Republic of Doyle renewed for 6th season

Three CBC-TV shows near and dear to the hearts of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are returning for another season.

Republic of Doyle, The Rick Mercer Report and This Hour Has 22 Minutes have all been renewed, the public broadcaster announced Friday.

They`re among more than a dozen returning shows and new productions slated for the CBC-TV lineup for the 2014-2015 season.

The schedule will see 14 existing shows joined by new additions, led by the anticipated sitcom Schitt's Creek, starring SCTV alums Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. Other CBC newcomers include Canada's Smartest Person, Strange Empire, and Of All Places.

This Hour Has 22 Minutes is, ironically, coming back for a 22nd season, while The Rick Mercer Report turns 10 this year. The Republic of Doyle, which is shot and produced in the Newfoundland, will be entering its sixth season.

The show also just received renewed funding of almost $4 million over the next three years from the provincial government.

"What you'll see is a balance of programming that we know our audiences love and we're certainly not going to take away from them," Sally Catto, CBC English Television's executive director of commissioned and scripted programming, said Friday morning.

"[We're] really focusing on distinct Canadian programming."

Along with the previously announced new season of Dragons' Den, CBC comedies such as Mr. D are back, she pointed out.

"In terms of our returning comedies, Mr. D we're very excited about. [It has] an amazingly strong fan base and Gerry [Dee]'s unique brand of comedy and real life experience of being a former substitute teacher, who knows very little about teaching, I think gives the series a real sense of authenticity."

Additional returnees

Other shows returning to the schedule include Doc Zone, the fifth estate, Heartland, Just for Laughs, Marketplace, Murdoch Mysteries, The Nature of Things, Steven & Chris, and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival/Halifax Comedy Festival.

Information on additional shows will also be announced at a later date, the broadcaster said.

CBC recently announced the cancellation of several shows, including the dramas Cracked and Arctic Air, cooking shows Best Recipes Ever and In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita, and comedy series The Ron James Show.

Interview program George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight is also ending after its current 10th season, following the announcement that Stroumboulopoulos would be one of the latest additions to Hockey Night in Canada next season, when Rogers Communications takes over Canadian NHL broadcasting rights.