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Strays (TV series)

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Strays
Developed by
  • Clara Altimas
  • Anita Kapila
  • Kevin White
Starring
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Sandra Cunningham
  • Ivan Fecan
Production locationsHamilton, Ontario, Canada
EditorAren Hansen
Production companyThunderbird Entertainment
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
ReleaseSeptember 14, 2021 (2021-09-14) –
November 15, 2022 (2022-11-15)
Related
Kim's Convenience

Strays is a Canadian television sitcom, which aired on CBC Television for two seasons from 2021 to 2022.[1] A spin-off of Kim's Convenience, the series centres on Shannon Ross (Nicole Power) as she embarks on a new career in Hamilton as executive director of an animal shelter.[2]

The cast also includes Frank Cox-O'Connell, Tina Jung, Nikki Duval, Kevin Vidal, Tony Nappo, Paula Boudreau, Emily Piggford and Leah Doz.[3] The series is produced by Thunderbird Entertainment.[3]

The series had been planned to start production in 2020, but was delayed until early 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[1] It premiered on September 14, 2021.[4] It was renewed for a second season, which premiered in September 2022. The CBC announced in April 2023 that the show would not be picked up for a third season.[5]

Production

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The show initially faced some criticism for the implications of the fact that Shannon, the only white character in the core cast of Kim's Convenience, was being given her own spinoff over any of the show's Asian characters.[6] John Doyle of The Globe and Mail noted the complexities of the situation, explaining that since all of the other major characters in Kim's Convenience were drawn from Ins Choi's original theatrical play, and Shannon was the only character who had been newly created specifically for the television series, she was the only character who was the intellectual property of the show's producers and thus the only one who could be spun off without Choi's participation.[7]

Cast

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Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110September 14, 2021 (2021-09-14)November 16, 2021 (2021-11-16)
210September 13, 2022 (2022-09-13)November 15, 2022 (2022-11-15)

Season 1 (2021)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Cat Condo"Pat MillsClara Altimas and Kevin WhiteSeptember 14, 2021 (2021-09-14)
22"The Snowball Effect"Pat MillsAnita Kapila and Zlatina PachevaSeptember 21, 2021 (2021-09-21)
33"New Neighbours"Renuka JeyapalanAnita Kapila and Kevin WhiteSeptember 28, 2021 (2021-09-28)
44"Trivial Pursuits"Pat MillsClara AltimasOctober 5, 2021 (2021-10-05)
55"Girls Night"Renuka JeyapalanAnita KapilaOctober 12, 2021 (2021-10-12)
66"Hot for Pappa"Pat MillsKevin WhiteOctober 19, 2021 (2021-10-19)
77"Empty Nesters"Joyce WongRosamund Small and Kevin WhiteOctober 26, 2021 (2021-10-26)
88"Speak Your Truth"Joyce WongClara Altimas and Allana ReochNovember 2, 2021 (2021-11-02)
99"Animal Passion"Aleysa YoungClara Altimas and Anita KapilaNovember 9, 2021 (2021-11-09)
1010"Eggs Anyone?"Aleysa YoungAnita Kapila and Kevin WhiteNovember 16, 2021 (2021-11-16)

Season 2 (2022)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [8]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [8]
111"Friends & Neighbours"Jasmin MozaffariAnita Kapila & Kevin WhiteSeptember 13, 2022 (2022-09-13)
122"Puppy Love"Jasmin MozaffariClara Altimas & Anita KapilaSeptember 20, 2022 (2022-09-20)
133"Mama Madness"Pat MillsLief Ramsaran & Kevin WhiteSeptember 27, 2022 (2022-09-27)
144"Kristian's Therapist"Pat MillsClara Altimas & Allana ReochOctober 4, 2022 (2022-10-04)
155"Shannon's Reign"Joyce WongAnita Kapila & Zlatina PachevaOctober 11, 2022 (2022-10-11)
166"Testimonials"Joyce WongMatt Kippen & Kevin WhiteOctober 18, 2022 (2022-10-18)
177"Attractor"Jasmin MozaffariClara Altimas & Kevin WhiteOctober 25, 2022 (2022-10-25)
188"House Sitting"Jasmin MozaffariAnita Kapila & Matt KippenNovember 1, 2022 (2022-11-01)
199"Promoting from Within"Clara AltimasMatt Kippen & Kevin WhiteNovember 8, 2022 (2022-11-08)
2010"Work Is Its Own Award"Clara AltimasAnita Kapila & Kevin WhiteNovember 15, 2022 (2022-11-15)

Critical response

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Doyle favourably reviewed the first episodes of the series, writing that "The sheer energy of Strays is admirable. It's gags galore and it can be fiendishly clever contrivance, often anchored in the style of that theatrical staple, the British bedroom farce. At the same time, it's a distinctly contemporary Canadian series, with a diverse cast, and if there's a tincture of subtext that subtext is tolerance. But you'd hardly notice with all the exuberance on display. Besides, there are cute animals almost everywhere."[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Houpt, Simon (March 26, 2021). "The abrupt end of Kim's Convenience: Why did CBC let its beloved sitcom close up shop?". The Globe and Mail.
  2. ^ Alexandra Del Rosario, "‘Kim Convenience’s Andrew Phung & Nicole Power Set New Comedies At Canada’s CBC". Deadline Hollywood, March 26, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Kim’s Convenience’ stars Nicole Power and Andrew Phung getting their own CBC shows". Red Deer Advocate, March 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Greg David, "CBC sets fall schedule and unveils 2021-22 programming slate, including over 35 original series from Canadian creators". TV, eh?, June 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Nolan, Daniel (April 14, 2023). "Hamilton-filmed sitcom 'Strays' gets dropped by CBC". The Hamilton Spectator.
  6. ^ Carras, Christi (June 7, 2021). "'Kim's Convenience' stars decry 'overtly racist' storylines, lack of representation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Doyle, John (June 4, 2021). "Bitterness abounds: More fallout from Kim's Convenience". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Strays". Zap2it. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Doyle, John (September 27, 2021). "CBC's Strays: The funny, unlucky cousin of Kim's Convenience". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
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