| Genre: | Sitcom |
| Executive Producer: | Andrew Barnsley |
| Narrated: | Mark Critch |
| Country: | Canada |
| Num Seasons: | 3 |
| Num Episodes: | 39 |
| Location: | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Producer: | Andrew Barnsley |
Son of a Critch is a Canadian comedy television series, created by Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe, that premiered on January 4, 2022 on CBC Television.[1] Based on the memoir of the same name by Critch, the semi-autobiographical series follows an adolescent Mark as he grows up in the 1980s in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.[2]
The series is a coming of age story based on the childhood and adolescence of Canadian comedian Mark Critch. At the start of the series, 11-year-old Mark is growing up in 1980s Newfoundland, where he navigates starting junior high school (at St.Brigit's), making friends, and connecting with the small group of people in his limited world.[3]
In 2018, Critch published a memoir about his childhood in Newfoundland.[4] Following its release, McAuliffe suggested developing the book into a television series, which led to him and Critch creating scripts to pitch to various networks.[5] In June 2021, CBC announced they had ordered Son of a Critch to series.[2]
The series made its Canadian broadcast premiere on CBC Television on January 4, 2022, as well as CBC's streaming platform, CBC Gem.[6]
Production companies involved with the series include Project 10 Productions, and Take the Shot Productions. Lionsgate distributes the series outside Canada. On February 28, 2022, CBC renewed the series for a second season.[7]
On March 23, 2023, the series was renewed for a third season[8] with The CW joining CBC and Lionsgate to co-produce.[9]
On May 23, 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth season which will air in Winter 2024. [10]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 100% based on six critic reviews.[11]
Son of a Critch was watched by an average of 941,000 viewers on its January 4, 2022 Canadian debut, and was the 28th most-watched program in Canada that week.
In 2023 at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards Son of a Critch was nominated for 4 awards and 1 audience award. The show was nominated for 7 awards at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024 and won the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice.
| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11th Canadian Screen Awards | Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series | Malcolm McDowell | ||
| Performance in a guest role in a comedy series | Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll | |||
| Hair | Norma Richard, "Save the Last Dance for Me" | |||
| Best Original Music, Comedy | Alan Doyle and Keith Power | |||
| Audience Choice | ||||
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series | |||
| Benjamin Evan Ainsworth | ||||
| Mark Critch | ||||
| Performance in a guest role in a comedy series | Jay Baruchel | |||
| Best Original Music, Comedy | Alan Doyle and Keith Power, "Halley's Comet" | |||
| Hair | Norma Richard, "Who Dares Dare Hudaro?" | |||
| Casting, Fiction | Jenny Lewis (casting director) and Sara Kay | |||
| Cogeco Fund Audience Choice | ||||
Paramount+ acquired streaming rights to the series in the British Isles in 2022.[12]
In the United States, the series premiered on July 24, 2023, on The CW (although some US markets near the Canadian border who receive CBC Television are ahead in episodes). Season two premiered on October 26, 2023.[13] Season three premiered on January 25, 2024.[14]