amorous boys, grandpa no longer needs his Viagra, dad is suddenly desperate for sex but mom doesn’t want to get anywhere near his glowing orange sperm and 14-year-old Cameron is stalked by his English teacher who is inexplicably attracted to him.

‘Science fiction, family and sex are subject matters that you don’t typically see combined on regular television programming,’ says series creator Mark Sawers. ‘With Alienated, we have taken these three themes and developed a show that takes a fresh look at your typical sitcom.’

The series, part of CHUM’s commitment through The New VI in Victoria, stars Iris Graham (Romeo), Sarah Jane Redmond (Smallville), Jonathan Whittaker (Chicago), Campbell Lane (3000 Miles To Graceland) and Andrew Robb (School of Life). Cynthia Chapman (historical documentary Guinea Pig Club) produces. -Ian Edwards

Flat out

Vancouver: Locals Jason James and Nick Citton, who met at film school at Simon Fraser University, have won a development contract through the NSI Totally Television project. This Space for Rent is a proposed series for CBC about three post-collegiate roommates and their friends sharing an apartment in downtown Vancouver. James, who works as a producer’s assistant on Da Vinci’s Inquest and other Chris Haddock productions, says the series is autobiographical. The pilot could shoot this time next year in Vancouver. -Ian Edwards