Less Than Kind

7.0

2008•30m

Less Than Kind is a Canadian television comedy-drama series that stars Jesse Camacho as Sheldon Blecher, a teenager growing up in a loving but dysfunctional Jewish family in Winnipeg. The show's cast also includes Maury Chaykin and Wendel Meldrum as Sheldon's parents, Benjamin Arthur as his older brother Josh, and Nancy Sorel as his aunt, Clara. The Blechers struggle to operate a driving school out of their home in Winnipeg's fading North End. Less Than Kind made its debut October 13, 2008, on Citytv, and moved to HBO Canada in February 2010. The ensemble cast of the critically acclaimed series won Canadian Comedy Awards in 2009 and 2010.Less Than Kind received the 2010 Gemini Award for Best Comedy Program or Series and the inaugural award for Best Comedy Series at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards. The title sequence and logo for Less Than Kind were inspired by an iconic highway sign at Winnipeg's Confusion Corner intersection, depicting arrows pointing in every direction. The name of the series is found in the first line spoken by Hamlet: "A little more than kin, and less than kind."

Seasons

13 Episodes • Premiered 2008

1. To Be a Man

Fifteen year old Sheldon Blecher has an epiphany during his delayed Bar Mitzvah and comes to realaize and accept that his family is weird and his life basically sucks.

2. Top of the Class

Sheldon battles to become team captain of his school's "Top of the Class" squad. Meanwhile, Josh runs into some old high school chums who plan to teach him a lesson in humility.

3. French is My Kryptonite

Sheldon struggles to learn French while his crush on Imelda takes centre stage. Meanwhile, Sam and Anne have to contend with a tax audit.

4. The Shel Game

The family has to work hard to keep the driving school cars out of the hands of the repo man.

5. Note Perfect

Sheldon gets a note from the family doctor in order to get out of gym class. However, he has to get the doctor to give him another note when he wants to go on a school ski trip to be close to the girl he has a crush on.

6. Insomnia

Sheldon's insomnia causes him to be lethargic right before the "Top of the Class" competition, until his friends give him several energy drinks. Unfortunately the energy drinks are far more effective than his friends planned for.

7. Pakikisama

Sheldon apologizes to Imelda. She accepts his apology, however her father isn't as easy to convince. Meanwhile, Sam tries to borrow some money to bail out the floundering driving school.

8. Balls

Sheldon senses that Imelda might break up with her boyfriend so he plots to help the process along. Meanwhile, Sam has to welch on a payoff because Clara now controls the company money. Ben auditions for a community theatre version of "Taming of the Shrew" and gets to connect with an old acquaintance.

9. The Daters

To make an entrance into the dating world, Sheldon and Miriam agree to go out together. Unfortunately Sheldon's family is featured in the date. Meanwhile, Sheldon's teacher Mr. Lubbe takes driving lessons.

10. Husky Boy

Sheldon is dismayed to discover that he is forced to buy new jeans at the "Husky Boy" store. Meanwhile, Josh meets with his agent who tells him to lose weight. Sam is the victim of a hit and run from one of his prior driving school pupils who probably shouldn't be on the road.

11. Fun

Sheldon ropes Sam into participating in Careers Night at school. Miriam exhibits some strange behaviour. Josh gets a job “acting” as a standardized patient.

12. Careers Day

Josh and Shandra reluctantly sacrifice a day of LARP-ing to supervise Sheldon and his TOP OF THE CLASS team mates. Clara invites Sam and Anne to an art gallery opening for their 27th wedding anniversary.

13. Happy Birthday Sheldon

As Sheldon plans to celebrate his 16th birthday he is dismayed to discover that Imelda won't be attending his party. Meanwhile, Josh takes a menial job on a movie set and Anne puts Sam on a strict diet.