Not all Canadian shows hit the mark for U.S. audiences, andLetterkennyis one of them. Despite several Canadian TV shows making it big in the United States, such asSullivan’s CrossingandSchitt’s Creek,other shows struggle to find its audience beyond the southern border.
This Canadian comedy is huge in Canada, and has won multiple awards.Letterkennyhas come to an end after 12 seasons, but not because of Crave, the streaming network that it airs on. In fact it was Crave’s first original comedy. The decision to end came from creator Jared Keeso.
While it’s an award-winning comedy in Canada, it hasn’t made a splash in the United States. A lot of Canadians wonder how thehilariousLetterkennycharacterscouldn’t get the audience that it deserved, but it’s probably due to one main reason.
Letterkenny Is A Critically-Acclaimed Favorite Series In Canada
Letterkenny Has Won 26 Awards
When it comes to Canadian shows, originally aYouTube series,Letterkennystands out as one of the strongest in terms of critical acclaim. It has been nominated for 58 awards, and has won 26 of them, standing out as the biggest success for Bell Media’s Crave.
Meanwhile, Keeso has won theTV Writer award from the Writers’ Guild of Canada two years in a row. Other accolades include the Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series and the Northern Ontario and Film Awards for Outstanding Television or VOD Series (viaIMDb).
Unlike many other Canadian shows that have ended or even been canceled, there’s even theLetterkennyspinoff withShorsey, with a crazy door open forLetterkennyappearances in Shorsey.
On top of that, theseries remains popular with Canadians across the countrydue to the way that it brings theCanadian slangand connections that no other series has managed. Unlike many other Canadian shows that have ended or even been canceled, there’s even theLetterkennyspinoff withShorsey, with a crazy door open forLetterkennyappearances in Shorsey.
Why Americans Struggle To Understand The Appeal Of Letterkenny
Letterkenny Is Just Too Canadian
The biggest reasonLetterkennyhasn’t found its U.S. audience is likely because it’s too niche. This series relies on everyone understanding Canadian phrases, nuances across the country, and pop culture in the nation.
If you watchDeadpool & Wolverine, there are jokes that would only land for Canadians, as Ryan Reynolds leaned on Canadian humor for some of its jokes. That was on a small scale, with the movie itself connecting to American audiences in another way. Keeso’s showdoesn’t have that, however, asLetterkennyis unapologetically Canadian.
The series is deeply rooted in Northern Ontario culture, and that is a different beast compared to any other province or even southern parts of Ontario. Even someCanadians need to take time to understand the references and slang.
With fast-paced dialogue, there just isn’t enough time for Americans to quite get the jokes inLetterkenny, meaning it just doesn’t quite work. It takes a few watches for some to appreciate the humor.
