Second Jen

Second Jen is a Canadian television sitcom that premiered on City on October 27, 2016.[1] The series is produced by Don Ferguson Productions and stars Amanda Joy and Samantha Wan as Mo and Jen,[2] 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]

Second Jen
GenreSitcom
Starring
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes10
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companyDon Ferguson Productions
Release
Original networkCity (first season)
Omni (second season)
Picture format
Original releaseOctober 27, 2016 (2016-10-27) –
present
External links
Website

Following its release in 2016, the series received mixed reviews.[4][5][6][7] In 2018, Omni Television announced it had commissioned a second season.[8][9] It premiered on August 4, 2018.[10][11] On February 8, 2019, the second season was nominated for Best Comedy Series by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.[12]

Cast and characters

Development

Show creators Amanda Joy and Samantha Wan met on the set of the 2014 film Devil's Mile.[13] Tired of auditioning for the same stereotypical Asian roles, they discussed creating their own work together.[14]

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. in 2013,[16] before being picked up for development with Rogers. Joy wrote the original pilot script,[17] with Wan directing alongside Joseph O'Brien.[18] The original spec pilot screened at Toronto's Reelworld Film Festival in 2014,[19] as well as Toronto's Asian Heritage Month.[18]

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."[20]

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]

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."[21]

In contrast, John Doyle, also of The Globe and Mail, panned the show, calling it "light, slight, silly and only occasionally outright funny [...] 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.[22]

References
  1. "City unveils 2016/17 Prime-Time schedule". 570 News, June 6, 2016.
  2. "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. "Amusing autumn ahead". www.winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  5. 27, Susan Stover October; Pm, 2016 | 2:29 (October 27, 2016). "Second Jen Review". Dork Shelf. Retrieved October 31, 2016.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. "John Doyle: Second Jen's diversity is good, but its comedy is mediocre". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  7. "Seven side-splitting Canadian TV comedies that you need to watch". Toronto Life. January 12, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  8. .
  9. "Rogers sets Second Jen return". Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  10. "Second Jen returns for long-awaited second season". TV, eh?. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  11. "Second Jen is back and taking aim at hot topics". Vancouver Sun. August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  12. "Nominees - Academy.ca". Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  13. InsideToronto.com. "Shot and set in Toronto, Second Jen airs Thursdays on City". www.insidetoronto.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  14. "Canada's New Sitcom "Second Jen" Stars Two Asian Canadian Women In Lead Roles". www.yomyomf.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  15. "Samantha Wan and Amanda Joy debut culturally diverse Canadian sitcom 'Second Jen'". popj.ca. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  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 October 31, 2016.
  17. http://films.blanksuniverse.ca/2014/04/reelworld-film-festival-2014-identity.html
  18. http://www.vmacch.ca/alpha/archives/documents/film2014.pdf
  19. Katie Chats (March 31, 2014), KATIE CHATS: ReelWorld, SAMANTHA WAN & AMANDA JOY LIM, FILMMAKERS, SECOND JEN, retrieved October 31, 2016
  20. "Second Jen breaks sitcom ground with two Asian women in lead roles | Toronto Star". thestar.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  21. "Second Jen: A Laverne & Shirley for the digital age". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  22. "Split second". ladyteruki. November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
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