Blog #5 April 13, 2020
Schitt’s Creek is a sitcom about a wealthy eccentric family who discover they are completely broke. The lavish life they knew, once filled with opulence and grandeur evaporates almost instantaneously. The Rose family, parents, Johnny and Moira, (played by Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara) and grown children, David and Alexis (Dan Levy and Annie Murphy) are stranded without any possessions or a home. They are forced to consider their only remaining option, move to a rural town they purchased for David long ago as a joke, called Schitt’s Creek. Having no other place to go, they relocate into the Rosebud Motel in Schitts’ Creek, living in two adjacent rooms. Johnny begins to work at the motel. They meet the mayor, Roland Schitt (played by Chris Elliot) his wife, Jocelyn (Jennifer Robertson), and the motel manager, Stevie (Emily Hampshire). The Rose family thinks this will simply be a temporary fix while their financial situation is resolved but soon they come to learn that their bank account has been depleted. They arrive in Schitt’s Creekas the ultimate “fish out of water.” They view themselves as worldly and refined, and see the citizens of the town as unsophisticated. The interactions between the Rose’s and the locals, a group of offbeat, free spirits that are a curious and irresistible bunch of characters is the stuff of pure entertainment. As time goes on, the Rose family learns to adjust to their new surroundings as they gradually integrate into the unconventional but endearing community of Schitt’s Creek.
The show’s creators are Eugene Levy and his son, Dan. The show has been on the air since 2015, is currently in its sixth and final season. The gifted cast and clever writing contribute tremendous quality to this first-rate sitcom. Schitt’s Creekis relatable because there are many universal themes that are presented. Among them is family dysfunction, coping with adversity, relationship issues, the journey of self-awareness, discovering new love and appreciating enduring love. The characters don’t remain stagnant, they begin to evolve as individuals in this small town in the middle of nowhere. In all likelihood, that never would have happened if they weren’t forced to leave their former lives behind as upper crust, self-centered, socialites.
Moira, a former soap actress who still has an aristocratic and pretentious air about her, somehow manages to convey an abiding love for her husband and children. That’s to the credit of Catherine O’Hara who is such a superb actress. Her Moira can behave entitled and shallow, but remains extremely likable because it’s evident that Moira has real depth underneath her exterior persona. Catherine O’Hara and her television husband, Eugene Levy, have been friends for 40 years and have collaborated on projects numerous times together. They are exceptional comedians and their friendship translates well into a genuine chemistry onscreen. Johnny, is the often frustrated but steady anchor of the family. Eugene Levy infuses the perfect balance of humor and humanity into Johnny. The son, David, is initially cautious about fully acknowledging his sexuality as a gay man. The audience is rooting for him as he takes a leap of faith and falls in love with Patrick, who is not only his business partner but becomes his life partner. As a viewer, we watched David struggle with his insecurities and fears of being rejected. Many people relate to those kinds of emotional challenges because it’s a shared human experience. This show depicts the romantic relationship between David and Patrick just as it is, a loving partnership between two people. Their sexuality is not highlighted, what is shown is their love for one another. In this portrayal, the show provides a voice for the LGBTQ community. David’s parents accept his friend, Patrick who eventually becomes David’s husband as a member of their family.
Annie, the sister, appears quirky and unaware but soon she begins to take ownership of her life, and slowly morphs into an actual adult. She embarks on pursuing a career path. Annie also goes through her own turmoil trying to find love and eventually ends up with the town veterinarian. I won’t give away what happens in their relationship but just to comment that Annie is able to support her boyfriend’s passions while still recognizing that her own interests are equally valuable. Overall, the series is extremely adept at adhering to its comedic essence even while touching upon poignant topics that are an essential part of life’s journey.
In regards to the commercial success of the series, in an article in Vulture, “The Unlikely Rise of Schitt’s Creek,” the show initially premiered in 2015 on the cable station, Pop and was not an overnight hit. Although, the Pop network did put concerted effort into promoting the show which helped in slowly rising ratings. However, once Netflix began airing the first two seasons in 2017, the viewership for the third season on Pop substantially increased. Eugene Levy credits Netflix for the jump in viewers because younger Netflix subscribers discovered the show and became loyal fans.
References
Pop TV Presents: Schitt’s Creek. Retrieved from http://www.poptv.com/schittscreek.
Bamber, J. (2018). Has snarky ‘schitt’s creek’ become television’s sweetest sitcom?PopMatters. Retrieved from
https://www.popmatters.com/schitts-creek-season-4-2562294899.html
Wieselman, J. (2014). “Eugene levy andcatherine o’hara look back on their 40-yearfriendship. Buzzfeed. Retrieved from
Silver, M. (2019). Canadian sitcom ‘schitt’s creek’ keeps the laughs flowing. Washington Post.Retrieved from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/…/canadian-sitcom-schitts-creek-keeps-laughs-flowing/
Adalian, J. (2019). The unlikely rise of schitt’s creek. Vulture.Retrieved from
https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/schitts-creek-netflix-pop-success-story-html
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