Jennifer Whalen as Julie and Meredith MacNeill as Kris
CBC and Sphere Media today announced that production is underway on new original comedy series SMALL ACHIEVABLE GOALS (8x30), co-created by and starring Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen. The series, which is currently filming in Toronto and Hamilton, will premiere in winter 2025 on CBC and CBC Gem.
SMALL ACHIEVABLE GOALS follows odd couple Julie (Whalen) and Kris (MacNeill), as they are thrust together to produce a podcast while grappling with “the change” – aka menopause. The duo embark on a journey of transformation, helping each other through workplace challenges and office politics, dating and relationship drama, and some serious health concerns. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, they will be reborn as sexy, silver-haired, wizard women! Or at least wiser, less sweaty versions of themselves.
“We want to make a joyful comedy about menopause because in this time of life we could all use a laugh,” said Whalen. “For those of us going through it, we see you. For everyone else, enjoy the ride!”
“Making something hot and bloody with Sphere and the CBC -- everyone’s revved up to take it all the way home,” said MacNeill. “Normally one would say that we stand behind the message, but the message is so strong, we believe it stands behind us.”
“This series is at times hilarious, surprising, and revealing as it looks at a very normal part of aging that affects half the population but is still spoken about in hushed tones,” said Trish Williams, Executive Director, Scripted Content, CBC. “This workplace sitcom is bound to become a conversation starter as audiences relate - and react - to the experiences of Kris and Julie as they discover what it means to experience menopause.”
“We’re so thrilled to be working with the talented Jennifer and Meredith, and with CBC on this fresh, funny look at menopause and midlife,” said Elise Cousineau, Executive Producer at Sphere Media. “It’s hilarious, highly relatable, and we’re excited to be a part of bringing it to the screen.”
A CBC Original Series, SMALL ACHIEVABLE GOALS is produced by Sphere Media. The series is created by Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen (Baroness von Sketch Show), who also serve as Executive Producers alongside Stacy Traub, and Sphere Media’s Jennifer Kawaja, Bruno Dubé and Elise Cousineau. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Sandra Picheca is Director of Current Production, Comedy; and Mélanie Lê Phan is Executive in Charge of Current Production, Comedy. Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Little Bird), Fab Filippo (Sort Of) and Aleysa Young (Workin’ Moms) are directing the first season.
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About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About Sphere
Sphere Media is one of Canada’s most successful content creation companies, whose television series, feature films and documentaries continue to win critical acclaim and audiences around the world.
Recent English scripted TV productions to have been honored on the international awards circuit include gender-fluid dramedy SORT OF (CBC/Max/Sky), coming-of-age comedy HOW TO FAIL AS A POPSTAR (CBC Gem), medical drama TRANSPLANT (Bell/NBCU), Black history drama THE PORTER (CBC/BET+/PBS), Indigenous supernatural YA series TRICKSTER (CBC/Sky/Sundance-AMC), crime drama CARDINAL (Bell/BBC2/Hulu), star-studded mini -series DIAMONDS (CBC/ABC) and police procedural 19-2 (Bell Media). Sphere Media’s English feature-film highlights include award winning feature documentary ONE OF OURS, UNLESS staring Catherine Keener, SWEETNESS IN THE BELLY starring Dakota Fanning and Wunmi Mosaku, TOUCH OF PINK starring Kyle MacLachlan and HOW SHE MOVE starring Rutina Wesley.
For further information, please contact:
Joanna Landsberg - Public Relations, CBC
Joanna.landsberg@cbc.ca | 647.628.4788
Adrienne Kakoullis - Unit Publicist
akakoullis@risepr.ca | 416.450.6637
