THE BEAR: SEASON ONE Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, and Liza Colón-Zayas Creator: Christopher Storer QUENTIN I’ve never had to work in food service, but after watching The Bear , I feel like I have because it carries an air of gritty authenticity that is further amplified by the identifiable blue-collar Chicago atmosphere. It radiates the constant stress and anxiety of working in a professional kitchen. It can be a bit much, like Uncut Gems for chefs, but the performances are so natural that it makes for an intimately addicting series about grief, loss, the drive for success, and, of course, food. Overall, it’s a genuinely pleasant surprise that made me hungry for more episodes and an actual Chicago-style Italian Beef.

Previous Next With the release of Universal's latest film, Renfield, the crew decided not to wait until October to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Vampire Films/Series. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films or series in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA To me, director Francis Ford Coppola made the gold standard when it comes to Dracula. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is scary, romantic, strangely funny, and exciting, all in a stylish and haunting package that features a career-best performance from Gary Oldman as the titular vampire. The look and feel are way too iconic for me to ever forget the vibe and tone of this monster classic. - Adriano 4. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE The Lost Boys may have brought vampires into modernity, but it’s Anne Rice’s novel and subsequent film adaptation, Interview with the Vampire , that solidified the sexy vampire trend. The influence the film has had on the vampire genre as it stands now cannot be understated, and it still holds up as a heartbreaking and fascinating character study on the price of eternal life. From the A-list cast to the gorgeous costumes and the grandiose scope, Interview with the Vampire is a certified and underappreciated classic. - Joseph 3. THE LOST BOYS The best thing about The Lost Boys is that it’s more than just another vampire movie. Despite the genuine scares and visceral gore, it’s also a very funny coming-of-age story. But more importantly, it is one of the first movies to introduce teenage vampires, paving the way for the likes of Twilight and Buffy the Vampire Slayer . If you need further evidence of its lasting influence, consider that the opening scene of Jordan Peele’s Us is one long The Lost Boys Easter Egg. Plus, who can forget 80s iconography like Kiefer Sutherland’s delightfully rad spiky-topped mullet, original song “Cry Little Sister,” the Two Coreys, and, of course, the oiled-up Sax Man. - Quentin 2. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement took a page right out of Christopher Guest’s playbook when they developed one of the all-time great mockumentaries. What We Do in the Shadows is a hilarious, blood-sucking comedy spoof that got its start as a short film before being expanded into a feature and one of the funniest series on television. It’s inventive and filled with extremely amusing and committed performances from some of the funniest actors and actresses in the business. - Paige 1. FROM DUSK TILL DAWN The greatest trick From Dusk till Dawn pulls is having Quentin Tarantino’s writing drive the whole affair right up to the minute that it goes full Robert Rodriguez. Half of what makes it a great vampire film is that it was already a good movie before the vampires even show up, the cringe fest that is Tarantino’s character notwithstanding. I can only imagine what the original theater reactions must have been like at the turn. - Jacob HONORABLE MENTIONS BLADE 30 DAYS OF NIGHT FRIGHT NIGHT (2011) LET THE RIGHT ONE IN NOSFERATU Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Columbia Pictures; Photo 2, 3 - Warner Bros.; Photo 4 - Madman Entertainment; Photo 5 - Miramax Films

PALM ROYALE Starring: Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Julia Duffy, Kaia Gerber, Amber Chardae Robinson, and Carol Burnett Creator: Abe Sylvia NICK What did I expect? Palm Royale is a 1960s set series about a group of socialites that is far more soap opera than comedy; plus, it stars Kristen Wiig (who I’ve never been a fan of). Honestly, if it wasn’t for the return of Carol Burnett, I wouldn’t even have given it a chance. Here’s the thing, though: it’s actually quite good. Maxine Simmons is one of Wiig's strongest roles to date, while the supporting characters (particularly Allison Janney and surprisingly Ricky Martin) intrigue as their secrets unravel one by one. I’m still not entirely sure why Palm Royale worked for me specifically, but it did. QUENTIN Palm Royale , which is essentially The Real Housewives of 1969 meets Mean Girls , boasts tremendous production design and a mostly stellar cast. I say “mostly” because at the center is Kristen Wiig, and she is the main reason this series fails. This may be a “me” thing, but Wiig’s Maxine never feels like a real person, instead coming across as more of a quirky SNL character with an exaggerated southern accent. It’s all the more noticeable when she’s acting opposite Allison Janney and Laura Dern. Admittedly, I’ve never been the biggest Wiig fan, so mileage may vary, but this series did not make me a convert.

ECHO Starring: Alaqua Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Chaske Spencer, Graham Greene, Devery Jacobs, Cody Lightning, and Tantoo Cardinal Creators: Joe Quesada and David Mack AMARÚ Echo ’s five gritty and intense episodes really let us connect with Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), her story, and her ancestors. The indigenous cultural influences are the show’s biggest strength, along with great sound design and amazing stunt choreography. However, its comic-book aspects, while well connected to the story, are tonally disconnected to those more grounded facets, creating off-kilter pacing issues enroute to a lackluster finale. In the end, I left Echo wanting more of Maya, but also hoping that the MCU will get Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin 100% right one day. Also, shoutout to Graham Greene for just always being awesome. NICK The thing that made Netflix’s Daredevil and The Punisher great was more than just the violence, which is why Disney’s attempt to replicate it with Echo isn’t quite there. There are aspects of that grittiness, sure, but it mostly feels like a cheap imitation. Beyond that, the lead character (Alaqua Cox's Maya) is pretty unlikeable, so I couldn’t get emotionally invested in the moments I was meant to. Thankfully, there are some highlights including strong supporting turns from Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal, and the return of Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin. Plus, at only five episodes, Echo is an easy watch, but also one of Marvel’s more forgettable. QUENTIN Although there are things I liked about Echo , including a relatively successful return to Marvel’s Netflix-era grittiness, a couple of fight scenes, and the return of Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), it’s the MCU’s most yawn-inducing series yet. I suppose that’s better than being outright bad (or, as reports indicated, “unreleasable”), but even if there are moments of mild enjoyment, Echo is messily edited, poorly plotted, and terribly paced. Alaqua Cox does well when called upon to kick ass, but she’s hard to connect with in the quieter moments because of her permanent “badasses don’t emote” scowl. A disconnected character dealing with underdeveloped (and uninteresting) stakes? Why bother? PAIGE Compared to other Marvel series, Echo has a darker, grittier tone, featuring hard-hitting action sequences, a grounded story, and much-needed representation. In light of this, it’s a slow watch and occasionally extremely dull. The main character Maya (Alaqua Cox) completely lacks empathy, and the challenges she faces during the show’s five-episode arc seem trivial and small. This is where the plot falls flat. But even though I found this spotlight series to be mediocre, there might be enough for other viewers to find it engaging. ADRIANO Echo's whole idea of being the MCU's first foray into adult territory feels like nothing more than a distraction from the fact that the show has nothing going for it otherwise. The action can be cool and brutal, but its slow-building character writing is weak and lacks any real connection to our protagonist despite a compelling performance from Alaqua Cox and the supporting cast, namely Tantoo Cardinal. Echo feels like it's trying too hard to replicate what made Daredevil so popular, and in the process, being sorely mistaken on what made it good in the first place.

Previous Next August 14, 2026 WRITTEN BY: NICK I know I say it every year, but Fantasia is the first film festival to give us a chance when we started out. As such, I will always make it a priority to cover it. This year, we’re pivoting to our typical film festival model, which is to say each writer will individually rank the movies they were able to see, which allows for more personal freedom as to what each writer adds to their slate. Once again, I was covering this one remotely, so I didn’t have access to everything I wanted to see (The Fox and The Leader were big misses on my part). Still, I was still able to check out eight different genre films… 8. HER PRIVATE HELL I know director Nicolas Winding Refn likes making surreal films, but he has outdone himself this time. To be clear, that isn’t a compliment. Her Private Hell acted as my own (hell, that is) as I felt trapped inside Refn’s vision. What I’m sure was a cohesive idea inside his head makes for a disjointed film that is one part soap opera, one part fever dream. Even giving him the benefit of the doubt that the campy dialogue and performances are intentional, they’re out of place with the film’s tone. It’s a visual treat, but that doesn’t make up for the rest of the mess. 7. SOUR MINNOWS With Fantasia being one of the biggest genre film festivals in the world, you’re bound to get some unique and absurd indie features. Enter Sour Minnows . Building off a scene that reminded me of Radiohead’s music video for “Just,” Minnows goes for something that’s a mix of a student film and a David Lynch project. Unfortunately, its overly ambiguous nature makes for a confusing film that doesn’t seem very interested in answering the questions it presents. This one didn’t work for me, but I could see it hitting you differently if you had ingested certain substances beforehand. 6. UNHOLY NIGHT Unholy Night is a holiday horror film that can only be described as “aggressively Italian.” It is heavily centered on the familial dynamics of its cast of characters, and it features many cultural Italian hallmarks. Focusing on an ensemble was the right call because although it feels authentic, it doesn’t feature any particularly noteworthy performances. It also feels like director Michael Gabriele wouldn’t allow the film to be funnier. It has some comedic lines sprinkled throughout, but they’re played too seriously. Some levity, with a tone similar to Krampus , would have improved what is a watchable but ultimately average horror film. 5. NIGHTBORN Although I respect the way director Hanna Bergholm uses the horror lens to convey the difficulties of the postpartum experience, there’s something about Nightborn that feels too familiar. Carried by Seidi Haarla’s great performance, who does her part to elevate an occasionally stagnant story, Bergholm keeps you guessing as to whether there’s truly something supernatural or if everything is in Saga’s (Haarla) head as she seemingly descends into madness. But the reveal takes too long, leading to a rushed ending that doesn’t land with the impact it desires. It’s probably for the best this one is heading straight to streaming. 4. GOD SKIN On its surface, God Skin is a fun action flick that borrows heavily from video game culture, feeling inspired by things like Animorphs and Beast Wars . Beneath the surface, it has its challenges. Key among them is the poorly translated subtitles that make the film come across as goofier than intended. This is a real problem as there are some serious subjects tackled. Also, for a film featuring the stunt team behind Ong-Bak , the fight sequences leave much to be desired. They’re not bad, but they just aren’t memorable; this film needed and deserved better than that. Ultimately, although I had fun, I kept contemplating the “what ifs.” 3. TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA Much like with I Saw the TV Glow , I can clearly see what director Jane Schoenbrun is going for with Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma . Although I think they did a better job realizing that concept here, something about it just didn’t connect. As a parody of the slasher genre, it works. As a story of sexual awakening, again, it works. I just don’t feel these elements of the story fully complement each other. That said, Gillian Anderson is great, there’s a nice mix of flesh, fluids, and laughs (despite any scares), and I respect that Schoenbrun never compromises their vision. 2. BUDDY Buddy probably is best suited for streaming — not because of quality, but because a large portion of the film immerses you in a children’s television program, which likely works better at home. Buddy takes cues from programs like Barney & Friends to give it a nostalgic feel, and while this world is clearly scary for its characters, I wish that was also true for the film’s audience. It’s bloody, sure, but Keegan Michael-Key’s entertaining Buddy isn’t quite frightening enough. As an addition to one of my favorite sub-genres (children’s television gone wrong), it’s a fun ride, but the horror could have been turned up a notch. 1. AFTER SCHOOL Even though it’s a Dutch film, there's a sense of familiarity with After School ( Straf ), reminiscent of the school comedies of the early 2000s, and I had a ton of fun with it. It brings the laughs, despite the obvious disconnection with subtitles and comedic timing, but also attempts to tackle subjects like toxic masculinity, single parenting, and of course, bullying. Nothing about the cast is flashy (much like the rest of the film), but everyone brings honesty to their roles, which makes After School feel authentic. Considering comedy films have been lacking as of late, I’d love to see an English remake.

THE BIG CIGAR Starring: André Holland, Tiffany Boone, Alessandro Nivola, Marc Menchaca, and P.J. Byrne Creator: Jim Hecht QUENTIN While I’m sure there is an unbelievable true story at the heart of The Big Cigar , Apple’s latest historical series can’t seem to find the thread to make it interesting. At only six, 30ish-minute episodes, it moves way too quickly, resulting in a show where almost everything is underdeveloped. On top of that, tonally speaking, it’s a disjointed mishmash, jumping from paranoid thriller to caper-y romp to character study to social commentary, none of which is helped by random time jumps. I guess this is what happens when you base a miniseries on a Playboy article, but this Cigar needs to be extinguished. Killer soundtrack, though.

Previous Next With the release of Turning Red, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Pixar Films. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. TOY STORY 2 Toy Story 2 was Pixar’s true indicator of their commitment to storytelling. It’s a sequel that is just as engaging as its predecessor, and one that delves into the deeper existential themes that would eventually become the hallmark of what Pixar is known for. - Joseph 4. INSIDE OUT Inside Out was the perfect return to form for Pixar after several years of sequels. It’s a truly original and creative concept that tells a hilarious and gut-wrenching journey of emotions (literally). It’s also an animated classic that stands alongside Pixar's other masterpieces perfectly. - Adriano 3. TOY STORY Pixar brought us some of the most beloved and memorable characters in cinema with Toy Story . The animation (and entire film, for that matter) is groundbreaking, and let’s not forget the song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” which will forever warm your heart and make you think of this instant classic. - Paige 2. THE INCREDIBLES An animated superhero movie from 2004 featuring (at the time) the most original and as-realistic-as-you-can-get superhero story, all without pre-existing IP? And it’s still better than 75% of the superhero movies out today? Toy Story could never… Ok, maybe it could, but The Incredibles is a damn-near perfect film. - Amarú 1. TOY STORY 3 For a company primarily known for making childrens' films, Pixar made Toy Story 3 for the generation that grew up on the original film 15 years prior. They gave us a more than satisfying update and (at the time) a presumed conclusion to these characters that helped shape many of our formative years. - Nick HONORABLE MENTIONS FINDING NEMO MONSTERS INC WALL-E UP RATATOUILLE Photo Credits: Disney/Pixar

THE AGENCY: SEASON ONE Starring: Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Magaro, Katherine Waterston, Harriet Sansom Harris, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Andrew Brooke, India Fowler, Reza Brojerdi, Alex Reznik, Hugh Bonneville, and Dominic West Creators: Jez and John-Henry Butterworth QUENTIN Although The Agency has its imperfections — including some poorly developed characters, occasionally sluggish pacing, and confusingly sprawling subplots — most of them are wallpapered over by the absolutely stacked cast. It’s just too hard to look away from Michael Fassbender and Jeffrey Wright when they’re doing their thing. Thankfully, the methodical storytelling also is sneakily engrossing, especially in a binge (probably the best way to watch since it takes a couple of episodes to get going), as it explores both the professional and personal cost of living the bureaucratic life of espionage in an appropriately cold way. The Agency admittedly takes some patience, but it’s worth it.

WEDNESDAY: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON Starring: Jenna Ortega, Hunter Doohan, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Isaac Ordonez, Christina Ricci, Thandiwe Newton, and Evie Templeton Creators: Alfred Gough and Miles Millar PAIGE PART ONE Class is in session with a darker and more mysterious Season Two (Part One) of Wednesday . With its satanic wit and gothic teen feel, this season is much more on par with what I expected from a Tim Burton production, shedding the first season’s CW vibes in the process. Once again, Jenna Ortega shines as Wednesday Addams, and the addition of other Addams family members adds to the show’s eerie charm. I may have rolled my eyes a few times during the course of these four episodes, but, overall, I’m looking forward to seeing what mischief Miss Addams gets into in Part Two. PART TWO While Part Two picks back up right where Part One’s mayhem ended, Netflix seriously needs to get away from splitting seasons into multiple parts, as it honestly hurt the momentum of this season. That said, I'm ghoulishly thrilled to report that this batch of Wednesday episodes are, overall, a step in the right direction. Their dark nature and wicked antics are in full swing while strengthening its focus on Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) and Edin’s (Emma Myers) dynamic with the rest of the Addams family. However, the show still struggles with juggling too many storylines at once, and until the showrunners can get a handle on that, the series may never reach its full potential. AMARÚ PART ONE Wednesday : Season Two: Part One ups the mystery and lessens the coming-of-age angst, so when the teenage drama does happen, it pops amongst the numerous colliding storylines, many of which I initially worried were going to overstuff an already over-stylized aesthetic; however, the focus on the larger cast as a whole helps to aim each of the threads towards what looks like an entertaining conclusion. Jenna Ortega continues to thrive as this generation’s princess of horror, and her great back-and-forth with powerhouses Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Thandiwe Newton proves she was born to play this character. PART TWO The second half of Wednesday : Season Two is a quality payoff to the numerous set-ups that are introduced in the first half. There’s still an air of overcrowdedness, which causes a few of the storylines to feel slightly underutilized, but the benefits of growing a larger, more developed ensemble outweigh those small gripes. Plus, the mystery kicks up in the last four episodes, and the parallel character tales come together nicely to increase that mystery's intrigue. It also helps that 99% of the ensemble are excellently cast and entertainingly acted. Hopefully, we don’t have to wait three years for Season Three. Check out our reviews for Season One HERE .

HAWKEYE Starring: Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Vera Farmiga, Tony Dalton, Fra Fee, Alaqua Cox, Aleks Paunovic, Piotr Adamczyk, and Linda Cardellini Creator: Jonathan Igla QUENTIN In Hawkeye , Marvel successfully fuses the street-level-style adventures of Netflix’s The Defenders universe with the light-hearted tone and connective tissue of the MCU. Overall, Jeremy Renner carries the show, playing Clint Barton with a mix of exasperated dad energy and “I’m too old for this superhero shit” weariness, which creates an excellent odd couple dynamic with the overeager Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld). While the story, stakes, and even production design are a tad slight, they can be overlooked for the additional depth this show brings to previous MCU entries and the small nods that make this universe feel more lived-in. AMARÚ When MCU offerings are more than just regular superhero fare, they successfully create something as unique and rich as its source material. Hawkeye is the latest to do so, with its buddy cop approach to Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner). Steinfeld’s charm hilariously balances Renner’s stoicism, and while her wide-eyed wonder can be a bit campy, it fits the Christmas backdrop and makes the in-depth look into Clint’s struggles since Endgame much more impactful. Hawkeye is another strong entry into Disney+’s ever expanding slate of MCU shows. PAIGE Hawkeye must be Cupid because those arrows struck my heart! The series, which brings a grounded look to the street-level crime fighting that the MCU has been lacking, gives more depth to Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) while also introducing an energetic Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) to the MCU. Between Barton’s grumpy man routine and Bishop’s untamable but impressionable youth, they truly are a dynamic duo! Steinfeld is an especially amazing addition, as she makes arguably one of the more boring Avengers genuinely entertaining. This has been my favorite MCU show thus far, so give me a season two, Disney+! NICK Ranking the MCU series is difficult, but it's hard to argue against Hawkeye 's standing as the most fun entry. Once the forgotten Avenger, the story of Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) since Infinity War has stepped its game up. Hawkeye continues that journey as Renner gives his best performance as the character, continuing to delve into Clint's humanity as a reluctant mentor to Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop. Steinfeld, in her own right, is fantastic and her quirky chemistry seems to work regardless of who shares the screen with her. Add in a few surprises and you have a highly entertaining miniseries.

Previous April 29, 2026 Next A BITESIZE CHAT WITH JONATHAN MEDINA Actor Jonathan Medina (The Purge , The Terminal List , Fear the Walking Dead ) joins Amarú to talk about his newest role as Uncle Jay in Amazon Freevee's Primo , the hopes for a 2nd season, and his unabashed love for Doctor Who . Make sure to check out Primo: Season One now on Amazon Freevee. Interview conducted on June 8th, 2023 by Amarú Moses. Photo Credits: Banner - Jonny Marlow; Photo 1 - Amazon Studios; Photo 2 - AMC

Previous Next March 19, 2025 WRITTEN BY: NICK I've always considered myself a pretty patriotic person (a proud Canadian, to be clear), but with all the turmoil going on between Canada and the United States these days (both politically and musically, R.I.P. Drake) that feeling is even stronger. Don’t worry, I’m not going to dive into a political rant (although, just to be crystal clear, we’re no one’s 51st state), but I do want to praise my country and some of its pop culture exports that have excelled at providing what we all need more of in these times: joy and laughter. There are going to be omissions (Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, Dan Aykroyd), but I wanted to keep this at a reasonable length. Plus, what can I say? In my opinion, when it comes to comedy, there's no country as rich with talent as Canada. Others are good, sure, but they're... not like us (I can feel Amarú's side eye from here). SKETCH AND IMPROVISATIONAL COMEDY Let's talk about Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles. The two guys probably best known for Whose Line is it Anyways? are amongst the funniest Canada has to offer (Mochrie even won Last One Laughing Canada ). However, as funny as they are as individuals, they're sublime when paired together. If you somehow haven't seen them work together before, find some clips on YouTube and proceed to laugh your ass off. Next, although less revered, you’ve got Will Sasso. For me, he would be worthy of a mention just for his wrestling impressions, but his work on MADtv was exactly what that series needed, and it ultimately led to several memorable supporting roles. Finally, I can't talk about Canadian comedy without mentioning the two series that make up the skeleton of my country’s comedy landscape, SCTV and The Kids in the Hall . For SCTV , I need only to list the alumni that came from that show: John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Rick Moranis, and Harold Ramis (that’s right, SCTV is responsible for two Ghostbusters stars). Legendary stuff. The Kids in the Hall is a different story. The troupe was unable to find the same level of success beyond their self-titled series, but they still made waves. Dave Foley had early momentum with the highly underrated The Wrong Guy , NewsRadio , and A Bug's Life , while Mark McKinney had multiple stints on Saturday Night Live , not to mention the recent role of Glenn Sturgis on Superstore . Still, all is well, as the Kids reunited in 2022, showing they haven't missed a beat. MICHAEL J. FOX I know, I know… you’ve likely heard me wax poetic about Michael J. Fox before, but to exclude him from this list would be disingenuous. Although his career has been cut short because of Parkinson’s Disease, he made the most of the time he had. On the big screen, there are the timeless classics ( Back to the Future trilogy), the underrated gems ( Doc Hollywood , The Secret of My Success ), and the family-friendly vocal performances ( Stuart Little, Atlantis: The Lost Empire ). When it comes to comedy, however, his best work came in television. Family Ties and especially Spin City showcase Fox’s comedic timing and boyish charm at their apex, and it’s such a shame that we didn’t get to see more of it. WILL ARNETT I expect Will Arnett’s inclusion to be the one that makes people raise an eyebrow. You might be thinking, “is Nick a big Arrested Development fan?” Nope, I actually didn’t even watch that show. For me, Arnett makes this list almost exclusively for his voice-over work. It’s a distinct voice, yes, but it’s so much more than that. He simply infuses these types of roles with so much character. I give him a lot of credit for why The Lego Batman Movie works as well as it does. Plus, he’s the voice behind one of the most honest, fractured, and, oddly enough, “human” animated characters of this century with BoJack Horseman. Whether it’s a lead role or just popping in, Arnett always leaves a mark. Hell, you can credit him for the reason “Hey, eat a Reeses!” pops in your head from time to time. (Editor's note: There’s a chance that may be a Canada-only commercial.) CATHERINE O’HARA Not only is Catherine O’Hara the funniest Canadian woman alive, but she is also one of the funniest women ever. To many, she is known for her work in Christopher Guest’s beloved mockumentaries Best in Show , A Mighty Wind , and For Your Consideration , where she really gets a chance to showcase her off-the-cuff humour. To some, it’s her slew of supporting characters in everything from Home Alone to Beetlejuice . Nowadays, with the emphasis on short memories, she is Moira Rose, the matriarch of the Rose family from Schitt’s Creek . The little Canadian television series that could, this CBC original became a worldwide phenomenon that won multiple awards, including Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy wins for O’Hara. There’s not many who could’ve played Moira to that level of success, but O’Hara made it seem easy. MIKE MYERS I unintentionally quoted Austin Powers twice in the past two days, but when I really think about it, the truth is that I quote it more than I realize. Shrek , too, for that matter. That simply speaks volumes to the legacy of characters created by Mike Myers. In the Austin Powers trilogy alone (we still need a fourth!), he's given us Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, and Goldmember. There is also Wayne's World's Wayne Campbell, which can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Show me a streak of characters as memorable and iconic. And remember, these are characters for which Myers deserves all the credit. Whether it's improvising better lines or just pure delivery, he makes every one of his characters better than they are conceived to be on paper. If you need any further proof, check out the late Chris Farley's interpretation of Shrek (it's on YouTube). You'll see that the beloved ogre wouldn't have become as special as he is if it weren’t for Myers squeezing everything he could out of the role. JIM CARREY Allllllrighty then, let’s talk about Jim Carrey, one of the greatest physical comics of all time, full stop. His first true run of feature film success (no In Living Color erasure here) started in 1994 with THREE massive hits ( Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , The Mask , and Dumb and Dumber ), and it continued steadily until 2004. Carrey’s screen presence in that time was like that of the late Robin Williams: you never knew what he was going to do, but you knew it was going to be funny. He was a real-life cartoon character in the best way possible. Carrey has changed a lot in the past decade or more, but his recent role as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog suggests there is still a glimmer of the old Carrey in there. Hopefully, we get to see that side a few more times before he officially hangs ‘em up. IN MEMORIAM I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about those we’ve lost. Unfortunately, I was three years old when John Candy passed away, and only seven when Phil Hartman died. I’ve visited and enjoyed their work over the years (Hartman, in particular), but I don’t really have the connection to those two that older readers might hold. Still, an undeniable loss to the comedy world. However, there are three men no longer with us with whom I did have such a connection. First, pure comedy is the best way to describe Leslie Nielsen. Whether it was slapstick or just outrageous antics, I don’t think anyone gives me the feel-good chuckles the way Nielsen does. Airplane! , The Naked Gun , Wrongfully Accused — basically any spoof parody ever — he could take the dumbest thing and make it the best. It’s not a coincidence that the spoof parody died shortly after he did since no one did it better. Second, I love a deadpan comic, and Norm Macdonald was at the top of that game. Whether it was his work on Saturday Night Live (especially Weekend Update) or his talk show appearances alongside David Letterman or Conan O’Brien, that sonofabitch was funny. The phrase often gets overused, but he really was one of a kind. Lastly, look, I’m a white male in his thirties. Of course I watched Friends , and Matthew Perry was just so clearly a cut above the rest. Personal demons certainly had an effect, but he deserved a much better post- Friends career. In fact, I never stopped rooting for him, watching and enjoying everything he put on screen, including one-season wonders Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip , Mr. Sunshine , and Go On . Not only do I wholeheartedly believe we lost a true talent, but I also don’t think we ever got to see his full potential realized.