To my Less Than Kind family: I never considered myself a leading man, and I still don't to this day, but I remember receiving a breakdown about 6 years ago for a new television series shooting in Winnipeg about a boy named Sheldon Blecher and his crazy family who owned a driving school. He needed to be 15, overweight with a certain amount of charm, wit and intelligence, and he was to be the lead of the series. I could not believe my eyes, I definitely fit the physical description, and hopefully the intellectual ones as well, and believed I could maybe do it.
To my eternal shock I got the part. And the coolest news was that one of the writers was Mark McKinney who, at the time, was co-starring and story editing one of my favorite shows: "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip". I was also to have the incredible privilege of playing the great Maury Chaykin's son. An actor I admired greatly and one of the funniest, kindest men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.
After a screen test, the rest of the Blechers were cast. Mrs. Wendel Meldrum was to my play my mother Anne Blecher, Benjamin Arthur Gutknecht was chosen to play Josh Blecher, my idiot older brother and finally Nancy Sorel was chosen to play my aunt Clara. Rounding out our season 1 cast wasEmma Kiku as Imelda. It was an exciting team, and best of the all, the writing was amazing.
When we all arrived in Winnipeg we were strangers, but I can say to this day that Benjamin Arthur has become my brother in and out of the show. My last day on the show was just Ben and I all day. I would not have had it any other way, I always loved the scenes with Josh and Sheldon. Wendel Meldrum is an incredible person through and through and SUCH a talented actress. Nancy Sorel welcomed me into her home and is an amazing and warm person. And of course the great Maury Chaykin never seized to amaze me on and off set. Such a great man and an idol I continue to look up to even after he passed away 3 years ago.
We also had the privilege of working with incredible Winnipeg talent many of whom became an integral part of the Less Than Kind family. Brooke Palsson was cast in a 2 episode arc, but was sooo incredibly talented that she became one of our leads and boy did she deserve it. Outside the show she is like a sister to me. Lisa Durupt, like Brooke, was only supposed to be a temporary character but was too great to let go. To this day I still love to get advice from Lisa and hang out with her whenever I can. Ross McMillan, one of the funniest men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and working with. Mike O'Brien, not only an incredible performer but possibly one of the bravest people I have ever had the honor of meeting. Brodie Sandy, a great foil and friend for Sheldon.
In season 2, our writers made the best choice I believe they ever made with our show, and brought in a character to shake things up and keep the characters on their toes : DANNY FUCKING LUBBE!!! Tyler Johnston was the best addition to the cast we could have asked for. He is one of my closest friends to this day and, I believe, a future superstar. Love ya bud!
Also introduced in season 2 was Benjamin Ayres as Josh's best friend Eric. He immediately fit right in with us and it was obvious he needed to return. My only regret about Ben Ayres is that I didn't get to work with him more on the show because he is a great guy and actor. He is definitely part of our family.
After season 2 we lost our patriarch as Maury Chaykin passed away. It was a monumental loss for us as people and artists, but Maury left us with an incredible gift: Season 3. We had no idea how that season would turn out. I personally believe it was our best yet, which seemed impossible without Maury's presence.
Season 3 also brought one of the coolest moments in my life. Without any help from me, one of my best friends in the universe Wyatt Bowen, was cast on the show. Sitting on the plane with Wyatt and one of my other best friends Mike Harris heading to Winnipeg was surreal. Mike is someone else I should thank for always being there for me that season! I also met another great friend that year, Miss Holly Deveaux. Another future A-lister she was my favorite villain we ever had up to that point and I wish we could have had a spot for her again. It was also fun having Courtney White on as a girlfriend that I would never be so lucky to have in real life. We also were fortunate enough to get Nicholas Campbell to join our show. There are few words that I can use to describe Nick... he is simply amazing and we were lucky to have him. I was THRILLED when I heard he'd be a regular in season 4.
Then the end was in sight. We were renewed for a shortened final season. It was a blast to do but we all knew the end would come quick and without mercy. So it did. I am so proud of our final season. I believe we took on storylines and tones that no one would have expected and our writers made them work beautifully. It was an actors gift.
So I guess all I can say now is thank you. To all my family in Winnipeg who worked tirelessly behind the the camera. To my costars whom I love and will be friends with forever. To our INCREDIBLY fans for sticking by us. HUGE, MASSIVE, thank you to Chris Sheasgreen our co-creator and amazing writer. And last but not least thank you to Marvin Kaye for creating this world and letting me be a part of this little family from Winnipeg.
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