Everything about Son of a Critch, eh?

Production begins on Season 4 of CBC’s Son of a Critch

From a media release:

CBC, Canada’s national public broadcaster, and global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), today announced the start of principal photography on the fourth season of the hit original comedy series SON OF A CRITCH (13 x 30) in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The celebrated series was recently recognized with the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards. Based on comedian Mark Critch’s award-winning, best-selling memoir of the same name, SON OF A CRITCH is a heartfelt window into the life of now 14-year-old Mark – much older than his years – coming of age in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The new season will premiere winter 2025 on CBC Gem and CBC TV in Canada. Lionsgate handles worldwide distribution rights outside of Canada.

Since the series first premiered in January 2022, SON OF A CRITCH has continued to rank as the most-watched original Canadian comedy in the country and as one of the top 5 most-watched comedies overall in Canada.* It also continues to be one of the most-streamed comedies on CBC Gem.**

In Season 4, Mark begins high school on the cusp of a new decade and finds himself once again at the bottom rung. From his relentless pursuit of his creative dreams to his burgeoning romance with Fox, we’ll watch as Mark navigates a quickly growing world filled with new promise, potential and love. In this new era of video dance parties, political shifts, and digital transformation, Mark won’t be alone in his chase for something greater: his inner circle of family and close friends also finds itself caught up in the winds of change.

“We’re thrilled to roll into the 90s with Mark as he finds his way in high school and are looking forward to sharing this exciting new season with audiences,” say creators, showrunners and executive producers Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe.

SON OF A CRITCH stars Mark Critch portraying his own father, Mike, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor, Pinocchio) plays young Mark. Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork OrangeEntourage) is his grandfather, Pop; Claire Rankin (Stargate Atlantis) plays his mother Mary; Colton Gobbo (Ginny & Georgia) as his older brother Mike Jr; Mark Rivera is his best friend Ritche; and Sophia Powers (Fourth Down and Love) is Fox, now officially Mark’s girlfriend.

Returning cast members include Richard Clarkin as Dick, Nicole Underhay as Fox’s mom Suzanne, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll as Father Garcia, and Nora McLellan as Sister Rose.

SON OF A CRITCH was created by showrunners Mark Critch (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) and Tim McAuliffe (The OfficeLast Man on EarthLate Night with Jimmy Fallon and This Hour Has 22 Minutes) and is produced by Project 10 Productions and Hawco Productions in association with CBC and Lionsgate Television. Executive producers are Critch, McAuliffe, Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning producer Andrew Barnsley (Schitt’s Creek), and Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle). Perry Chafe and Amanda Joy serve as co-executive producers and John Vatcher is producer. Series directors this season are John Vatcher (Caught), Deanne Foley (Son of a Critch), Joyce Wong (Sort Of), and Vanessa Matsui (Ghost BFF).

Image courtesy of Vaida Nairn.

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Links: Son of a Critch, Season 3

From Alex Nino Gheciu of The Canadian Press:

Link: Mark Critch looks back on his awkward teen years in Season 3 of ‘Son of a Critch’
Mark encounters even more teen awkwardness in Season 3. His confidence takes a hit when he discovers he needs glasses, and he finds himself in emotional turmoil when he competes in an academic quiz against his crush. Continue reading.

From Elisabetta Bianchini of Yahoo News:

Link: ‘Son of a Critch’: Mark Critch on Benjamin Evan Ainsworth recreating his embarrassing moments
“I was excited to do that, to say goodbye to that school, move on to high school. I think there’s a lot of growth and change, and coming into your own in this season, which has been a lot of fun.” Continue reading.

From Dana Gee of the Vancouver Sun:

Link: Son of a Critch co-star says Season 3 has both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments
“All of us are growing up and exploring new interests and expressing ourselves in different ways. And I think it’s really special getting to see all of us grow up and change through the seasons.” Continue reading.

From Larry Fried of That Shelf:

Link: Interview: Malcolm McDowell and Mark Critch on SON OF A CRITCH Season 3
That Shelf sat down with Son of a Critch stars Malcolm McDowell and Mark Critch (also creator and writer) to discuss returning for the show’s third season, McDowell’s admiration for Newfoundland, and how Critch helped pay tribute to fellow Canadian William Shatner in the show’s special Star Trek homage. Continue reading.

From Niagara-on-the-Lake Local:

Link: Niagara-on-the-Lake actor speaks of her role in Son of a Critch
Those who know actor Nora McLellan might have trouble picturing her as a mean, threatening nun whose main job as school principal is to terrify unruly students into submission with a stern look and a wooden ruler in hand. Continue reading.

From Global’s The Morning Show:
Link: Mark Critch and Benjamin Ainsworth on season 3 of ‘Son of a Critch’

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Link: Coming-of-age comedy ‘Son of a Critch’ is a sweet, but not saccharine, portrait of the enduring bonds of families and friends

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: Coming-of-age comedy ‘Son of a Critch’ is a sweet, but not saccharine, portrait of the enduring bonds of families and friends
You don’t have to have grown up in the 1980s — or in Newfoundland — to appreciate the gentle humour of CBC’s “Son of a Critch.” If you went to school, had friends, crushes, enemies and a family, you’ll find points of commonality with 12-year-old Mark Critch (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), the hero of this series based on the memoir of Canadian comedian Mark Critch. Continue reading.

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CBC renews original comedies Run the Burbs, Son of a Critch and This Hour Has 22 Minutes

From a media release:

Reinforcing its status as Canada’s go-to destination for Canadian comedy, CBC today announced the renewal of popular original series RUN THE BURBS and SON OF A CRITCH for their third seasons, and long-running sketch comedy series THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES for its 31st season. These series join Peabody Award-winning comedy SORT OF, which was renewed for a third season in December 2022 by CBC and HBO Max, as part of CBC’s 2023-24 comedy slate. CBC comedies were recently recognized with 54 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including Best Comedy Series for SORT OF and Best Sketch Comedy Program or Series for THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES. SON OF A CRITCH is also among the Top 5 series currently in the running for the 2023 Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award.

Created by comedian, writer and actor Andrew Phung (Kim’s Convenience) and his best friend and collaborator, filmmaker Scott Townend (The Secret Marathon), RUN THE BURBS follows the Phams, a young, bold Vietnamese-South Asian-Canadian family taking a different approach to living life to the fullest, while changing the way we think about contemporary family values and life in the burbs. The series is produced by Pier 21 Films and distributed by Fifth Season. The Season 2 finale of RUN THE BURBS airs Wednesday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m (9 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem.

Based on Mark Critch’s award-winning, best-selling memoir, SON OF A CRITCH is the hilarious and very real story of 12-year-old Mark coming of age in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the 80s. Created by Critch (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) and Tim McAuliffe (The Office, Last Man on Earth and MacGruber) and produced by Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning producer Andrew Barnsley (Schitt’s Creek), the series is an inter-provincial co-production between Barnsley’s Project 10 Productions Inc. and Newfoundland-based Take the Shot Productions in association with CBC and Lionsgate Television, which handles worldwide distribution rights outside Canada. This season, SON OF A CRITCH is the most-watched English Canadian comedy series and CBC’s most-watched program with 18-49 and 25-54 audiences.* The Season 2 finale of SON OF A CRITCH airs Tuesday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem.

Canada’s longest-running TV comedy series, THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES continues to push the boundaries of provocative satire, targeting politics, culture and world events with biting parodies and an unrelenting skewering of the weekly news. Produced by IoM Media, the series remains a beloved sketch comedy staple for audiences across the country after three decades, and has featured some of Canada’s greatest comedians – and most of the country’s political leaders. The finale of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES’ 30th anniversary season airs Tuesday, March 28 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem.

In addition, CBC continues its commitment to showcasing emerging and established Canadian stand-up talent with returning specials and series for the 2023-24 broadcast season. Recently captured at Just For Laughs Vancouver and produced by Just For Laughs TV, Season 4 of THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP showcases Canada’s hottest new comedians (Season 3 debuts Friday, March 24 on CBC Gem). Also from Just For Laughs TV, Season 20 of JUST FOR LAUGHS GALAS will offer the best-known international and Canadian stand-up comedians, alongside exciting breakout performers, from the world’s biggest comedy event in Montreal. WINNIPEG COMEDY FESTIVAL (Season 22, Frantic Films) and HALIFAX COMEDY FEST (Season 27, Pilot Light Productions) round out CBC’s comedy lineup for the upcoming broadcast season, capturing some of the most dynamic performers on today’s circuit.

*Source: Numeris TV Meter, September 12, 2022 – March 5, 2023, CBC Total, Total Canada, Based on AMA, Confirmed Audience Data, generated by InfoSys+TV.

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