Simon Houpt, the Globe and Mail‘s senior media writer, tweets that CBC’s cancelled series Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays is coming back under the new regime.
Fans of critically acclaimed comedies, rejoice: CBC is reviving “Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays.” Welcome back, @drstorper and @mattywatts.
— Simon Houpt (@simonhoupt) February 17, 2015
This is great news for those of us whose podcast partners mock us for bringing up the show every chance we get. Ahem.
Based on the real-life neuroses of co-writer and star Matt Watts, who played patient to Bob Martin’s therapist, Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays got critical acclaim but “boutique ratings” (in Watts’ words).
Heather Conway, executive vice-president of English services, has stated her intention to move toward more cable-like fare for the public broadcaster. The main criticism Michael faced in its one-season run was that it felt out of place on a populist broadcaster … and had the viewers to match. Its December 2011 finale garnered just 145,000 in overnight ratings.
With a new programming direction and new promotion, could Michael pull a Murdoch Mysteries and rise from the dead to a bigger audience? Here’s hoping.
Wow Diane. You must be one happy camper today. I must confess that I’ve never seen a single episode of the show. While I make a point to watch at least one episode of every Canadian drama that’s come along, I often pass on the half-hour comedies. Maybe I should check it out one day.
I’m SO HAPPY. Tempered with … but I want confirmation. Overpowered by … he’s the Globe’s senior media writer and I trust him. YAY. It’s kind of a dramedy, though I hate that term, and I think you’d know from one episode if it was for you or not if you ever want to try. It’s still on their website.