“‘What’s your favorite season?’ ‘Awards,’” replied Moira Rose in season 3, episode 2 of Schitt’s Creek.
Schitt’s Creek, created by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, is a Canadian television show about the Rose family who loses their fortune and have no other choice but to move to a small town that they once bought as a joke, Schitt’s Creek.
The Rose family once lived a lavish, outlandish lifestyle, and when they lose everything, they attempt to start over by piecing back their lives and learn how to live like normal people. Each character undergoes incredible character development throughout the series as they become humbled by their loss and transform into the best versions of themselves.
Schitt’s Creek began in 2015 and ended this year, spanning six seasons and eighty episodes. For its sixth and final season, the show made Emmy history as the first comedy or drama to win in all nine categories and to win all four best actor categories.
Schitt’s Creek success happened slowly, as it premiered on an unknown network- Pop TV- and gained a large fan following as it progressed, mostly in part to its airing on Netflix. Nonetheless, it is unusual for a series to receive their first Emmy, let alone eight others, for their last season.
In an interview with Vulture, when asked how Schitt’s Creek set a record of wins, Dan Levy said, “I think it is timing more than anything else. I do think people were turning to the show in quarantine. […] It stopped being about, ‘Oh, this is a funny show,’ and started being about, ‘I need joy in my life.’”
The show’s appeal is defined by the outlandish costumes (especially the wigs), peculiar vocabulary, and the uniqueness of telling a story of riches to rags. Schitt’s Creek is special in its celebration of inclusivity, acceptance, and love.
The show is not only hilarious, but also heartwarming as it centers around family (in real life and on screen). Eugene Levy, who plays Johnny Rose, also aided in the creation, production, direction, and writing of the show. Eugene is also father to Dan Levy, who created the show and plays David Rose, and to Sarah Levy, who plays Twyla.
By surrounding themselves with their relatives, the show seems more relatable and easier to share the hilarity that ensues on screen.
On the night of the Emmy’s, the Schitt’s Creek cast celebrated together as a family, with masks and social distance in Toronto as they watched the program virtually. “The event took place at Toronto landmark Casa Loma,” confirmed CBC.
“The castle-like mansion in uptown Toronto was built by financier Sir Henry Pellatt in the early 1900s, but he was forced to move out of the opulent home he had built in 1924, when he lost all his money after a series of risky investments. It’s an origin story the Rose family can relate to,” said Huffington Post.
As the night went on, and the show kept winning in every category it was nominated for, each cast member’s excitement grew: they looked stunned at the unbelievable turnout.
Dan Levy, when receiving the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, said, “Oh no, oh no. OK, the Internet’s about to turn on me, I’m so sorry!” Levy thought that Schitt’s Creek’s Emmy sweep would receive backlash, but the show received nothing but support.
Schitt’s Creek made their home country proud. Canada honored Schitt’s Creek’s incredible wins by lighting up the Toronto Needle and the Toronto sign in gold. Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, showed his support of the show in a September 20th tweet, “Congratulations to the cast and crew of Schitt’s Creek for their historic Emmy’s sweep tonight- and for bringing such joy and humor to our lives these past six years.”
Schitt’s Creek will go down in history for its record shattering Emmy wins and how it appreciates growth, understanding and the importance of valuing one’s relationships.
“Getting to write David Rose, getting to write this show, getting to tell [these] stories has been the greatest, most cathartic experience of my life,” said Dan Levy.
