In the wake of the cancellation of Kim’s Convenience, CBC has announced details of a new spin-off series for Nicole Power and a new half-hour comedy starring Andrew Phung.
Thunderbird Entertainment, which produced Kim’s Convenience, announced earlier this month that the award-winning series was concluding after five seasons, citing the departure of series co-creators Ins Choi and Kevin White. Premiering on the network in the fall of 2016, the CBC Original comedy was based on Choi’s 2011 stage play, inspired by his own upbringing.
Spin-off Strays – from White and to be produced by Thunderbird – will revolve around the only central non-Korean character on Kim’s Convenience, Shannon Ross (Power), as she embarks on a new career in Hamilton. The ensemble cast will include Frank Cox O’Connell (Soulpepper Theatre), Tina Jung (Suits, Second Jen), Nikki Duval (Workin’ Moms), Kevin Vidal (Workin’ Moms), Tony Nappo (Pretty Hard Cases), Paula Boudreau (Workin’ Moms) and Emily Piggford (The Sounds, Warigami). The series, which has been in development since July 2018, is already in production.
Run The Burbs, created by Andrew Phung and collaborator and filmmaker Scott Townsend (The Secret Marathon), will star Phung as a stay-at-home dad living life in the suburbs with his entrepreneur wife and two kids. CBC says the series has been in development since last May and will be produced by Pier 21 Films.
In a CBC release, Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, reiterated the public broadcaster’s commitment to telling stories reflective of the Canadian immigrant experience.
“As our comedy slate continues to evolve, we are thrilled to continue working with Andrew and Nicole and offer audiences two new comedies to look forward to starring these incredible talents they have come to know and love,” said Catto. “Both of these series were planned to join Kim’s Convenience on our comedy lineup this upcoming year, to reflect how many young Canadians are forging new lives outside of urban centres in Canada. We look forward to watching Andrew and Nicole as they explore these new stories.”
Both shows are set to launch during the upcoming 2021-22 broadcast season.
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