Everything about Schitt’s Creek, eh?

Link: Interview: Schitt’s Creek’s Emily Hampshire

From Charles Trapunski of Brief Take:

Link: Interview: Schitt’s Creek’s Emily Hampshire
“What I love so much about her is that when I signed on the show, I really thought that I was going to be the girl behind the desk who gives David and the family their towels, because we didn’t read a script, I didn’t know that Stevie was going to be as amazing as she turned out to be.” Continue reading.

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Link: Schitt’s Creek creator Daniel Levy is open to doing a movie based on the hit show

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: Schitt’s Creek creator Daniel Levy is open to doing a movie based on the hit show
For “Schitt’s Creek” fans already dreading the end of the series, which began its sixth and final season on Jan. 7 on CBC, there is a glimmer of hope.

Series creator Daniel Levy says he would consider doing a “Schitt’s Creek” movie. Continue reading.

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Links: Schitt’s Creek, Season 6

From Antonia Blyth of Deadline:

Link: Daniel Levy on ‘Schitt’s Creek’s Final Season 6: “You Want to Give the Fans Everything they want”
“You want to give the characters everything they want, and you also want to give the fans everything they want and I think in the final series of a show it’s about marrying those two expectations. There will be times that are slightly more emotional or slightly darker. There will be humour in that. There will be tears in that. There will be joy in that.” Continue reading. 

From Sarah Murphy of Exclaim:

Link: Annie Murphy of ‘Schitt’s Creek’: The Exclaim! Questionnaire
“It feels strange that the show’s ending when it keeps picking up momentum, but it is really nice that we knew we would have six seasons and we weren’t just cancelled halfway through.” Continue reading. 

From Chris Harnick of E! Online:

Link: Dan Levy calls the Schitt’s Creek SAG Awards breakthrough a great way to begin the end of the series
“Every step of this journey to me has been affirmed by the show’s sort of continued success. I think something like this, breaking through into the SAG Awards, is such a huge accomplishment for the show, especially considering how far we’ve come and how small the show still is.” Continue reading.

From Victoria Ahearn of the Canadian Press:

Link: Schitt’s Creek stars reflect on show’s emotional end
“Saying goodbye to all these places we’ve come to know and love, and people we’ve come to call friends and family, is a very melancholic thing. But I guess if you’re feeling a lot, it means you’ve done something right.” Continue reading.

From Chris Harnick of E! Online:

Link: In its sixth and final season Schitt’s Creek is going out on top
In its sixth season, Schitt’s Creek has never been better, and it’s a good—no, great—thing that it’s ending now. Continue reading.

From Kelly Connolly of TV Guide:

Link: Schitt’s Creek Season 6 Review: Fame hasn’t changed the feel-good sitcom
It feels a little beyond the point to announce that Schitt’s Creek is in fact still good, and maybe even better than ever, in its sixth season. Of course, it is. Continue reading. 

From Emily Landau of Toronto Life:

Link: The little sitcom that could
When Schitt’s Creek premiered six years ago on CBC, no one could have predicted the fervent international fandom it would one day inspire. Continue reading. 

From Michael Starr of the New York Post:

Link: ‘Schitt’s Creek’ back for final season with those sharp and thorny Roses
But father/son series creators Eugene and Dan Levy decided on a final go ’round, and I’ll admit that I’m glad they did: both the performances and writing are razor-sharp. Continue reading.

From Jessica Mason of The Mary Sue:

Link: Schitt’s Creek is the perfect winter binge
Whether you haven’t watched it or you’re a diehard fan, this sweet sitcom is the perfect binge while you’re home for the holidays. Continue reading. 

From Kayti Burt of Den of the Geek:

Link: Schitt’s Creek Season 6 review
In the first four episodes, Schitt’s Creek is in no rush to get to the end, but you can see the show starting to plant the seeds for some kind of closure. Continue reading. 

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: ‘Schitt’s Creek’ stars find surprising meaning in underdog Canadian sitcom’s success
Sometimes you go out with neither a bang nor a whimper but with a laugh — and in the case of “Schitt’s Creek,” a tear here and there. Continue reading.

From Melissa Hank of Postmedia:

Link: Schitt’s Creek stars Annie Murphy, Noah Reid prep for final season
Goodbyes often spark impulsive sentimentality and stars Annie Murphy and Noah Reid admit they swiped a few souvenirs from the show that shot them to fame. After all, what’s a little petty thievery among friends? Continue reading. 

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Schitt’s Creek stars promise “best season yet”
“As a group of people, we’ve all come to really love each other, and our characters are obviously so intertwined in a wonderful way. The way this season is wrapped up is a really beautiful celebration of those things.” Continue reading. 

From Bill Brioux of Brioux.tv:

Link: Schitt’s Creek back tonight for a sixth and final season
“To realize that I’m never going to see Catherine O’Hara walk into a room as Moira ever again is a harsh reality.” Continue reading.

From Danielle Turchiano of Variety:

‘Schitt’s Creek’ boss on how ‘Six Feet Under,’ ‘Friends’ inspired his final season
“I wanted that sense of comfort of knowing exactly where we are. If we’ve done our jobs properly then these characters would have slowly changed over the course of the show — that was the point of it.” Continue reading.

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Sarah Levy says goodbye to Schitt’s Creek

It’s the beginning of the end for Schitt’s Creek. The CBC series, which has garnered acclaim in Canada and the U.S.—where it airs on Pop TV—bows its final episodes beginning Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CBC.

To say Schitt’s Creek, co-created by and starring Daniel and Eugene Levy, has been groundbreaking is an understatement. What began as a snicker-worthy word gag because of its title has evolved into a truly wonderfully heartfelt series about acceptance, love and family. And, the characters have evolved with it, including Twyla. When we were first introduced to Twyla, she was friendly, but a little dim. Now, she and fellow supporting characters like Patrick, Ted and Ronnie have become fan favourites, equal to main characters David, Johnny, Moira (Catherine O’Hara), Alexis (Annie Murphy), Roland (Chris Elliott) and Stevie (Emily Hampshire).

We spoke to Sarah Levy about how she scored the role of Twyla, playing a beloved character, saying goodbye to the series and what her future holds.

I’m sorry that Schitt’s Creek is ending, but I respect Daniel deciding this would be the final season and concluding the series the way he wants to.
Sarah Levy: I think that’s exactly it. I mean, so often we see shows really just go for as long as they can. I admire that but on the other hand, I think that it’s necessary that when you’re telling a story, there is an ending to that story. And quality does decrease when you just kind of keep it going for the sake of keeping it going. So I give a lot of credit to Daniel and dad for ending a good thing while we’re on top.

Let’s go back to the beginning. In the first season, Twyla was introduced as a well-intentioned waitress who seemed a bit dim. How did you end up on the show in the first place? Did you have to audition or was it assumed you’d be a part of it?
SL: It was kind of insane. I had majored in theatre at university. I studied it and then I moved out to L.A. to pursue acting. So I had been here for a couple of years and then Daniel moved here once he finished up with MTV. [He and my dad] had this idea and they asked if I wanted to be a part of it if it was even something that I want it to be a part of. And of course, it was. The opportunity to work with my family seemed a really wonderful thing. And we obviously had no idea where it would go, but I went along for the ride gladly.

Twyla has grown over the last five seasons and become very much a beloved character, alongside Ronnie and Patrick. What has it been like seeing these characters evolve?
SL: I think it’s incredible and it’s a testament to the writing as well, that these characters aren’t getting lost. They’re all so well crafted and unique and well written and we have wonderful people playing those characters, Noah Reid and Karen Robinson. So it’s been incredible the support that we’ve gotten from fans when it comes to our characters because they aren’t necessarily onscreen all the time, but they make their mark and I think that’s the most important fan part.

The other thing that has been amazing is how the writing room has introduced LGBTQ storylines. Very often that can be done very heavy-handed in primetime television. I’ve loved the way that it’s just been subtle; this is just the way the people are.
SL: That was something, again, that Daniel had been very strategic about. We’re so used to seeing these relationships on television being made a huge deal out of it and drawing attention to it, and is it good or is it bad and everybody kind of has a say in it. He was so adamant about it just being another relationship on television. We’re not trying to make it anything more than just a beautiful love story between two people.

We saw Patrick and David the proposal happened and the acceptance. Is it safe to assume that there’s a wedding in this final season?
SL: I think it’s safe to assume that there’s something of a wedding.

Are you happy with the way that the show ends? Do you think that fans will be happy?
SL: I’m more than happy with how it ended. I still love watching it like everybody else, all the fans, I don’t like to see anything really before it airs and I watch each episode as it airs. I think everyone is going to be so satisfied with this ending. I think that’s the beauty of being able to end it when you want that you can craft it in a way that ties everything up in a beautiful bow without cutting anything short before its time. And of course, it’s bittersweet, it was a sad day but we can’t deny that is a beautiful ending and I really think that everyone’s going to just cry some happy tears.

What can you say about Twyla’s storylines for the sixth season?
SL: It’s more of advice-giving. One of my favourite things about Twyla and Alexis is they’ve developed this really wonderful friendship where they give each other advice … more Twyla giving Alexis advice on things that she should probably do or not do. We get into a couple of those scenarios. I think everyone is going to be thrilled and excited and so pleased with her future.

You’ve signed on to a new series. Tell me about it.
SL: It’s called Best Intentions and it’s for Pop TV. We don’t know exact dates of when that starts, but sometime in the spring and it has a great cast and it’s written by Adam Herz who actually wrote American Pie. So we’re in wonderful hands and it’s very full circle for me actually because we shot the pilot last year, which marked the 20th anniversary of American Pie. And it was very surreal to now have my own working relationship with Adam because he works so closely with my dad. So it was a really fun shoot and hopefully, we can continue that.

Finally, you released a Christmas song just before the holidays. How did ‘Big Christmas’ come about?
SL: I’ve been writing music for as long as I can remember and I play piano and guitar and music has always been a huge part of my life growing up. My grandmother was a great singer, my mom is a great singer, songwriter and dad won a Grammy for songwriting. So maybe it’s this subcategory of our family dynamic that not many people know about. I’ve been working with a writing partner, a woman named Shevy Smith, who’s a fantastic writer and producer and singer. We’ve been working through the fall just writing some stuff. And I went to her and said, ‘Should we really be writing a Christmas song?’ I’ve always thought it was a really daunting challenge because Christmas is so saturated.

We just tried to write something that we loved, and that was really the point of it. Something that had a positive message and was about being together with the people you love, whoever those people are, whether it be family or friends or someone you love. And we just wrote it in about a session and a half and then it took no longer than a week before we recorded it and put it out. So it all happened very quickly but we’re so thrilled, it’s so exciting.

Download Sarah’s single, “Big Christmas” on Spotify or iTunes.

Schitt’s Creek airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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CBC announces winter premiere dates for Coroner, Schitt’s Creek, Workin’ Moms and more

From a media release:

CBC today announced premiere dates for its winter 2020 lineup of new and returning Canadian series, featuring original programming that reflects contemporary Canada. With a new winter schedule launching Sunday, January 5, each series will be available on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

New original series premiering this winter include:

Hosted by Gerry Dee, FAMILY FEUD CANADA will introduce audiences to Canadian families from across the country four nights a week, beginning Monday, December 16 at a special time of 8PM (8:30 NT), before moving into its regular time slot at 7:30PM (8 NT) on Monday, December 23

New original factual series HIGH ARCTIC HAULERS, a high-stakes journey at sea that offers a look at Canada’s resilient, vibrant northern communities, premieres Sunday, January 5 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

Starring Kari Matchett (Covert Affairs), Darren Mann (Giant Little Ones) and Stephen Moyer (True Blood) and set in the social and political chaos of 1968, new spy drama FORTUNATE SON premieres Wednesday January 8 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

In a new take on the popular factual entertainment format, BACK IN TIME FOR WINTER follows one modern Canadian family on a winter time-travelling adventure beginning Thursday, January 9 at 8PM (8:30NT)

Epic sci-fi adventure series ENDLINGS produced in partnership with Hulu, follows four foster kids who make a startling discovery that affects the entire universe, and premieres Sunday, January 5 at 6PM (6:30 NT) with weekly back-to-back episodes

New culinary competition series and original Canadian format, FRIDGE WARS, premieres Thursday, February 27 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

New CBC Docs original series THE OLAND MURDER premieres Thursday, March 5 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

Returning titles include:

Last season’s most-watched new Canadian series* CORONER, starring Serinda Swan, returns for Season 2 Monday, January 6 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

CBC’s popular Tuesday night comedy lineup returns with the fourth season of KIM’S CONVENIENCE at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) and the sixth and final season of SCHITT’S CREEK at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) beginning Tuesday, January 7, with WORKIN’ MOMS returning for a fourth season Tuesday, February 18 at 9:30PM (10 NT)

The Kristin Kreuk-led legal drama BURDEN OF TRUTH returns for Season 3 Wednesday, January 8 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

Gripping Canadian true crime series THE DETECTIVES returns for Season 3 Thursday, January 9 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

CBC DOCS POV returns with a new series of documentaries from some of Canada’s most talented documentary filmmakers beginning Sunday, February 9 at 9PM (9:30 NT)

Halifax legal aid drama DIGGSTOWN starring Vinessa Antoine and Natasha Henstridge returns for Season 2 Wednesday, March 4 at 8PM (8:30 NT)

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