I’m Way Up ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and You Should Be Too
Keep the paddle. I’m up Schitt’s Creek and loving every 22 minutes of it.
But what’s most interesting about my adoration for the ultra-cute Canadian series is that it took four years for me to finally tune in. And with the likes of GQ, Vanity Fair, and Vulture singing the show’s praises in 2019, it’s clear that I’m not the only one to jump on the bandwagon a bit late.
Schitt’s Creek tells the tale of a wealthy, upper crust family who suddenly falls into financial despair, ending up in the only asset they’re able to hang on to: the less-than-luxurious small town of Schitt’s Creek. It stars comedy royalty duo Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice, Home Alone) and Eugene Levy (American Pie) who lead the Rose family into their new home at the town’s fledgling motel. Levy co-created the show with son Dan Levy, who also plays his TV son, David. Annie Murphy rounds out the nutty clan perfectly as daughter Alexis.
The series premiered on the Pop network in 2015 and reached an impressive 1.36 million Canadian viewers. Since then, Schitt’s Creek has found an unusually slow burn of gradual success, likely elevated by its 2017 game-changing deal with Netflix. Its presence on the streaming service juggernaut undoubtedly led the sitcom to a reported 3.3 million viewers for its fourth season.
But no matter what you attribute to the show’s increasing popularity, nothing comes close to the most prominent reason: it’s incredible television.
Watching this once-affluent family adapt to their newfound world of mediocrity is pure comedy gold. Schitt’s Creek presents the perfect vehicle for O’Hara, in what might be her best work to-date (hello, Emmy voters!). Her Moira Rose intoxicates with delicious eccentricity, to our absolute delight. From her inordinate array of wigs and unusual way of speaking, to the rather peculiar choice of wearing vests to bed, Moira has you doubling over with every scene-stealing moment. Levy’s Johnny Rose compliments her level of zany as the practical patriarch who attempts to keep his tribe from falling deeper into misfortune.
But what sets Schitt’s Creek apart from the average comedy is the punch it packs in the feels department.
While the Roses start out as a bunch of entitled, disjointed socialites, we watch them transform into something much more. Something deeper. We find ourselves tuning in to see the endearing effect this humble town has on them – and, in turn, the effect they have on the town. Settling down in Schitt’s Creek ultimately allows the Rose family to find new friendships, new love, and – most importantly – each other. Prepare for your heartstrings to be tugged aplenty.
But this lovely little show wouldn’t be complete without its cast of Schitt’s Creek citizens. Among them include Chris Elliott (Cabin Boy, There’s Something About Mary) and Jennifer Robertson as mayor Roland and his wife Jocelyn, Emily Hampshire as the lowly motel’s only employee, and Sarah Levy (Eugene’s real-life daughter) as the quirky waitress at the local cafe.
The Levy’s created something magical when they conjured up Schitt’s Creek, and we can only expect its popularity to rise even higher as word-of-mouth continues to spread. It may just be the best show on TV that you’re not watching. But – as it’s been made clear to many fans in the past year (including myself) – it’s never too late to start.
Schitt’s Creek airs on the Pop network, Wednesdays @ 10PM EST. Check out the first four seasons now on Netflix.
Micajah McGregor, Editor in Chief of FanFest.com and renowned entertainment journalist, graduated from USC with a focus on Journalism and Film Studies. With an MBA from The Wharton School, he began his career at “PopCulture Pulse” and has been instrumental in shaping FanFest into a prime entertainment news source. Known for his financial analysis of celebrity net worths, Micajah received the ‘Digital Editor of the Year’ award in 2018. He’s also an active blogger, sharing his passion for superhero films and ’90s TV. Contact him at [email protected] for engaging entertainment insights.
