Sunnyside

In a Toronto neighbourhood nestled from the lake front next to High Park, this show presents a fresh and at times dream-state-esque comedic experience. Whether the fine folks who actually live in Sunnyside act anything like this brilliant exaggeration is best left to viewers' imaginations. No doubt, more than a fair share of people will identify with these characters (at least at some point in their lives?). It definitely feels different than the typical Canadian Content comedy of times gone by. Quick, unexpected, and often jaded sequences focus a lens of self- reflection (and just plain sarcastic fun) on otherwise typical Torontonian human interactions. The show reminds me vaguely of SCTV and also David Wain (particularly Wainy Days). The British show Snuff Box is also quite similar in terms of timing, unexpected twists and raw off-colour style. It's quite surreal to see linkage to an actual Toronto neighbourhood, complete with authentic references. Perhaps the show will catch on and will become known for helping Toronto lighten up and collectively laugh a little at ourselves.

It's a Toronto sketchy neighbourhood by way of Winnipeg where its filmed, but the real state of Sunnyside is the kind of slightly absurdist, deft and odd comedy that we used to get from Kids in the Hall. Every episode has a loose structure on which to hang recurring characters and bits, most of which are never too long and some of which are screamingly funny. A long time ago I remember being told about Monty Python, if you don't like what's going on, wait ten seconds. Sunnyside's a bit like that. Fantastic character work, engaging premises and never less than satisfying. It warms my jaded blackened, manhole-sized heart.

This show had some good skits and some bad ones, cast was decent, the man in the hole was just a big waste.

I know un-good is not a real word but it somehow seems to fit this show perfectly.

The writing is really awful, the acting is mostly awful too, and the show as a whole is bad as well. The entire concept behind this show is just flawed.

This is yet another pretty terrible sketch comedy series on Canadian television.

There are a lot of people I recognize in this show and I think it may be the same people from Hotbox which is another confusing, annoying, unfunny mess of a sketch comedy series. How do these shows keep getting made and how do these people keep getting work? I am almost ready to give up on Canadian TV.

I give it a three because other shows are actually easily worse (such as the Hotbox that I already mentioned) but it's definitely not worth watching either.

Sunnyside is a fresh comedy that our family loves to watch. It is not like any other show on television.

The characters in Sunnyside are normal exaggerated. It is a sketch comedy but it flows from one week to the next. What I mean by that is that you get to know all of the characters and see them frequently. My personal favourites are the ironic hipsters, the closet lesbian and her naive husband and the not so tough female cops just to name a few. Yes, this show is ridiculous and silly but that is exactly what TV needs.

The characters are great.

The writing is great.

It is silly, fun and a good laugh and I love that it is Canadian!

Looking forward to season 2!