Schitt’s-sweep: Made-in-Canada ‘Schitt’s Creek’ cleans up at Emmys

LOS ANGELES (NEWS 1130) – A Canadian sitcom that began with minuscule ratings when it debuted in 2015 is now the toast of Tinseltown following a huge night at the Emmys.

Schitt’s Creek, considered a hidden gem until just a few years ago, became a cultural phenomenon. It made Emmy history by winning every single category that it was nominated for on Sunday night, taking home seven awards in total.

Catherine O’Hara was the first Schitt’s Creek star to pick up an award, winning in the category for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

“Though these are the strangest of days, may you have as much joy being holed up in a room or two with your family as I had with my dear Roses,” O’Hara said in her acceptance speech, which she gave virtually from Toronto due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congratulations, Catherine O’Hara. We’re so proud #Emmys pic.twitter.com/owo5GB4ZNq

— Schitt’s Creek (@SchittsCreek) September 21, 2020

Eugene Levy followed with his win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, while Daniel Levy — Eugene’s son — was honoured with the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, as well as Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

“This young man who took our fish-out-of-water story about the Rose family and transformed it into a celebration of inclusivity, a castigation of homophobia, and a declaration of the power of love,” Eugene said in a nod to his son, who wrote the show.

Meanwhile, Annie Murphy picked up a win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

The CBC show also won in the category for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

And if that wasn’t enough, to top it all off, Schitt’s Creek picked up the win for Outstanding Comedy Series, capping off an already-successful night at the awards show.

Finally, huge, huge, massive, enormous congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Schitt’s Creek for winning the Outstanding Comedy Series #Emmy! We wish everyone could have been together tonight to celebrate pic.twitter.com/xJI2eY6jwe

— Schitt’s Creek (@SchittsCreek) September 21, 2020

“It is absolutely incredible,” Daniel told Variety of sweeping the Emmys. “I think my dad said it best earlier tonight that it feels like a dream that you just don’t want to wake up from, to be perfectly honest. And that’s really how it’s felt for all of us. It still feels very strange. But what an absolutely unbelievable way to end our series. I don’t think you could ever ask for a better conclusion to a story than tonight, so we are absolutely thrilled.”

#SchittsCreek cast and creators on sweeping the #Emmys https://t.co/UdKOXjxA5o pic.twitter.com/t3V658kJIy

— Variety (@Variety) September 21, 2020

The show, for those of you who may not know, follows the story of the Rose family who lost their fortune and who were ultimately forced to move to a tiny town they had bought as a joke called Schitt’s Creek.

Schitt’s Creek’s last episode aired on April 7, 2020.

Reaction to the “Schitt’s-sweep” — a term many have been using to describe the show’s big night — was quick.

Host Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t resist cracking some Canuck jokes, saying, “I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of this Canadian stuff.”

Online, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those to congratulate the cast and crew for their “historic” sweep, as well as for “bringing such joy and humour to all our lives these past six years. And to all Canadians who were nominated this year, we’re so proud of your great work too.”

Congratulations to the cast and crew of @SchittsCreek for their historic Emmy's sweep tonight – and for bringing such joy and humour to all our lives these past six years. And to all Canadians who were nominated this year, we’re so proud of your great work too.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 21, 2020

-With files from The Canadian Press