Recipient of Four Emmy Nods including Best Comedy Series, Lead Actor for Eugene Levy and Lead Actress for Catherine O’Hara is Set to Debut in National Syndication Starting in September 2020
New York and Los Angeles - October 3, 2019 – Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury today announced FOX Television Stations has acquired fan favorite and Primetime Emmy-nominated Schitt’s Creek. All seasons of the acclaimed, ground-breaking, half-hour character-driven comedy created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy will begin airing in U.S. broadcast markets starting in fall 2020. A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Pop TV original comedy, Schitt’s Creek is Pop’s highest-rated series.
The two-year deal with FOX comes as Schitt’s Creek garnered four Primetime Emmy Award® nominations this year: Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Eugene Levy, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Catherine O’Hara and Outstanding Contemporary Costumes.
Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, who acquired domestic broadcast rights to the series from international distributor ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE), commented, “Schitt’s Creek will enter syndication on FOX and other television stations throughout the country next fall with one of the most loyal and passionate fan bases on television. It is so rare to have a show like this that appeals equally to viewers, Emmy voters and critics - a testament to its extraordinary gifted cast and writing. We are excited to be working alongside ITVS GE to bring this outstanding program to the world.”
Frank Cicha, Executive Vice President of Programming for FOX Television Stations, said, “Program? What program? I thought Debmar was actually selling us the town!”
Set for its sixth and final season on Pop TV and CBC starting in January 2020, the buzzworthy comedy follows a wealthy family who suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt’s Creek, a small town they once bought as a joke.
The cast includes Emmy-winners Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliott, Emily Hampshire, Jennifer Robertson, Noah Reid, Dustin Milligan, Sarah Levy and Karen Robinson.
Schitt’s Creek centers on an outrageously wealthy video store magnate, Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy); his former soap-star wife Moira (Catherine O'Hara); and their two adult children – the self-described black sheep of the family David (Daniel Levy) and career socialite Alexis (Annie Murphy).
With their pampered lives a memory, they struggle to find jobs and relationships, and most importantly, figure out what it means to be a family in the makeshift but loveable town they’ve reluctantly come to call home – leading TV Insider to declare, “Abject poverty has never been funnier.”
Commissioned by CBC, Schitt’s Creek is produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc. and created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy. The executive producers are Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Andrew Barnsley, Fred Levy, David West Read and Ben Feigin. Schitt’s Creek is produced in association with CBC and PopTV and distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
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About Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury, an innovative leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes The Wendy Williams Show and – together with Citylife Productions - Caught in Providence, returning for its second season in September 2019; has U.S. distribution rights to FremantleMedia North America’s Steve Harvey-hosted Family Feud; Comedy Central’s off-Netflix episodes of BoJack Horseman from Michael Eisner’s privately held media and entertainment company, The Tornante Company; as well as U.S. distribution rights to Schitt’s Creek, the critically acclaimed half-hour, single-camera scripted comedy created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy that ranks as the No. 1 original series on Pop TV; the 10/90 sitcoms Debmar-Mercury pioneered including Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns; Revolution/CubeVision’s Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube); and the Debmar-Mercury / Lionsgate Television comedy Anger Management (starring Charlie Sheen). Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), a premier next generation global content leader.
About ITV Studios Global Entertainment
ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) is the world-leading multi-genre, multi-disciplinary, multi-platform distribution arm of ITV Studios. It distributes programming which is ‘More Than TV’; programming that truly moves people, grips the nation, starts conversations, entertains millions and shapes culture.
ITVS GE represents in excess of 45,000 hours of brand-defining content from the 55+ award-winning production labels in the ITV family which produce 8,900 hours of programming per year, as well as selected programming from leading producers from around the world. Through its global network which includes offices in London, Hong Kong, Paris, Germany, the Nordics, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Sydney, it distributes critically acclaimed and universally adored titles such as Bodyguard; Victoria; Poldark; Good Witch; Vera; 63 Up; 24 Hours in Police Custody; The Graham Norton Show and Magical Land of Oz internationally; as well the highly anticipated Snowpiercer, World on Fire and Gold Digger, supplying more than 3000 broadcasters and platforms worldwide.
ITV Studios is part of the ITV PLC, which includes the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster.
About Not A Real Company Productions Inc.
Not A Real Company Productions Inc. is a Toronto-based company founded by the father and son creative team of Eugene and Daniel Levy. The principal executives for Not A Real Company Productions Inc. are Daniel Levy, Eugene Levy, Fred Levy and Andrew Barnsley.
About CBC
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About Pop TV
Pop TV is a fully distributed entertainment cable network featuring fun, comedy-leaning programming for Modern Grownups®, engaged fans who came of age in the ‘80s and ‘90s raised on network TV. The Network recently ordered a new season of the critically acclaimed ONE DAY AT A TIME to join its original scripted series, including the Emmy-nominated signature comedy SCHITT’S CREEK, perennial favorites such as BIG BROTHER AFTER DARK, and a line-up of “Still Awesome” television hits including “90210” and “Charmed.” Pop is TV the way it should be – effortlessly entertaining. Owned by CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS), Pop is available on all major cable and satellite providers, as a downloadable app called PopNow and on most over-the-top streaming services.