# Son of a Critch

Son of a Critch is a Canadian comedy television series, created by Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe, that premiered on January 4, 2022 on CBC Television. 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 and Labrador.

## 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.

## Cast
### Main

* Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Mark Critch, who is starting junior high school in the first season
* 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, called "Fox" and in Mark's class, whose family are bullies. She has a crush on Mark, but hides it by bullying him.
* Mark Rivera as Ritchie Perez, Mark's best friend, and a Filipino-Canadian who is the only person of colour at St. Brigit's school
* Richard Clarkin as Dick Dunphy, Mike's coworker at VOCM

### Supporting

* Nora McLellan as Sister Rose, the Principal of Mark's school and VP of his high school (season 4)
* Lawrence Barry as Mr. Chafe, the Vice-Principal of Mark's school
* Petrina Bromley as Sister Margaret, and later Ms Fowler, Mark's homeroom teacher (seasons 1 & 2)
* Pete Soucy as Officer Butt, the local constable
* Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll as Father Garcia, and Principal of Mark's high school (season 4)
* Stephen Payette and Teigan Follett as Silver Fox and Middle Fox, Jennifer Fox's older brothers
* Nicole Underhay as Suzanne, Fox's mother
* Steve O'Connell as Fox's father
* Nate Penney as the youngest Fox sibling
* 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
* Kate Corbett as Sister Perpetua, Mark's homeroom teacher (season 3)
* Mack Barfoot as Mr. Murphy, owner of VOCM
* Susan Kelsey as Gertie, secretary at VOCM
* Shawn Doyle as Mr. Lewis, high school acting teacher
* Ashley Dingwell as Amanda, Dick Dunphy's estranged daughter and Mike Jr.'s girlfriend

### Guest stars

* 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, 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 Kareer Kollege teacher

## 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.
On March 23, 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, with The CW joining CBC and Lionsgate to co-produce.
On May 23, 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth season that premiered on January 7, 2025.

## Episodes
### Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 13 | 13 | January 4, 2022 (2022-1-4) | April 12, 2022 (2022-4-12) |
| 2 | 13 | 13 | January 3, 2023 (2023-1-3) | March 28, 2023 (2023-3-28) |
| 3 | 13 | 13 | January 9, 2024 (2024-1-9) | April 2, 2024 (2024-4-2) |
| 4 | 13 | 13 | January 7, 2025 (2025-1-7) | April 8, 2025 (2025-4-8) |

### Season 1 (2022)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate date | Canadian viewers |
| 1 | 1 | "Old Soul, New School" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 4, 2022 (2022-1-4) | 941,000 |
| 11-year-old Mark goes to junior high in 1986 St. John's, Newfoundland. Mark meets Ritchie, a Filipino Canadian, and the only visible minority student at the school. Mark also meets a female bully named Fox, who comes from a family of bullies that all share the same nickname due to their red hair. Mark eventually defeats his bully with words rather than physical force. |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Dead" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 11, 2022 (2022-1-11) | 836,000 |
| While at a funeral parlour, Mark meets Tina, a classmate. They hit it off and Tina kisses him on the cheek. She later calls him to meet at the park. Mark's friend Ritchie tags along, helping Mark use the bus system. Fox is on the bus and decides to tag along as well. At the park, Mark and Tina hold hands again and Tina again kisses Mark. Later that night, Tina calls Mark to break up with him, at the instigation of Fox, who is standing outside Tina's house, threatening to punch Tina. |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Cello, I Must Be Going" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 18, 2022 (2022-1-18) | 906,000 |
| 4 | 4 | "Cucumber Slumber" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 25, 2022 (2022-1-25) | N/A |
| The episode is based on the cucumber greenhouse fiasco in Newfoundland. Unfortunately, no one knows what to do with the cucumbers. |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Royal Visit" | Deanne Foley | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | February 1, 2022 (2022-2-1) | 710,000 |
| This episode is based on the visit of Princess Diana and Prince Charles to Newfoundland in 1983. Mark is chosen by his Monarchist society to present a bouquet to Diana and Dick Dunphy flirts with Mary (raising Mike Sr.'s ire.) |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Candyland" | Deanne Foley | Anita Kapila | February 22, 2022 (2022-2-22) | N/A |
| Mark and Ritchie have an unusually eventful night of Halloween trick-or-treating. |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Father Critch" | Deanne Foley | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | March 1, 2022 (2022-3-1) | N/A |
| This episode's theme is about protecting Mark, whom is preparing for his confirmation, from learning about the Mount Cashel Orphanage abuse scandal and the Catholic Church's role in it. |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Merry Critch-mas" | Deanne Foley | Heidi Brander | March 8, 2022 (2022-3-8) | N/A |
| Mark's estranged uncle Brendan makes an unexpected Christmas visit. |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Acting Normal" | Jay Baruchel | Anita Kapila | March 15, 2022 (2022-3-15) | N/A |
| Mark and Mike Sr bond over the school's upcoming Easter play and Pop has trouble with the CRA because has been collecting his dead wife's pension. |||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Misty" | Jay Baruchel | Nadiya Chettiar | March 22, 2022 (2022-3-22) | N/A |
| Mary goes into the hospital for minor surgery and the Critch men promptly fall apart. |||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Particip-action" | Anthony Farrell | Cathryn Naiker | March 29, 2022 (2022-3-29) | N/A |
| Fox sets her sights on the gym teacher's long standing St.Brigit's Sports Day record for first place ribbons. |||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Circus" | Anthony Farrell | Romeo Candido | April 5, 2022 (2022-4-5) | N/A |
| Ritchie is conflicted by his heritage (Filipino-Canadian or Newfoundlander?), and Mark and Fox go on a "non-date" at a traveling carnival. |||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Save the Last Dance for Me" | John Vatcher | Anita Kapila | April 12, 2022 (2022-4-12) | N/A |
| As the school year ends, Mark plans to ask Fox to the school dance, but is confused when he sees Ritchie spending time with her; he only later finds out that Ritchie was helping Fox study math so she can pass the grade. Mary is upset when she discovers Mike Jr. wants to move away to attend the University of New Brunswick, but eventually supports his plan. Mike Sr. worries for his job after Dick tells him that the station would be introducing an all-music format, but it turns out the format is for VOCM's new FM station. |||||||

### Season 2 (2023)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate date |
| 14 | 1 | "Growing Apart" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 3, 2023 (2023-1-3) |
| Mark is shocked when Fox returns to school with an older boyfriend who can drive. ||||||
| 15 | 2 | "You're Dead After School" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 10, 2023 (2023-1-10) |
| Mark is fated to fight Fox's boyfriend, but gets some unexpected reinforcements, and Fox saves the day. ||||||
| 16 | 3 | "Feast or Famine" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Perry Chafe | January 17, 2023 (2023-1-17) |
| St. Bridget's school holds a fast and sleep over for Lent, in part due to the famine in Ethiopia, and in an effort to win a bike (for selling the most boxes of chocolate covered almonds) Mark fashions himself as Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof. ||||||
| 17 | 4 | "Beer Necessities" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 24, 2023 (2023-1-24) |
| Mark faces peer pressure to try his first beer during the great Newfoundland Beer Strike. ||||||
| 18 | 5 | "Family Tree" | Deanne Foley | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 31, 2023 (2023-1-31) |
| Mark, with the help of Fox and Ritchie, discovers a dark secret of his family tree. ||||||
| 19 | 6 | "Who Dares Dare Hudaro?" | Deanne Foley | Nadiya Chettiar | February 7, 2023 (2023-2-7) |
| Mark falls under the spell of a Vegas hypnotist. ||||||
| 20 | 7 | "The Perfect Storm" | Deanne Foley | Heidi Brander | February 14, 2023 (2023-2-14) |
| This episode is based on the historic ice storm of 1984. Mike and Mary miss their 20th wedding anniversary dinner, and Mike Jr mans the phone lines, on air, alone at VOCM. ||||||
| 21 | 8 | "Spirit Week" | Deanne Foley | Amanda Joy | February 21, 2023 (2023-2-21) |
| The kids are allowed to wear jeans at school for Spirit week, but Mark does not own a pair. ||||||
| 22 | 9 | "European Vacation" | John Vatcher | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | February 28, 2023 (2023-2-28) |
| Mark's class goes on a field trip to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, with Pop Critch as a chaperone. ||||||
| 23 | 10 | "Old Friends, New Friends" | John Vatcher | Heidi Brander & Justin Rawana | March 7, 2023 (2023-3-7) |
| Mark and Ritchie make new friends, girls who are Protestant. ||||||
| 24 | 11 | "Pope Visit" | John Vatcher | Amanda Joy | March 14, 2023 (2023-3-14) |
| This episode revolves around Pope John Paul II's visit to Newfoundland in September 1984. Fox has to do a reading from the Bible for the Pope and is worried she will mess it up, and a rival radio station tries to lure both Mike and Mike Jr. from VOCM. ||||||
| 25 | 12 | "Details are Scanty" | Vanessa Matsui | Anita Kapila | March 21, 2023 (2023-3-21) |
| Mike Critch Sr. gets an Edward R. Murrow Award for ethics in journalism, but also faces an ethical dilemma, and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary gets (and loses) guns for the first time. ||||||
| 26 | 13 | "Halley's Comet" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | March 28, 2023 (2023-3-28) |
| Mark is fascinated by Halley's Comet but frightened by Ronald Reagan and nuclear war, Fox may move away, and a drive-thru Ches's Fish and Chips is being built next door to the Critch home. ||||||

### Season 3 (2024)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate date |
| 27 | 1 | "That Was Me in Grade Nine" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 9, 2024 (2024-1-9) |
| Mark begins his last year of middle school only to discover he needs glasses, and Mike Jr works full-time at VOCM. ||||||
| 28 | 2 | "Reach for the Top" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 16, 2024 (2024-1-16) |
| Mark competes on the iconic Canadian academic high school quiz show: Reach for the Top. Mike Jr is out late, broadcasting from a bar. ||||||
| 29 | 3 | "You're Full of It" | Deanne Foley | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 23, 2024 (2024-1-23) |
| Mark needs to pee desperately, but every toilet is broken or unavailable. Mary calls her father, a plumber, to fix their toilet and he and Mike Sr have never gotten along. Fox finds herself parenting her 2 brothers. ||||||
| 30 | 4 | "Growing Pains" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Story by : Tim McAuliffe Teleplay by : Mark Critch | January 30, 2024 (2024-1-30) |
| With all his friends playing arcade video games, Mark sells his comic book collection. Pop needs a hearing aide, and the Critch household gets a new, modern telephone. ||||||
| 31 | 5 | "Bonfire Night" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Mark Critch | February 6, 2024 (2024-2-6) |
| 32 | 6 | "My Funny Valentine" | Deanne Foley | Perry Chafe | February 13, 2024 (2024-2-13) |
| 33 | 7 | "Go into the Light" | Deanne Foley | Amanda Joy | February 20, 2024 (2024-2-20) |
| 34 | 8 | "Thanksgiving" | Deanne Foley | Mark Critch | February 27, 2024 (2024-2-27) |
| 35 | 9 | "The Ghosts of Christmas Presents" | Vanessa Matsui | Kerri MacDonald | March 5, 2024 (2024-3-5) |
| 36 | 10 | "How to Succeed in Business" | Vanessa Matsui | Justin Rawana | March 12, 2024 (2024-3-12) |
| 37 | 11 | "Airing Out" | John Vatcher | Anita Kapila | March 19, 2024 (2024-3-19) |
| 38 | 12 | "Cabaret" | John Vatcher | Heidi Brander | March 26, 2024 (2024-3-26) |
| 39 | 13 | "Forever Young" | John Vatcher | Mark Critch | April 2, 2024 (2024-4-2) |

### Season 4 (2025)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate date |
| 40 | 1 | "Groove Is in the Heart" | John Vatcher | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 7, 2025 (2025-1-7) |
| 41 | 2 | "Field Party" | John Vatcher | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 14, 2025 (2025-1-14) |
| 42 | 3 | "Front Page Challenge" | John Vatcher | Perry Chafe | January 21, 2025 (2025-1-21) |
| 43 | 4 | "Got to Get Me Moose B'y" | John Vatcher | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | January 28, 2025 (2025-1-28) |
| 44 | 5 | "Child Star" | Deanne Foley | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | February 4, 2025 (2025-2-4) |
| 45 | 6 | "Happy 1990" | Deanne Foley | Amanda Joy | February 11, 2025 (2025-2-11) |
| 46 | 7 | "Getting Doubles" | Deanne Foley | Heidi Brander | February 18, 2025 (2025-2-18) |
| 47 | 8 | "The Stage" | Deanne Foley | Kerri MacDonald | February 25, 2025 (2025-2-25) |
| 48 | 9 | "The Last Stop" | Joyce Wong | Mark Critch & Tim McAuliffe | March 4, 2025 (2025-3-4) |
| Mark confronts a tragedy, Mary goes to career college, and Mike and Pop take the last run on the Newfie Bullet. ||||||
| 49 | 10 | "Peace A Chord" | Joyce Wong | Amanda Joy | March 18, 2025 (2025-3-18) |
| 50 | 11 | "Lest We Forget" | TBA | TBA | March 25, 2025 (2025-3-25) |
| 51 | 12 | "Party on Wheels" | TBA | TBA | April 1, 2025 (2025-4-1) |
| 52 | 13 | "For the Rest of Your Life" | TBA | TBA | April 8, 2025 (2025-4-8) |

## 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

| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| 11th Canadian Screen Awards | Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series | Malcolm McDowell | Nominated |
| 11th Canadian Screen Awards | Performance in a guest role in a comedy series | Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll | Nominated |
| 11th Canadian Screen Awards | Hair | Norma Richard, "Save the Last Dance for Me" | Nominated |
| 11th Canadian Screen Awards | Best Original Music, Comedy | Alan Doyle and Keith Power | Nominated |
| 11th Canadian Screen Awards | Audience Choice | | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series | | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Lead performance, comedy | Benjamin Evan Ainsworth | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Lead performance, comedy | Mark Critch | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Performance in a guest role in a comedy series | Jay Baruchel | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Best Original Music, Comedy | Alan Doyle and Keith Power, "Halley's Comet" | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Hair | Norma Richard, "Who Dares Dare Hudaro?" | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Casting, Fiction | Jenny Lewis (casting director) and Sara Kay | Nominated |
| 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Cogeco Fund Audience Choice | | Won |

## 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.