From Bill Brioux of the Canadian Press:
Link: Joel Thomas Hynes says CBC series ‘Little Dog’ is about comebacks
“Rocky” long ago proved that when it comes to boxing movies, audiences love an underdog.
The new made-in-Canada series “Little Dog” will test whether that also holds true for television. The black comedy steps into the ring Thursday on CBC. Continue reading.
From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:
Link: In Little Dog, Joel Thomas Hynes and Sherry White give us a boxer who’s more vulnerable than macho
It was physical pain that led Joel Thomas Hynes to create his first TV series, Little Dog, which is fitting since it’s about a boxer.
Tommy “Little Dog†Ross, played by Hynes, is a former contender in the superwelterweight division in Newfoundland; he walked out of a bout five years before and has been living with the shame and notoriety ever since. The dark half-hour comedy debuts Thursday, March 1 at 9 p.m. on CBC. Continue reading.
From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:
Link: CBC’s Little Dog is a rockin’ raucous gem of a serious comedy
It’s an old idea but usually a promising one – a down-on-his-luck boxer sets out on the comeback trail.
That’s the gist of Little Dog (starts Thursday, 9 p.m. on CBC with two episodes) and it has a clean, raw vivacity, made even more enjoyable by a large injection of rough Newfoundland humour. This is very much a rollicking, bawdy Newfoundland drama-comedy made with characteristic vigour and equally characteristic absurdity. It is, in the context of a wave of bland mid-season TV, a breath of fresh air. Continue reading.
From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:
Link: How Little Dog’s female lens adds a new layer to what could be a typical macho story
“But with a female lens on it, and exploring that vulnerability and broken masculinity in the hands of women telling that story, I feel it’s quite interesting. Joel had full faith and trust and totally gave over to that. He didn’t want to tell a typical macho story, even though he has all that armour, he’s aware that it’s hiding a vulnerability and it’s part of why he wanted to tell this story.” Continue reading.
From Melissa Girimonte of The Televixen:
Link: Family is the true opponent in new comedy series Little Dog
“He basically dumped his boxing career down the drain. We’re picking up five years later and it all comes back. He gets into a bar fight that somebody records, it goes viral, and he ends up back in the news. His old rival makes a challenge and he ends up on the road to a rematch with this guy.” Continue reading.
From Doug Sarti of The Georgia Strait:
Link: Katharine Isabelle goes from scream queen to just screaming on Little Dog
Little Dog, the dark new comedy series from CBC, is about a lot things. There’s redemption, second chances, boxing, and most of all, family.
But there’s one part of the show which really taps into the simmering attitudes of the current zeitgeist: Luv Yourself Mean, an encounter group which decidedly focuses on the negative. Run by “holistic advisor†Ginny Ross (Katharine Isabelle), it’s the perfect pop-therapy cure for the Trump era. Continue reading.
From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:
Link: Patricia Isaac on the many layers of her Little Dog doctor
“When I first learned about the details of the project, I, like most people do, fell for the story of one person’s quest for redemption. Second, I found the script hilarious and have always been a massive fan of smart comedy. But on top of that, I fell for the humanity.” Continue reading.
