22 Minutes having an ‘existential crisis’
Shaun Majumder’s exit called ‘tip of the iceberg’ as show revamps format
The abrupt departure of star Shaun Majumder from CBC’s
22 Minutes heralds some significant changes to the upcoming season of the sketch comedy show, even as insiders point to what they say is an “existential crisis” at the long-running and beloved Canadian series.
In exclusive interviews with the Star, producers outlined plans for a revamped 22 Min
utes that will showcase four nights of 10-minute digital-only shows. The series is also adding two new “correspondents” in Toronto and Vancouver leading up to the weekly broadcast premiering Sept. 18 on CBC.
The two new cast members include Ann Pornel in Toronto, who made her name as an ensemble member of Second City, and standup comic Graham Clark, who will report from Vancouver in what producers hope will provide more a more “real-time” response to the news of the day.
“It’s going to be a great year,” said showrunner and executive producer Peter McBain. “It’s not often you get the Toronto city council taking action against the premier for starters. And there is some guy in the United States who shoots his mouth off. So we have a lot to work with.”
Producers would not directly address the allegations made by Majumder that he was let go over “creative differences.”
“Shaun made a huge contribution to the success of the show and he had a great run, but the CBC and DHX media just decided to go in a different direction,” said DHX Media spokesperson Shaun Smith. DHX produces the show in partnership with the CBC.
However, insiders say Majumder’s departure is just the “tip of the iceberg” in a major retooling that has seen more than half the writers room let go.
Besides Majumder, the Star has learned that at least five veteran writers and two production staff have been told their contracts will not be renewed.
Founding cast member and writer Greg Thomey, who has been on air for at least 21 seasons, did not have his contract renewed. Other key writers not returning include Bob Kerr, Matt Wright, Greg Cochrane and Allison Hogg.
Tracey Jardine, vice-president at DHX Media, said the turnover in staffing is “a usual part of our business.”
“Greg (Thomey) was definitely part of the original cast. And he’s been with us a bit on the writing front. But these kinds of changes are standard changes,” said Jardine.
The Star interviewed a multitude of sources familiar with the production. Many did not want their names used because they were worried about future employment within the industry and with the CBC.
Some sources said producers may have wanted to “shake up” the show because it had gotten stale over the years.
“I think there was a existential crisis. Do you maintain your audience while it dwindles due to natural causes or do you maintain the status quo?” said one person close to production.
“I think in the case of Shaun (Majumder), he may have cer- tainly wanted to take more risk than they were comfortable with.”
The show had also lost some of its political bite. In the early years with Rick Mercer, the comics would frequently ambush politicians with embarrassing questions. In later years politicians lobbied to come on the show.
“At some point politicians realized that they should play along because it humanized them,” says one source. “But how cutting can your satire be if you’re also beholden to them for interviews, trying to hold their feet to the fire while sucking their toes?”
The show averaged 647,000 viewers per episode in the last season, down about 10 per cent from the 720,000 viewers the season before. That’s in line with the 7 per cent decrease in viewership on all English-language networks in Canada.
Unlike the very early years of the show, being edgy or taking risk were no longer rewarded, say the sources.
“For writers who are good, the best thing they write isn’t necessarily welcome, so you compromise creatively and you see funny being left on the table,” said one. “And to be fair. Maybe this is no longer the show that should be edgy. Maybe it’s not the show that should be holding politicians’ feet to the fire”
Showrunner McBain says he doesn’t agree with the assessment that the show is compromised creatively.
“We’re a fairly broad show with several different kinds of humour, including providing sharp political aspects to our humour. We do try to cover a lot of bases.”