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Chaos is the new normal: Season 4 of CTV original comedy Children Ruin Everything premieres October 17

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From a media release:

Parenting: it just gets weirder (and funnier) as kids grow up! CTV announced today that its original comedy CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING returns for its fourth season, airing Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, beginning Oct. 17. A comedic love letter to childrearing, CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING stars Meaghan Rath (BEING HUMAN) and Aaron Abrams (BLINDSPOT) and is created and executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Kurt Smeaton (SCHITT’S CREEK). Set and filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, Ont., Season 4 consists of 16 half-hour episodes, with the first eight episodes airing this fall.

In Season 4 of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING, Astrid (Rath) faces the pressure of being the sole breadwinner while James (Abrams) struggles with being a stay-at-home dad. Parenting is more challenging and funnier than ever as the kids grow up and their exposure to the world expands. With more influences and experiences outside of Astrid and James’ watchful eyes, parenting becomes more complicated, involving more guesswork and investigations. This season also finds Felix (Logan Nicholson) asserting more independence and attitude, Viv (Mikayla SwamiNathan) dealing with friend drama at school, and Morris, well, being a toddler. While these new complications may pull Astrid and James in different directions, they always end up on the same page – even if that page is dog-eared and stained with jam.

Also returning for Season 4 are: two-time Canadian Screen Award-winner Ennis Esmer (BLINDSPOT, SCHITT’S CREEK) as James’ best friend Ennis; Nazneen Contractor (RANSOM, HEROES REBORN) as Astrid’s sister Dawn; Dmitry Chepovetsky (KILLJOYS, DEPARTURE) as Bo, Dawn’s eccentric husband; Darius Rota as Dawn and Bo’s 13-year-old son Corey; Veena Sood (CORNER GAS ANIMATED, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE) as Astrid and Dawn’s over-sharing mother Nisha; and Lisa Codrington (LETTERKENNY, THE LAKE) as James’ ambitious former boss Marla. Bruce McCulloch (THE KIDS IN THE HALL) and Anna Hopkins (THE EXPANSE, SHADOWHUNTERS) reprise their roles as Councillor Leonard Flynn and Rachel a.k.a. “Disaster Mom”, respectively. Plus, Scott Thompson (KIDS IN THE HALL), Carolyn Taylor (BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW), Colin Mochrie (MURDOCH MYSTERIES), and David Cronenberg (STAR TREK: DISCOVERY) are confirmed as new guest stars this season.

On the Season 4 premiere of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING, titled “Respect” (Thursday, Oct. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app), Astrid and James realize they are at the dawning of a new era when Felix starts showing signs of pre-teen rebellion. As they struggle to manage his shifting moods, they learn this next phase of parenting might be the hardest one yet. Meanwhile, James tries to ease tensions after he rejects Bo’s job offer.

Earlier this year, CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING earned three Canadian Screen Awards, including a first-ever win for Meaghan Rath for Best Lead Performer, Comedy, a second consecutive win for Ennis Esmer for Best Supporting Performer, Comedy, and a win for Best Writing, Comedy for series creator Kurt Smeaton. Season 3 of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING ranks as last fall’s most-watched Canadian comedy.

New episodes of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING also stream Fridays on Crave, beginning Oct. 18. Past seasons of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING are also currently available for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app with no subscription or sign-in required, and Crave. In the U.S., CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING airs on The CW. The first three seasons are also available on Netflix in Canada, the U.K., and German-speaking territories, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg.

CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is from award-winning comedy entertainment studio New Metric Media, and is created and executive produced by Emmy®, Golden Globe®, and Canadian Screen Award-winner Kurt Smeaton (SCHITT’S CREEK, KIM’S CONVENIENCE), and executive produced by Chuck Tatham (MODERN FAMILY, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), multiple Canadian Screen Award-winner Mark Montefiore (LETTERKENNY, SHORESY, BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE, WHAT WOULD SAL DO?), Anita Kapila (STRAYS, SON OF A CRITCH), and Meaghan Rath. Kathleen Phillips (WORKIN’ MOMS, CRAWFORD) serves as executive producer, Andrew De Angelis (THE LAKE, KILLJOYS) as co-executive producer, with Alyson Richards (The Retreat) serving as producer and New Metric’s Max Wolfond (BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE) acting as supervising producer.

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Children Ruin Everything, Featured

CTV announces 16 episode order of original comedy Children Ruin Everything

From a media release:

CTV announced today a 16-episode order of Canadian Screen Award-nominated comedy CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING from New Metric Media. With production beginning today in Toronto and Hamilton, Ont., Meaghan Rath (BEING HUMAN) and Aaron Abrams (BLINDSPOT) return for 16 half-hour episodes, alongside Logan Nicholson, Mikayla SwamiNathan, Canadian Screen Award-winner Ennis Esmer, Nazneen Contractor, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Veena Sood and Lisa Codrington. Part 1 of Season 4 set to air during CTVs 2024/2025 schedule. CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is created by Emmy® Award-winner Kurt Smeaton (SCHITT’S CREEK).

A comedic love letter to childrearing, CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING follows parents Astrid (Rath) and James (Abrams), as they raise their three young children and struggle to hold on to their pre-kid life, while discovering all of the little ways that raising kids has reshaped their world. Each episode explores how the demands, needs and whims of the little weirdos they love so dearly shape and change their lives.

The fun and fumbles of raising kids continues for Astrid (Rath), who now faces the pressure of being the sole bread winner, and James (Abrams), who struggles with his new role of stay-at-home dad. Parenting is more challenging and funnier than ever with tween Felix (Nicholson) asserting more independence and attitude, seven-year-old Viv (SwamiNathan) dealing with friend drama at school, and Morris, a toddler who steals. Meanwhile, Astrid’s sister Dawn (Contractor) and her husband Bo (Chepovetsky) fuss over their surrogate’s pregnancy, Bo’s business find new success under Marla’s (Codrington) watchful eye, and James’s best pal Ennis (Esmer) finally commits to a relationship. The complications of work and child-rearing may pull Astrid and James in different directions but they always end up on the same page – even if that page is dog-eared and stained with jam.

The sophomore season of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING garnered seven nominations for the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, including back-to-back Lead Performer, Comedy for Meaghan Rath and Best Supporting Performer, Comedy for Ennis Esmer – who won the award in 2023. The series also leads the nominees for the 28th Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) Screenwriting Awards this month.

The first three seasons of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING are currently available for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app with no subscription or sign-in required, and Crave. In the U.S., CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING airs on The CW. The first two seasons are also available on Netflix in Canada, the U.K., and German-speaking territories, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg.

CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is from award-winning comedy entertainment studio New Metric Media and is created and executive produced by Smeaton and executive produced by Chuck Tatham (MODERN FAMILY, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), multiple Canadian Screen Award-winner Mark Montefiore (LETTERKENNY, SHORESY, BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE, WHAT WOULD SAL DO?), and Meaghan Rath, with Alyson Richards (The Retreat) serving as Producer.

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Children Ruin Everything

Season 3 of CTV original comedy Children Ruin Everything premieres Sept. 27

From a media release:

Two working parents raising three children under the age of 10 – what could possibly go wrong? CTV announced today that Canadian Screen Award-nominated comedy CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING returns for its third season, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, beginning Sept. 27. A comedic love letter to childrearing, CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING stars Meaghan Rath (BEING HUMAN) and Aaron Abrams (BLINDSPOT), and is created and executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Kurt Smeaton (SCHITT’S CREEK). Season 3 consists of 10 half-hour episodes, and was filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, Ont.

Season 3 finds the Berneys struggling to find balance between raising their 10-year-old, six-year-old, and one-and-a-half year old children. Each episode explores how the demands, needs and whims of the little weirdos they love so dearly shape and change their lives. Whether it’s privacy, relaxing weekends, or an intimate moment, children ruin everything in funny, unexpected, and even heartwarming ways. While Astrid (Rath) and James (Abrams) continue to tackle everyday parenting problems, they also deal with more complicated issues like a tween who wants more independence, a six-year-old who wants to wear crop tops, and a toddler who refuses to potty train. On top of all that, a discovery about one of their kids has Astrid and James wondering if they’ve been doing this parenting thing all wrong.

Returning for Season 3 alongside Rath and Abrams are Logan Nicholson (BLUES CLUES AND YOU) and Mikayla SwamiNathan as Felix and Viv, James and Astrid’s 10-year-old son, and six-year-old daughter; Canadian Screen Award-winner Ennis Esmer (BLINDSPOT, SCHITT’S CREEK) as James’ best friend and colleague Ennis; Nazneen Contractor (RANSOM, HEROES REBORN) as Astrid’s close-to-perfect sister Dawn; Dmitry Chepovetsky (KILLJOYS, DEPARTURE) as Bo, Dawn’s eccentric husband; Darius Rota as Dawn and Bo’s 12-year-old son Corey; Veena Sood (CORNER GAS ANIMATED, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE) as Astrid and Dawn’s over-sharing mother Nisha; and Lisa Codrington (LETTERKENNY, THE LAKE) as James’ ambitious boss Marla. Anna Hopkins (THE EXPANSE, SHADOWHUNTERS) reprises her role as “Disaster Mom,” with Bruce McCulloch (THE KIDS IN THE HALL) and Emma Hunter (MOONSHINE) guest starring.

On the Season 3 premiere of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING, titled “Therapy” (Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app), while waiting on the results of an evaluation for Viv, Astrid and James feel the pressure of figuring out how to best help their possibly neurodivergent child. But when Viv’s new doctor, guest star Emma Hunter, rubs Astrid the wrong way, Astrid tries coming up with her own strategies for Viv. Meanwhile, at Gero’s Grocery, the enlistment of Fintekoäly – a tech company hired to automate checkouts at Gero’s – makes Marla uneasy.

Season 2 of the CTV Original series was the most-watched Canadian comedy this broadcast season. The first two seasons of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING are currently available for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app with no subscription or sign-in required, as well as Crave. In the U.S., Season 3 of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING will premiere on The CW.

CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is from award-winning comedy entertainment studio New Metric Media and is created and executive produced by Smeaton and executive produced by Chuck Tatham (MODERN FAMILY, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), multiple Canadian Screen Award-winner Mark Montefiore (LETTERKENNY, SHORESY, BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE, WHAT WOULD SAL DO?), and Meaghan Rath, with Alyson Richards (The Retreat) serving as Producer.

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Astrid & Lilly Save the World, Awards, Children Ruin Everything, Featured, Industry News, The Porter

2023 WGC Screenwriting Awards winners announced

From a media release:

In a funny, lively ceremony held this evening at Koerner Hall in Toronto, the winners of the 27th annual Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards were announced. The first in-person WGC Awards ceremony since 2019 (due to COVID-19 precautions), tonight’s gala brought together hundreds of Guild members, industry professionals, and fans—all in celebration of the Canadian screenwriters behind the programming and films viewers enjoy in Canada and around the world.

Some winners of 2023’s top prizes include Clement Virgo (Brother), Marsha Greene (The Porter, pictured above), Kurt Smeaton (Children Ruin Everything), Jason Sherman (My Tree), and Veronika Paz (Astrid & Lilly Save the World). Special awards were also presented to Laura Good, winner of the Sondra Kelly Award, and Adrian Morphy, who was awarded the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize for his script The 300 Year Old Man. Susin Nielsen, creator and showrunner of Family Law, received the Showrunner Award—the prestigious final prize of the event.

The ceremony was hosted by Vance Banzo, a Saulteaux/Cree comedian, actor, writer, and member of award-winning sketch comedy troupe and series TallBoyz. Awards were presented on stage by showrunner Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved, Run the Burbs); actress Paloma Nuñez (Shelved); actress and screenwriter Emma Campbell (The Next Step); writer/actor/producer Amanda Joy (Son of a Critch, Amelia Parker); showrunner Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp); writer and producer JP Larocque (Sort Of, JANN); actor and screenwriter Sugith Varughese (Transplant, Fraggle Rock); Amir Kahnamouee (previous WGC Jim Burt Prize winner); and screenwriter and producer Ken Craw (Heartland).

2023 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS WINNERS

CHILDREN’S
The Guava Juice Show, “Adventure 9000″ Written by Christine Mitchell

COMEDY SERIES
Children Ruin Everything, “Road Trips” Written by Kurt Smeaton

DOCUMENTARY
My Tree, Written by Jason Sherman

DRAMA SERIES
The Porter, “Episode 104” Written by Marsha Greene (pictured above)

FEATURE FILM
Brother, Written by Clement Virgo

MOW & MINISERIES
Written in the Stars, Written by David Elver

PRESCHOOL
Dino Ranch, “Wings Over Dino Ranch” Written by Ben Joseph & Mike D’Ascenzo

SHORTS
Second Life, Written by Darrin Rose

TWEENS & TEENS
Astrid & Lilly Save the World, “One Rib” Written by Veronika Paz

JIM BURT SCREENWRITING PRIZE
Adrian Morphy for The 300 Year Old Man

SONDRA KELLY AWARD
Laura Good

SHOWRUNNER AWARD
Susin Nielsen

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Children Ruin Everything

CTV announces third season of original comedy Children Ruin Everything

From a media release:

CTV announced today that Canadian Screen Award-nominated comedy CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is set to return for a third season. Production on 10, half-hour episodes of the CTV Original series from New Metric Media is underway in Toronto and Hamilton, Ont. Meaghan Rath and Aaron Abrams return, alongside Logan Nicholson, Mikayla SwamiNathan, Ennis Esmer, Nazneen Contractor, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Veena Sood, Lisa Codrington, and Darius Rota. CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is created by Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winner Kurt Smeaton (SCHITT’S CREEK, KIM’s CONVENIENCE).

CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING follows parents Astrid (Rath) and James (Abrams), as they raise their three young children and struggle to hold on to their pre-kid life, while discovering all of the little ways that raising kids has reshaped their world. Season 2 of the CTV Original series is the Top Canadian Comedy broadcast year-to-date among key demos A25-54 and A18-49.

The first two seasons of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING are currently available for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app, as well as Crave, and are available on The Roku Channel in the U.S. Season two of the series was split into two seasons in the U.S., with season three launching on The Roku Channel on Friday, May 12.

CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING is from award-winning comedy entertainment studio New Metric Media and is created and executive produced by Smeaton and executive produced by one of television’s premier comedy writers Chuck Tatham (MODERN FAMILY, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), multiple Canadian Screen Award-winner Mark Montefiore (LETTERKENNY, SHORESY, BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE, WHAT WOULD SAL DO?), and Meaghan Rath, with Alyson Richards (The Retreat) serving as Producer.

Bell Media Distribution is the international rights holder for CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING, and New Metric Media is the series’ exclusive International Sales Agent. The series is produced by New Metric Media in association with CTV, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and Bell Fund.

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