By Taimur Sikander
If one had to choose a the theme for CBC’s upfronts diversity and representation would be appropriate. The pubcaster kicked off the Canadian upfronts on Thursday (May 23) with a slate of more than 40 original scripted and unscripted series and specials, that highlight the different communities in the country. And to reach those communities, CBC will also be launching an expanded roster of FAST channels for CBC News.
Among the newly announced titles is the scripted drama Saint-Pierre, created by Hawco, Robina Lord-Stafford and Perry Chafe. The police procedural sees an inspector (played by Hawco) exiled to the French territory of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, just off the coast of Newfoundland, where he butts heads with a local officer, played by French actor Josephine Jobert.
CBC also confirmed a number of renewed dramas for the broadcast season, including second seasons of Allegiance and Wild Cards for winter; season three of SkyMed and 18th seasons of Heartland and Murdoch Mysteries.
Also part of the drama lineup is the previously confirmed second season of the anthology series Plan B, starring Vinessa Antoine (Diggstown).
On the comedy front, CBC has announced two new greenlights for 2025: Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Small Achievable Goals.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids is inspired by the Haisla Nation hip-hop duo Quinton Nyce and Darren Metz and how they chased their music dreams in Vancouver. The series is co-created by Nyce, Metz, Banzo and Matt Kippen, with Podemski serving as showrunner and executive producer.
Small Achievable Goals is created by Whalen and MacNeill, who star as an odd couple who are paired to produce a podcast, and discover they can relate over their shared experience of menopause.
Previously announced for the comedy slate is North of North, the Nunavut-set series about a young Inuk mother trying to forge a different path for her future. The series is a co-commission from CBC, Netflix and APTN and is created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril.
The returning CBC comedies include the fourth season of Son of a Critch; the 32nd season of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, including a one-hour U.S. election special; and the second season of CBC Gem series You’re My Hero.
The broadcast season will also see the return of comedy festivals and stand-ups such as the Halifax Comedy Fest; Winnipeg Comedy Festival and The New Wave of Standup, executive produced by Bruce Hills and Heather Wallace.
CBC has two newly announced factual and documentary productions for the 2024-25 season, starting with four-part docuseries The Knowing from journalist Tanya Talaga. The series follows Talaga as she searches for her family matriarch and uncovers ties to Canada’s residential school system. It is based on Talaga’s upcoming book of the same name, and is written and directed by Talaga and Courtney Montour.
The new factual series is Locals Welcome, hosted and executive produced by food expert Suresh Doss, about hidden food gems in various communities.
Rounding out the new titles is the previously announced docuseries Paid in Full, a co-commision with BBC. The series is narrated by Canadian singer Jully Black and examines the history of how Black artists have been exploited in the music industry. It is produced by Supercollider, Idris Elba’s Green Door Pictures and Sabrina Elba’s Pink Towel in association with Julie Bristow’s Catalyst.
Returning factual series include third seasons of Bollywed and Canada’s Ultimate Challenge; season six of Family Feud Canada; season eight of The Great Canadian Baking Show; season 10 of Still Standing; season 19 of Dragons’ Den; and the previously announced second season of Stuff the British Stole.
CBC Kids has announced the commission of the preschool series Go Togo, produced by Toronto-based prodco Gazelle Automations. The series uses animatronic characters based on public transit vehicles to teach kids about math and logic. Kim’s Convenience actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is among the voice actors.
Returning kids shows include second seasons of Mini-Jon and Mini-Maple , Jeremy & Jazzy and spinoff Playing With Stu, Bestest Day Ever With My Best Friend, Macy Murdoch and The Bravest Knight.
Returning awards shows for the broadcast season including the Inspire Awards, the Polaris Music Prize, the Legacy Awards, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Juno Awards and the Canadian Screen Awards.
CBC is also expanding its FAST channel offerings with 14 new CBC News channels, starting with CBC News BC and CBC News Toronto. More local channels will be launched thorough the year, serving consumers in Calgary, Edmonton, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the North, Nova Scotia, Ottawa, P.E.I., Quebec, Saskatchewan and Windsor, Ont.
Returning news and current affairs shows are The Fifth Estate, Marketplace, The National, Power & Politics, Canada Tonight, About That with Andrew Chang and Rosemary Barton Live.
“Our wide-ranging slate of original Canadian programming for the coming year embodies our promise to reflect more people, places and perspectives from across the country in new ways,” said CBC EVP Barbara Williams in a statement.” As Canada’s storyteller, we are continuing to step up and stand apart from other media choices by serving audiences with more local coverage and stories from their own communities, across both news and entertainment.”
Images courtesy of CBC; Pictured above (L-R): Allan Hawco (photo by Tim Leyes), Jennifer Podemski and Meredith MacNeill
