Mixed Blessings (2007– )

A widowed Ukrainian plumber and a widowed Cree waitress fall madly in love resulting in a riotous fireworks display of conflicts with friends and family.

Creators:

Ric Beairsto, Ron E. Scott, Drew Hayden Taylor

Stars:

Gary Basaraba, Tina Lameman, Big Daddy Tazz

Cast

Series cast summary:
Gary Basaraba	...	Hank (25 episodes, 2007-2010)
Tina Lameman	...	Josie (25 episodes, 2007-2010)
Big Daddy Tazz	...	Tazz (20 episodes, 2007-2010)
Griffin Powell-Arcand	...	Donnie (18 episodes, 2007-2010)
Michelle Thrush	...	Kate (15 episodes, 2008-2010)

Storyline

A widowed Ukrainian plumber and a widowed Cree waitress fall madly in love resulting in a riotous fireworks display of conflicts with friends and family.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

2007 (Canada)

Filming Locations:

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Laughing Mountain Communications, Prairie Dog Film & Televison

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

User Reviews

A endearing Canadian version of "The Brady Bunch"

"Mixed Blessings" is a real blessing for Canadians. It showcases 3 popular cultures from our mosaic landscape: the Cree Indians, the Ukranians, and mixed families. The makers of this series seem to be making this series in a piecemeal style, releasing about 5 episodes a year, not exactly prolific by USA standards but creating a nice body of work. The makers include Drew Hayden Taylor, a man well known in the Native Theatre circles. "Mixed Blessings" usually includes DHT's patented blend of humour and sentiment. The film is set in the bustling community of Fort MacMurray, Alberta which is appropriate as it is a town that nicely intersects the White and Native populations of Canadian North West. The series begins as a Canuck "Brady Bunch". By the third season, with the arrival of a new baby, the plot lines become reminiscent of YOURS, MINE, AND OURS. Besides the ready made step brothers and step sisters, we have other extended family members coming and going. One of the most interesting of the secondary characters in the sexy, self absorbed sister in law played by the charming Michelle Thrush who played Nobody's wife in Jim Jarmusch's DEAD MAN. The father is also played by an actor with Hollywood experience: Gary Basaraba was one of the disciples on Martin Scorsese's LAST TEMPTATION OF Christ. I can see this show having a successful syndication run in countries like Australia and Germany but it seems to have universal appeal that may allow it into many more homes than the originators may have ever imagined.