Sneak peek: on location with Son of a Critch Season 4

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. — First thing is, I’m not really in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

I was though, and it is more fun to begin this story by typing in the place name. Makes the blog look more official like.

I’m now back home in Orangeville, but I was way out into the Atlantic earlier this month as a guest of the producers of Son of a Critch. The CBC’s most-watched sitcom is wrapping production on a fourth season and will return with 13 new episodes near the start of 2025.

Fourth seasons are interesting times for a TV series. Usually they’re make-or-break how long a show will last. If it has already made it that far, fifth and sixth seasons are usually automatic. That should be the case here in any event. This is a show that is enjoyed at home on CBC but also has proven to be a popular import stateside on The CW.

The series seems energized, even re-booted in a way, by a storyline that has graduated into the world of young Mark’s high school adventures. Other shows seen through the eyes of adolescents in their wonder years, such as, well, The Wonder Years (but also going all the way back to Leave it to Beaver) seemed to lose their way once the young leads start shaving. Critch and company run toward those storylines, safety razors in hand, so expect more emotional moments. Like young Mark (and especially the impressive young man who plays him, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), this series is maturing nicely.

That’s mainly the story I will write for The Toronto Star once Season 4 gets underway next January. Another opportunity that brought me to St. John’s was the chance to bank some podcast episodes with the cast and creators. I caught my limit, bringing home some glorious conversations with, among others, series co-creator, executive producer, writer and co-star Mark Critch.

The series is based on his colourful memoir, “Son of a Critch.” Season 4 is so closely peeled from his noggin that it is, frankly, a tad spooky.

This coming season harkens back to 1990, the year Critch vaulted into high school, as portrayed by Ainsworth in the series. The scenes at the high school are being shot right inside Mark’s actual old high school. Production was set up to coincide with the summer “schools out” months.

Back in 1990, teenage Mark was goofing around with this new wonder, the video camera. As a result, he has a record of every damn little detail to fall back on starting in Season 4. Depending on that day’s location and set up, he can actually show Ben and others the actual scene from that week’s script, taking place in the store or the house or the pool hall where it all really happened in 1990.

This is new level “You Are There” stuff, folks. I’m still processing it all. As Colton Gabbo, who plays Mike Junior in the series, said to me, “Mark owes us all a fortune in psychology fees!”

Nobody seemed to begrudge the process. Suffice to say the level of good will and hospitality was off the charts during my visit. Look for killer podcasts with Mark, Ben, Colton, Malcolm McDowell (Pop), Claire Rankin (Mark’s mom Mary), Fox (Sophia Powers) and a surprise guest star or two in the coming weeks and months. I also grabbed time with co-showrunner Tim McAuliffe and co-executive producer Perry Chafe, as well as director Deanne Foley.

And then there was meeting Jay Baruchel’s mom sitting in a director’s chair in video village. Did I mention they even snuck me into a bar scene as an extra? And that this all took place on the holiest of days in St. John’s, Regatta Day? And that the Prime Minister dropped by the set?? Talk about F- Trudeau!

It all took place during Block 2 Day 11 of 14 of Season 4 of Son of a Critch. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks and months.