Son of a Critch is a Canadian sitcom television series, created by Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe, that premiered on January 4, 2022 on CBC. Based on the memoir of the same name by Critch, the semi-autobiographical series follows an adolescent Mark as he grows up in the 1980s in St. John's, Newfoundland. The series has been renewed for a fifth and final season, which premiered on September 8, 2026.
Premise The series is a coming of age story based on the childhood and adolescence of Canadian comedian Mark Critch. At the start of the series, 11-year-old Mark is growing up in 1980s Newfoundland, where he navigates starting junior high school (at St. Brigit's), making friends, and connecting with the small group of people in his limited world.
By season four: "From Mark's relentless pursuit of his creative dreams to his burgeoning romance with Fox, we'll watch as he devotedly navigates a quickly growing world. It’s a world filled with new promise, potential and love. And he won't be alone. Every member of his household will also be chasing something greater."
Cast and characters Main Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Mark Critch Mark Critch as Mike Critch, Mark's father, a news reporter for radio station VOCM Mark Critch narrates the series as his adult self Claire Rankin as Mary Critch, Mark's mother Malcolm McDowell as Patrick "Pop" Critch, Mark's grandfather Colton Gobbo as Mike Critch Jr., Mark's older brother Sophia Powers as Jennifer Fox, nicknamed Fox, who is Mark's classmate and girlfriend Mark Rivera as Ritchie Perez, Mark's best friend, and a Filipino-Canadian Richard Clarkin as Dick Dunphy, Mike's coworker at VOCM
Recurring Lawrence Barry as Mr. Chafe, the Vice-Principal of Mark's school Petrina Bromley as Sister Margaret (season 1) and Ms Fowler (season 2), Mark's homeroom teacher Pete Soucy as Officer Butt, the local constable Stephen Payette as Silver Fox, Jennifer Fox's eldest brother Teigan Follett as Middle Fox, Jennifer Fox's older brother Nate Penney as the youngest "Baby" Fox sibling Nicole Underhay as Suzanne, Fox's mother Steve O'Connell as Greg, Fox's absentee father Maya McNair as Cara, Mark's school friend Daisy Harris as Tina, a student in Mark's class Caroline Mangosing as Mrs. Perez, Ritchie's mom Eugene Sampang as Mr. Perez, Ritchie's dad Rory Lambert as Mr. Byrne, the gym teacher Mack Barfoot as Mr. Murphy, owner of VOCM Susan Kelsey as Gertie, secretary at VOCM Justin Nurse as Paul Royle, Suzanne Fox's new husband and real estate agent Ashley Dingwell as Amanda, Dick Dunphy's estranged daughter and Mike Jr.'s girlfriend Kate Corbett as Sister Perpetua (season 3), Mark's homeroom teacher Nora McLellan as Sister Rose, the principal of Mark's middle school and vice principal of his high school Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll as Father Garcia, one of Mark's teacher who become the principal of his high school Shawn Doyle as Mr. Kevin Lewis (season 4), high school acting teacher
Guest Greg Malone as Father Moore Richard Waugh as Brendan Critch, Mark's uncle Dana Puddicombe as Mary's hospital nurse Mark McKinney as The Unfathomable Hudaro Alice Krige as Millicent Hearn, an old friend of Pop Jay Baruchel as Scott Howell, rival radio station owner (VOAQ) Sherry Miller as Johanna Clarke, Mary's mother Peter Keleghan as Bill, the Reach for the Top quizmaster Robert Joy as Poppy Bell, Mary's father Jim Payne as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Jayne Eastwood as the wife of the Premier of NL Dylan Hawco as Brad, high school hockey team star Rick Mercer as Bill Bartlet, owner of Bartlet's Bargain Cars and the new owner of VOCM Kevin Blackmore as Buddy Wasisname Sara Hinding as Kate, Pop's deceased wife Susan Kent as Linda Lahey, instructor and CEO of Kareer Kollege Geri Hall as Amanda's mother Will Coombs as Stephen Rex, Mark's actor friend
Development Conception In 2018, Critch published a memoir about his childhood in Newfoundland. Following its release, McAuliffe suggested developing the book into a television series, which led to him and Critch creating scripts to pitch to various networks. In June 2021, CBC announced they had ordered Son of a Critch to series.
Production and distribution The series made its Canadian broadcast premiere on CBC Television on January 4, 2022, as well as CBC's streaming platform, CBC Gem.
Production companies involved with the series include Project 10 Productions, and Take the Shot Productions. Lionsgate distributes the series outside Canada. On February 28, 2022, CBC renewed the series for a second season.
Canadian actor/producer Allan Hawco serves as executive producer for the series through his company Hawco Productions. Hawco and Mark Critch are old friends.
On March 23, 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, with The CW joining CBC and Lionsgate as a distribution company.
On May 23, 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth season that premiered on January 7, 2025.
The series has been renewed for a fifth season. On May 4, 2026, the fifth season was confirmed to be the final season.
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2022)
Season 2 (2023)
Season 3 (2024)
Season 4 (2025)
Season 5 (2026)
Reception On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 100% based on six critic reviews.
Son of a Critch was watched by an average of 941,000 viewers on its January 4, 2022 Canadian debut; it was the 28th most-watched program in Canada that week.
At the 11th Canadian Screen Awards (held in 2023), Son of a Critch was nominated for four awards and one audience award. The show was nominated for seven awards at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024 and won the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice.
Accolades AwardCategoryRecipient(s)Result 11th Canadian Screen Awards Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series Malcolm McDowell Performance in a guest role in a comedy seriesRodrigo Fernandez-Stoll Hair Norma Richard, "Save the Last Dance for Me" Best Original Music, Comedy Alan Doyle and Keith Power Audience Choice 12th Canadian Screen Awards Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series Mark Critch, Tim McAuliffe, Andrew Barnsley, Allan Hawco, Ben Murray, Perry Chafe, John Vatcher, Amanda Joy, Rob Blackie Lead performance, comedy Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Mark Critch Performance in a guest role in a comedy seriesJay Baruchel Best Original Music, Comedy Alan Doyle and Keith Power, "Halley's Comet" Hair Norma Richard, "Who Dares Dare Hudaro?" Casting, Fiction Jenny Lewis (casting director) and Sara Kay Cogeco Fund Audience Choice 13th Canadian Screen Awards Performance in a guest role in a comedy seriesRodrigo Fernandez-Stoll Best Photography, ComedyJason Tan Best Picture Editing, Comedy Pauline DeCriox
International broadcast Paramount+ acquired streaming rights to the series in the UK in 2022.
In Ireland, the show broadcasts on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player .
In the United States, the series premiered on July 24, 2023, on The CW (although some US markets near the Canadian border who receive CBC Television are ahead in episodes). Season two premiered on October 26, 2023. Season three premiered on January 25, 2024. The CW opted not to renew distribution for further seasons.
Starting in 2025, the series became available on Netflix in Canada and the United States.
References
External links