There's a new teen show popping up on the nation's broadcaster tonight. Edgemont, a bittersweet comedy, is CBC's latest attempt to cash in on the half-hour formula, as well as grab the attention of the Buffy generation.

At the time of writing this, I haven't been able to get much PR skinny on the show. However, a good pal of mine, Laurie Finstad-Knizhnik, was one of the writers on the project. I was out in Vancouver while she was working on the first episodes in 1999. The format was challenging, but the project was fun. Certainly something different for Finstad, who sharpened her TV chops as story editor and writer on CTV's Cold Squad.

Edgemont is "set in an outlying suburb of Vancouver, there are no adult characters in Edgemont -- just teens aged 14 to 18 who are struggling to define who they are and what they stand for. It's a struggle that will continue for the rest of their lives, but never again with such crystal clarity. Because, when you're fifteen, absolutely everything matters."

In the first episode, called Collateral Damage, Laurel, the new girl from Toronto kicks up a tornado at school, while family problems lead to Mark getting suspended.

Sound like a short Canadian version of 90210? I dunno. Laurie claims that it's good TV and she's always shot from the hip with me. So let's give Edgemont a chance and see if CBC just might have a hit on its hands.

Edgemont premieres tonight on CBC at 7 p.m. ET. Grab your teenagers, a fistful of cola, a bucket of your favourite junk food and share some quality family time.

Like so many of CBC's efforts these days, the network has set up a supercool website that augments the drama. This one has an interactive discussion forum for teens, so if you're in the right age group to debate topics like "What do you like most about high school?" dive in ...

Catch 'Em While You Can!: Catch 'Em While You Can! Two big shows end this week at the Royal Ontario Museum. Artist Paul Kane's exhibit, entitled Land Study, Studio View, will be pulling up stakes this Sunday. In the mid 19th century, Kane grabbed his oils and canvases and struck out to document the native peoples and the Canadian frontier. Like Tom Thomson, Kane traveled the Canadian hinterland, made copious sketches and then returned home to Toronto to turn the sketches into rich formal oils. Krieghoff aficionados, and lovers of Canadian landscape, should slap on their snow shoes and make haste!

Group Show: There's a great show kicking off in Vancouver. Diane Farris has gathered together her best and her brightest for a group show at her gallery. Attila Richard Lukacs, Chris Woods, Judith Currelly, Dale Chihuly, Darlene Nguyen-Ely, Shannon Belkin, Laura Wee Lay Laq, Angela Grossmann, and Jane Brookes as well as works by other Farris artisans will be shown. Talk about an incredible opportunity to see a wide-ranging exhibit of some of Canada's most fascinating contemporary artists all together under one roof at the same time. This should be a fabulous exhibition!