Pure (Canadian TV series)

Last updated

Pure
Genre Crime Drama
Created byMichael Amo
Directed by Ken Girotti
Starring
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Production companies
Original release
Network CBC Television (Season 1)
Super Channel (Season 2)
WGN America (United States)
ReleaseJanuary 9, 2017 (2017-01-09) 
July 2, 2019 (2019-07-02)

Pure is a Canadian television drama series that first aired on CBC Television in January and February 2017, [1] and subsequently on Super Channel. The show stars Ryan Robbins as Noah Funk, a Mennonite pastor working undercover within an organized crime network in order to clean up a drug trafficking problem in his community. [2] The show also stars A. J. Buckley, Peter Outerbridge, Alex Paxton-Beesley, and Rosie Perez. [3]

Contents

Pure is produced by Two East Productions and Cineflix Media [4] and is directed by Ken Girotti. [5]

Showrunner Michael Amo stated that he pitched the show to television networks in the 2000s but "didn't get any takers". [4] It is inspired by the operations of a Mennonite organized crime ring that smuggled cocaine and marijuana from Mexico to Canada and the United States. [4] [6]

The series premiere was watched by 858,000 Canadian viewers. [7] On April 12, 2017, the show was picked up by Hulu in the United States. [8] WGN America acquired the US television rights to the series in August 2017. [9]

Initially, Pure was not renewed for a second season; [10] [11] however, in April 2018 the show was picked up by Super Channel, CBC, Hulu, and WGN America for a season two with six episodes, set to premiere in 2019. [12] [13] The series is scheduled to debut on WGN America on May 28, 2019. [14]

In June 2018, Super Channel announced that actors Alyson Hannigan, Christopher Heyerdahl, Zoie Palmer, and Victor Gomez were joining the production for Season 2. [15] [16]

Cast

The cast includes: [4] [5] [6] [17] [16]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 6January 9, 2017 (2017-01-09)February 13, 2017 (2017-02-13)
2 6May 28, 2019 (2019-05-28)July 2, 2019 (2019-07-02)

Season 1 (2017)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateCanada viewers
(millions)
11"Ordination"Ken GirottiMichael AmoJanuary 9, 2017 (2017-01-09)1.021 [18]
22"The Singing"Ken GirottiMichael AmoJanuary 16, 2017 (2017-01-16)N/A
33"As One"Ken GirottiMichael AmoJanuary 23, 2017 (2017-01-23)N/A
44"Funeral"Ken GirottiMichael AmoJanuary 30, 2017 (2017-01-30)N/A
55"Communion"Ken GirottiMichael AmoFebruary 6, 2017 (2017-02-06)N/A
66"Baptism"Ken GirottiMichael AmoFebruary 13, 2017 (2017-02-13)N/A

Season 2 (2019)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
71"Excommunication"Ken GirottiMichael AmoMay 28, 2019 (2019-05-28)0.241 [19]
82"Faspa"Ken Girotti Andrew Wreggitt June 4, 2019 (2019-06-04)0.219 [20]
93"Return of the Lamb" T.W. Peacocke Waneta Storms June 11, 2019 (2019-06-11)0.107 [21]
104"The Proposal"T.W. PeacockeMichael AmoJune 18, 2019 (2019-06-18)0.166 [22]
115"Penance"Ken GirottiAndrew WreggittJune 25, 2019 (2019-06-25)0.195 [23]
126"Wedding"Ken GirottiMichael AmoJuly 2, 2019 (2019-07-02)0.194 [24]

Setting

Though filmed in Nova Scotia, Pure is set in a fictional town called Antioch in southern Ontario, and during the first season, it also included the U.S. state of Texas and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. [17]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef
2017 ACTRA Maritimes Award Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting RoleGary LevertNominated [25]
Directors Guild of Canada Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Ken Girotti
(episode: "Ordination")
Nominated [26]
2018 Canadian Screen Awards Best Dramatic SeriesPureNominated [27]
Best Direction, Drama Series Ken Girotti
(episode: "Ordination")
Nominated
Best Original Music, Fiction Jonathan Goldsmith
(episode: "Ordination")
Nominated
Screen Nova Scotia AwardsBest TV SeriesPureWon [28]

Related Research Articles

Ken Girotti is a Canadian television director who was nominated for a 2006 Gemini Award in the category "Best Direction in a Dramatic Series" for the TV series ReGenesis.

<i>Queen Sugar</i> 2016 American drama television series

Queen Sugar is an American drama television series created and executive produced by Ava DuVernay, with Oprah Winfrey serving as an executive producer. DuVernay also directed the first two episodes. The series is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by American writer Natalie Baszile. Queen Sugar centers on the lives of three siblings in rural Louisiana who must deal with the aftermath of their father's sudden death and decide the fate of his 800-acre sugarcane farm. The mainstream themes in the series often accompany episodes centered on racial profiling, the long reach of chattel slavery in American history and the inequities in the criminal justice system, and other issues related to African Americans.

<i>Baskets</i> (TV series) American television comedy series

Baskets is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on January 21, 2016, on FX. The series was co-created by Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis, and Jonathan Krisel; Krisel is also the showrunner and director. Galifianakis stars in the dual lead role as Chip Baskets, a failed professional clown in Paris, who instead becomes a local rodeo clown in Bakersfield, California, and his twin brother, Dale Baskets. Galifianakis, C.K., M. Blair Breard, Dave Becky, Marc Gurvitz and Andrea Pett-Joseph serve as executive producers, with FX Productions as the production company. In 2017 C.K.'s production company Pig Newton had all ties to the show and FX cut after C.K. admitted to sexual misconduct with five women. On May 24, 2018, FX renewed the show for a fourth and final season, which premiered on June 13, 2019. The series ended on August 22, 2019.

<i>Outsiders</i> (American TV series) American television drama series

Outsiders is an American television drama series created by Peter Mattei. Set in the fictional town of Blackburg; within Crockett County, Kentucky, the series tells the story of the Farrell clan and their struggle for power and control in the hills of Appalachia. It is WGN America's third original series, which debuted on January 26, 2016. On March 11, 2016, WGN America renewed Outsiders for a second season which premiered on January 24, 2017. On April 14, 2017, WGN America announced that the series had been canceled after two seasons, with the then forthcoming last episode of the second season airing as a series finale on the channel.

<i>Black Ink Crew: Chicago</i> American reality TV series (2015–22)

Black Ink Crew: Chicago is an American reality television series that airs on VH1 and premiered on October 26, 2015. It is the Chicago-based spin-off of Black Ink Crew. It chronicles the daily operations and staff drama at an African American owned and operated tattoo shop, 9MAG, located in Chicago, Illinois.

Aftermath is a Canadian television drama series. The first season, consisting of 13 episodes, aired initially in September 2016 on Syfy in the United States and on Space in Canada. On January 12, 2017, Syfy and Space canceled the show after one season.

<i>Siesta Key</i> (TV series) 2017 American reality television series

Siesta Key is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on July 31, 2017. The show is inspired by the mid-2000s reality television series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. The fifth season, subtitled Miami Moves, premiered on October 27, 2022.

First Wives Club is an American comedy television series based on the 1996 film of the same name written by Robert Harling; it premiered on September 19, 2019 on BET+. The series was renewed for a second season on November 26, 2019, premiering on July 15, 2021. On September 8, 2021, the series was renewed for a third season. Unlike the original film, the series features an entirely African-American cast.

<i>Teen Mom: Young and Pregnant</i> American reality television series

Teen Mom: Young and Pregnant is an American reality television series that premiered on March 12, 2018 on MTV. It is a spinoff of the Teen Mom franchise, which itself is a spinoff of MTV's 16 and Pregnant series. Teen Mom: Young + Pregnant is a docuseries similar to the original 16 and Pregnant format. It follows the lives of different teenage moms: Brianna Jaramillo, Kayla Sessler, Rachel Beaver, Kiaya Elliott, Madisen Beith and formerly Lexi Tatman, Jade Cline, Ashley Jones and Kayla Jones as they go through pregnancy and become young mothers.

<i>The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills</i> (season 8) Season of television series

The eighth season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, an American reality television show, aired on Bravo from December 19, 2017 to May 15, 2018, and is primarily filmed in Beverly Hills, California.

<i>The Oval</i> (TV series) American TV drama/soap opera (2019–)

The Oval is an American political drama and soap opera created, executive produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry, that premiered on October 23, 2019, on BET. The series chronicles the lives of a family placed in the White House by people of power, while also highlighting the personal side and everyday lives of the staff who run its inner workings.

<i>The Family Business</i> (American TV series) American TV series or program

The Family Business is an American crime family drama created by Carl Weber and based on his bestselling crime drama book series. Originally developed as an independent film franchise, BET produced it as an eight-episode limited series in 2018.

Almost Paradise is an American-Philippine crime drama television series produced by Dean Devlin and Gary Rosen. The series is the first American television series to be filmed entirely in the Philippines. It premiered on March 30, 2020, on WGN America in the United States. The series was renewed for a second season on Amazon Freevee, with all 10 episodes premiering on July 21, 2023.

References

  1. "CBC Unveils Winter Schedule". Broadcaster. November 14, 2016. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  2. "CBC adds daytime series, Mennonite mob drama in new TV lineup". Toronto Star . May 26, 2016.
  3. "Production underway on CBC's Pure". Playback. October 6, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Wong, Tony (January 7, 2017). "CBC does Breaking Bad – with Mennonites". Toronto Star . Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Rosie Perez joins cast of CBC's new Mennonite mob drama Pure". CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 6, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Brioux, Bill (January 5, 2017). "CBC's 'Pure' a drug smuggling tale in Mennonite country". The Chronicle-Herald. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  7. Bill Brioux [@BillBriouxTV] (January 10, 2017). "MON o'nites CBC: solid start for #Pure 858k; #MurdochMysteries 1138k" (Tweet). Retrieved April 5, 2018 via Twitter.
  8. Tartaglione, Nancy (April 12, 2017). "Hulu Acquires CBC Crime Drama 'Pure'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (August 8, 2017). "WGN America Picks Up Swedish Drama '100 Code', Canadian Series 'Pure' & 'Shoot The Messenger' For 'Prime Crime' Slate". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  10. David, Greg (May 24, 2017). "CBC sets 2017-18 primetime schedule; plus new, returning and cancelled series" . Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  11. A. J. Buckley [@AjohnBuckley] (April 23, 2017). "CBC dropped the ball 4 sure. This cast was GOLD!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 5, 2018 via Twitter.
  12. "Super Channel announces casting for second season of PURE". Super Channel . June 27, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  13. Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 5, 2018). "WGN America Crime Drama 'Pure' Gets Second Season Ahead of Series' 2019 Premiere". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  14. "WGN America Releases Key Art, First Trailer And Sets Premiere Date Of Its Anticipated Religious Crime Drama Series "Pure" For Wednesday, January 23". PR Newswire . November 12, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  15. Liszewski, Bridget (June 27, 2018). "Pure: Season 2 Casting Announcements". The TV Junkies. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  16. 1 2 Petski, Denise (June 27, 2018). "'Pure': Alyson Hannigan Set To Recur in Season 2 of WGN America Crime Drama". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  17. 1 2 Doyle, John (January 6, 2017). "CBC's Pure is about more than Mennonites – it's about morals". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  18. Top Programs – Total Canada (Eng) January 9, 2017 - January 15, 2017 - Numeris
  19. UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.28.2019 - Showbuzz Daily
  20. UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.4.2019 - Showbuzz Daily
  21. UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.11.2019 - Showbuzz Daily
  22. UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.18.2019 - Showbuzz Daily
  23. UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.25.2019 - Showbuzz Daily
  24. UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.2.2019 - Showbuzz Daily
  25. "Screen Nova Scotia - ACTRA Maritimes announces 2017 award nominations!". mailchi.mp. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  26. "2017 DIRECTORS GUILD OF CANADA AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED | Directors Guild of Canada". www.dgc.ca. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  27. "2018 TV Nominees - Academy.ca". academy.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  28. "Your 2018 Screen Nova Scotia Award winners". thecoast.ca. Retrieved May 17, 2018.

Further reading