2 Comedians, 1 Ice Rink, and The Tragically Hip
🇨🇦 watch this: feel Canadian
Now that I’m a year into writing watch this: feel that, I figured it was about time I feature more CanCon1 in this Substack newsletter, and what better time than now?
If you don’t know already, this beautiful country has a deep reserve of talented actors, comedians, writers, directors, and documentarians who deserve to be celebrated more. But where to begin?
Rather than diving into celebrated Canadian film directors like Cronenberg, Egoyan, or Villeneuve (yet), I thought I’d start by shining a light on three arguably lesser-known, uniquely Canadian TV series and docuseries I enjoyed over the past year.
So, without further ado, recommendations for what to watch when you’re in the mood for something Canadian:
I HAVE NOTHING
What’s more Canadian than a comedian on an ice rink?
Comedian Carolyn Taylor’s docuseries I Have Nothing (2023) brings comedy to the rink, but it’s not (entirely) a joke. The 6-part docuseries, currently streaming on Crave, will have you laughing, feeling inspired, and rooting for the underdog.
You may know Carolyn Taylor from her comedic stylings in The Baroness Von Sketch Show, a hilarious sketch comedy series that she and her co-stars created and wrote (now streaming on CBC Gem). In I Have Nothing, Taylor pursues a dream that she originally shared in her stand-up comedy shows: a dream in which she — a comedian with no experience as a figure skating choreographer — choreographs a routine for gold medal-winning skaters set to Whitney Houston’s famous song, “I Have Nothing”.
Carolyn is down to earth, funny, and warm, and also a little bit all over the place in the best way. To quote her friend, equally hilarious comedian Mae Martin, who also appears in the series, “Carolyn has a chaotic energy — people are just drawn to her!” Although she’s funny, her dream isn’t a joke, a fact that becomes more and more apparent as you watch each episode.
I Have Nothing is part cringe comedy, part Canadian wholesomeness, part nostalgia about Carolyn’s queer awakening, and part Canadian sports history. In Carolyn’s words, its storyline can also be described as “buffoon makes good”. As Mae mentions early in the series, watching Carolyn awkwardly begin to act out the figure skating routine she has in her mind, “Today, seeing her on the ice, is truly the first time that I’ve fully understood that she really wants to do this…there’s no irony here.”
As you watch, you’ll see that Mae is right — this isn’t a mockumentary — Carolyn truly wants to achieve this goal, and she’ll stop at nothing to make it happen.
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: NO DRESS REHEARSAL
If you’re in the mood for an excellent music documentary, I recommend The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal (2024). Directed by documentary filmmaker Mike Downie (brother of the late Gord Downie, lead singer of the band), this 4-part documentary chronicles the rise, relationships, and legacy of one of the most quintessentially Canadian rock bands: The Tragically Hip.
Using archival footage, interviews with the band members, and commentary from notable Canadian music journalists and celebrities (George Strombolopoulous, Denise Donlon, Geddy Lee, Will Arnett, and others), the documentary series tells the story of The Hip’s journey to becoming an iconic Canadian band, their cultural impact, and the terminal brain cancer diagnosis and death of their legendary lead singer, Gord Downie.
If you weren’t a fan of The Tragically Hip before you watched this movie, I predict you will be after, even if rock isn’t your genre of choice. I can make this claim because it somewhat applies to me. When The Hip was rising in popularity, I was too obsessed with boybands, pop princesses, Whitney and Mariah, and Lilith Fair songstresses to pay attention to them as much as everyone else in my high school did. That said, their music was everywhere in my small Ontario town, and I liked it — I just didn’t camp out for concert tickets like many of my classmates did!
That said, rediscovering their music and lyrics through this documentary made me more appreciative of The Hip now more than ever. For many of you, this is already well-known, but The Tragically Hip was a band with integrity, passion, soul, and a unique Canadian spirit. They were proud to be Canadian, and their legacy lives on through their fans, and in the important work being done by The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.
The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal is now streaming on Amazon Prime (sadly, I wasn’t able to find a Canadian streaming service offering this series).
For more Canadian-made film & TV, check out these posts:
LATE BLOOMER
For a slice of Canadian life from the point of view of a young Punjabi Sikh comedian and content creator, check out the dramedy series Late Bloomer (2024).
A seemingly autobiographical half-hour series created by and starring Canadian comedian Jasmeet Raina (a.k.a. former YouTuber Jus Reign), Late Bloomer follows Jasmeet Dutta, a millennial actor and content creator trying to pursue his dreams while also trying to stay true to his family, community, and cultural traditions.
The series weaves together comedy and drama, providing consistent laughs while also exploring serious themes like cultural identity and representation; generational and family expectations; racism, stereotypes, and microaggressions; mental health; love and dating; self-discovery; and spirituality. On a personal note, I enjoyed learning more about the Sikh culture by watching this series, which is now streaming on Crave.
You might like Late Bloomer if you liked: Ramy, Never Have I Ever, Master of None, or Kim’s Convenience.
Enjoy the series,
~Heather
Streaming and rental sources listed are limited to the services and websites I subscribe to and/or have access to (in Canada) at the time of publishing. Feel free to search your streaming and cable services for these titles.
Great Canadian content here!I would enjoy seeing those films especially The Tragically Hip one. Good writing here!
There’s something so cozy and relatable about this piece. The way you connect food to emotion feels both intimate and universal—thanks for sharing such a warm, sensory moment.