Martin Scorsese's bar-raising Boardwalk Empire anchors HBO Canada's fall
season

• Fall line-up features Jason Priestley in the Canadian original series Call Me Fitz
• Bored To Death, Eastbound and Down, In Treatment and Real Time With Bill Maher return
• Adrian Grenier's documentary Teenage Paparazzo set to debut in September

TORONTO, July 29 /CNW/ - Beginning in September, HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada), presents a fall season bursting with premium entertainment that includes new and returning HBO original series, home-grown original programming, revealing documentaries and a live boxing event.

Sunday, September 19 brings the highly anticipated debut of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, the new one-hour Prohibition-era drama from Terence Winter, the Emmy® Award-winning writer of The Sopranos, and Academy® Award-winning director Martin Scorsese. Leading into the premiere of Boardwalk Empire on September 19 is the no-holds-barred Canadian original comedy series Call Me Fitz, starring Jason Priestley.

Beginning Friday, September 17, HBO's politically incorrect pundit Bill Maher is back with new episodes of his hit talk/comedy series Real Time With Bill Maher. On Sunday, September 26, subscribers can look forward to the return of two half-hour HBO comedies, as Bored To Death and Eastbound and Down are back for sophomore seasons.

In October, In Treatment, the half-hour drama chronicling the weekly therapy sessions of psychotherapist Paul Weston (Golden Globe®-winner Gabriel Byrne), returns for a third season. Also in October, Durham County, the award-winning Canadian original drama starring Hugh Dillon, premieres on HBO Canada for its third and final season.

From HBO's documentary slate comes the Adrian Grenier-directed Teenage Paparazzo, along with The Fence and War Don Don. Also, HBO Canada continues to bring the best of boxing to Canadian viewers with a live event scheduled for September from HBO's Boxing After Dark (September 11) series.

Additional information for HBO Canada's fall programming is outlined below:

Boardwalk Empire
Premieres Sunday, September 19 at 9 p.m. ET/MT
Set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol became illegal throughout the United States, this new series from executive producer Martin Scorsese chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed leader of the city, who was equal parts politician and gangster. Created by Terence Winter, and also executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Tim Van Patten. Starring Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Michael Shannon, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael K. Williams, Dabney Coleman and Gretchen Mol.

Call Me Fitz
Premieres Sunday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET/MT
Debuting with back-to-back half-hour episodes, Call Me Fitz stars Jason Priestley as Richard "Fitz" Fitzpatrick, a handsome, substance-abusing used-car salesman who torments his naïve co-workers, sleeps with any woman who has a pulse, and thinks his life is perfect. His sybaritic lifestyle undergoes a radical transformation after a disastrous test-drive puts a potential customer in a coma and unleashes Fitz's conscience, literally, in the form of Larry, a gentle man intent on rehabilitating Fitz's battered psyche. Also starring Ernest Grunwald, Peter MacNeill, Kathleen Munroe, Tracy Dawson, Donavon Stinson and Brooke Nevin.

Real Time With Bill Maher (Season 8)
Premieres Friday, September 17 at 10 p.m. ET/MT
HBO's irrepressible, politically incorrect pundit, Bill Maher returns with new episodes of his HBO original series that offers viewers a unique perspective on contemporary issues. Each live edition of the series includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

Bored To Death (Season 2)
Premieres Sunday, September 26 at 10 p.m. ET/MT
HBO's quirky half-hour comedy returns for a second season, following Brooklyn writer Jonathan Ames, who lives his life based on a character from his favourite series of detective novels - an unlicensed, inexperienced private eye. Starring Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, and Zach Galifianakis, written and executive produced by Jonathan Ames, and co-executive produced by David Becky and Stephanie Davis.

Eastbound and Down (Season 2)
Premieres Sunday, September 26 at 10:30 p.m. ET/MT
Executive produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, this no-holds-barred, half-hour comedy follows Kenny Powers, an arrogant, burned-out, washed-up major league ballplayer who in season 1 returned to his old middle school to teach Phys Ed years after he turned his back on his hometown. In season 2, Kenny is still hiding from his problems and finds himself in Mexico where he joins a local baseball team. Starring Danny McBride.

In Treatment (Season 3)
Premieres October 2010
Executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, HBO's half-hour drama returns for a third season, chronicling the weekly therapy sessions of psychotherapist Paul Weston (Golden Globe®-winner Gabriel Byrne). Joining the cast for Season 3 as one of Dr. Weston's new patients is Debra Winger, who plays a waning star worried about the future of her career.

Durham County (Season 3)
Premieres October 2010
Winner of five Gemini Awards, this one-hour dark drama returns for a third and final season. In the final season Detective Mike Sweeney and his new task force investigate the brutal murder of two young boys along a busy stretch of highway. As the investigation expands, one of Mike's own officers struggles to bury a dangerous secret. Meanwhile Audrey and Sadie embark on a new chapter of their lives, while Mike must push himself beyond his limits to overcome a sudden tragedy that may tear his family apart forever. Starring Hugh Dillon, Hélène Joy, Laurence Leboeuf, Greyston Holt and new cast member Michael Nardone.

Teenage Paparazzo
Premieres Monday, September 27 at 9 p.m. ET/MT
Directed by Entourage's Adrian Grenier, this documentary chronicles the true story of the relationship between 14-year-old paparazzo Austin Visschedyk and Grenier. Inspired by a chance encounter with Visschedyk during a night out, Grenier decides to turn the cameras on him in an effort to document this unique teenager's world. But actor-director Grenier soon finds the project turning into a personal challenge, as he is forced to take responsibility for his influence on his subject's life.

The Fence
Premieres Wednesday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET/MT
This documentary investigates the United States government's decision to build a fence along its troubled Mexican border, and the impact of the project three years later. Directed and produced by Rory Kennedy, the film follows the fence through private ranches, protected wilderness, bustling border towns and scrub desert for a revealing and often surprising look at how its stated goals, containing illegal immigration, cracking down on drug trafficking and protecting America from terrorists, have given way to unforeseen consequences.

War Don Don
Premieres Wednesday, September 22 at 8 p.m. ET/MT
From director Rebecca Richman Cohen, this documentary follows the story of Issa Sesay in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Prosecutors say Sesay is a war criminal, guilty of heinous crimes against humanity. His defenders say he is a reluctant fighter who protected civilians and played a crucial role in bringing peace to Sierra Leone. With unprecedented access to prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims, and, from behind bars, Sesay himself, War Don Don puts international justice on trial for the world to see.

New episodes of all series will continue to air throughout fall and will also be simulcast on HBO Canada HD and will be available on demand following their network premieres.

Media are invited to learn more about HBO Canada's fall line-up on Astral's fall preview site at: http://tv.astral.com/highlights/

HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada). HBO Canada brings Canadians the current slate of signature dramatic programs for which HBO is known, together with new and never-before-seen programming including comedy series, live specials, sporting events, behind-the-scenes content and titles from HBO's extensive library - all in an uncut and commercial-free environment. HBO Canada is offered in high definition on HBO Canada HD and programming is accessible on demand where available by service provider. For more information, please visit www.hbocanada.com.

The Movie Network is a member of the Astral family. Astral is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates over 100 of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B/CJR), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation.

For access to The Movie Network's media room or Movie Central's press site, please visit http://tv.astral.com or http://mediacentre.corusent.com/mediacentre/home.asp.

For further information: