Tag Archives: Kim’s Convenience

Casting announced for CBC’s new original comedy Run the Burbs

From a media release:

With production underway in and around Toronto and Hamilton, CBC and Pier 21 Films are confirming casting for new, original comedy series RUN THE BURBS, from award-winning comedian, writer, and actor Andrew Phung and his best friend and collaborator filmmaker Scott Townend (The Secret Marathon).

Premiering on CBC and CBC Gem in Winter 2022, Phung executive produces, writes, and stars in the series as a stay-at-home dad – Andrew Pham – living and loving with his entrepreneurial, executive wife and two kids. The Phams are 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.

Joining Phung on screen forming the balance of the Pham family are actor and comedian Rakhee Morzaria (Note to Self, Private Eyes) playing Andrew’s wife Camille Pham; and rising young stars Zoriah Wong (Nancy Drew) and Roman Pesino (Odd Squad) as their children Khia and Leo Pham. The Pham fam are joined in the burbs by a cast of friends, family, and neighbours played by an illustrious roster of Canadian talent including Ali Hassan (CBC’s Laugh Out Loud) as Camille’s father Ramesh, YouTube sensation Julie Nolke (Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self) as Camille’s best friend Sam, Jonathan Langdon (Utopia Falls) as next door neighbour Hudson, Simone Miller (Detention Adventure) as Hudson’s daughter Mannix, Samantha Wan (Second Jen) as local bubble tea café owner Cathy, Candy Palmater (The Candy Show) as neighbour Candy, comedian Chris Locke (Workin’ Moms, Mr. D) as neighbour Sebastian, and Baroness von Sketch Show’s Aurora Browne as neighbourhood permit assassin Barb.

“We set out to make a show that goes big. To showcase a family that truly supports one another while going all out every week. It’s a bit of a throwback to classic family sitcoms in the burbs, but with a family that you’ve never seen reflected on television before,” comments Townend.

“We are so hyped and proud of this incredible group of performers that have joined us on this journey. We are introducing Canada to some amazingly talented new faces they may not have met before – including the amazing Rakhee Morzaria – alongside comedy rockstars like Ali Hassan, Aurora Brown, and Candy Palmater – they are all going to blow audiences away and take on the burbs like no one has before. We’re honoured to have this opportunity and it’s been our absolute pleasure working with CBC, Pier 21 Films, and Endeavor Content as we bring Run the Burbs to life,” adds Phung.

Pier 21 Films Executive Producer Laszlo Barna adds, “We are so fortunate to be working with such a talented cast led by our star and co-creator Andrew Phung. We can’t wait for the world to join us in the burbs and meet the Phams and their unforgettable friends and neighbours.”

“We are so excited to watch Andrew’s deeply personal story about family come to life through this remarkable cast and creative team,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, CBC. “RUN THE BURBS authentically reflects how Canadians are building new communities in suburbs across the country, and we can’t wait to share it with audiences this winter.”

A CBC original series, RUN THE BURBS is produced by Pier 21 Films. As announced earlier this year, Endeavor Content has picked up the international sales rights. Executive Producers are Laszlo Barna, Nicole Butler and Bill Lundy (for Pier 21 Films), Andrew Phung, Scott Townend, and Aleysa Young. Shebli Zarghami serves as Executive Producer and Showrunner. Jessica Daniel is producer. Co-Executive Producers are Matt Kippen and Wendy Litner. Nelu Handa is Consulting Producer. Season One directors include Aleysa Young, Peter Wellington, Joyce Wong, Melanie Orr, and Justin Wu.

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Nicole Power stars in Kim’s Convenience companion piece Strays

I admit it. I’m going to miss Kim’s Convenience. Certainly the saddest part about its demise is what happened behind the scenes. I won’t go into that here, search on the site for stories about it, but perhaps the best news to come out of that bad situation was Strays.

Bowing Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on CBC, Strays follows Shannon Ross’ Kim’s Convenience‘s Handy car rental manager as she heads west to become the new executive director of the Hamilton East Animal Shelter. My initial thought surrounding Strays was that it quickly came together as Kim’s Convenience was falling apart. Not so, says star Nicole Power, who reprises Shannon on Strays and serves as consulting producer too.

“At the end of Season 3, I was approached with the opportunity to start developing an idea for a show that would be a companion piece to Kim’s Convenience,” Power says during a conference call. “It would be an expansion of the universe and explore a different side of Shannon and Shannon exploring something new.”

That “something new” is Hamilton, where she is surrounded by new people, clients and fur babies. The new humans in Shannon’s life include her cousin Nikki (Nikki Duval), animal care manager Kristian (Frank Cox-O’Connell), office manager Joy (Tina Jung), landlord Liam (Kevin Vidal) and maintenance guy Paul (Tony Nappo). Nappo, in particular, is a joy to watch on screen, his trademark gruff exterior buffed by Shannon’s cheery countenance.

When Shannon arrives at Hamilton East Animal Shelter, things are in disarray. Nikki is foisted on Shannon, building budgets have been cut and a birthday party for an elderly cat goes horribly awry. But where most would curl up in a corner, Shannon soldiers on, using her unique word choices to get her and others through trying times.

“Shannon always wants to make the best out of a situation and people-please,” Power says, with a laugh. “She is always trying to manage that everyone else is good, so what you’ll see in Strays is just an extension of Shannon’s desire to have the best of the situation be the reality.”

Strays airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Amanda Brugel, Brad Goreski, and Traci Melchor join Brooke Lynn Hytes at the Judges Table for Season 2 of Canada’s Drag Race

From a media release:

Hold on to your beavers! Crave announced today the judge’s panel presiding over Season 2 of its hit original series CANADA’S DRAG RACE, and there’s a new Fab Four in town serving up fierce critiques with a side of Canadian pride. Joining Season 1 alumni and #QueenoftheNorth Brooke Lynn Hytes in the hunt for Canada’s next Drag Superstar are three homegrown icons: actor and Season 1 guest host Amanda Brugel; TV personality and celebrity stylist Brad Goreski; and ETALK Senior Correspondent and Canada’s Squirrel Friend from Season 1, Traci Melchor.

In the sophomore season of CANADA’S DRAG RACE, the resident judges helm every episode, visit the Werk Room, judge the challenges, reveal competition twists, and decide who stays and who “Sash-ehs Away” after the epic Lip Sync For Your Life performance. Hytes and Goreski anchor the judge’s panel in every episode, with Brugel and Melchor joining regularly throughout the season. In addition to RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE fan-favourites like Snatch Game, Rumails, and Untucked, Season 2 is also set to bring audiences a few surprises and ‘RU-veals’ that have never been done before, while also celebrating the uniqueness of Canada’s drag scene and queer community.

Get to know the judges for Season 2 of CANADA’S DRAG RACE here!

In association with Crave, CANADA’S DRAG RACE is produced by Blue Ant Studios. Executive Producers for World of Wonder are Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, and Tom Campbell. RuPaul serves as Executive Producer. Executive Producers for Blue Ant Studios are Michael Kot, Laura Michalchyshyn, Betty Orr, and Pam McNair. Showrunner is Trevor Boris.

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Transplant, Schitt’s Creek and Beans win at 2021 Canadian Screen Awards Gala

Transplant and its lead actor, Hamza Haq, Schitt’s Creek and its lead actress, Catherine O’Hara, Kim’s Convenience‘s Paul Sun-Hyung Kim and Beans captured trophies during the Canadian Screen Awards gala.

Thursday’s online gala was narrated by actors Stephan James and Karine Vanasse. The Margaret Collier Award was given to David Shore, the Lifetime Achievement Award to David Suzuki, the Earle Grey Award to Tina Keeper, the Radius Award to Dan Levy and Academy Icon Award to the late Alex Trebek.

Wild Kratts tooks home the Shaw Rocket Fund Kid’s Choice Award while Wynonna Earp‘s Melanie Scrofano received the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award, both of which were voted on by fans.

Here are the winners in Thursday’s television and film categories:

Best Lead Actor, Drama Series
Hamza Haq, Transplant

Best Lead Actress, Drama Series
Crystle Lightning, Trickster

Best Drama Series
Transplant

Best Feature-Length Documentary
Wandering: A Rohingya Story

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Michael Greyeyes, Blood Quantum

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit

Achievement in Direction
Deepa Mehta, Funny Boy

Best Motion Picture
Beans

Shaw Rocket Fund Kids’ Choice Award
Wild Kratts

Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award
Melanie Scrofano

Best Lead Actor, Comedy
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kim’s Convenience

Best Lead Actress, Comedy
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek

Best Comedy Series
Schitt’s Creek

For the complete list of winners, visit the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television website.

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Kim’s Convenience, Schitt’s Creek, Cardinal and Coroner win during Night 3 of the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards

Kim’s Convenience’s Andrew Phung and Amanda Brugel, Schitt’s Creek‘s Daniel Levy and Emily Hampshire, Cardinal‘s Shawn Doyle and Coroner‘s Tamara Podemski were among those who captured trophies during Night 3 of 2021 Canadian Screen Awards Virtual Presentations. The late Christopher Plummer was awarded a trophy for his work on Departure.

Wednesday’s online ceremony celebrated Creative Arts and Performance, narrated by broadcaster Tyrone Edwards.

Here are the winners in Wednesday’s key categories:

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy
Andrew Phung, Kim’s Convenience

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy
Emily Hampshire, Schitt’s Creek

Best Guest Performance, Comedy
Amanda Brugel, Kim’s Convenience

Best Performance, Sketch Comedy (Individual or Ensemble)
Baroness Von Sketch Show

Best Achievement in Hair
Annastasia Cucullo and Ana Sorys, Schitt’s Creek

Best Achievement in Make-Up
Steve Newburn, Emily O’Quinn Code, Kayla Dobilas, Trina Brink, Trickster

Best Costume Design
Debra Hanson, Schitt’s Creek

Best Writing, Variety or Sketch Comedy
Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne, Jennifer Whalen, Jennifer Goodhue, Monica Heisey, Allison Hogg, Adam Christie, Becky Johnson, Nelu Handa, Paloma Nuñez, Baroness Von Sketch Show

Best Writing, Comedy
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek

Best Writing, Drama Series
Joseph Kay, Transplant

Best Writing, TV Movie
Barbara Kymlicka, Glass Houses

Best TV Movie
Christmas Jars

Best Lead Performance, TV Movie
Kim Shaw, The Lead

Best Guest Performance, Drama Series
Shawn Doyle, Cardinal: Until the Night

Best Supporting Actress, Drama
Tamara Podemski, Coroner

Best Supporting Actor, Drama
Christopher Plummer, Departure

For the complete list of winners, visit the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television website.

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