| Call Me Fitz | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Sheri Elwood |
| Starring | Jason Priestley Ernie Grunwald Peter MacNeill Kathleen Munroe Tracy Dawson Donavan Stinson Brooke Nevin |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | David MacLeod Michael Rosenberg Noreen Halpern John Morayniss Laszlo Barna Teza Lawrence Michael Souther Sheri Elwood |
| Location(s) | New Minas, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Running time | 26-28 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | HBO Canada |
| Original run | September 19, 2010 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Call Me Fitz is a Canadian television series produced by E1 Entertainment, Amaze Film & Television, and Big Motion Pictures.[1] The half-hour comedy stars Jason Priestley as Richard "Fitz" Fitzpatrick, a morally bankrupt used-car salesman whose consequence-free life is complicated by the arrival of do-gooder Larry (Ernie Grunwald), another salesman who claims he is Fitz's conscience.[2]
The first thirteen-episode season of the show premiered on HBO Canada in September 2010. The series is filmed in New Minas, Nova Scotia.[3] The second season of Call Me Fitz premiered on September 25, 2011 on HBO Canada, and airs every Sunday at 8:30 pm ET / MT.[4]
Contents |
The first season stars Priestley as a used-car salesman walking a fine line of acceptable behaviour on the lot alongside a new salesman, do-gooder Larry, who becomes his alter-ego.[5]
In an interview with RTÉ Jason Priestley described the show as "booze, blow and broads or Sunday night at Charlie Sheen's house."[6]
It was announced in November 2009 that principal photography had begun on the first season of Call Me Fitz and that filming would continue in the Annapolis Valley until mid-January 2010.[7] As of September 2011, production is under way on Season 3 in New Minas, Nova Scotia.[8] As of November 2011, primary filming of Season 3 appears to have wrapped up in New Minas, Nova Scotia.
In order to achieve the feel of the Rat Pack era to which Fitz relates the soundtrack is primarily performed by Canadian jazz singer Matt Dusk.[9]
Call Me Fitz was originally intended to be shown on Movie Central and The Movie Network.[7] The second season was also expected to be shown on Movie Central and The Movie Network.[4] The series has been sold in over 60 foreign markets.[10]
Call Me Fitz had its American debut on DirecTV's exclusive The 101 Network (since renamed Audience Network) on April 21, 2011, with two back-to-back episodes, and was shown Thursdays at 9 pm ET/PT.[11] Season 2 starts on Audience on November 3rd at 9:30 pm.
The first season of Call Me Fitz was nominated for 16 Gemini Awards and won seven, including Best Actress (Comedy) for Tracy Dawson, Best Supporting Actor (Comedy) for Ernie Grunwald, and Best Guest Actress (Comedy) for Rachel Blanchard. The show also swept other comedy categories including Best Directing, Best Writing, Best Picture Editing, and Best Sound.[12]
Jason Priestley took home the award for Best TV Performance (Male) at the Canadian Comedy Awards. The show was also nominated for Best TV Show and Best Writing. At the Monte Carlo Television Festival, the show received Best International Producing and Best Acting nominations for Jason Priestley, Ernie Grunwald, Brooke Nevin, and Kathleen Munroe.
Additional nominations include Best TV Show and Best Production Design at the DGC Awards and Best Sitcom at the Banff World Media Festival.
In 2010, Jason Priestley received the Best Actor Award at the Roma Fiction Festival.
The New York Times called the series "A refreshingly original concept... It deftly draws a world in which sin and sexual charisma come at full new-model cost... [FITZ] is King of Front-Wheel Drive and Back-Seat Romps." [13]
Orange County, CA Film Commission President and respected impresario of film and television , Paul Ruffino said about the series "A satirical demonic view of the menagerie of mediocrity called mankind. Bawdy and expertly written Call Me Fitz is TV platinum. HBO Canada? What about the lower 48...come on...we deserve genuine entertainment down here. A hit for sure!"
TV Guide raves "The snappy, obscenity-filled dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny without being over the top. I call this one a hit."[14]
| Total # | Episode # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Pilot" | Scott Smith | Sheri Elwood | September 19, 2010 |
| 2 | 2 | "Loco" | Scott Smith | Sheri Elwood & Dennis Heaton | September 19, 2010 |
| 3 | 3 | "Mama" | Scott Smith | Sheri Elwood | September 26, 2010 |
| 4 | 4 | "Long Con Silver" | Scott Smith | Pat Bullard | October 3, 2010 |
| 5 | 5 | "The Back End" | James Genn | Ari Posner | October 10, 2010 |
| 6 | 6 | "Going Down Syndrome" | James Genn | Teleplay by: Dennis Heaton Story by: Steven Cragg |
October 17, 2010 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Diving Bell and the Barbara" | Scott Smith | Adriana Maggs | October 24, 2010 |
| 8 | 8 | "Married to the Mom" | Shawn Alex Thompson | Heidi Gerber | October 31, 2010 |
| 9 | 9 | "The Upside of Matricide" | Shawn Alex Thompson | Dennis Heaton | November 7, 2010 |
| 10 | 10 | "The Kidney Stays in the Picture" | Jason Priestley | Ari Posner | November 14, 2010 |
| 11 | 11 | "This Business Has Been Homicide Free for __ Days" | Jason Priestley | Adriana Maggs & Jeff Detsky | November 21, 2010 |
| 12 | 12 | "Honesty, Integrity and Low Mileage: Part 1" | James Genn | Sheri Elwood & Tracy Dawson | November 28, 2010 |
| 13 | 13 | "Honesty, Integrity and Low Mileage: Part 2" | James Genn | Sheri Elwood & Tracy Dawson | December 5, 2010 |
Season 2 premiered on HBO Canada on September 25, 2011.[15]
| Total # | Episode # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "Ass Hickey" | James Genn | Sheri Elwood | September 25, 2011 |
| 15 | 2 | "Fucking Memories" | Jason Priestley | Dennis Heaton | September 25, 2011 |
| 16 | 3 | "Don of the Differently Abled" | Jason Priestley | Matt MacLennan | October 2, 2011 |
| 17 | 4 | "My Own Private OKA" | Michael DeCarlo | Jeff Detsky & Adrianna Maggs | October 9, 2011 |
| 18 | 5 | "Pubic Disturbance" | James Genn | Sheri Elwood & Heidi Gerber | October 16, 2011 |
| 19 | 6 | "Bring Me the Feet of Dexter Laine" | James Genn | Dennis Heaton & Kyle Muir | October 23, 2011 |
| 20 | 7 | "Dysfunctional Family Circus" | Jim Allodi | Dennis Heaton | October 30, 2011 |
| 21 | 8 | "Heir of the Dog" | Jim Allodi | Sheri Elwood | November 6, 2011 |
| 22 | 9 | "Repo Wedding" | Michael DeCarlo | Matt MacLennan | November 13, 2011 |
| Fitz is arrested for breaking into Sonja's apartment and putting on her lingerie. But this time he is actually innocent - he was drugged and abducted. No one cares. When Chester finds out that Fitz' alibi for the time that Sonja was abducted is Ali he vowes to get Fitz no matter what. Fitz learns that Chester is behind on his car payments and buys the lease and repossesses Chester's car, subsequently revealing the extent of Chester's money woes and corruption. Dot and Chester frame Fitz for the murder of Sonja, planting a bloody knife in Fitz' car. | |||||
| 23 | 10 | "How Do You Say Blowjob in Pennsylvania Dutch?" | Shawn Alex Thompson | Jeff Detsky | November 20, 2011 |
| 24 | 11 | "Revel Without Applause" | Shawn Alex Thompson | Heidi Gerber & Adrianna Maggs | November 27, 2011 |
| 25 | 12 | "Hell Hath No Drink Limit" | Sheri Elwood | Sheri Elwood & Dennis Heaton | December 4, 2011 |
| 26 | 13 | "What the Fuck Is a Beaver Moon?" | Sheri Elwood | Sheri Elwood & Dennis Heaton | December 11, 2011 |
The first season of Call Me Fitz was released on DVD in Region 1 on September 27, 2011.[16] It was released on Blu-ray in Region B on October 26, 2011. [17] Season 1 can also be downloaded from iTunes.