Mark Critch Talks About Season 3 of ‘Son of a Critch‘ now airing Thursday night on The CW in the U.S.
‘Son of a Critch‘ is a comedy series based on Mark Critch’s award-winning memoir, depicting his coming-of-age in the 1980s. Critch is portrayed by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who navigates the challenges of junior high with humor and self-deprecation, trying to connect with those in his limited world. The cast includes Mark Critch as his father, Mike, Claire Rankin as his mother, Mary, and other notable actors. In the third season, Mark enters ninth grade, anticipating a year of being the “Big Man On Campus.” However, despite three years passing, he still struggles to fit in. The season explores Mark’s reluctance to let go of childhood, his growth, and the contemplation of the future. Created by Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe, the series is produced by Andrew Barnsley and is a co-production between Project 10 Productions, Take the Shot Productions, CBC, and Lionsgate Television.
We spoke with Critch about the return of the series, how he allows Ainsworth to create the fictionalized version of Mark, while trying to emulate some of Critch’s own mannerisms.
‘Son of a Critch‘ airs on Thursday nights on The CW in the United States.
Official Press Release:
Based on the award-winning, bestselling memoir from Mark Critch (‘This Hour Has 22 Minutes‘), ‘Son of a Critch‘ is the hilarious and very real story of a young Mark coming of age in the 1980s. The series is a heartfelt window in the life of a child—who is much older inside than his 14 years—using comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the small collection of people in his limited world. The comedy stars Mark Critch as his father, Mike, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Pinocchio) as young Mark. Claire Rankin (Molly’s Game) stars as Mark’s mother, Mary, alongside newcomers Sophia Powers and Mark Rivera, who play classmates of young Mark. Colton Gobbo (“Ginny & Georgia”) plays Mark’s older brother, Mike Jr., and Golden Globe® and SAG nominee Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Bombshell) also stars as Patrick “Pop” Critch.
Mark has always been a late bloomer and in season 3, we see him finally start to bloom. As the season begins, we find that Mark has anxiously made his first awkward steps into junior high. Yes indeed. He’s now in ninth grade and should be king of the castle. One year on top before the cycle starts anew in high school where he’ll find himself once again at the bottom rung. Until then, ninth grade brings the promise of being the Big Man On Campus. But is Mark ready for junior high? When we first met Mark back in season 1, he had no idea how to navigate the school yard. But now, after three long years – he still has no idea how to navigate the school yard. He hasn’t learned to fit in, but he has accepted the reasons why he stands out.
While Fox (Sophia Powers) grows into a part-time parent role at home to fill in the gap left by her father and Ritche (Mark Rivera) grows ever more comfortable in his skin, Mark seems more than happy to cling onto the last few moments of childhood. But as our season grows, so does Mark. Pushed by his peers, he casts off the last vestiges of boyhood. It all culminates in the final episode when Mark, Fox and Ritche wander the school at night as they say goodbye to their old alma mater as they contemplate what the next school year in a bigger building holds in store for them.
‘Son of a Critch‘ is created by Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe (“The Office,” “Last Man on Earth”) and produced by Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning producer Andrew Barnsley (“Schitt’s Creek”). The series is a co-production between Barnsley’s Project 10 Productions Inc. and Take the Shot Productions in association with CBC and Lionsgate Television, which handles worldwide distribution rights. ‘Son of a Critch‘ is executive produced by Critch, McAuliffe, Andrew Barnsley, and Allan Hawco. Renuka Jeyapalan, Perry Chafe, Anita Kapila and Amanda Joy serve as co-executive producers.