First came the loss of Hockey Night in Canada and a $115 million budget cut for the CBC.
Then came the Jian Ghomeshi and Amanda Lang scandals and the skeletons they continue to bring out of the closet of the national public broadcaster.
But despite all the backlash and negative banter, the CBC is finally doing something right: its weeknight programming features a stronger, more well-rounded lineup than the network has seen in years.
With names like Cuba Gooding Jr., Eugene Levy, and Catherine O’Hara, it’s been a while since we’ve seen such a star-studded cast on Canadian television.
Before you lose all faith in the CBC, you may want to check out these six shows.
Schitt’s Creek (Tuesdays at 9pm)
In a 13-episode comedy series that’s breathed new laughs and life into Canadian TV, Schitt’s Creek stars some our favourite film parents from times past. The Rose family has lost their fortune and is forced to give up their mansion and relocate to their last remaining asset – a small, depressing town Johnny (Eugene Levy) once bought as a joke, Schitt’s Creek. Johnny, his former soap star wife Moira (O’Hara), his hipster son David (Dan Levy), and socialite daughter Alexis (Annie Murphy) are forced to confront their new poverty-ridden life in the town they once made fun of. Check out highlights from our round table interview with the cast a few months back.
Mr. D (Tuesdays at 9:30pm)
If you’re looking for Canadian comedy at its finest (no joke), it’s time you discovered Mr. D. Starring well-known Canadian stand-up comedians like Gerry Dee (you may remember him from Last Comic Standing) and Darrin Rose, among others, the sitcom – now in its fourth season – documents the life of an awkward, often filter-lacking schoolteacher, Mr. D. Trust us when we tell you you’ll LOL in a way you didn’t think possible with Canadian TV.
Dragons’ Den (Wednesdays at 8:30pm)
After 10 seasons, Dragons’ Den has proved its strength as a mainstay on the Canadian television scene. With the addition of Bay Street mogul/party boy Michael Wekerle and celeb chef Vikram Vij, the show is spiced up by the mixed bag of characters this season, proving they don’t need Kevin O’Leary to hold the audience’s attention. Check out our red carpet highlights from the season premiere here.
Book of Negroes (Wednesdays at 9pm)
The year kicked off with the January 7th premiere of Book of Negroes, starring Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Junior, and our very own Notable.ca award winner Lyriq Bent. It’s premiere topped ratings for its timeslot, when 1.7 million viewers tuned in. The six-part miniseries is, of course, an adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s award-wining novel. Offering an impactful reminder of history, the show documents the struggles of Aminata Diallo, and her life in slavery, escape to Canada, and her journey to freedom. Although the show – which was an undisputed success – draws to an end, a name like Gooding Junior and its high production value certainly helps the CBC’s cause. The last episode airs this Wednesday (February 11th).
Ascension (Premieres Monday, February 9th at 9pm)
If you’re into sci-fi mystery dramas, Ascension could be your new Monday night pastime. The six-episode series was shot in Montreal last summer and takes place aboard a generation ship, inspired by the covert space mission, Project Orion. Ascension documents life 50 years into the mission, which sent hundreds of people aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. The futuristic drama series rounds out the array of programming offered by the network this season for those closet sci-fi-loving nerds. The first episode airs on Monday.
X Company (Premieres Wednesday, February 18th at 9pm)
X Company is an emotionally driven spy thriller from the creators of the hugely successful Orphan Black and Flashpoint. It’s set in WWII and follows the lives of five young recruits who are trained as spies at a top-secret location on the shores of Lake Ontario. The recruits – Canadian, American, and British – become consumed in a dangerous world of espionage as they’re deployed overseas on missions to fight the Nazis. So, if you don’t get enough “war,” on today’s news, this could be your new “can’t miss” show for the tail end of hibernation season.
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