Allan Hawco is about as close to a mogul as it gets in Canada these days. The creator, executive producer, writer, and star of 'Republic of Doyle' has parlayed a winning first season into global sales and five Gemini nominations. Not bad for a show just one year old; not to mention it's set in the relatively obscure world of St. John's, Newfoundland. Hawco, a Newfoundlander himself, plays Jake Doyle, an unconventional private eye who creates almost as much trouble as he resolves. He's a gifted sleuth with colorful baggage and an eye for adventure. Females make up 56 percent of the show's fan base and there's little wondering why -- Hawco's loaded with charm.

TV Squad spoke with Hawco direct from the St. John's set of 'Republic of Doyle,' where he's shooting an episode for the second season. He was up-front about Newfoundland humor, what the show's secret is and why they don't do stereotypes.

On Sunday night, I watched 'Keep Your Head Up Kid: The Don Cherry Story' on CBC because, as my beloved said, "We kind of have to, don't we?" I think he was thinking of my job as a Canadian TV columnist, our status as hockey fans or maybe he only meant there wasn't much else on.

But watch it we did (the first half anyway - the rest airs Monday March 29, 8 pm, CBC) and frankly, I thought it was pretty good, and I'm a little surprised about it.

CBC miniseries are not usually my cup of tea. The subjects are usually dead white guys who made Important Contributions to Our Country, which I always feel I'm supposed to know about already.

Don Cherry even agrees with me. "I feel like I should be dead," he said at a press conference for the series. "Don't they usually do these kinds of movies about dead people?"