King of Kensington

The great CBC Canadian hit series The King of Kensington has been out on DVD for some ten years and it was finally brought to my attention. I must say that this really terrific comedy series was a beautiful tribute to Kensington Market, its inhabitants and store owners and a humanistic approach to life, so different from American comedies of the same era. The main stars: Al Waxman, Fiona Reid and Helen Winston as King's mother were beyond believable and I came to love them very much. I especially got a big kick from the usual complaining mother of Miss Winston. She just appealed to me so much and always made me laugh. The show was so Canadian introducing multi-culturalism and really playing on that theme throughout the series. So we get this amazing hodge-podge of Kensington persons who seemed to be really good neighbours. The series introduced so many names that would go on to great fame on an international level. But in the end Al Waxman's indelible performance as a sweet, humble and generous man will never be forgotten. Such enjoyable episodes, the entire show lasting for five years.