I Have Nothing (TV series)

Taylor used to incorporate her idea of choreographing a pairs figure skating routine into her standup comedy performances on stage and would make audiences laugh when she told them that she would do it for real one day.[3] Taylor partnered with Zack Russell during the COVID-19 pandemic. Russell would go on to co-executive produce and co-direct beside her,[1] and when Catalyst and Blue Ant Studios came onboard, Bell Media commissioned the show in June 2022. The series was supported by the Rogers Cable Fund and the Bell Fund with Blue Ant International holding global distribution rights.[4]

Taylor was obsessed with the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, and the performances of Ekaterina Gordeeva, Katarina Witt and Kurt Browning were etched into her memory. Initially, Taylor wanted to pair Witt and Browning but was told by producers that two singles skaters would be unable to perform the pair elements in a pairs routine. Gordeeva convinced husband David Pelletier to work on the project with her because they rarely get the opportunity to perform together. Before rehearsals started, they researched Taylor's previous work and watched some of her sketch shows. They could see she was funny but also artistic and emotional.[5]

Principal photography for the unscripted six episode series began on locations in the Greater Toronto area and Edmonton in October 2022 and wrapped in mid-November 2022.[4][1]

The series shows Taylor struggling to clear the song rights to the 1993 Houston single "I Have Nothing" that she wants Gordeeva and Pelletier to perform to.[1] The Whitney Estate agreed for Taylor to use the song but it took a while to get the publishers onboard, and the final paperwork was not signed till after filming was completed.[6]

Elisabetta Bianchini of Yahoo! Canada described Carolyn's journey as "hysterical and truly riveting"[3] while Mel Woods of Xtra Magazine wrote about the LGBTQ themes of the show: "In many ways, the show itself is a meditation on queer obsession. Queer and trans people often spend a lifetime getting told that we’re too much. We love too deeply and we obsess too fervently, whether that’s about our favourite pop stars, our straight crush or a single line from a decades-old movie."[10] Larry Fried of That Shelf called the series "one of the year’s most original and memorable shows," stating that it's "full of heart, genuine laughs, and – in between the absurdity – provides fascinating commentary on the intersectionality between art and athleticism."[11] The series "proves that with the right conditions, television can be a sanctuary for our dreams," wrote Maggie McPhee of Range.[12]