From Victoria Ahearn of The Canadian Press:
Link: ‘Kim’s Convenience’ actor Andrew Phung on crafting his own series, ‘Run the Burbs’
“Kim’s Convenience†has just ended but cast member Andrew Phung is already “knee-deep in ideas and stories†for his next project, “Run the Burbs.†Continue reading.
From Victoria Ahearn of The Canadian Press:
Link: ‘Kim’s Convenience’ stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Andrew Phung on its premature end
“He wouldn’t return my calls or my texts, and finally he responded via email saying he wasn’t comfortable talking about it. And that was it.†Continue reading.
From Victoria Ahearn of The Canadian Press:
Link: After loss of shows like Schitt’s Creek, experts say CBC ‘needs more great Canadian storytelling’
Tuesday’s Canadian Screen Award nominations featured many gains for the CBC but also highlighted its massive losses. Continue reading.
From a media release:
CBC is announcing initial details for two new original half-hour comedy series featuring Kim’s Convenience stars Andrew Phung and Nicole Power – RUN THE BURBS and STRAYS – with both shows set to launch during the upcoming 2021-22 broadcast season.
Created by comedian, writer and actor Andrew Phung and his best friend and collaborator, filmmaker Scott Townend (The Secret Marathon), RUN THE BURBS is a new original comedy about a young, bold Canadian family taking a different approach to living life to the fullest in the suburbs, featuring Phung as a stay-at-home dad with an entrepreneur wife and two kids. The series has been in development since May 2020 and is produced by Pier 21 Films, with additional details to be announced later this spring.
STRAYS follows the upbeat and enthusiastic Kim’s Convenience character Shannon Ross (Nicole Power) as she embarks on a new career in Hamilton, Ontario alongside an ensemble cast including Frank Cox O’Connell (Soulpepper Theatre), Tina Jung (Suits, Second Jen), Nikki Duval (Workin’ Moms), Kevin Vidal (Workin’ Moms), Tony Nappo (Pretty Hard Cases), Paula Boudreau (Workin’ Moms) and Emily Piggford (The Sounds, Warigami). Created by Kevin White (Kim’s Convenience, Schitt’s Creek) and produced by Thunderbird Entertainment, the series has been in development since July 2018 and is currently in production. More details will be announced later this spring.
“As our comedy slate continues to evolve, we are thrilled to continue working with Andrew and Nicole and offer audiences two new comedies to look forward to starring these incredible talents they have come to know and love,†said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, CBC. “Both of these series were planned to join Kim’s Convenience on our comedy lineup this upcoming year, to reflect how many young Canadians are forging new lives outside of urban centres in Canada. We look forward to watching Andrew and Nicole as they explore these new stories.â€
RUN THE BURBS and STRAYS join original comedy SORT OF as new additions to CBC’s award-winning comedy slate this upcoming broadcast season. Created by Bilal Baig (Acha Bacha) and Fab Filippo (Save Me), SORT OF stars Baig as a gender fluid millennial trying to live their most authentic life.
CBC will confirm series renewals and additional new original series for the 2021/22 broadcast season later this spring.
From Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald:
Link: ‘It died from within’: Two actors lament the untimely demise of Kim’s Convenience
“No matter how good it can be, if you don’t deal with issues from within and try to gloss it over because everything on the surface looks fantastic and idealistic, then you are just asking for trouble. I think that’s the unfortunate lesson from this whole thing.†Continue reading.
