There a number of Black shows debuting or returning to the air and streaming services. Here are returning and new Black TV shows to check out.
Over the past few decades, Canada has been sporadic with its offering of Black TV shows. Not only has the selection of shows from Black Canadian creators been few and far between, but we’ve also struggled to gain access to many Black shows available in the United States.
Of course, there were some attempts and success stories over the years. There was Vision TV’s Lord Have Mercy!. set in Toronto’s Eglinton West neighbourhood, which aired in 2003. Although co-starring a young Russell Peters and d’bi Young, it only lasting one season. There was Trey Anthony’s Da Kink In My Hair, also set in Eglinton West, which aired on Global in 2007 for two seasons. It’s considered the first Canadian comedy series on a national private mainstream broadcaster created by and starring Black women.
More recently, things came full circle when Lord Have Mercy! star Arnold Pinnock and long-time actor Bruce Ramsay co-created the award-winning and critically-acclaimed series The Porter. The show was cancelled after one season after BET+ pulled out of the project, but the show, alongside CBC’s Diggstown, marked the beginning of a new era in Black Canadian programming.
Now Canada appears to be on a bit of a run as more Black writers and producers are bringing the Black experience to the small screen. And we’re also seeing more networks and streaming services bringing shows from the UK and United States to the Canadian airwaves.
From the Legacy Awards and Robyn Hood to Young Love and Lupin, here’s a look at what’s new and coming soon in Black TV in order of release date.
Hit ‘Next” to see the list.
Young Love
Created by Matthew A. Cherry and starring Issa Rae and Kid Cudi, Young Love is a spinoff of the Oscar-winning animated short film Hair Love. It follows the lives of Stephen Love and Angela Young as they navigate being millennial African American parents. The show is American, but it’s available in Canada and depicts positive Black family dynamics.
The first four episodes were released on Thursday September 21 with four episodes being released weekly until the 12 episode series conclude on October 5.
HBO/Max (U.S./Canada): September 21, 2023 | WATCH NOW
Crave (Canada): September 21, 2023 | WATCH NOW
Black Community Mixtapes
Citytv’s Black Community Mixtapes explores transformative moments and social movements in Black Canadian history. The first three episodes, hosted by KhaRå Martin, explore the impact of Caribana, hip-hop and photography.
Citytv: Sundays at 7:30 ET/PT beginning September 24, 2023 | WATCH NOW
Legacy Awards
Hosted by Keshia Chanté and executive produced by Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, the Legacy Awards have quickly become the premier Black awards show in Canada. If you missed the live broadcast, it’s still available on demand on CBC Gem so make sure to check it out!
CBC/CBC Gem: September 25, 2023 | WATCH NOW | SHIFTER RECAP
Robyn Hood
As we said in our review, Global TV’s Robyn Hood is “groundbreaking Canadian television”. The Director X created series a modern spin on the classic Robin Hood tale as Robyn Loxley and her hip-hop group The Hood have to protect their community from a greedy real estate developer. Minus a few characters, it’s pretty much an all Black cast which is un heard of in Canadian TV. From the wardrobe and locations to the Toronto, British and Caribbean slang, we haven’t seen this level of Black representation on a scripted show in Canada before.
Global/Stack TV: September 27, 2023 | WATCH NOW | SHIFTER REVIEW
Lupin: Part 3
Who knew a French show with English subtitles about a charismatic, dark-skinned and broad nosed trickster and ladies man could become one of the most successful series in the history of Netflix? Lupin is back for Part 3 on October 5th and it looks like we’re in for his biggest stunt yet. Can’t wait!
Netflix: October 5, 2023 | WATCH TRAILER
Bria Mack Gets A Life
Bria Mack Gets A Life is coming soon to Crave and it’s a must-watch for Black Canadians. Like…a must-watch. If you like Issa Rae‘s style of content then this is for you. Created by Sasha Leigh Henry, it tells the story of Bria McFarlane, a first generation Canadian growing up with a Jamaican mother in Brampton. When she graduates from university (as valedictorian) she must transition to the real world and find a job. They cover a lot of touchy themes and controversial topics, including allyship, White Saviour Complexes, interracial dating, and more. We have a chance to watch the first three episodes and we can’t wait to see what happens next!
Crave: October 13, 2023 | WATCH TRAILER | SHIFTER REVIEW
Black Life: Untold Stories
We checked this out at the Toronto International Film Festival, and…wow. This is Canada as you’ve never seen it before. The six-episode docuseries covers sports, hip-hop, Black activism, myths around Canada as a haven for Black people, and more. You will definitely learn things about the Black experience in Canada that you never knew before.
CBC/CBC Gem: October 18, 2023 | LEARN MORE | SHIFTER REVIEW
Stamped From The Beginning
This is another one that we checked this out at the Toronto International Film Festival. Based on the book by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi this is the definitive documentary on the Black experience in America. It takes a scholarly approach and pulls no punches as it debunks myths surrounding the African American experience, including White Saviour narratives surrounding leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Ben Franklin, the sexualizing of Black women and the criminalization of Black men. The information is so damning the original book by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi was banned in parts of the United States. On November 15th you’ll get to see why. This is America as you’ve never seen it before.
Netflix: November 15, 2023 | LEARN MORE | SHIFTER REVIEW
The Lazarus Project
The Lazarus Project, starring Paapa Essiedu, tells the story of a top secret organization assigned with preventing mass extinction events. They also have special powers like making time go backwards. If you like Minority Report you’ll like this series as well. While the show is British, season two is coming soon to Showcase in Canada and TNT in the United States this Fall so stay tuned.
Sky Max (UK): November 2023 | WATCH TRAILER
Showcase (Canada): November 2023 | WATCH TRAILER
TNT (United States): November 2023 | WATCH TRAILER
Gut Job
Sebastian Clovis‘ Gut Job is a home renovation show like no other. We called season one “hip-hop and Black love meets home renovation” with the show featuring a dope soundtrack as Clovis working alongside his life and business partner Ayanna. Right now the show is only available in the United States on Hulu with the show premiering in Canada in 2024, so if you’re in the United States, enjoy!
Hulu (United States): September 4, 2023 | WATCH NOW
HGTV Canada (Canada): 2024 | WATCH SEASON 1
STYLED
Nicole Babb and Caffery Vanhorne‘s STYLED was among a trio of Black programs released by HGTV Canada back in Spring 2022. The duo’s sense of style along with Caffery’s magnetic personality make this a show to watch. Now it’s back for a second season, but like Gut Job, it’s currently only available in the United States on Hulu with a Canadian release date to be announced.
Hulu (United States): September 20, 2023 | WATCH NOW
HGTV Canada/STACK TV (Canada): 2024 | WATCH SEASON 1
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s Toronto-based editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 310 international voters for the 81st Golden Globe Awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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