‘Children Ruin Everything’ comedy filmed at Donut Monster
Kurt Smeaton, creator of the hit show Children Ruin Everything," appears to have a sweet tooth for Donut Monster, so it isn't surprising it has been included in Hamilton locations for shooting of the program's third season.
Cast and crew of the CTV show filmed at the popular Locke Street South and Charlton Avenue West business last Thursday.
The Hammer has been a great place to film," Smeaton said last May during shooting of the second season. And to eat Monster Donuts."
The donut shop was one of about a dozen spots the sitcom has shot at since third season filming began at the start of this month. A home on Charlton Avenue West, near Queen Street South, is used as the exterior of the home of the Berneys who try to hang on to some of their pre-kid lives while raising three children. The comedy also shoots in Toronto.
When we last meet Astrid (Meaghan Rath) and James (Aaron Abrams), the parents of a new baby and two precocious children, at the end of the second season they were weighing the different ways they raise their children after daughter Viv (Mikayla SwamiNathan) misbehaved, which brought them to the school principal's office. The couple's son Felix is played by Logan Nicholson.
This followed an episode where they almost sold their downtown (Toronto) home for a move out to the suburbs. Viv threw their plans into disarray when she hid in the house during an open house because she didn't want to leave. The couple realized they love the house too and decided to stay, with James reaching out to his estranged brother to help him fix up the home. There was also a side story about Astrid's money-obsessed sister Dawn (Nazneen Contractor) and brother-in-law Bo (Dimitry Chelpovets) looking at buying the couple's home.
CTV renewed Children Ruin Everything" for a third season on April 18, but there did not appear to be any doubt it would not. The network said the sitcom was the top Canadian comedy broadcast among key demographics, 25-54, in its first and second seasons. The show is available on Roku in the U.S.
The show was nominated for six 2023 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Comedy Series. Ennis Esmer, who plays James' happy-to-be single co-worker and friend Ennis, won a CSA for Best Supporting Performer.
The show has probably succeeded because it is relatable to many young couples with kids - and it's funny too. In one episode, the couple believe everyone is on social media too much and they try to enact a family screen ban for one weekend. But things interfere, like work calls, and they try to hide their screen use from each other.
Thrilled to finally be able to announce that Children Ruin Everything' will be back for a season 3!," tweeted Smeaton, a father of three who has written for Kim's Convenience" and Schitt's Creek."
So proud of this show and thrilled to be back on set with the amazing cast and crew."
Since the start of May, the show has also filmed at a business at James Street North and Murray Street, Westinghouse HQ on Sanford Avenue North, the former Siemens/Westinghouse plant on Myler Street, a fast-food restaurant on Upper James Street, Eastgate Square, Liuna Station, the former Holy Family school on Kenilworth Avenue North and on Charlton Avenue West.
During the first and second seasons, Children Ruin Everything" filmed at such spots as the Knollwood Golf Course in Ancaster, Stanley Avenue, Gage Park, Christie Lake Conservation Area, HAAA Grounds and St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School.
Chuck Tatham, former executive producer of Modern Family" is an executive producer of Children Ruin Everything." Mark Montefiore of New Media Metric studio is behind the show. It made Crave's hit comedy Letterkenny."
The third season will likely premiere in November and run until February 2024.
Daniel Nolan is a freelance writer who writes about film for The Hamilton Spectator. He can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com