Do you have a TV show you like to watch when you are ? For me, it is Schitt’s Creek because it is hilarious and at the same time. While there are not many Canadian TV shows that have risen to international fame, Schitt’s Creek definitely has. This CBC series won so many awards, it is hard to keep track – it even during the Emmy awards in 2020 for being the first program to win an Emmy for every comedy category (including all 4 in the main acting categories).
The name of the series is also its main location, a fictional small town somewhere in Ontario where the formerly rich Rose family finds itself after having lost all their wealth. Their only remaining asset is the Rosebud motel where Johnny Rose and his eccentric wife, Moira, now have to live (or rather survive) together with their spoiled children, David and Alexis, who are in their twenties.
Over six seasons, we follow them as they try everything they can to move out of Schitt’s Creek. They make friends with town residents who can be as lovely as they are annoying.
A fun fact is that the creators of the show, Eugene and Dan Levy, who play Johnny and David Rose are also father and son in real life. Additionally, Sarah Levy, Dan’s sister, plays the role of local café-owner Twyla. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that the series captures family dynamics especially well, for example the way siblings make fun of each other. This might also explain the success of the quote “Ew, David!” that became a popular meme on social media and can now be found printed on t-shirts, toques and all kinds of merchandise.
Did I make you curious? Here are a few expressions you can listen for in the first episode:
- The town might be your saving grace.
- Thank you for giving us the lay of the land.
- That train has left the station.
You can stream Schitt’s Creek for free on CBC Gem , and it is suitable for intermediate and advanced English learners. There is the option to turn on subtitles in English, if you prefer to watch it that way.