‘Run The Burbs’: Production For Canadian Comedy’s Third Season At CBC Underway

Oct 16, 2023

By Jesse Whittock | Deadline

Season 3 CBC and Pier 21 Films series from Andrew Phung and Scott Townend is in production around Toronto, Hamilton and Barrie. It follows a loving Vietnamese and Indian family, the Phams, in the suburbs and their oddball neighbors.

Phung stars in the ensemble comedy alongside the likes of Rakhee Morzaria, Zoriah Wong and Roman Pesino.

The new season will run to 13 episodes and launch in winter 2024 on CBC and streamer CBC Gem. It will include a now-annual Vietnamese Lunar New Year – Tết – episode and will once again include DJ and rapper Kardinall Offishall, in a role that has brought him a 2023 CSA nomination alongside Phung and Morzaria.

“Having the opportunity to showcase this family on television has been a dream come true,” said creators Phung and Townend. “It’s an absolute joy seeing the Phams grow from season to season. “We’re so proud to shine a spotlight on how they live life and celebrate culture authentically. Coming off a hugely successful second season, our incredible ensemble cast and amazing creative team are elevating everything we know and love about these characters and life in the burbs. Season three promises some huge comedic swings which means bigger laughs, and more heart.”

As previously announced, television veterans Jennica Harper and Nelu Handa have taken over showrunning duties this season. The duo previously collaborated on the series Jann, on which Harper served as showrunner. Handa has been in the Burbs writing room since season one.

“The new season sees Andrew and Camille’s relationship evolving as they balance work, raising teens, having Camille’s dad in the house, and making time for each other,” they said in a statement. “But we’re also levelling up the fun, including sending the Phams to Cottage Country and celebrating a truly unique Halloween, as well as our annual Lunar New Year episode. Given everything going on in the world, it’s a joy to work on a show with so much comedy and heart. We’ve never needed the Phams more.”

Executive Producers on the Pier 21 original for CBC are Laszlo Barna, Nicole Butler, Karen Tsang, and Vanessa Steinmetz (for Pier 21 Films), Phung, and Townend. Harper and Handa are Executive Producers and Showrunners. Jay Vaidya is Co-Executive Producer and Sara Peters is Co-Producer. Jessica Daniel is Producer.

Season Three directors include Aleysa Young, Pat Mills, Joyce Wong, Sherren Lee, and Zoe Hopkins. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Zach Feldberg and Sandra Picheca are Directors, Current Production, Comedy; and Mélanie Lê Phan and Kathleen Meek are Executives in Charge of Current Production, Comedy. The series is distributed by Fifth Season and is currently airing on The CW in the U.S.