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Rich Herstek, Larry Johnson and Pete Favat in a behind-the-scenes photo from the ‘Grandmama’ commercial, from the Sneaker Boom documentary series.Supplied
The Sneaker Boom (Crave)
These days it’s normal to peek into a man’s closet and see rows upon rows of sneakers. Just ask Canadians such as actor Andrew Phung or chef Alvin Leung about their kicks collections. But today’s current obsession began back in the 1990s with a group of basketball players and behind-the-scenes marketers. Now, for the first time, these savvy creatives are sharing their stories on camera. The Sneaker Boom hails from Canadian Sean Menard (299 Queen Street West, The Carter Effect) and is executive-produced by former NBA all-star Blake Griffin. Over five episodes Menard dives into the history of sneakers, as told by NBA legends such as Dee Brown, Larry Johnson, Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill. It’s as much a story of shoes and pop culture as it is about taking creative risks, with an inspiring tone that makes it a cozy watch.
Gerry Dee: Funny You Should Say That (Netflix)
One of Canada’s most prominent comedians is upgrading his stage presence with the debut of a Netflix stand-up special. The showcase was filmed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and features Gerry Dee’s signature dry sense of humour and personal stories. The former school teacher, who starred in Mr. D for eight seasons on CBC and currently hosts Family Feud Canada, has spent countless hours on his stand-up comedy. Now, after years of performing in theatres across the country he’s got a global stage to riff on things such as open marriages, parenting challenges and navigating modern life. It’s a finely tuned hour of his best stuff, one that returns him to the medium that kicked off his second career all those years ago.
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Gerry Dee in his Netflix stand-up special, Funny You Should Say That.O Mccorquodale/Netflix
The Mighty Nein (Prime Video)
Fans of Critical Role, a media company that includes a web series of professional actors improvising and role-playing through Dungeons & Dragons, have been counting down the days until this premiere. The Mighty Nein is a joint project between the Critical Role team and Prime Video that follows on the success of The Legend of Vox Machina. This animated, Exandria-based story is longer and darker, however, with a group of unlikely heroes including an inebriated goblin and a dishevelled wizard. The group is the only one that can protect the kingdom after an arcane artifact falls into the wrong hands, setting the tone for an epic adult animated series.
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The Mighty Nein follows a group of unlikely heroes.Amazon Prime
The Assembly (CBC Gem)
The Canadian version of this international smash is here to break stigmas and deliver some of the most in-depth celebrity interviews around. The Assembly revolves around a group of neurodivergent adults who come together to interview a famous Canadian. Over six episodes (all of which are now available to stream on CBC Gem), the group peels back layers on Canadians Jann Arden, Howie Mandel, Arlene Dickinson, Allan Hawco, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Russell Peters. No questions are off limits, so expect queries such as, “What does it feel like to be alone at your age?” and “How does it feel to have a brother in jail for murder?” The results, according to some of the celebs, are the best interviews they’ve ever had.
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Howie Mandel in The Assembly.Erich Saide/Supplied
The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
If you haven’t caught this Sundance Film Festival offering since its October release on Netflix, it’s a unique and challenging watch that raises questions of prejudice, justice and systemic reform. The documentary revolves around a continuing neighbourhood dispute in Florida that turned tragic in the summer of 2023, when a woman named Susan Lorincz shot her neighbour, Ajike (AJ) Shantrell Owens. The film is directed by Geeta Gandbhir, a friend of Owens, and uses bodycam, ring camera and cellphone footage to dissect the arguments, events and police calls that led to the death of the single mother of four.
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The Perfect Neighbor is available on Netflix.Courtesy of Netflix/Netflix
