Maury Chaykin’s first thought after reading the script for Less Than Kind was ‘Are they actually doing this?’

The script for the Winnipeg-set sitcom ‘is not particularly nice, it’s not watered down…it shows all the characters with all their warts and edges,’ noted character actor Maury Chaykin said during a press junket to promote the show’s fall debut on Rogers’ Citytv.

‘At the same time, it was a wonderful, very funny, very edgy story about a Jewish family in Winnipeg.’

Chaykin (Dances with Wolves, A Nero Wolfe Mystery) plays self-destructive patriarch Sam Blecher in the 13 x 30 series – the brainchild of Vancouver’s Marvin Kaye and Chris Sheasgreen. The story focuses on 15-year-old Sheldon – played by Montreal’s Jesse Camacho – an overweight teenager struggling to fit in with his dysfunctional family.

Showrunner Mark McKinney (Robson Arms) oversees the story room for Toronto’s Breakthrough Films & Television (Kenny vs. Spenny) and Winnipeg’s Buffalo Gal Pictures (The Stone Angel. Series writers include the team behind Little Mosque on the Prairie.

The crew wrapped 13 episodes in February in Winnipeg and is currently in development on another six eps for season two.

Less Than Kind will air on City Mondays at 10:30 pm starting Oct. 13, following Curb Your Enthusiasm. McKinney says the comedy has the goods to become the next ‘It’ sitcom as Corner Gas and Air Farce Live wind down. Robson Arms ended its run in the summer.

From Playback Daily