Series synopsis
Less Than Kind is a Canadian drama comedy television series that premiered on Citytv on October 13, 2008. It stars Maury Chaykin, Wendel Meldrum, Jesse Camacho and Benjamin Arthur.
Less Than Kind is a Canadian television comedy-drama series that stars Jesse Camacho as Sheldon Blecher, a teenager growing up in a loving but dysfunctional Jewish family in Winnipeg. The show's cast also includes Maury Chaykin and Wendel Meldrum as Sheldon's parents, Benjamin Arthur as his older brother Josh, and Nancy Sorel as his aunt, Clara. The Blechers struggle to operate a driving school out of their home in Winnipeg's fading North End. Less Than Kind made its debut October 13, 2008, on C ...
Premise
Less Than Kind is a Canadian television comedy-drama series that stars Jesse Camacho as Sheldon Blecher, a teenager growing up in a loving but dysfunctional Jewish family in Winnipeg. The show's cast also includes Maury Chaykin and Wendel Meldrum as Sheldon's parents, Benjamin Arthur as his older brother Josh, and Nancy Sorel as his aunt, Clara. The Blechers struggle to operate a driving school out of their home in Winnipeg's fading North End. Less Than Kind made its debut October 13, 2008, on Citytv, and moved to HBO Canada in February 2010.
The ensemble cast of the critically acclaimed series won Canadian Comedy Awards in 2009 and 2010.Less Than Kind received the 2010 Gemini Award for Best Comedy Program or Series and the inaugural award for Best Comedy Series at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards.
The title sequence and logo for Less Than Kind were inspired by an iconic highway sign at Winnipeg's Confusion Corner intersection, depicting arrows pointing in every direction.
The name of the series is found in the first line spoken by Hamlet: "A little more than kin, and less than kind."
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Maury Chaykin as Sam Blecher
- Wendel Meldrum as Anne Blecher
- Jesse Camacho as Sheldon Blecher
- Benjamin Arthur as Josh Blecher
- Nancy Sorel as Clara Fine
- Lisa Durupt as Shandra
- Brooke Palsson as Miriam Goldstein
- Tyler Johnston as Danny Lubbe
Supporting cast
- Emma Bambrick as Imelda Amahit
Guest cast
- Ashley Mayberry as Cheryl
- Kevin McDonald as Walter
- Dave Foley as Dr. Raymond Sheasgreen
- Mark McKinney as Gunman
- George Wendt as Tiny
- Katie Douglas as Brenda
- Nicholas Campbell as Jim Sheridan
- Mike O'Brien as Lorne Goldstein
- Daniel Kash as Rabbi Rabinowitz
- John Pyper-Ferguson as Jack
- Samantha Weinstein as Jen
- Toni Reimer as Woman at Bar
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 48 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 13 | October 13, 2008 | February 2, 2009 |
| Season 2 | 13 | February 19, 2010 | May 21, 2010 |
| Season 3 | 13 | January 15, 2012 | March 25, 2012 |
| Season 4 | 9 | June 2, 2013 | July 14, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
To Be a Man Fifteen year old Sheldon Blecher has an epiphany during his delayed Bar Mitzvah and comes to realaize and accept that his family is weird and his life basically sucks. |
October 13, 2008 |
| 2 |
Top of the Class Sheldon battles to become team captain of his school's "Top of the Class" squad. Meanwhile, Josh runs into some old high school chums who plan to teach him a lesson in humility. |
October 20, 2008 |
| 3 |
French is My Kryptonite Sheldon struggles to learn French while his crush on Imelda takes centre stage. Meanwhile, Sam and Anne have to contend with a tax audit. |
October 27, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Third Death's a Charm With Sam at death's door the Blecher family stands vigil at his hospital bedside. But is Sam really ready to cross over? |
February 19, 2010 |
| 2 |
Terminus Ad Quem Sam gets an early release from the hospital, but Anne is suspicious. Sheldon and Miriam go to dinner with Miriam's mother and her new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Josh has to learn how to cry for an upcoming audition. |
February 26, 2010 |
| 3 |
I Am Somewhere Anne combats stress by smoking Josh's marijuana, which causes Josh to turn to Tito to replenish his stash. Sheldon and Miriam are dismayed to make the acquaintance of Danny Lubbe, a new student at school. |
March 5, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Fugue State Anne can't deal with a horrifying late night discovery. Sheldon anxiously awaits Miriam's return from Europe. Clara uncovers Josh and Shandra's secret plan to escape to Los Angeles. |
January 15, 2012 |
| 2 |
Play It Again Sam Sam's funeral brings Sheldon face-to-face when Rabbi Rabinowitz delivers a half-hearted eulogy. Clara's ex-husband Jack makes a surprise visit to pay his respects. An exiled Shandra attempts to support the living daylights out of Josh. Anne is numb as Shiva begins at the Blecher house. |
January 15, 2012 |
| 3 |
I'm Still Me With Anne lost to an ever more debauched Shiva, Clara must struggle with a big decision about the future of the driving school alone. Josh needs sex to keep away the sad. Sheldon learns the truth about Miriam's adventures abroad when Danny unwittingly drops some clues. |
January 15, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
I'm Only Nineteen The triumph of Sheldon's graduation morphs into a summer of love, parties and independence. Anne's empty nest anxiety leads to a tryst that is more than she bargained for. Josh and Shandra blow the budget shopping for a first home. |
June 2, 2013 |
| 2 |
Girl Trouble A fight with Anne forces Clara to sort through the jumbled feelings left by a pregnancy scare alone. Anne is startled to learn Jim has feelings for her. Sheldon & Miriam reluctantly turn to stepmom Lisa with an 'intimate' problem. |
June 2, 2013 |
| 3 |
Liars Their cherished European adventure is threatened when Sheldon, Danny and Miriam are fired and must find new jobs. Josh's triumph at a work meeting is spoiled by a run in with former best friend Eric. Anne & Clara uncover an affair. |
June 9, 2013 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Citytv |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 13, 2008 |
| Last aired | July 14, 2013 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:30:00 |