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Second Jen

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Second Jen
GenreSitcom
StarringAmanda Joy
Samantha Wan
Munro Chambers
Al Mukadam
Janet Lo
Atticus Mitchell
Nile Seguin
Lily Gao
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Production locationCanada
Running time30 minutes
Production companyDon Ferguson Productions
Original release
NetworkCity
ReleaseOctober 27, 2016 (2016-10-27) –
present

Second Jen is a Canadian television sitcom that premiered on City on October 27, 2016.[1] The series is produced by Don Ferguson Productions,[2] and stars Amanda Joy and Samantha Wan as Mo and Jen, two young Asian Canadian women experiencing the ups and downs of being independent after moving out of their parents' homes for the first time.[3] Joy and Wan are also co-creators and writers for the series.[2]

Following its release in 2016, the series received mixed reviews.[4][5][6][7] Omni Television commissioned a second season which is set to premiere in August 2018.[8][9]

Cast and characters

Development

Show creators Amanda Joy and Samantha Wan met on the set of the 2014 film Devil's Mile.[10] Tired of auditioning for the same stereotypical roles, they discussed creating their own work.[11]

Joy wrote the original pilot script,[12] with Wan directing alongside Joseph O'Brien.[13] The original spec pilot screened at Toronto's Reelworld Film Festival in 2014,[14] as well as Toronto's Asian Heritage Month.[13]

Joy and Wan stated that their show was originally rejected at an unnamed Canadian pitch contest.[15] It later went on to win Best Television Pitch at NexTV L.A.,[16] before being picked up for development with Rogers.

Reception

Prior to the release of the show, Tony Wong of the Toronto Star published an article declaring Second Jen "groundbreaking" in its depiction of two female Asian leads "as if we had already arrived in a post-racial world."[17] This point was further reiterated by YOMYOMF's Erin Chew, who writes that the show is "breaking down barriers and ceilings."[11]

Brad Oswald of the Winnipeg Free Press praised Second Jen, calling it "Sharp, funny, slightly cheeky and smartly in tune with this country’s diverse demographic mix." Oswald wrote that "while it’s fair to say that attitude plays a bit part in this likable series’ early success, there are actually several elements that make Second Jen a must-see production."[4] Oswald also praised the strength of the cast noting that Joy and Wan are particularly "likeable and relatable" in the lead roles of Jen and Mo.[4]

Susan Stover of Dork Shelf also praised the show for its showcase of Toronto, stating that "It’s nice to see a Canadian cast and crew actually doing a show in Canada about Canadians without being nauseatingly maplewashed."[5] Stover noted the show's lack of production value, but wrote that this "adds, rather than detracts, from the charm of Second Jen."[5]

Toronto Life's Will Sloan complimented the show's light-hearted tone. He noted that, while "not necessarily laugh out loud funny," Second Jen is a pleasant watch, with strong moments carried by "the likability of its goofy cast, and the familiar streets, bars and houses of its Little Italy setting." Sloan also praised Joy and Wan's performances, calling them breakout stars.[7]

Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail hailed the show as "A Laverne & Shirley for the Digital Age" as it stars "two sparky second-generation Asian-Canadian millennial women coming of age in an era so economically challenging that Laverne and Shirley would be crying in their beers instead of merrily goofing off at the bottling plant."[18]

In contrast, John Doyle, also of The Globe and Mail, panned the show, calling it "light, slight, silly and only occasionally outright funny." However, he also called it "mediocre," writing: "Second Jen is notable for having two female Asian lead characters but it is not notable, nor funny, as a comedy."[6]

The show was also viewed un-favourably by Quebecoise TV blog, Lady Teruki. The website noted its disappointment that despite the two leads being likeable and charming, and good ideas bubbling under the surface, Second Jen had clearly suffered from broadening, dated ideas, and an obvious lack of trust in its creators.[19]

References

  1. ^ "City unveils 2016/17 Prime-Time schedule". 570 News, June 6, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Second Jen starts rolling". Playback, July 21, 2016.
  3. ^ "Second Jen breaks sitcom ground with two Asian women in lead roles". Toronto Star, August 9, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Amusing autumn ahead". www.winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  5. ^ a b c 27, Susan Stover October; Pm, 2016 | 2:29 (2016-10-27). "Second Jen Review". Dork Shelf. Retrieved 2016-10-31. {{cite web}}: |last= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b "John Doyle: Second Jen's diversity is good, but its comedy is mediocre". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  7. ^ a b "Seven side-splitting Canadian TV comedies that you need to watch". Toronto Life. 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  8. ^ [1].
  9. ^ "Rogers sets Second Jen return". Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  10. ^ InsideToronto.com. "Shot and set in Toronto, Second Jen airs Thursdays on City". www.insidetoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  11. ^ a b "Canada's New Sitcom "Second Jen" Stars Two Asian Canadian Women In Lead Roles". www.yomyomf.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  12. ^ http://films.blanksuniverse.ca/2014/04/reelworld-film-festival-2014-identity.html
  13. ^ a b http://www.vmacch.ca/alpha/archives/documents/film2014.pdf
  14. ^ Katie Chats (2014-03-31), KATIE CHATS: ReelWorld, SAMANTHA WAN & AMANDA JOY LIM, FILMMAKERS, SECOND JEN, retrieved 2016-10-31
  15. ^ "Samantha Wan and Amanda Joy debut culturally diverse Canadian sitcom 'Second Jen'". popj.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  16. ^ "WINNERS OF THE 2013 WRITING & PITCH COMPETITION - NexTV Entertainment - Connecting tomorrow's great talent with today's elite decision-makers". www.nextventertainment.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  17. ^ "Second Jen breaks sitcom ground with two Asian women in lead roles | Toronto Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  18. ^ "Second Jen: A Laverne & Shirley for the digital age". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  19. ^ "Split second". ladyteruki. 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
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