Kim's Convenience (TV series)

Kim's Convenience
Starring Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
Jean Yoon
Simu Liu
Andrea Bang
Andrew Phung
Nicole Power
Country of origin Canada
No. of episodes 13
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) Thunderbird Films
Release
Original network CBC Television
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original release October 11, 2016
External links
Website

Kim's Convenience is a Canadian television sitcom, based on Ins Choi's play of the same name, which premiered on CBC Television in October 2016.[1][2]

The series centres on the Korean Canadian Kim family who run a convenience store in the Regent Park neighbourhood of Toronto: parents "Appa" (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and "Umma" (Jean Yoon) – Korean for "dad" and "mom" – along with their daughter Janet (Andrea Bang) and estranged son Jung (Simu Liu). Additional characters include Jung's friend and co-worker Kimchee (Andrew Phung) and his manager Shannon (Nicole Power).[3]

The series was filmed from June to August 2016. Soundstage and set are at Showline Studios in Toronto. It is produced by Thunderbird Films in conjunction with Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre Company, with Lee and Yoon reprising their roles from the play.[4] Scripts were created by Choi and Kevin White, who had formerly written for Corner Gas.[5]

Episodes

Originally set to premiere on October 4, 2016 on CBC, the series premiere was delayed to October 11, 2016 with back-to-back episodes, so it would not conflict with the Toronto Blue Jays' American League Wild Card Game.[6] The first season will consist of 13 half-hour episodes.[7]

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Gay Discount"Peter WellingtonIns Choi & Kevin WhiteOctober 11, 2016 (2016-10-11)
In the series premiere, after being accused of homophobia, Appa decides to offer a store discount to gay customers during Toronto Pride Week. Meanwhile, Umma tries to find a "cool Christian Korean boyfriend" for Janet.
2"Janet's Photos"Peter WellingtonIns Choi & Kevin WhiteOctober 11, 2016 (2016-10-11)
When Janet's photos start getting attention from admirers, Appa tries to prove he's a better photographer. Meanwhile, Jung decides to apply for a promotion at the car rental agency, to the dismay of Kimchee and Umma, though for different reasons.
3"Ddongjeem & Umma's Picture"Peter WellingtonGarry CampbellOctober 18, 2016 (2016-10-18)
Jung draws the wrong kind of attention from his boss when he gives Kimchee a Korean wedgie at work. Mr. Kim commissions Janet's friend, Gerald, to take his photo instead of asking Janet.[8]
4"Frank and Nayoung"Dawn WilkinsonIns Choi & Kevin WhiteOctober 25, 2016 (2016-10-25)
Mr. Kim is frustrated with Frank (Derek McGrath), a repairman who talks too much, while Janet's cousin Nayoung (Soo-Ram Kim) visits from Korea, challenging Janet's sense of what it means to be 'Korean.' Jung and Shannon get tickets to a Toronto Raptors game, but Jung starts to wonder if Shannon thinks it's a date.
5"Wingman"James GennGarry CampbellNovember 1, 2016 (2016-11-01)
Mr. Chin asks Mr. Kim to be his wingman on a date, which is fine until Mrs. Kim tags along. Janet asks Jung to help her fix a dripping pipe at the store, but the repair is interrupted by an intruder. A police officer (Michael Xavier) helps Jung resolve a misunderstanding and Jung recognizes him as his childhood friend Alex, who becomes reacquainted with Janet.
6"Rude Kid"[9]James GennSonja BennettNovember 15, 2016 (2016-11-15)
Mr. Kim scolds Janet's professor's 5 year-old kid, when he misbehaves in the store, with unexpected consequences for Janet; Jung discovers Kimchee is making extra money by moonlighting for a carsharing company, illicitly using Handy Car Rental cars, and has to decide whether to let Terence get fired when Shannon wrongly suspects him as the culprit.[9]
7"Hapkido"[10]Dawn WilkinsonIns ChoiNovember 22, 2016 (2016-11-22)
Janet takes a Hapkido class but Mr. Kim thinks he knows more than her teacher (Tommy Chang). Jung runs into Grace Lee (Eileen Li), an old flame; they both discover that their meeting was not accidental but part of a plan by their mothers to get them back together.[10]
8"Service"[11]James GennRebecca KohlerNovember 29, 2016 (2016-11-29)
Mr. and Mrs. Kim's relationship is tested when Mr. Kim offers the attractive new female pastor (Amanda Brugel) some free items from the store. Janet dates Jung's friend, Alex, and Jung pretends to be cool with it.[11]
9"Best Before"[12]TBATBADecember 6, 2016 (2016-12-06)
Mr. Kim tries to prove that "best before" dates mean nothing; Mrs. Kim's own children embarrass her at the church bazaar.[12]
10"Janet's New Job"[13]TBATBADecember 13, 2016 (2016-12-13)
Janet is sick of working for free and looks for a new job.[13]
11"Handyman"[14]TBATBADecember 20, 2016 (2016-12-20)
Mr. Kim fixes a broken toilet for Kimchee; Jung hides out with Shannon; when Edwin drops by, Janet believes there's more to his relationship with Mrs. Kim.[14]
12"Appa's Lump"[15]TBATBADecember 27, 2016 (2016-12-27)
Mr. Kim finds a lump on his back; Shannon brings Jung to a work event.
13"Family Singing Contest"[16]TBATBADecember 27, 2016 (2016-12-27)
Before Janet can reveal her big news, she must survive the family singing festival at church; Mr. Kim gets attention for his new SUV.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Critical response

John Doyle of the Globe and Mail wrote that the show "stays away from the pseudo-seriousness that could easily plague a comedy about immigrants and family dynamics. There is little obviousness and mugging, and moral lessons are few in the breezy speed of it. What’s it all about? Good jokes, mainly. Heartily recommended, Kim’s Convenience is a clever, generally engaging screwball comedy with an eye on entertainment".[23]

The Toronto Star's Tony Wong writes: "The show is good. Possibly even great. The dialogue is sharp, on point and borderline subversive. It has the potential to be a future classic. It has bite...It’s funny and true, but not a reality we typically see reflected on television."[24]

References

  1. "CBC unveils fall-winter slate: Kim's Convenience, Steven Sabados returns, digital comedies". CBC News, May 26, 2016.
  2. "CBC reveals new TV shows, revives Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  3. "About Kim's Convenience". CBC News. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  4. Nestruck, J. Kelly (November 3, 2015). "Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre Company announces 2016 lineup". Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  5. "Shop Talk: Can Kim's Convenience help fix TV's diversity problem?". The Walrus, October 2016, pages 61-65
  6. "CBC's Kim's Convenience gives way to Blue Jays". The Canadian Press. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  7. David, Greg (July 12, 2016). "Production on Thunderbird's Kim's Convenience begins for CBC". TV, eh?. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  8. "First look: Episode 103". Kim's Convenience. CBC Television. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "TV Listings Grid, TV Guide and TV Schedule, Where to Watch TV Shows - Screener".
  10. 1 2 "TV Listings Grid, TV Guide and TV Schedule, Where to Watch TV Shows - Screener".
  11. 1 2 "Kim's Convenience Episode Guide". zap2it. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Kim's Convenience Episode Guide". zap2it. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Kim's Convenience Episode Guide". zap2it. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Kim's Convenience Episode Guide". zap2it. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  15. "Kim's Convenience Episode Guide". zap2it. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  16. "Kim's Convenience Episode Guide". zap2it. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  17. "Mr. Kim ("Appa") - Characters - Kim's Convenience: New episodes Tuesdays".
  18. "Mrs. Kim ("Umma") - Characters - Kim's Convenience: New episodes Tuesdays".
  19. "Jung - Characters - Kim's Convenience: New episodes Tuesdays".
  20. "Janet - Characters - Kim's Convenience: New episodes Tuesdays".
  21. "Kimchee - Characters - Kim's Convenience: New episodes Tuesdays".
  22. "Shannon - Characters - Kim's Convenience: New episodes Tuesdays".
  23. "John Doyle: CBC's big week starts with the excellent Kim's Convenience". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  24. "Kim's Convenience mines Korean grocery store for laughs - Toronto Star".

External links

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