The 2015-2020 Canadian sitcom about wealthy family losing everything and moving to small town they bought as joke that became phenomenon through Netflix, swept 2020 Emmys, and normalized pansexual romance on mainstream TV.
The Premise
Riches to rags comedy:
Rose family:
- Johnny (Eugene Levy): Video store mogul
- Moira (Catherine O’Hara): Soap opera actress
- David (Dan Levy): Pansexual gallerist
- Alexis (Annie Murphy): Socialite
Setup: Embezzled fortune, only asset left: Schitt’s Creek (small town)
Canadian Origins
CBC to global:
- CBC Television (Canada, 2015)
- Low ratings initially
- Netflix (2017): International breakthrough
- American audiences discovered late
The trajectory: Canadian sleeper to Emmy juggernaut.
Emmy Sweep (2020)
Historic final season:
9 Emmy wins (all 7 comedy categories + 2 more):
- Outstanding Comedy Series
- All 4 acting categories (Lead + Supporting)
- Writing, Directing
Record: Most wins by comedy in single year
The dominance: Unprecedented sweep.
Dan Levy
Creator/star/visionary:
- Eugene Levy’s son
- Created show age 29
- Wrote, acted, showran
- LGBTQ+ representation champion
The vision: Personal, specific, universal.
”Ew, David!”
Alexis’s catchphrase:
- Delivered by Annie Murphy
- Became meme, merch
- Encapsulated sibling dynamic
The line: Simple but iconic.
David & Patrick
Revolutionary romance:
Patrick Brewer (Noah Reid):
- David’s business partner, boyfriend, husband
- Pansexual romance normalized
- No “coming out” drama (refreshing)
- Wedding episode (Season 6)
The representation: Queer love without trauma porn.
”Simply the Best”
Wedding song moment:
Noah Reid’s performance:
- Patrick serenades David (Tina Turner cover)
- Acoustic, tender
- Viral video
- Noah Reid: Musician career boost
The moment: Made grown adults sob.
Moira Rose
Catherine O’Hara’s masterpiece:
The character:
- Over-the-top wigs, accent
- “Bébé” pronunciation
- Vocabulary (“fold in the cheese”)
- Crow’s movie career
The performance: Comedy legend’s late-career peak.
”Fold in the Cheese”
Baking episode chaos:
- Moira doesn’t understand “fold”
- David’s exasperation
- Viral cooking moment
The scene: Perfect comedy writing.
Alexis Rose
Annie Murphy’s breakout:
Character evolution:
- Shallow socialite → competent adult
- “A Little Bit Alexis” (song)
- PR career growth
- Ted relationship
The arc: Most growth of any character.
Final Season
Graceful ending (2020):
- 14 episodes, perfect conclusion
- David’s wedding
- Everyone’s futures resolved
- No overstaying welcome
The exit: Rare sitcom that ended on top.
Found Family
Core theme:
- Rich people learning empathy
- Small town accepting them
- Community over wealth
- Love in unexpected places
The heart: Kindness without naivety.
Netflix Effect
Streaming saved it:
- Seasons 1-4 added 2017
- Binge-watching culture
- Emmy eligibility (US production requirement met)
- Final seasons: Cultural phenomenon
The platform: Netflix made Schitt’s Creek.
Canadian Pride
National export:
- Filmed in Ontario
- Canadian cast, crew
- Showcased Canadian talent
- Emmy speech: Dan Levy thanked Canada
The representation: Canadian TV excellence.
Legacy
Schitt’s Creek demonstrated slow-burn success’s viability, normalized LGBTQ+ relationships without trauma, and proved network sitcoms could achieve prestige through heart, humor, and perfect execution.
Sources:
- Emmy Awards records (2020)
- Netflix viewership data (2017-2020)
- The New York Times: “Schitt’s Creek’s Unlikely Rise” (2020)
- CBC Television ratings (2015-2020)