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King of Kensington

{{Short description|Canadian television sitcom series}}{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| runtime = 30 minutes

| creator = Perry Rosemond

| director = Ray Arsenault

| starring = Al Waxman
Fiona Reid
Helene Winston
Rosemary Radcliffe
Jayne Eastwood

| country = Canada

| network = CBC Television

| first_aired = {{start date|1975|9|25}}

| last_aired = {{end date|1980|3|13}}

|num_seasons = 5

| num_episodes = 111

}}

King of Kensington is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on CBC Television from 1975 to 1980.Mary Jane Miller, Turn Up the Contrast: CBC Television Drama since 1952. UBC Press, 2011. {{ISBN|9780774843218}}. pp. 134-144.

Synopsis

Al Waxman starred as Larry King, a convenience store owner in Toronto's Kensington Market who was known for helping friends and neighbours solve problems. His multicultural group of friends consisted of Nestor Best (Ardon Bess), Max (John J. Dee), and Tony "Duke" Zarro (Bob Vinci), who hung around regularly to the perennial disapproval of King's mother Gladys (Helene Winston).

For the first three seasons, Fiona Reid played his wife Cathy. At the end of the third season, Reid decided to leave the series, so Larry and Cathy divorced. Larry then dated Tina (Rosemary Radcliffe) in the fourth season and Gwen Twining (Jayne Eastwood) in the fifth. At the same time, Larry sold the convenience store and took a new job with a youth community centre.

Production

The show was created by Perry Rosemond, who also produced the first season. Other producers included Jack Humphrey (1976–1980) and Joe Partington (1978–1980). The original series pilot starred Paul Hecht and Sandra O'Neill as Larry and Cathy King, although the series was recast with Waxman and Reid by the time the show went into production.

The series featured many Canadian actors as guest stars, including Andrea Martin, Mike Myers, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Jeff Wincott and Mark Humphrey. The show was popular with viewers; prior to the start of the fourth season, one of the producers noted the show drew 1.5 to 1.8 million viewers weekly.{{cite web |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ajc0AAAAIBAJ&pg=1052,1749516&dq=fiona-reid&hl=en |title=King to be bachelor|work= Ottawa Citizen |date=1978-01-25|access-date=9 April 2011}}

The show's gentle but politically conscious humour is seen by some critics as a Canadian version of the topical Norman Lear sitcoms of the 1970s, such as All in the Family and Maude.Geoff Pevere and Greig Dymond, Mondo Canuck: A Canadian Pop Culture Odyssey. Pearson Canada, 1996. {{ISBN|9780132630887}}. p. 209. The series maintained a tight production schedule, with episodes sometimes airing just one week or less after they were filmed, so that topical jokes about current news stories could be incorporated into the scripts.

The series was syndicated to some American stations during the height of its popularity.

After King of Kensington ended in 1980, many of the producers went on to create the new CBC sitcom Hangin' In, while head writer Louis Del Grande went on to create and star in Seeing Things, and Waxman was cast in the American series Cagney & Lacey.

Cast

  • Al Waxman as Larry King
  • Helene Winston as Gladys King
  • Fiona Reid as Cathy King (1975–1978)
  • Ardon Bess as Nestor Best (1975–1978)
  • Bob Vinci as Tony "Duke" Zarro (1975–1978)
  • John J. Dee as Max (1975–1978)
  • Jayne Eastwood as Gwen Twining (1978–1980)
  • Peter Boretski as Jack Soble (1978–1980)
  • Robert Haley as Ron Bacon (1978–1980)
  • Rosemary Radcliffe as Tina (1978–1980)
  • Linda Rennhofer as Dorothy (1978–1980)

Episode list

=Season 1 (1975–76)=

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! Ep

! №

! Title

! Airdate

11align="left"|Variety StoreSep-25-1975
22align="left"|Hot Line HostOct-02-1975
33align="left"|Kensington Achievement AwardOct-09-1975
44align="left"|The Tax AuditOct-23-1975
55align="left"|Save Old GeorgeOct-30-1975
66align="left"|Where's Cathy?Nov-06-1975
77align="left"|Half-Way Home (ft Eugene Levy)Nov-13-1975
88align="left"|The Lady Who Came to DinnerNov-20-1975
99align="left"|The Joy of Kensington (ft Andrea Martin)Nov-27-1975
1010align="left"|The Gambler (ft Saul Rubinek & Luba Goy)Dec-04-1975
1111align="left"|The Real Mrs. KingDec-11-1975
1212align="left"|Scout's Honour (ft Mike Myers)Dec-18-1975
1313align="left"|The Christmas ShowDec-25-1975
1414align="left"|The Detroit Story (ft Dave Thomas)Jan-15-1976
1515align="left"|Cathy's HobbyJan-22-1976
1616align="left"|Duke's DilemmaJan-29-1976
1717align="left"|Delma's DecisionFeb-05-1976
1818align="left"|Happy AnniversaryFeb-12-1976

=Season 2 (1976–77)=

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 19

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Fertility for Two

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|9|21}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 20

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = The Partners

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|9|28}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 21

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = The Checkup

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|10|5}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 22

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = The Dancer

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|10|12}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 23

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Delma's Fur

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|10|26}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 24

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = The Reunion

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|9}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 25

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Gestalt of Kensington

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|16}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 26

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Welcome to Canada

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|23}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 27

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = The Friend

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|30}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 28

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Duke's New Job

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|12|7}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 29

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Prisoner of Kensington

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|12|14}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 30

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = The Holiday

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|12|28}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 31

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = The End of the World

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|1|4}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 32

| EpisodeNumber2 = 14

| Title = The Lottery

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|1|11}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 33

| EpisodeNumber2 = 15

| Title = Gladys' Teddy Bear

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|1|18}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 34

| EpisodeNumber2 = 16

| Title = Bunny of Kensington

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|1|25}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 35

| EpisodeNumber2 = 17

| Title = Mary Theresa Is Missing

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|2|1}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 36

| EpisodeNumber2 = 18

| Title = Cathy's Parents

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|2|8}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 37

| EpisodeNumber2 = 19

| Title = The Central Tech Tiger

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|2|15}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 38

| EpisodeNumber2 = 20

| Title = The Crush

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|2|22}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 39

| EpisodeNumber2 = 21

| Title = Tiny's Job

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|3|1}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 40

| EpisodeNumber2 = 22

| Title = Gladys' Problem

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|3|8}}

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| EpisodeNumber = 41

| EpisodeNumber2 = 23

| Title = The Quiz Show

| DirectedBy = David Main

| WrittenBy = Anna Sandor

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|3|15}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 42

| EpisodeNumber2 = 24

| Title = The Big Shot

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|3|22}}

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=Season 3 (1977–78)=

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 43

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Cathy's New Career

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|9|25}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 44

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = The Comic

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|9}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 45

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = The Prom

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|16}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 46

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = The Hostage

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|23}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 47

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = The Boiler

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|30}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 48

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Hotel Buffalo

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|11|6}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 49

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = The Photographer

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|11|13}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 50

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = The Teacher

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|11|20}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 51

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = The Move

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|11|27}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 52

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Gladys' Restaurant

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|12|4}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 53

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = The Hero

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|12|11}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 54

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = The Dance Studio

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|12|18}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 55

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = The Suitor

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|1|8}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 56

| EpisodeNumber2 = 14

| Title = The Hustler

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|1|22}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 57

| EpisodeNumber2 = 15

| Title = The Wizard

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|1|29}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 58

| EpisodeNumber2 = 16

| Title = Big Daddy

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|2|5}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 59

| EpisodeNumber2 = 17

| Title = The Racehorse

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|2|12}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 60

| EpisodeNumber2 = 18

| Title = The Dukedom

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|2|19}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 61

| EpisodeNumber2 = 19

| Title = Las Vegas

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|2|26}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 62

| EpisodeNumber2 = 20

| Title = Old Flame

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|5}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 63

| EpisodeNumber2 = 21

| Title = King's Cousin

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|12}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 64

| EpisodeNumber2 = 22

| Title = The Blood of Kings

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|19}}

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{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 65

| EpisodeNumber2 = 23

| Title = Cathy's Last Stand

| DirectedBy =

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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|26}}

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=Season 4 (1978–79)=

class=wikitable style="text-align:center; background:#EFFFEA"

! Ep

! №

! Title

! Airdate

166align="left"|King's First DateSep-28-1978
267align="left"|Summer of '56Oct-05-1978
368align="left"|School DazeOct-12-1978
469align="left"|The InvitationOct-19-1978
570align="left"|Words and MusicOct-26-1978
671align="left"|Carol's ArrivalNov-02-1978
772align="left"|Double StandardNov-09-1978
873align="left"|The PursesnatcherNov-16-1978
974align="left"|Third PartyDec-07-1978
1075align="left"|Big BrotherDec-14-1978
1176align="left"|A Xmas StoryDec-21-1978
1277align="left"|The HouseguestDec-28-1978
1378align="left"|With This RingJan-04-1979
1479align="left"|Guido's JobJan-11-1979
1580align="left"|Over the HillJan-18-1979
1681align="left"|Dear Aunt MarthaJan-25-1979
1782align="left"|The Best ManFeb-01-1979
1883align="left"|Hockey Night in KensingtonFeb-15-1979
1984align="left"|True ConfessionsFeb-22-1979
2085align="left"|Mr. King Goes to OttawaMar-08-1979
2186align="left"|White Lace GlovesMar-15-1979
2287align="left"|The Fishing TripMar-22-1979
2388align="left"|Cyrano de KensingtonMar-29-1979

=Season 5 (1979–80)=

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! Ep

! №

! Title

! Airdate

189align="left"|King's Brave New WorldSep-13-1979
290align="left"|Diabolical PlotsSep-20-1979
391align="left"|Life Begins at FortySep-27-1979
492align="left"|The Hat TrickOct-04-1979
593align="left"|Home Is Where the Heartburn IsOct-11-1979
694align="left"|The RivalsOct-25-1979
795align="left"|Born to BoogieNov-01-1979
896align="left"|The Double DateNov-08-1979
997align="left"|Masters and Johnson and KingNov-15-1979
1098align="left"|The BetNov-22-1979
1199align="left"|Pawn to King FourNov-29-1979
12100align="left"|Down But Not OutDec-06-1979
13101align="left"|Catch 23Dec-20-1979
14102align="left"|The Total WomanJan-03-1980
15103align="left"|Look Ma, No CavitiesJan-10-1980
16104align="left"|Sign of the BullJan-17-1980
17105align="left"|The Spirit of JoyJan-24-1980
18106align="left"|Good News, Bad NewsJan-31-1980
19107align="left"|War and PeaceFeb-07-1980
20108align="left"|Counter AttackFeb-21-1980
21109align="left"|Green Eyed MonsterFeb-28-1980
22110align="left"|Purple PassionMar-06-1980
23111align="left"|Movin' OnMar-13-1980

Tributes

In the SCTV episode "CCCP1-Russian television", one of the fake TV programs infiltrating the network is Hey Giorgy, about "everyone's favorite Cossack", intended as a Russian knockoff of King of Kensington.

In the first episode of the 1990s television series Twitch City, also set in Kensington, the character Nathan (played by Daniel MacIvor) was sent to prison for killing a homeless man with a can of cat food. The producers of Twitch City cast Al Waxman in the role of the murder victim, as a symbolic wink to King of Kensington, although they claimed that they did not intend for the character to be seen as Larry King himself."Twitch City a weird look at television addiction; Former King of Kensington gets whacked tonight". Edmonton Journal, January 19, 1988.

In the late 1990s, This Hour Has 22 Minutes featured a sketch detailing the making of a film version of King of Kensington. In the sketch, director Atom Egoyan (played by Greg Thomey), re-imagines the series as a surreal crime thriller, with Larry King as a serial killer instead of a convenience store owner.

Following Waxman's death on January 18, 2001, a memorial to him was erected in Kensington Market.

In one episode of the Canadian comedy program Puppets Who Kill, the character Bill steals Al Waxman's preserved brain from CBC headquarters.

Home media

On November 13, 2007, Morningstar Entertainment released King of Kensington – Season One on DVD in Region 1.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/King-Kensington-Season-1/8344 |title=King of Kensington DVD news: Announcement for King of Kensington - Season 1 | TVShowsOnDVD.com |access-date=2011-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019092321/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/King-Kensington-Season-1/8344 |archive-date=2012-10-19 }}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Portal|Television|Canada}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20101211143941/http://contentfilm.com/common/file.php/pg/localhost74/contentfilm.com/binaries/1914/King%20of%20Kensington.pdf King of Kensington Cast Photo and Synopsis]
  • [http://www.tvarchive.ca/database/17483/king_of_kensington/episode_guide/ King of Kensington Episode Guide at TV Archive Site]
  • {{IMDb title|0072529|King of Kensington}}

Category:1975 Canadian television series debuts

Category:1980 Canadian television series endings

Category:1970s Canadian sitcoms

Category:1980s Canadian sitcoms

Category:CBC Television original programming

Category:Jewish Canadian television series

Category:Jewish comedy and humor

Category:Kensington Market

Category:Television shows set in Toronto

Category:Television shows filmed in Toronto

Category:Television series set in shops