The Parker Andersons

The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker are a pair of related Canadian television sitcoms, which premiered in 2021 on Super Channel.[1] The shows both depict a blended family living in the suburbs of Chicago following the remarriage of widower Tony Parker (Arnold Pinnock) and divorced single mother Cleo Anderson (Kate Hewlett); while they share interconnections of character and storyline, The Parker Andersons centres on the whole family, while Amelia Parker focuses more specifically on the particular experiences of Tony's teenage daughter Amelia (Millie Davis), who is still coping with the death of her mother and struggling with the anxiety disorder of selective mutism.[2]

The Parker Andersons
Also known asAmelia Parker
GenreSitcom
Created byFrank Van Keeken
Written bySadiya Durrani
Anthony Q. Farrell
Amanda Joy
Murry Peeters
Ian Steaman
Jay Vaidya
Ian Malone
Directed byJames Allodi
Melanie Orr
Cory Bowles
Anthony Q. Farrell
Warren P. Sonoda
Conor Casey
Lyndon Casey
Kelly Fyffe-Marshall
Alicia K. Harris
StarringArnold Pinnock
Kate Hewlett
Millie Davis
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producersAnthony Q. Farrell
Andra Johnson Duke
Michael A. Dunn
Matt Hornburg
Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy
Frank van Keeken
Yolanda Yott
ProducerJim Corston
EditorsBrigitte Rabazo
Luke Sargeant
Running time30 minutes
Production companyMarbleMedia
Release
Original networkSuper Channel (Canada)
BYUtv (U.S.)
Original releaseApril 3, 2021 (2021-04-03)

The cast also includes Agape Mngomezulu, Akiel Julien, Charlie Zeltzer, Devin Ceccheto, Chris River, Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Jaida Grace, Kimberly Huie, Arista Arhin, and Madison Brydges.[3]

The series is filmed in Toronto, Ontario, and production commenced in October 2020.[3] In advance of production, writer and showrunner Anthony Q. Farrell, who was already working with Marblemedia on the series Overlord and the Underwoods, was brought in to rewrite the scripts to ensure that they more authentically represented the show's Black characters.[1]

The shows premiered on Super Channel Heart & Home on April 19, 2021.[4] They are also carried in the United States by BYUtv.[5]

Controversy

The series launch was a topic of some controversy in the Canadian television industry, when Radheyan Simonpillai's article in Now about the series launch included the statement that BYUtv series "couldn’t feature characters who are clearly identified as queer" due to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' views on LGBTQ sexuality.[6] The controversy roped in both The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker and Overlord and the Underwoods. Within days, BYUtv responded with a statement that "As a young network committed to bringing together religious and non-religious audiences, BYUtv is learning and exploring ways to partner with diverse content creators, writers and talent to implement meaningful co-viewing experiences for our target audience (children 8-15 and their parents). While BYUtv has not referenced LGBTQ+ topics and characters in the five original scripted series it has aired to date, we desire to address subjects – including LGBTQ+ – that are important to our growing and diverse audience. There are no policies that would exclude the network from including characters who identify as LGBTQ+, and BYUtv is exploring ways to do so," and Marblemedia indicated that The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker will include LGBTQ-related storylines in future seasons.[7]

Awards

Farrell received a nomination for Best Direction in a Family Series at the 2021 Directors Guild of Canada awards, for the episode "Father & Sons". Further nominations for the WGC Screenwriting Awards were received by Ian Steaman, Amanda Joy, and Murry Peeters for their respective scripts "Father & Sons," "Joy," and "This Wasn't the Plan."[8]

References
  1. Kelly Townsend, "Giving life and authenticity to the Parker Andersons". Playback, April 9, 2021.
  2. Radheyan Simonpillai, "How an all-BIPOC Canadian team made a TV show for a Mormon network in the U.S.". Now, April 5, 2021.
  3. Greg David, "marblemedia starts production on two new family sitcoms, The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker". TV, eh?, October 13, 2020.
  4. Greg David, "Two new innovative family comedies coming to Super Channel Heart & Home: The Parker Andersons to premiere April 19 followed by Amelia Parker". TV, eh?, March 10, 2021.
  5. Scott D. Pierce, "BYUtv says it will consider airing shows with LGBTQ characters". Salt Lake Tribune, April 14, 2021.
  6. Johanna Schneller, "BYUtv deal exposes truth about queer representation". The Globe and Mail, April 15, 2021.
  7. Radheyan Simonpillai, "BYUtv has a come to Jesus moment on LGBTQ characters". Now, April 9, 2021.
  8. "WGC 2022 Screenwriting Awards Finalists | Writers Guild of Canada".
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