In 2015, a little Canadian sitcom named Schitt's Creek premiered on CBC. But it really blew up when it began streaming on Netflix, introducing viewers to the chaotic life of the Rose family. What initially began as a broad fish-out-of-water, rags-to-riches comedy became a cultural phenomenon as the show was universally praised for its positive and upbeat approach to inclusivity.
Sadly, after six seasons of iconic storytelling, the show wrapped in 2020. Thanks to streaming, Schitt's Creek has picked up traction across the world and is gaining a plethora of new fans. For viewers who love the show, there are a ton of tidbits and behind-the-scenes magic about the cast and creation of Schitt’s Creek.
Family Affair
One of the more popular things to know about the series is that it was created by father-and-son duo, Eugene and Dan Levy. Eugene plays John Rose while Dan plays David Rose. Dan told Variety that the idea for Schitt's Creek came to him after a brainstorming session at a local cafe. He thought of a wealthy family losing everything and having to start over. He went to his dad with the idea and the two worked on it together. But they're not the only family members in the show — Twyla is played by Sarah Levy, Dan's sister and Eugene's daughter.
Annie Murphy Auditioned For Stevie Bud
After six seasons of seeing Annie Murphy portray Alexis Rose with such charisma and hope, it's unfathomable that she would play anyone else in the series. However, in an interview with 92Y, Murphy noted that she auditioned for both Stevie and Alexis.
Unlike the hundreds of women that Dan Levy and co. saw, Murphy brought likable energy to an unlikable character. But due to her darker hair at the time, Eugene Levy thought she should audition for the role of Stevie — until it became clear that she was born to be Alexis.
Chris Elliott's Belly Was Fake
Chris Elliott plays the mayor of Schitt's Creek, Roland Schitt. Roland starts the series as unlikable and intrusive, but he later softens up and shows a softer side. The reason he was so hard on the Roses when they first moved to town was because he was protective of Schitt's reek and its people.
Roland is portrayed as being a little slobby and not the most sanitary of people. He's also prone to wearing tighter t-shirts that show off his "beer belly." However, the bulging belly is not his; it's a prosthetic. Elliot said in an interview that in season 1 he wore a pillow under his shirt but by season 2, he had a custom-made belly for his character.
The History Of "A Little Bit Alexis"
If there's one scene that lives rent-free in fans' heads, it's when Alexis auditioned for the town play and performed the title track to her limited series, A Little Bit Alexis. The show had oodles of talented writers apart of Schitt's Creek but it was Annie Murphy who co-wrote her song with her husband, Menno Versteeg. To gear up for the song, Murphy studied music videos from Britney Spears. Hilariously, the song was such a success that it hit the iTunes soundtrack charts.
Noah Reid's Singing Career Became A Success After His Role Of Patrick Brewer
In season 3, David met his business partner and love interest, Patrick Brewer. Patrick was everything that David wasn't and gave David a new outlook on life. In "Open Mic," Patrick suggested Rose Apothocary host an open mic night to become one with the community and attract more customers.
To show his love for his boyfriend, Patrick sang his own acoustic version of Tina Turner's "The Best" and dedicated it to David. After the episode, Reid became just as famous for his vocals as playing Patrick. According to CBC, Reid's version of the song made it on Canada's Top 10 chart. Since then, he went on to release his own studio albums.
Dan Levy's Directorial Debut
Dan Levy's first time in the director's chair was during Schitt's Creek. He has three episodes under his director's cap that he worked on next to Andrew Cividino but there is one episode where Levy directed solo: season 6's "Smoke Signals." The episode was the premiere of the final season and showed David and Patrick finding their dream wedding venue. Over in Johnny and Moira's world, they took some time to have a romantic picnic outside but as usual, things go awry.
Eugene Levy And Catherin O'Hara's Decades-Long History
Levy and O'Hara have great chemistry as husband and wife. Johnny and Moira missed their life of fame and fortune and did everything they could to dig themselves out of the mess they were in. And it appears there's a reason why this couple has such a great connection.
The two actors met in the '70s as actors in the improv circuit and went on to star alongside each other in multiple projects. When the Levys were creating Schitt's Creek, O'Hara's name came up immediately to play the part of Moira.
Ted And His Puns
Dustin Milligan plays Alexis Rose's love interest, Ted Mullens. Ted is one of Schitt's Creek's most eligible bachelors as an attractive veterinarian. Unlike Alexis, Ted has always been selfless and a little goofy in his delivery and it appears that's for a reason. Due to Milligann's fondness of puns, the actor told Narcity that he improvised most of Ted's puns and the crew loved them so much that they were kept in.
This Reality TV Show Inspired Annie Murphy
Annie Murphy did a great job of bringing the character Alexis to life. From her vocal fry to her hair twirling, Alexis is the stereotypical spoiled socialite. While preparing for the role, Murphy began watching clips of reality TV shows like Keeping up With the Kardashians and The Simple Life to mimic what Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton did. According to AOL, it was these reality TV shows that inspired Alexis' iconic wrist flop.
Emily Hampshire's Audition Was A Blur
As Stevie Bud, Emily Hampshire nailed the sarcastic best friend of David Rose. Stevie's beginning was darker than her ending on the series, as she went on to join forces with Johnny and Roland in franchising the Rosebud Motel.
Before Hampshire got the part, she auditioned for Dan and was so nervous that she doesn't remember how it went. Her nervous energy, however, mirrored Stevie's and she was given the role.