Shelved (2023– ) User Reviews

better than most sitcoms that come out of Canada but that doesn't mean much

[sittler35672 · 5/10 · 21 March 2023]

It's just an average standard sitcom that doesn't really do anything to advance Canadian entertainment. Nothing really outstandingly good or bad here. People have told me the creator of the show is beloved by a lot of white executives in power. But I don't think he's a very strong TV writer. Not the best diverse voice Canada has but he is well-connected.

It's a very forgettable experience when you watch an episode. You don't feel compelled to come back so that will definitely hurt it.

But CTV could very well keep renewing this despite nobody watching because they need to have some Can Con and the diversity that is forced by the CRTC.

It's important to note that this is an actual sitcom though where you can see the clear jokes unlike CTV's "Children Ruin Everything" which is a cringe fest.

Average

[coles_notes · 5/10 · 8 May 2023]

From the mind of Anthony Q. Farrell (writer for The Office, Overlord and the Underwoods), Shelved is a pretty expected single camera mundane and lighthearted workplace sitcom, centring around a small public library in Toronto, Ontario. The single season 8 episode series introduces us to all the library employees and a few of the regular visitors, and while quite enjoyable ultimately feels too short and relatively superficial. More of a trial season so far, I do hope future seasons get more episodes and flesh out character dynamics a bit more, but the writing was decent, the acting was decent, the set (basically just inside a library) was decent. A surprising amount of political and social issue commentary for a family sitcom, I didn't mind it, let out at least three audible laughs during its run, although I do wish they went a bit more of a nuanced route. It seems like most of the jokes basically wrote themselves, and they didn't go out of their way to create anything particularly clever, with any clear vision or passion, nor with any significant depth. Many are comparing this to The Office, however I'd say its much closer to Parks & Rec or Abbott Elementary in tone, and even closer to the likes of Superstore in quality and feeling like a daytime, innocent sitcom. Like Superstore again and unlike the others they spend no time justifying the existence of the camera and abandon the sort of "documentary" structure the others use, which is a totally fine if not preferred artistic choice from my point of view, however they now no longer have justification for the talking heads scenes, so these are missing and are missed. All said again its short so if you like these style of shows I would certainly recommend. I didn't love it, but I certainly didn't hate it.

It's cute!

[jlroxon · 7/10 · 17 April 2023]

I think, for a first season, it's a good start.

I think Manager Wendy is too "otherworldly" for this. A lot of her lines sound like a badly written childrens' book. She's really unbelievable, the way she's written, and it's almost insulting if I'm honest.

Many of the characters are interesting but yeah - first season, underdeveloped; that's normal. Some good sight gags and punchlines - I lol'd once or twice. I like the pacing and the patter.

To be honest - I came here JUST to defend it cuz I knew it would take a beating but I don't want anyone to give up on it. I think it has SO much potential, and is ONE of the best ideas Canadian Television has had in a long time. Canadian TV has seemed to step up a little lately. I'm appreciating that.

Love the premise, love the path. Now just a little polish. I like it.

Just average

[chelseat-88559 · 3/10 · 30 March 2023]

I really really wanted this to be more than it is. The actors seem to really try and although I love the library and the idea of a workplace comedy in one, it just comes off as average or slightly below. The characters are very similar to Parks and Rec but it is all just so lowest common denominator humor that pretty much just makes fun of the Ron Swanson ripoff and his WRONG conservative leanings and (yay Derrick from Shadows!) the librarian from the main city branch and his need to see things run normally. All the while laughing off public porn watching, egregious building code violations, theft, and feces in the aisles so everyone feels safe smh. Maybe it will grow, but hasn't so far... Do better. If you are totally copying a show and formula and characters a decade later, it should be pretty easy to come up with situations and jokes that transpose until you get your footing, otherwise the current writing feels amateur and doesn't bring anything new. If cheeseburgers were really good 10 years ago and then someone in Canadada sells a CheeseBeef Sandwich, then it should have something to differentiate itself. Add mushrooms, pickled bananas, something to make it memorable and appealing. Just not enough real laughs to be a comedy and comes more across as a fantasized biography. Ooooh tha Widdle Twain dat Could, so cute to watch the underdog win when it somehow feels deserving but why get new computers when there is feces on the floor, bathrooms destroyed, no public water fountain, and a trip hazard one of the locals uses to balance themselves, and the mentally incapable to physically and sexually harass your staff? It sounds like great management and the branch is totally deserving of new computers and respect because the boss is nice and has a big heart... zzzzzz I'll give it a couple of more episodes but it really needs to pick up the comedy part of sitcom. And someone drop a piano on that hateful desk assistant. She is just an awful, judgmental, negative person. It was fun to see her get schooled by the other women before launching into their gender-affirming resolution.

Sad, sad sad.

[propsguy · 2/10 · 12 April 2023]

I'm a big fan of Canadian comedy. Some of the best in the world. This is not up to scratch. I would have loved if this had been half as good as "The Librarians" AUS.

The characters were annoying, the plot was lame and the writing was pathetic.

How am I going to get to the required characters on this review.

This was really badly written, badly played and badly filmed.

600 Characters is far too many for some shows

I love Canadian TV but this is not the best and I'm struggling to find any pluses for this show.

There are far better shows to watch and I'm sure you can find them somewhere. Thanks and goodbye'

A little workplace comedy with a big heart

[VinnieRattolle · 9/10 · 28 March 2023]

Shelved follows the day-to-day lives of a fictitious group of librarians and regular patrons at the Parkdale Public Library in Toronto. Head librarian Wendy Yarmouth is relentlessly perky and naive, and finds herself struggling to make tough calls. Assistant head Bryce deLaurel is misogynistic and set in his ways. Junior librarian Jaq Bedard is snarky and likes to mess with others for her own amusement. New to the branch is Howard Tutt, who tries to prove to everyone that he's not elitist, but he consistently winds up tripping over his own feet. Sheila Boyd is a put-together part time worker who runs the community desk and is a love interest for Howard. "Unhoused Wendy" Brown is a homeless woman who uses the facilities while trying to get her life back together. And Alvin Canada is a pretentious businessman who uses the study room as his personal office.

In the 2020s, there's a real problem with comedies that are either mean-spirited or trying so hard not to offend anyone that they're just not funny. I'm happy to say that Shelved doesn't fall into either of those categories. The character of Bryce, for example, should be thoroughly unlikable. He says and does some awful things (that are also really funny), but it comes from a place of ignorance rather than spite, so his coworkers still like him despite his very glaring character flaws. The third episode featured a timely story centering on a drag queen heading up story time. It could have come across as either mean or preachy, but they handled it with subtlety, class, and humor. And speaking as someone who spent a year living in their car, I'm thrilled to see that Unhoused Wendy was treated with respect rather than being a total stereotype (she's a little stereotypical in her first outing, but gets better in later episodes). If all homeless persons were depicted like this rather than lazy losers and drug addicts, then I might not have had to endure what I went through.

There's a real heart in this show which is unusual for current TV. Comparisons to "Parks & Rec," "The Office" and countless similar workplace shows have flown fast and hard, but personally, I think it's more like "Schitt's Creek" with a little more ethnic diversity -- there's a broad range of eccentric characters who learn to put up with the quirks of the people around them, and even sometimes love them precisely for their quirks. That's life, folks.

I need to take a moment to gush about Lyndie Greenwood. Wendy is a total 180 from the characters that she's played in the past, and she's WONDERFUL in the role. Greenwood always shines brightly, but comedy seems to suit her really well, and I hope she gets more opportunities to be funny.

The season's currently halfway through, but I'm looking forward to the rest and hoping they get picked up for more. The show's really good, but it has the potential to truly become a classic if given the opportunity.

This is boring

[shalimarsubagja · 2/10 · 3 April 2023]

I have high hopes for this series. A typical office comedy series, with various character and their shenanigans. But sadly this is not it. The story itself doesn't bring us as the audience to care, or even knowing the characters personally. The characters heavily rely on the 'label'; the boss, the new worker, the mysognistic, the feminist, etc etc. Where's the funny? And what makes it even sadder, I hardly see the use of the public library as a setting. I only see they sort of 'interact' among the book, but not the actual job of librarians or what they actually do everyday. It feels like written by someone who seach about librarian's job and make a story about it.

I'm disappointed. After four episodes I decide to wave my white flag.

Above average Canadian content

[klondikeMIC · 10/10 · 6 April 2023]

Fun, turn your brain off, wholesome content. Think corner gas, meets the office, meets west-side Toronto. Shows don't have to be raunchy or extreme to be funny, and I loved every minute of this sitcom.

From the try hard branch manager, to the conservative angsty clerk.. the eccentric old library fly. It all captures the day to day if a public library and makes fun of these tropes in a lighthearted way.

As someone who used to spend a lot of time in public libraries, there isn't much else like it. They are hubs for all sorts of whacky characters, which means the writers will have plenty to outline from.

I genuinely like this one.

Canadian content looking to push government agenda

[motorolaleigh · 1/10 · 24 April 2023]

Whoever is giving this show 10stars is either part of the cast or a mindless zombie who wears their mask alone in their car or walking in a park. Sad that this is what is being pushed on Canadians. No wonder this country is going to the toilet. You can see Trudeau's money directly influences CTV. Their sponsored media outlet.

Is this really what Canadians want? A sitcom about a library , cause libraries are known for their entertaining antics. NOT. Next will be a show about drag story time I guarantee. More TV trying to tell us what to think. I don't think anyone under the age of 60 watches any shows on CTV😷🤡💩

Great show

[hareyke · 10/10 · 19 April 2023]

Reminds me of the office. The bearded white guy is everything 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿. They find a very great niche for a character to say outlandish eye poping things in a very sensitive cancel culture society. It kinda answers the question would the office work in this cancel culture?

The show has a huge potential to bring in guest stars as authors, politicians, artists .... The list is endless.

The humor is seemless and the awkward boss brings eveything in a wrap around full circle. I love it and can't wait for more episodes and seasons. Cool sitcom i am a fan already and I hope it runs for more than 5 seasons.

Congrats!

[iris-941-873519 · 10/10 · 10 April 2023]

What a wonderful show! So well acted, intelligent, with well-paced witty writing and, best of all, has a huge heart with poignant stories as the backdrop to the comedy. Just watched the drag queen episode. I wish this episode could be sent to Florida and made mandatory viewing by their governor. Nay, let's go even further and send it to every human on the planet. If Bryce's mind can be opened in such a brilliant way, then so perhaps can the world's. So proud of this new Canadian offering. I hope that the higher ups in production can give SHELVED a much deserved long run. Way to go, creative team! ...Iris Quinn.

Commercials Are So Bad I Won't Even Watch It

[solvason-pastuch · 2/10 · 20 April 2023]

The title about says it all.

The one character in the commercial making the "library" joke, har, har

The old guy going on about snap talk.

All I had to see was 5 seconds of either ad and it smelled cheap, Toronto content. And I was not wrong.,

The one character in the commercial making the "library" joke, har, har

The old guy going on about snap talk.

All I had to see was 5 seconds of either ad and it smelled cheap, Toronto content. And I was not wrong.,

Not sure why other people get of with short reviews?

The one character in the commercial making the "library" joke, har, har

The old guy going on about snap talk.

All I had to see was 5 seconds of either ad and it smelled cheap, Toronto content. And I was not wrong.,