Summer is the most beautiful time of year for us in BC, but when it gets smokey out and you’re stuck inside, you need ways to pass the time. It’s the weakest time of year for TV, nothing new is on! But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to watch. These Canadian sitcoms will help you pass the time and put a smile on your face.
Corner Gas (2004-2009)
It’s a classic for a reason. I don’t know a Canadian who doesn’t like Corner Gas. It’s both evergreen and a perfect time capsule: the fashion, tech, and décor are all so 2000s Prairies. But the humour holds up, and it’s family-friendly! I remember Brent Butt, the creator and star of the show saying it’s like a cartoon… nobody learns or grows, and every week everything resets. I love that in a sitcom! And with six seasons of live action, a 2014 movie, and four seasons of an animated series, all on Crave, you can start anywhere!
Mr. D (2012-2018)
You’re gonna think I lived under a rock, but I hadn’t seen a full episode of Mr. D until this year! I was shocked how raunchy it is: for a show about elementary school, they blur some crazy stuff. Gerry Dwyer (Gerry Dee), a private school teacher, clumsily navigates both his work and home life. The first of two shows on this list with my favourite standup Chris Locke, the characters in this show are what makes it so great. Even the child actors who play Gerry’s students are hilarious and stick around throughout the series, growing up alongside him. Mr. D is available on a few streamers: Global TV has the first five seasons, Netflix has the first seven, but all eight are available on CBC Gem.
Schitt’s Creek (2015-2022)
The cast are what makes this show great. When wealthy Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) is swindled out of his fortune, he and his wife Moira (Catherine O’Hara), and daughter Alexis (Annie Murphy), are all forced to live in a town he bought for his son David (Dan Levy) as a bad joke. Okay, yeah, it’s kind of weird that they created a rural Canada without any Indigenous people. But there is still heart to this show: everything Eugene Levy touches has warmth to it! Watching Alexis learn how not to be selfish is surprisingly moving: Annie Murphy is as compelling as she is gorgeous. It’s on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and CBC Gem.
Run The Burbs (2022-2024)
I was so upset when the CBC cancelled this show! In many ways, it’s the perfect antidote to Schitt’s Creek. A celebration of diversity and community! You’ll remember Andrew Phung as Kimchi, the best character in Kim’s Convenience. In Run The Burbs, Andrew plays Andrew Pham, a supportive young father of two. The show is seriously fun: an all-star lineup of Canadian comedians come together to create a neighbourhood in suburban Toronto that feels just like suburban Vancouver! At first, you might even think it’s New West. You’ll wish you had neighbours like the Phams. All three seasons are on CBC Gem!