Homegrown shows make their mark
TELEVISION: Series like Kim’s Convenience, Mohawk Girls and Baroness Von Sketch Show prove Canada has serious game
Once the markers of Canadian TV were The Beachcombers, Da Vinci’s Inquest, Corner Gas and Slings and Arrows. Now there’s a new generation of homegrown TV making its mark on the landscape. These 11 shows are some of the best around.
Baroness Von Sketch Show
Watch it: Tuesdays on CBC, cbc.ca/baroness
A sketch comedy with an absurdist and modern edge, Baroness Von Sketch Show has been called Kids in the Hall but with women. It’s also been called just plain funny, with topics ranging from screen addiction to Airbnbs to ultrasounds. Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne and Jennifer Whalen star. Season 2 is now airing.
Kim’s Convenience
Watch it: Repeats Tuesdays and Fridays on CBC, cbc.ca/kimsconvenience
Lauded for its fresh take on the immigrant experience, the comedy centres on a Korean-Canadian family running a convenience store in downtown Toronto. It’s Canada’s first sitcom led by an Asian cast — a boon in the push for diversity in TV.
The show earned 11 Canadian Screen Award nominations in its first season. Season 2 debuts on CBC this fall.
Letterkenny
Watch it: CraveTV It’s an affectionate, sharp and well-crafted take on small-town Canada, with characters that fall into three groups: the hicks, the skids and hockey players. You know these guys and gals. Star Jared Keeso (19-2), is the creator and star of Letterkenny, which, in its two seasons so far, has pocketed four Canadian Screen Awards.
Mohawk Girls
Watch it: Repeats Saturdays on APTN, aptn.ca/mohawkgirls
Dubbed Sex and the City, but with Mohawk women, this dramatic comedy mines gold in issues of cultural identity, sexuality and friendship.
Brittany LeBorgne, Heather White, Maika Harper and Jennifer Pudavick star. The fifth and final season debuts on APTN this fall.
“The final scene is going to be traumatic (to film),” creator Tracey Deer told TV, Eh? “There is an event that is going to take up a lot of the final episode and there is a pool involved.”
Murdoch Mysteries
Watch it: Repeats on CBC, FX Canada and City, cbc.ca/murdoch mysteries/ episodes
The detective drama set in early 20th century Toronto turns 10 this fall.
Secure in its storytelling, Murdoch aims to keep things fresh.
“I think there will be some unexpected returning characters to the show,” showrunner Peter Mitchell told TV, Eh? about the new season.
“We’re also looking at adding a couple of semi-recurring characters onto the show.”
Orphan Black
Watch it: Saturdays on Space, space.ca
It’s easily the most acclaimed Canadian series about clones — OK, it’s probably the only Canadian series about clones — but Orphan Black’s praise is justified.
Tatiana Maslany continues her Emmy-winning turn in the show’s fifth and final season, which ends Aug. 12.
Private Eyes
Watch it: Thursdays on Global, globaltv.com/privateeyes/video
What’s not to love about Jason Priestley solving crimes?
The erstwhile Brandon Walsh is in his second season playing a former hockey player who teams up with a private investigator.
This season the show welcomes William Shatner, IndyCar Series driver James (Hinch) Hinchcliffe, fashion entrepreneur Jeanne Beker and designer Stephan Caras.
Saving Hope
Watch it: Thursdays on CTV, ctv.ca/SavingHope
As Boyz II Men once sang, it’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday. But Erica Durance, Michael Shanks and the rest of the stars of the supernatural medical drama must do just that, with Saving Hope now in it its fifth and final season.
Schitt’s Creek
Watch it: Repeats Thursdays on CBC, cbc.ca/schittscreek
It’s a fish-out-of-water story for the ages — if the fish were rich and learned life lessons from living in an unfortunately named town. The comedy starring Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy and Annie Murphy will air its fourth season next year.
The Amazing Race Canada
Watch it: Season 5 kicks off July 4 on CTV
Can’t swing a summer vacation this year? Wiggle into the sweet spot on the couch and revel in being an armchair adventurer instead. Among the teams this season: mother-and-son funeral directors from B.C., surfer dudes from Collingwood, Ont., and ex-models from Montreal.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Watch it: Bravo.ca/Shows/ TheHandmaids Tale
With a darkly topical premise, critical acclaim and major buzz, The Handmaid’s Tale is one of the biggest shows of 2017.
The show is filmed in Canada and is based on Margaret Atwood’s likenamed dystopian novel, so we’re giving it honorary Canadian status.
It’s been renewed for a second season.