Top 10 Behind the Scenes Secrets About Schitt's Creek
#10: It's (Kind of) Based on a True Story
The premise of someone wealthy buying a small town on a whim seems outlandish, but in this case, truth was stranger than fiction, and Dan Levy was inspired. In 1989, Kim Basinger actually purchased most of the land in Braselton, Georgia. She had a vision of making it a magnet for tourists, but after a few years, it was clear this plan wouldn’t come to fruition. When Dan Levy saw an article about it, he used it as a jumping off point, but aimed to add comedy to that sort of situation.
#9: Annie Murphy Said “David!” as Much as Possible
It would be all too easy to peg Alexis Rose as just a bratty almost-reality-TV-famous socialite, but thanks to Annie Murphy’s nuanced portrayal, she’s way more than that. Though Alexis does become very different from the one we met in the pilot, one constant was always how she said her brother’s name. Murphy said that she discovered the perfect inflection and then proceeded to use it as much as possible. Somehow, Alexis simply saying “David”, usually in a whiny voice or in disgust paired with the word “Ew,” has become one of the show’s most iconic lines, repeated over and over again throughout the series.
#8: Emily Hampshire Always Wanted to Play Sally Bowles
Emily Hampshire, the actress who portrays Stevie, said that for years her dream was to have the opportunity to play Sally Bowles in the musical “Cabaret”. This was something she had mentioned to Dan Levy while they were working on the first season, requesting that, if they ever did a musical on the show, for it to be that one. She didn’t think this fantasy would come to fruition, let alone that her character would actually be cast in her dream role. It’s obvious from her performance in the season five finale that she’s putting her entire heart and soul into it.
#7: The Wigs Were Catherine O’Hara's Idea
Though every member of the Rose is extra in their own way, Moira, the family’s matriarch, has to be the most over-the-top. One of the characteristics that shows just how outlandish she is is her tendency to wear a new wig nearly every time we see her, making her actual appearance somewhat of a mystery. It turns out that it was actress Catherine O'Hara’s idea to have her character be obsessed with wigs - and O’Hara named them after women she knew. We’re sure the costume department loved the creative license they could take, because there was no wig too dramatic for Moira.
#6: Patrick & David's First Kiss Was Originally Different
In a show that can be quite silly, Patrick and David’s relationship has always been a poignant counterweight that grounds the show in something sweet and tender. The couple’s first kiss was always going to be a major moment, but it turns out the scene was re-written just the night before filming. Initially, Patrick was supposed to be the one to make the first move, but after talking to a friend, Dan Levy considered their journeys of coming out, and ultimately decided to switch things around so that it was David who leaned in first.
#5: Moira’s Accent Was a Surprise
Moira’s accent is hard to pin down. It’s clearly something the character puts on, because no one in her family speaks in quite the same way. When Catherine O’Hara was attempting to explain to Dan and Eugene Levy, she said, “I don’t want to sound like a human.” What does that sound like? As it turns out, vaguely British, with a tad of old-Hollywood Katharine Hepburn folded in, and a vociferous vocabulary to render us pendent onto her every idiom. It wasn’t until Catherine O’Hara’s first scene that anyone heard what she had come up with. Additionally, the very distinct way she pronounces the word “bébé” was something Catherine said jokingly while filming, but it proved such a hit with the crew that she decided to go with it.
#4: Annie Murphy Co-Wrote “A Little Bit Alexis”
You know what they say, if you want a theme song for a reality series to be so bad it’s SO good, write it yourself. Though the reviewer-acknowledged “A Little Bit Alexis” was an early component of Alexis’ character, it wasn’t until the show’s fifth season that we got to hear the banger of a theme song. With the help of her husband Menno Versteeg, and Nixon Boyd, both of whom are in the band Hollerado, Murphy set to work. Using Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan as inspiration, but adapting it for Alexis’ lack of musical talent and abundance of confidence, the title track was born. The end result has become one of the most beloved (and catchiest!) scenes from the show.
#3: Eugene Levy Didn't Like Annie Murphy as Alexis
Even though it’s nearly impossible to imagine anyone other than Annie Murphy playing Alexis Rose, it wasn’t the most simple path to get there. The actress had also auditioned to play Stevie, and when she was ultimately considered for Alexis, Eugene Levy opposed the decision. The primary reason why he didn’t think she was a good fit was the fact that she was a brunette, and Alexis had been conceived of as a blonde. Dan Levy went as far as taping photos of blonde hair onto photos of Annie in order to show his dad what the final effect would be. Luckily, Eugene came around and the rest is history.
#2: Noah Reid Composed His Version of “The Best”
One of the show’s most emotionally charged moments comes when Patrick serenades David with a unique version of the song “The Best”. His interpretation is quite a variation on the original, and it turns out actor Noah Reid was the one to arrange the cover. Another interesting fact about that scene is that Moira’s tears while watching his performance were genuine. Catherine O’Hara shed real tears while bearing witness to this moment of love, and Dan Levy opted to keep the candid moment in the final cut of the episode.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
It Started a Tourism Trend
Goodwood, Ontario, Where the Show Is Filmed, Has Become a Mecca for Fans
The Designer Clothes From the Wardrobe Department Are Second-Hand
The Costume Designers Had to Work With a Limited Budget, but Made It Work
Casting Catherine O'Hara Was Eugene Levy's Idea
There Was No Way Dan Could Say No to That
Dan Levy Wrote the Finale in Half a Day
He Already Knew Where Every Character Was Supposed to End Up
The Title Was Eugene Levy's Idea
The Show Just Wouldn't Be the Same Without It
#1: It May Not Be the End
It may be hard for fans to accept that “Schitt’s Creek” is really over, because of how real the characters had become. Luckily, creator Dan Levy hasn’t completely closed the door on revisiting the Rose family’s story. Though he feels as though their character arcs have come to their natural conclusion, Levy said, “If there is something that comes up down the line that feels compelling enough to bring our troupe back together and continue to tell a story, so be it.” So while we shouldn’t get our hopes up, fans can be a little bit optimistic that we might spend time with the Roses and the residents of Schitt’s Creek again.
