This is the first article in a two-part series on Canadian television, this one looking at some of the most popular shows and some of the longest running shows. Some of them may surprise you.
Let us start with some of the longest-running Canadian TV shows:
- Heartland is currently the longest-running Canadian drama series having aired for 16 seasons and 232 episodes since 2007.
- Street Legal, which ran for 124 episodes, from 1987 to 1994 was first.
- Murdoch Mysteries is the longest-running Canadian scripted one-hour drama series (239 episodes). While Heartland premiered earlier, Murdoch Mysteries has produced more episodes.
- The Beachcombers (1972-1990) was one of the longest-running Canadian dramatic series, airing for 19 seasons and 387 episodes.
- Hockey Night in Canada has been broadcasting NHL games since 1952, making it the longest-running television sports show in Canada at 70 seasons.
- Other long-running Canadian shows include: The Nature of Things (1960-present, 62 seasons), The National (1954-present, 68 seasons), and The Rick Mercer Report (1993-2018, 15 seasons). TV watching for me is all about the news. The longest-running Canadian news program is The National, which has been broadcasting on CBC Television since 1954, making it 70 seasons old.
If we are talking the longest-running investigative news show in Canada, then we are talking about W5, which has aired on CTV for 56 years from 1966 until this year. That makes it older than 60 Minutes or Dateline that air in the U.S.
My family has been watching the news together since I was ‘a young pup.’ Some additional details about The National that may interest you include the fact that it premiered on CBC Television on Nov. 1, 1954, and is one of the longest-running news programs in the world. It has had several title changes over the years (e.g. The CBC National News, The National News, etc.).
W5, which premiered on CTV on Sept. 10, 1966, has had a multitude of hosts over its 56-year run including Jim Reed, Pamela Wallin, Victor Malarek, and many others. Sadly, its final episode will be aired on June 21, 2024.
CBC has its own long running investigative news program named The Fifth Estate that premiered on Sept. 6, 1975 (49 seasons), winning many awards over the years.
I used to faithfully watch a political news program called Question Period, which has aired every Sunday since 1967 (57 seasons).
There is a huge audience for comedy here in Canada and the longest-running comedy series is This Hour Has 22 Minutes, now in its 32nd season, making it the longest-running TV comedy series in Canadian history.
It premiered in 1993 and has been a staple of CBC's prime-time lineup winning numerous awards over the years, including the Canadian Screen Awards Academy Icon Award and several Canadian Comedy Awards for Best TV Show.
There have been several other long-running Canadian comedies like Corner Gas and SCTV, (SCTV being my favourite) but This Hour Has 22 Minutes is Number 1 in terms of total seasons on the air at 32 and counting.
There are many who will argue that the keystone to quality Canadian programming rests in the Canadian government’s quotas for "Canadian content," I believe that one can only hone one’s craft if one competes against the best.
In part one, I spoke of the first shows to appear on Canadian TV. Some of you will remember The C.G.E. Show hosted by Elwy Yost that initially aired on Sept. 8, 1952, on CBLT Toronto. You will also remember Yost from Saturday Night at the Movies on TVO.
Some other early CBC shows that launched in 1952 included The Big Revue, Detective Quiz, Hockey Night in Canada, Crossword Quiz, and The Wayne and Shuster Hour.
The first French language program on CBFT in Montreal was Let's See, which debuted on Sept. 6, 1952. ‘Let's See’ was a bilingual 15-minute puppet show that was the first Canadian TV telecast two days before the Toronto station launched.
The first Canadian variety television show is considered to have been The Big Revue, which debuted on Sept. 9, 1952, as part of the inaugural programming on CBC Television. Directed by Norman Jewison and written by John Aylesworth and Frank Peppiatt. The cast included performers like Joel Aldred, Dave Broadfoot, Robert Goulet, and Donald Harron.
Aylesworth and Peppiatt went on to create other early CBC variety shows like After Hours and On Stage in the 1950s before heading to the U.S. and American television.
While the 15-minute puppet show Let's See was technically aired earlier on Sept. 6, The Big Revue is considered the first full-fledged Canadian variety series.
When I was researching this article, people asked me what I thought was the most popular and successful Canadian TV show over these past 72 years. While my pick would have been a sports program like Hockey Night in Canada, it appears that Schitt's Creek was the consensus number one choice.
Here are a few key points in support of Schitt's Creek being the most popular Canadian TV show:
- Schitt's Creek takes the Number 1 spot as voted by voters in the ranking of the Top 25 Canadian TV shows of all time.
- The article noted that Schitt's Creek was "so incredible that it also became a hit in the United States and around the world, earning dozens of trophies" including Emmys and other major awards.
- Schitt's Creek is said to have had "the perfect cast, the funniest characters, and the most original stories" created by the father-son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy.
- Its international popularity, and top ranking in polls seems to have crowned Schitt's Creek as the most popular and successful Canadian TV show.
- The IMDb list of Top 20 Best Canadian TV Series ranks Schitt's Creek at #7.
Schitt’s Creek seems to have surpassed the widespread popularity and acclaim of such iconic shows as Corner Gas, Trailer Park Boys, and Kids in the Hall in the polls.
You may have noticed that most of the shows I have mentioned to this point are CBC productions. CBC was the only official broadcast in this country for years.
Canadian television is so much more than dramas or comedies.
Here are some popular Canadian TV shows that are not dramas or comedies:
- Hockey Night in Canada which is ranked #11 in the Top 25 Canadian TV shows of all time being one of the longest-running sports shows, broadcasting NHL games since 1952.
- The Nature of Things that is ranked #10 is a long-running Canadian documentary / science series that has been on CBC since 1960
- Dragons' Den that is ranked #8 is a popular Canadian reality TV series where entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to investors.
- Breakfast Television that ranked #13 is a long-running Canadian morning news/talk show that has aired since the 1980s.
- Just For Laughs which ranked #6 is comedy festival and TV series showcasing stand-up acts, not a traditional sitcom
It is interesting that while dramas like Murdoch Mysteries and Anne of Green Gables and comedies like Schitt's Creek dominate all the lists, shows focused on sports documentaries, reality TV, news/talk, and stand-up comedy also rank among Canada's most popular and iconic television series, according to research.
And finally, the most-watched broadcast in Canada was the 2010 Winter Olympics men's hockey gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada with approximately 16.6 million viewers. The Super Bowl frequently ranks highly as the most-watched TV broadcast.
Writing this series will bring some incredible memories back to my mind. Sitting and watching Romper Room, Captain Kangaroo, The Adventures of Robin Hood and so many more as a child – yes.
I hope that you enjoyed this series and that we will see you back here next weekend.
Sources: Which Canadian TV shows do you enjoy the most? : r/AskACanadian Top 20 Best Canadian TV Series - IMDb Kevin Newman on LinkedIn: The longest running investigative ... Murdoch is now Canada's longest-running hour-long drama – brioux.tv CBC's Heartland to become Canada's longest running 1-hour TV ... This Hour Has 22 Minutes - CBC Media Centre Canada's 30 Funniest TV Shows - IMDb What are some good Canadian television shows that are unknown ... The roots of Canadian Television - Broadcaster Magazine Television | The Canadian Encyclopedia Civilization.ca - Watching TV - Television in Canada, the early years What are the most binge-watched TV shows in Canada? | CTV News History: Television begins in Canada, Sept.06, 1952 CBC Television Network - The History of Canadian Broadcasting Civilization.ca - Watching TV - Television in Canada, the early years Best Canadian TV Shows, Ranked - MovieWeb The Most Successful Canadian TV Show, Ranked - StrawPoll Civilization.ca - Watching TV - Television in Canada, the early years Canadian variety television series - FamousFix.com list 1952 Canadian television series debuts - FamousFix.com list
Newmarket resident Richard MacLeod, the History Hound, has been a local historian for more than 40 years. He writes a weekly feature about our town's history in partnership with NewmarketToday, conducts heritage lectures and walking tours of local interest, and leads local oral history interviews.
