The always highly anticipated CBC slate has been unveiled for the upcoming fall and winter season.
The pubcaster made official announcements on three previously unannounced series: Caught, a new series from Take the Shot Productions and Entertainment One Television, starring Allan Hawco and based on a novel by Lisa Moore; The School, based on a U.K. factual format adapted by Paperny Entertainment about the education system, and a new factual series from Proper Television called True North Calling, about young people in an Arctic community.
Four in the Morning, from Serendipity Point Films, was confirmed by the CBC over the past week and The Council, announced earlier this month, a murder mystery from Lark Productions and Keston International Productions.
Previously announced 2016/17 shows from the pubcaster include: Shoot The Messenger from Hungry Eyes Film and Television; Workin’ Moms from Catherine Reitman and Philip Sternberg’s Wolf and Rabbit Productions; Kim’s Convenience from Thunderbird Films and Soulpepper Theatre Company; and the Baroness von Sketch Show from Frantic Films.
Returning titles include: Canada’s Smartest Person, Crash Gallery, Exhibitionists, Heartland, Hello Goodbye, Interrupt this Program, This Life, Murdoch Mysteries, The Romeo Section and X Company.
Surprises in the returning lineup include The Romeo Section from star Canadian showrunner Chris Haddock. The series debuted to low ratings last fall, battling the Blue Jays for playoff-season marketshare and unable to gain significant traction with viewers. This Life, from Sphere Media Plus, as well, didn’t find an audience immediately, but the Ceeb seems to be committed to giving both another shot at life with a year of fan-building and marketing behind them. Returning hits include Hello Goodbye, from Pivotal Media and Forte Entertainment, a factual series profiling airport arrivals and departures, which seemed to strike a chord with Canadians and X Company, from Boat Rocker Television/Temple Street Productions, which maintained respectable audience share throughout its second season.
The CBC promises more announcements in the weeks to come, culminating with its upfront on May 26.
Updated March 31 @ 2:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.