Editor's note: This story was updated on June 26 with the release of the shows set for the 9:30 pm slot on Tuesdays.
The CBC release of new programming and schedules shows an embarrassment of riches. There are quite a few new dramas, all but 1 are Canadian. This also leads to some awkward programming nights. The loss of the Rick Mercer Report will be huge, but a couple of summer shows have moved to the fall to help fill the gaps.
Most of the awkwardness of the schedule has gravitated to Wednesday and Thursday nights. Wednesdays will have reality, drama, and comedy at some point in the fall and winter.
Murdoch Mysteries (fall and winter) and Frankie Drake Mysteries (fall) make a nice pair on Monday nights. Coroner and Street Legal take over the post-Murdoch Monday timeslot in the winter. Coroner (8 episodes) is from Morwyn Brebner, co-creator of the CTV drama Saving Hope. Street Legal (6 episodes) is a reboot of the CBC series that ran from 1987-1994 and bringing back Cynthia Dale (above) from the original show.
The Tuesday night comedy theme will miss the Rick Mercer Report. CBC moved up 2 of its summer shows — Still Standing and the Baroness von Sketch Show — to bookend This Hour Has 22 Minutes in the fall lineup. Kim’s Convenience starts the night on Tuesday followed by This Hour Has 22 Minutes with the traditional players of Schitt’s Creek and Workin’ Moms. The original press release does not list a show at 9:30 pm on Tuesdays in the fall.
The Great Canadian Baking Show (8 episodes) shares the early Wednesday slot with Canada’s Smartest Person Junior (6 episodes) for kids age 8-12 hosted by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim’s Convenience). The theme shifts to drama in the winter with the return of Burden of Truth (8 episodes) and the debut of Diggstown. The new drama (6 episodes) set in the world of legal aid. The press release notes that this is “the first original Canadian drama series featuring a black female lead character.”
The 9 pm Wednesday timeslot starts with a non-Canadian drama Vanity Fair (7 episodes), an adaptation of the William Makepeace Thackeray novel. The focus switches to comedy with the final 8 episodes of the long run of Mr. D paired up with the Halifax Comedy Festival (6 episodes). The timeslot concludes with Unspeakable (8 episodes), a depiction of the tainted blood scandal that began in the early 1980s in Canada.
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The post Dragons Den timeslot starts with more episodes of The Detectives (8 episodes). From the Vaults (6 episodes) is where hosts Amanda Parris and Tom Power focus on the history through the sounds of Canadian music. Then the slot goes to comedy with Cavendish (8 episodes), the only new CBC comedy on the schedule. Bickering brothers move back to their hometown in Prince Edward Island to take care of their ailing father. Cavendish will be paired with new episodes of Little Dog (8 episodes).
In the post Marketplace timeslot on Friday, In the Making (8 episodes) profiles Canada’s most extraordinary creators. The Stats of Life (8 episodes) is back with new episodes. Under New Management (4 episodes) follows budding entrepreneurs. CBC Docs POV takes over in the 9 pm slot.
The Fifth Estate moves to the late Sunday slot. Heartland will share the 7 pm early Sunday evening slot with the return of Anne with an E in the fall. The Nature of Things remains in the 8pm timeslot.
The post Baroness timeslot will be split with 2 British comedies with 6-episode runs. Hang Ups is about an online therapist. In the Long Run is from Idris Elba and his inspirations based from his inner city-London childhood. Seems like running the last few episodes of Mr. D would have better scheduled for Tuesday nights.
Investigators with Diana Swain moves to Thursdays at 7 pm while Exhibitionists moves into the Friday 11:30 pm timeslot after the local news.
Lane Merrifield and Vincenzo Guzzo will join Dragons Den this fall. They will be in place of Michael Wekerle and Joe Mimran, who are leaving the show
CBC Fall 2018
Monday
Murdoch Mysteries 8p
Frankie Drake Mysteries 9p
Tuesday
Still Standing 8p
This Hour Has 22 Minutes 8:30p
Baroness von Sketch Show 9p
Hang Ups/In the Long Run 9:30p
Wednesday
The Great Canadian Baking Show/Canada’s Smartest Person Junior 8p
Vanity Fair 9p
Mr. D 9p
Halifax Comedy Fest 9:30p
Thursday
Dragons' Den 8p
The Detectives/From the Vaults 9p
Friday
Marketplace 8p
In The Making 8:30p
CBC Docs POV 9p
Saturday
Hockey Night in Canada 7p
Sunday
Anne with An E 7p
The Nature of Things 8p
The Fifth Estate 9p
bold indicates new series; ital indicates new timeslot
CBC Winter 2019
Monday
Murdoch Mysteries 8p
Coroner/Street Legal 9p
Tuesday
Kim’s Convenience 8p
This Hour Has 22 Minutes 8:30p
Schitt’s Creek 9p
Workin’ Moms 9:30p
Wednesday
Burden of Truth/Diggstown 8p
Mr. D 9p
Halifax Comedy Fest 9:30p
Unspeakable 9p
Thursday
Dragons' Den 8p
Cavendish 9p
Little Dog 9:30p
Friday
Marketplace 8p
The Stats Of Life/Under New Management 8:30p
CBC Docs POV 9p
Saturday
Hockey Night in Canada 7p
Sunday
Anne with an E 7p
The Nature of Things 8p
The Fifth Estate 9p
bold indicates new series; ital indicates new timeslot
The Goods is gone from the daytime lineup at the CBC. These prime time CBC shows are not coming back: Rick Mercer Report; Crawford; 21 Thunder; Interrupt This Program; and Hello Goodbye.
The summer schedule should be a bit more wide open without Still Standing and the Baroness von Sketch Show. We will have more about that as we get closer to the start of the summer lineup.
photos credit: CBC
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