The CW acquires Canadian comedy Son of a Critch for summer schedule

Comedy series Son of a Critch

US broadcaster The CW has picked up Canadian comedy Son of a Critch as its international acquisition spree continues.

Season one of the half-hour comedy, commissioned originally by Canuck pubcaster CBC, will air on The CW this summer.

The series is created by comedian, actor and writer Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe and produced by Andrew Barnsley’s Toronto-based Project 10 Productions and Take the Shot Productions, in association with CBC and Lionsgate Television, which is handling worldwide sales.

Based on Critch’s bestselling memoir, Son of a Critch tells the story of a young Mark coming of age in the 1980s. It was previously picked up by Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.

On CBC, the 13-part first season debuted in January 2022, while the second season, also 13 episodes, launched in January 2023. CBC has renewed the series for a third season.

Exec producers on the project include Critch, McAuliffe, Barnsley and Allan Hawco. Renuka Jeyapalan, Perry Chafe, Amanda Joy and Anita Kapila are co-executive producers. Jeyapalan directed the first four episodes.

The acquisition comes as The CW stocks up on international fare following a strategic pivot under new owner, local news giant Nexstar Media Group, which became the majority owner of the broadcaster last year.

Last month, The CW acquired Sky Studios’ British crime thriller The Rising and Fremantle Australia surfing drama Barons. More recently, it picked up Canadian drama series Sullivan’s Crossing for its fall schedule, revived dating reality series FBoy Island and commissioned spin-off series FGirl Island.