A muddy and sometimes explosive reality show is coming to Canadian TV this week as 10 contestants vie to become the country害羞草研究所檚top amateur potter.

Their creations are delicate, but the potters are tough,saysJennifer Robertson, host of 害羞草研究所淭he Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down害羞草研究所� premiering Thursday on CBC and streaming on CBC Gem.

害羞草研究所淭here aren害羞草研究所檛 a lot of art forms that if you have one slight misstep, your entire piece can just explode,害羞草研究所� says the actorwho is best known for her role as Jocelyn Schitt in the broadcaster害羞草研究所檚 award-winning comedyshow 害羞草研究所淪chitt害羞草研究所檚 Creek.害羞草研究所�

The potters are accustomed to navigating the emotional ups and downs of making ceramics, she says, but they still pray to the 害羞草研究所渒iln gods害羞草研究所� to spare their work.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 tears,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭hey put a lot of themselves into a lot of these pieces.害羞草研究所�

The eight-episode series, shot on Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Granville Island, follows potters from across the country as they transform mounds of clay into sculptural artworks and functional wares, making everything from table lamps to fountains to dinnerware for a nine-course tasting menu.

Viewers who aren害羞草研究所檛 familiar with ceramics will be drawn to watching the 害羞草研究所渞aw creativity害羞草研究所� of the potters in action, says Brendan Tang, one of two expert judges and an instructor at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver.

Toronto-based ceramic artist and educator Natalie Waddell also joins as an expert judge, while another potter with roots in Vancouver makes an appearance.

Seth Rogen is a guest judge and executive producer for the show, which emulates the 害羞草研究所淕reat Pottery Throw Down害羞草研究所� that originated in the United Kingdom in 2015.

In the opening episode, Rogen shows the potters how to recreate the first piece he ever threw on the wheel 害羞草研究所� an ashtray 害羞草研究所� and asks them to put their own spin on the shape in a 30-minute challenge related to the actor害羞草研究所檚 other pot-related pastime.

While Tang was initially 害羞草研究所渟tar struck害羞草研究所� meeting Rogen, he says they quickly became 害羞草研究所渢wo clay nerds害羞草研究所� talking about the many facets of ceramics explored in the show.

That includes raku firing, a technique in which pieces are removed from the kiln glowing red hot, then placed in a fiery container of combustible materials to create a variety of colours and effects.

害羞草研究所淚 saw how dedicated he is,害羞草研究所� Tang says of Rogen. 害羞草研究所淚 really enjoyed that.害羞草研究所�

Robertson jokes that any qualms about a 害羞草研究所淗ollywood guy害羞草研究所� stealing the show were quickly dispelled as it became clear that Rogen takes pottery 害羞草研究所渧ery seriously.害羞草研究所�

The Canadian Press asked CBC for an interview with Rogen, but he wasn害羞草研究所檛 available.

Robertson isn害羞草研究所檛 herself a potter, although she has built a collection over the years. It now proudly includes a wonky little pot that one of the judges helped her make while they were filming last summer, she says.

The 害羞草研究所淕inny & Georgia害羞草研究所� star says watching the potters and seeing the results of their skill and dedication has given her a new appreciation for the art form.

害羞草研究所淣ow, I can look at a piece and I know what害羞草研究所檚 gone into it, the energy and effort.害羞草研究所�

Tang says his jaw 害羞草研究所渉it the ground害羞草研究所� when he saw the quality of the 害羞草研究所淭hrow Down害羞草研究所� potters害羞草研究所� work and 害羞草研究所渉ow high they were shooting害羞草研究所� with their creations.

害羞草研究所淚 thought I knew who was going to win from the get-go, and there are so many twists and turns in this show, it害羞草研究所檚 great,害羞草研究所� Tang says.

The contestants complete two challenges each week, sometimes exploring shapes, materials and techniques they have never tried before. The judges select one person to be named potter of the week, while another is sent home 害羞草研究所� and not without tears from some of their fellow contestants as they say goodbye.

It害羞草研究所檚 a reality competition show, but Robertson says there are no 害羞草研究所渧illains.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e have the kiln, that害羞草研究所檚 bad enough sometimes,害羞草研究所� she adds.

Tang says he害羞草研究所檚 noticed a surge of people, like Rogen, catching the pottery bug in recent years. The pandemic further spurred the trend as many people sought new ways to reconnect with themselves, he says, and ceramics is the perfect fit.

害羞草研究所淚t almost becomes like a meditation in motion or a flow-state practice, and I think people really enjoy that, where the world just disappears,害羞草研究所� Tang says.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e talking about a medium that has a 32,000-year history with our species, so we害羞草研究所檝e been playing with clay since, like, the beginning, almost,害羞草研究所� he adds.

The show is a 害羞草研究所渢hrow down,害羞草研究所� but Tang says it captures a studio filled with 害羞草研究所渃amaraderie害羞草研究所� as the potters cheer each other on to create deeply personal work.

害羞草研究所淚 think we see the tough parts of the human spirit every day on the news, and this is like the positive part of being human.害羞草研究所�

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