Summary
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of King of Kensington, CBC is reintroducing the beloved sitcom to modern audiences by streaming ten notable episodes on its Gem platform starting October 24.
The groundbreaking series, which originally aired from 1975 to 1980, starred Al Waxman as Larry King, a friendly Toronto shopkeeper whose life reflected the city’s multicultural fabric. At its peak, the show drew nearly two million weekly viewers, shaping Canadian identity through its depiction of tolerance, diversity, and community life.
CBC says the limited re-release aims to preserve an important chapter of national broadcasting history and highlight the evolution of Canadian television. The network digitized all five seasons and the original 1974 pilot, though complex rights clearances limited how much could be made available online.
Adam Waxman, the actor’s son, called the revival a “tribute to the show’s enduring message of unity and Canadian spirit.”