This morning, CBC announced its upcoming 2024-25 season, and it’s chock full of 40+ original Canadian series and specials. You can read the whole press release here.
Here’s a quick hitter on the things that caught our attention:
The Republic of Doyle team is returning to CBC! Allan Hawco, John Vatcher, and Perry Chafe are back this winter with new drama series Saint-Pierre.
Here’s the tease:
After Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Inspector Donny “Fitz” Fitzpatrick (Hawco) digs too deeply into a local politician’s nefarious activity, he is exiled to work in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (the French Territory nestled in the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Newfoundland). Fitz’s arrival disrupts the life of Deputy Chief Geneviève “Arch” Archambault (Josephine Jobert), a Parisian transplant who is in Saint-Pierre for her own intriguing reasons.
As if by fate, these two seasoned officers — with very different policing skills and approaches — are forced together to solve unique and exciting crimes. Although the islands seem like a quaint tourist destination, the idyllic façade conceals the worst kind of criminal activity which tend to wash up on its beautiful shores. At first at odds and suspicious of each other, Arch and Fitz soon discover that they are better together… a veritable crime-fighting force.
The series is the creation of Allan Hawco, Robina Lord-Stafford and Perry Chafe, with Hawco and Lord-Stafford as Showrunners, produced by Hawco Productions in association with global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON, which is also handling global distribution on the show. It is executive produced by Janine Squires, Erin Sullivan, Robina Lord-Stafford, Perry Chafe, John Vatcher, and Hawco.
Pretty Hard Cases‘ Meredith MacNeil is also back, this time alongside Jennifer Whalen, in Small Achievable Goals.
Here’s the tease:
Jan (Jennifer Whalen) hates her boss, her marriage has issues, and thanks to menopause, her furious internal monologue has become external – making all her problems worse. Single mom Kris (Meredith MacNeill) is juggling epic levels of hormone-induced horniness, awkward dating in her 40s, and fighting aging with every TikTok beauty trend she can find
When they are forced to work together to produce a podcast, they learn they are both undergoing “The Change” – aka menopause – and embark on a journey of transformation, helping each other through workplace challenges and office politics, dating and relationship drama, and some serious health concerns. Like a phoenix from the ashes, they will be reborn as sexy, silver-haired, wizard women! Or at least wiser, less sweaty versions of themselves. The series was created by Whalen and MacNeill, who are executive producers with Jennifer Kawaja, Bruno Dube and Elise Cousineau.
I’ll have conversations with Hawco, Jobert, Whelan, and MacNeill posting soon, so check back.
Also — among the two new series coming, two new comedies:
North of North
Siaja (Anna Lambe, True Detective: Night Country, Trickster) is a young Inuk mother who wants to build a new future for herself. After a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage, Siaja has to find a job and a place for her and her young daughter to live, and fast. Her only option might be to go from one complicated living situation to another — where Siaja’s dreams of a fresh start collide with some long-kept secrets. To top it all off, this is happening in a small Arctic town where everybody knows your business.
A comedy series commissioned by CBC, Netflix and APTN, NORTH OF NORTH is created by Stacey Aglok
MacDonald (Qanurli, The Grizzlies) and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk, The Grizzlies) of Red Marrow Media and produced alongside executive producer Miranda de Pencier (Anne with an E, Beginners, The Grizzlies) of Northwood Entertainment. Anya Adams (Yellowjackets, Ginny & Georgia), Susan Coyne (Mozart in the Jungle, Daisy Jones & The Six) and Garry Campbell (The Kids in the Hall, Less Than Kind) also executive produce.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids
The not even true, real life story of the Indigenous hip hop sensation Snotty Nose Rez Kids chronicling their tireless hustle and chaotic journey to stardom. The series is inspired by the lives of best friends Quinton and Darren, who move from their remote Haisla Nation to the big city of Vancouver to chase their hip hop dreams. Throughout a series of misadventures they lean on their newfound community to kick start their career as Snotty Nose Rez Kids.
Created by Quinton Nyce and Darren Metz, Vance Banzo and Matt Kippen; Jennifer Podemski is the series’ showrunner, and an executive producer with Metz, Nyce, Michael Tanko Grand, Stephen Hegyes, Simon Barry, Banzo, Kippen and Bhavika Mantri; Amber-Sekowan Daniels is co-executive producer.
Also news of the good? We’re getting second seasons of Wild Cards, Allegiance, and Plan B (with Vinessa Antoine), and a third season of SkyMed! And file under, “bravo, kids!” as Heartland and Murdoch Mysteries will be back for the 18th seasons!
Photos courtesy of CBC.
