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Why Heated Rivalry's Canadianness is 'essential'

Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

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'Heated Rivalry' has blown up across the globe. Fans are hosting watch parties in bars and begging for clothing collaborations. The stars of the show are even presenting at the Golden Globes.

So how did a Canadian TV show about gay hockey players become beloved around the world? Elamin Abdelmahmoud discusses the show's immense popularity with culture critics Jason P. Frank, Cassandra Morann and Lainey Lui.

Thumbnail photo: Crave | Bell Media

Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.

Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD...
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Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
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#podcast #popculture #heatedrivalry

20 Comments

@heather2185 8 months ago

We’ve heard so many tragic stories about people becoming suddenly famous and it going terrible…I really hope these two are doing ok and have the support to handle this.

@NorthCA4 8 months ago

HBO had no input on the creation of the show. It’s a Crave original, HBO just has distribution rights

@ku88-k2y 8 months ago (edited)

I am loving the hype an attention this Canadian show, cast, director and crew are getting... BUUUUT... my only concern is that the American entertainment complex has a way of overkilling and destroying every awesome thing it gets it's hands on. I REALLY REALLY hope it remains Canadian made, produced etc.. If it becomes Hollywoodised, it will kill it

@CPTDoom 8 months ago

I'm glad Jacob Tierney decided to use only Canadian artists on the soundtrack, because it means he's getting them huge exposure just like the members of the cast, who are all phenomenal. How the creators and cast were able to make something this good - the writing, directing, acting, cinematography, production (the real estate!) - on a tiny budget in less than 2 months is utterly confounding.

@RichardHannay 8 months ago

This is the most insane meteoric rise for the actors and the show I’ve seen in yearsssss

@static_echo 8 months ago

Thank you Canada, we are all very grateful !

@seattletuttle 8 months ago

We're yearning for Yearning.

@jenniferfowler2438 8 months ago

I adore the Canadian-ness of this show. I literally watched The Cottage at the cottage 🇨🇦

@rabbitfishtv 8 months ago

One of the main reasons for the phenomenon is that Jacob Tierney created space for the actors to tell the story. He gave them the words, he gave them the cinematography, and then the editing, but he trusted his performers enough to put the weight of the story on the ineffable magic of their art. Not a lot of television trusts their talent this much. That’s why, when it works, it touches much deeper than most shows. Pluribus did the same. These are actors’ shows, not shows that use the actors as props.

@e1evene1even 8 months ago

Keep Hollywood out of it and the show should be ok.

@stere0xide 8 months ago

I think the fact that there were a lot of Canadian artists featured was exceptional and it felt intentional given Jacob's other projects. I think the more mainstream and large American names they involve, the more the feel and distinction the show has would evaporate.

@bluedrummajor2876 8 months ago

I'm amazed by how many people around the world are pirating the feed to watch it.

@katskillis911 8 months ago

I'm also proud to be Canadian 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

@kbarteaux9807 8 months ago

Every Feist needle drop had me clapping and squealing.

@Triskelion74 8 months ago

The fleece reminds me of the hype around the famous 2010 Vancouver Olympics mitts.

@Fern-kitsune 8 months ago

This show was Healing.

@Fictioncrazed 8 months ago (edited)

I think it’s the almost casual way the story was backed by our government as if to say this is normal, nothing controversial happening here. It’s the same way we as a people in Canada generally approach ‘queerness’. To us it’s just a love story and I think that is reflected in every aspect of making this show and fans love it because people crave this exact attitude when it’s comes to our lgbtq+ brothers and sisters. They are just people who want to live their lives.

@kirsache 8 months ago

so proud to be canadian

@e.8756 8 months ago

I think in this moment this is also weirdly a backlash against othering of our neighbors by maga / far right. People want something to celebrate, even if you’re not a member of the lgbtq+ community. We want to see a love story and a happy ending, during these dark times.