Everything about Crawford, eh?

Jill Hennessy stars in CBC’s offbeat critter-filled comedy Crawford

While you may not know exactly what you’re going to get from a television series involving Mike Clattenburg, you have a pretty good idea. He is, after all, the creator of Trailer Park Boys, that ribald comedy starring three East Coast dudes smoking weed, sipping adult beverages and going on profanity-laced adventures. At its heart, Trailer Park Boys was about family. Family is also at the heart of Clattenburg’s latest project, Crawford. Well, family and raccoons. Many, many raccoons.

Debuting Friday on CBC.ca and the CBC TV app before moving to the main network on June 14 at 9 p.m., Crawford‘s 12 episodes centre on a dysfunctional family headed by Cynthia (Jill Hennessy), an award-winning cereal executive trying to juggle work, her husband Owen, and her lover; and Owen (John Carroll Lynch), a former police chief who suffered a bullet wound on the job and communicates via an app on his smartphone. Adding to the nuttiness are siblings Don (Kyle Mac), a musician who returns home following an emotional breakdown; Wendy (Alice Moran) and Brian (Daniel Davis Yang).

In the first episode, “I’m not crazy, I love you,” Owen awakes to a ransacked kitchen. Food is all over the place and he has no idea who, or what has done it. Suddenly, Don arrives and begins hauling clothes and musical equipment into his old bedroom, putting a strain on a father-son relationship already smarting from something in the pair’s past. Owen is convinced burglars broke into the house while he was asleep; turns out a family of raccoons enjoyed a buffet lunch while he snoozed. And, strangely, Don feels a weird connection with the little beasts.

“I had worked with raccoons once before on Trailer Park Boys, and had a wonderful experience with them,” says series creator, head writer, director and executive producer Clattenburg. “And then I saw a documentary called Raccoon Nation and I became infatuated with them and what kind of person might try to relocate them.”

Clattenburg and co-creator, writer and composer Mike O’Neill were thinking about their own fathers—who had recently passed away—and came up with the dad character. The rest of the family dynamic followed soon after and the duo was determined to create something not seen on television before. Far from being outlandish, the pair sought to make Crawford as realistic as possible via scripts written by them, Zoe Whittall, Kathleen Phillips-Locke, Monica Heisey and Timm Hannebohm and hired dramatic actors to take on comic roles. And, in a departure from how television is usually made—table read followed by filming—the cast rehearsed extensively in advance.

“It was a luxurious, delicious gift,” Hennessy says. “You never get a chance to rehearse in TV or even in films. The rehearsal process was so invaluable because we got to know each other and become a family. We heard the dialogue come to life and the spectrum of the characters really came to life. It was one of the closest experiences I’ve had in TV to theatre.” Lines were workshopped, improvised and worked on to determine what was best for the scene and the plotline.

“It’s really spoiled me,” Mac admits. “On other shows, like 21 Thunder, for example, I had gotten into trouble all of the time for changing lines to suit how I wanted [my character] Tim to speak. You feel nervous to even experiment. And then, on Crawford, I was allowed to do that. Liberating is really the only way to describe it as an actor.”

Crawford‘s first season is available for streaming this Friday via CBC.ca and the CBC TV app. Crawford airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on CBC beginning June 14.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Photo galleries: CBC’s new midseason series Burden of Truth, Caught, Crawford and more

Did you hear the news? CBC announced its midseason schedule, jam-packed with returning favourites like Schitt’s Creek, Hello Goodbye and Workin’ Moms along with new programs like Burden of Truth starring Kristin Kreuk and Peter Mooney; Caught starring Allan Hawco, Greg Bryk, Tori Anderson and Eric Johnson; Little Dog starring Joel Thomas Hynes, Ger Ryan and Katharine Isabelle; documentary true crime series The Detectives; and Crawford starring Jill Hennessy, Kyle Mac and John Carroll Lynch.

Here’s the CBC’s official press release announcing the series and airdates. And, to get you jazzed for the new series, here are some exclusive images released by the network in support of Burden of Truth, Caught, Crawford and The Detectives. Enjoy!

Burden of Truth

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Caught

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Crawford

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The Detectives

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Which new midseason series are you most excited about? Comment below!

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CBC announces midseason schedule; plus Workin’ Moms special episode images

From a media release:

CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster and the number-one media brand in Canada,* today announced premiere dates for its winter 2018 season, featuring a uniquely Canadian slate of new and returning original series.

New additions to CBC’s primetime schedule this winter include legal drama BURDEN OF TRUTH (10×60) premiering Wed. Jan. 10, starring Kristin Kreuk as a big city lawyer who returns to her hometown to take on what she thinks is a simple case; THE DETECTIVES (8×60), a true crime series that brings to life the real investigations of Canadian detectives, premiering Wed. Jan. 10; Allan Hawco’s new drama CAUGHT (5×60) premiering Mon. Feb. 26, adapted from Lisa Moore’s acclaimed novel set in 1978 about a convicted drug dealer who attempts one more deal after a daring prison break, also starring Eric Johnson and Paul Gross; and dark comedy LITTLE DOG (7×30) from 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award-winner, musician and actor Joel Thomas Hynes, which tells the story of a super-welterweight Newfoundland boxer and his haphazard quest for redemption, premiering Thurs. Mar. 1.

All episodes of Mike Clattenburg and Mike O’Neill’s dysfunctional family comedy CRAWFORD (12×30), featuring an ensemble cast led by Jill Hennessy, John Carroll Lynch and Kyle Mac, will begin streaming on Groundhog Day, Fri. Feb. 2, for binge-viewing on the CBC TV app and cbc.ca/watch. The series will also broadcast on CBC in summer 2018.

CBC’s popular Tuesday night original comedy lineup continues on Jan. 9, with the return of the Roses as they continue to make the most of life in SCHITT’S CREEK (Season 4, 13×30), from co-creators Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy with Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliott, Jennifer Robertson and Emily Hampshire. Catherine Reitman’s boldly irreverent comedy WORKIN’ MOMS (Season 2, 13×30) is also back for the “terrible twos” on Jan. 9, and a special flashback episode with guest star Jann Arden will air on Tues. Dec. 19 at 9:30 p.m. (10 NT) ahead of the Season 2 premiere, featuring a look back at Kate (Reitman) and her best friend Anne (Dani Kind) before marriage and motherhood.

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HELLO GOODBYE (Season 3, 9×30) returns on Jan. 12 with host Dale Curd, featuring a new season of emotional airport greetings and goodbyes.

CBC will also feature the Canadian broadcast premiere of BAFTA-nominated Irish miniseries THE SECRET (4×60) on Thurs. Jan. 11, based on a true story and centred around the deadly affair between a dentist and a teacher in Northern Ireland, starring James Nesbitt and Genevieve O’Reilly.

From Feb. 9 to 25, CBC will showcase the OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES PYEONGCHANG 2018. In the lead up to the Games, CBC SPORTS will connect Canadians with high-performance athletes from Canada and around the world as ROAD TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES continues each weekend.

CBC’s winter 2018 schedule is as follows.
All series will also be available to stream on the CBC TV app and at cbc.ca/watch.

SUNDAYS
Daytime – Road to the Olympic Games *Season 3 continues each weekend
5 p.m. (6 NT) – The Wonderful World of Disney
7 p.m. (7:30 NT) – Heartland *Season 11 continues Jan. 7
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – The Nature of Things *Season 57 continues Jan. 7
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – CBC Docs POV *Season 4 continues Jan. 7
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – The National (Sunday to Friday)

MONDAYS
2 p.m. (2:30 NT) – The Goods *(Monday to Friday)
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – Murdoch Mysteries *Season 11 continues Jan. 8
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – Frankie Drake Mysteries *Debut season continues Jan. 8
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – Caught *NEW ORIGINAL SERIES premieres Feb. 26

TUESDAYS
8:00 p.m. (9:30 NT) – Rick Mercer Report *Season 15 (final season) continues Jan. 9
8:30 p.m. (9 NT) – This Hour Has 22 Minutes *Season 25 continues Jan. 9, Baroness von Sketch Show’s Meredith MacNeill joins as correspondent
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) — Schitt’s Creek *Season 4 premieres Jan. 9
9:30 p.m. (10 NT) – Workin’ Moms *Season 2 premieres Jan. 9

WEDNESDAYS
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – Burden of Truth *NEW ORIGINAL SERIES premieres Jan. 10
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – The Detectives *NEW ORIGINAL SERIES premieres Jan. 10

THURSDAYS
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – Dragons’ Den *Season 12 continues Jan. 11
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – The Secret *NEW SERIES* premieres Jan .11
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) — Little Dog *NEW ORIGINAL SERIES premieres Mar. 1

FRIDAYS
Crawford *NEW ORIGINAL SERIES begins streaming Feb. 2
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – Marketplace *Season 45 continues Jan. 12
8:30 p.m. (9 NT) – Hello Goodbye *Season 3 premieres Jan. 12
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – The Fifth Estate *Season 43 continues Jan.12

SATURDAYS
Daytime – Road to the Olympic Games *Season 3 continues each weekend
6:30 p.m. ET – Hockey Night in Canada

 

 

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Link: Workaholic Vancouver native Kelly McCormack embraces digital weirdness

From Dana Gee of The Province:

Link: Workaholic Vancouver native Kelly McCormack embraces digital weirdness
McCormack joined the cast of the hit Space/Syfy series Killjoys. She is on board for new Comedy Central/CBC series Crawford, directed by Mike Clattenburg (Trailer Park Boys). She is in the digital original series How to Buy a Baby (CBC), and is back for season three of the digital series That’s My DJ.

At this very moment you can go online and see her in action in the hilariously weird CBC digital series The Neddeaus of Duqesne Island. McCormack also produces the series under her Floyder Films banner. Continue reading.

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Casting announced for CBC’s upcoming comedy series Crawford

From a media release:

CBC and Rabbit Square Productions today announced casting for new unconventional family comedy series CRAWFORD. Created by Mike Clattenburg (Trailer Park Boys, Black Jesus), and co-created by recording artist Mike O’Neill (Moving Day, Trailer Park Boys: Don’t Legalize It), the half-hour comedy features an ensemble cast led by Jill Hennessy (Shots Fired, Crossing Jordan), Kyle Mac (Miss Sloane, 21 Thunder), Daniel Davis Yang (Riverdale), Alice Moran (Sunnyside, Man Seeking Woman) and John Carroll Lynch (The Founder, American Horror Story). Production starts this week in Toronto and will continue until June for a winter 2018 launch on CBC.

The world of CRAWFORD is a familiar yet unusual one. When raccoons invade the world’s most functioning dysfunctional family’s home, they help breathe life and new meaning into the odd behaviours of the family. Jill Hennessy plays Cynthia (aka Mom), an award-winning cereal executive struggling to deal with the stress of juggling work with the needs of her husband, Owen, and her lover. John Carroll Lynch is cast as Owen, family patriarch and former police chief, who is unable to use his voice due to a medical condition and communicates via his smartphone. Kyle Mac is Don, “temporarily” crashing at his parents’ after being dropped by his music label. Much to his surprise, he soon finds his calling as a raccoon whisperer. Older sister Wendy, played by Alice Moran, and younger brother Brian, played by Daniel Davis Yang, aren’t too surprised by Don’s return and welcome him back—sort of—they have issues of their own. It’s weird, but in CRAWFORD weird is the new normal.

Produced by Rabbit Square Productions for CBC in Canada and Comedy Central in the U.S., CRAWFORD is executive produced by Laura Michalchyshyn and Mike Clattenburg. The series is written by Mike Clattenburg, Mike O’Neill, Zoe Whittall (Baroness von Sketch Show, The Best Kind of People), Kathleen Phillips-Locke (Sunnyside, The Ron James Show), Monica Heisey (Baroness Von Sketch Show, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better) and Timm Hannebohm (Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day, Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys).

Janice Dawe and Kathy Avrich-Johnson are co-executive producers for Bizable Media (Saving Hope, A Better Man). Line producer is Suzanne Colvin-Goulding (The Girlfriend Experience, The Virgin Suicides). Series cinematography by David Makin (Reign, Beauty and the Beast), production design by Rupert Lazarus (Eyewitness, Shoot the Messenger) and costume design by Aline Gilmore (Indian Horse, Game On). Content Media handles international distribution for the series. CRAWFORD is produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund.

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