Here’s everything new coming to CBC Gem in February 2021, including a few highlights by NOW critics.
How It Feels To Be Free
Alicia Keys, Halle Berry and Lena Waithe pay tribute to the Black women entertainers and activists who made way for them. Yoruba Richen’s documentary, produced by Canada’s YAP Films and executive produced by Keys, is a kaleidoscopic profile of icons Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier. The film adapts Ruth Feldstein’s novel How It Feels To Be Free: Black Women Entertainers And The Civil Rights Movement, narrating the unique struggle each woman faced when stepping on stage, on screen or into the political arena. Check out an exclusive clip here. February 1
21 Black Futures
This unprecedented Canadian series, a collaboration between CBC Arts and the award-winning Obsidian Theatre, tries to answer the question: “What is the future of Blackness?” The answer will surely be found after watching these 21 filmed monodramas, featuring commissioned works by 21 multigenerational Black playwrights, directed by 21 Black directors and performed by 21 Black actors. The artists are a who’s who of talent, including Syrus Marcus Ware, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Amanda Cordner, Tanisha Taitt, Charles Officer, Weyni Mengesha and Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu. Weekly on Fridays, February 12 to 26.
Sherman’s Showcase
Whoever is programming Gem’s international comedy lineup has been doing a remarkable job, bringing gems like Documentary Now! and Detectorists to the service. This month’s treasure is Sherman’s Showcase, IFC’s sketch comedy variety show created by Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin. Salahuddin plays Sherman McDaniels, the host of a vintage dance-party series in the style of Soul Train or American Bandstand, now rolling through decades of episodes and plucking out his favourite performances – including a bizarre duel between John Legend and Common, and an extremely inappropriate gospel number from a (fake) girl group RWSKY. Pick any episode, you’ll find something to love. February 1
Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
Each episode of this six-part AMC documentary series – which boasts Questlove, Black Thought, Shawn Gee and Alex Gibney as its executive producers – investigates one groundbreaking song, and how its arrival changed American music and culture. Which tracks? These tracks: Run-DMC’s Rock Box in 1984; Marley Marl and MC Shan’s The Bridge in 1986; Queen Latifah’s Ladies First in 1989; OutKast’s Elevators in 1996; Kanye West’s Jesus Walks in 2004; and Kendrick Lamar’s Alright in 2015. February 1
Nancy’s Pro Tips
Filmmaker Aïcha Diop profiled Montreal salon owner Nancy Falaise for the documentary short Nancy’s Workshop, which focused on Falaise’s monthly sessions teaching young Black girls how to care for their natural hair. There was plenty of material left, so Diop shaped it into four 10-minute shorts, each offering a wealth of additional advice … and, more importantly, practical demonstrations. February 19
The full list of new titles available on CBC Gem in February 2021 by date:
February 1
Giants Of Africa
Hip Hop: Songs That Shook America
How It Feels To Be Free
Sherman’s Showcase
February 3
Coroner: season 3 premiere (new episodes weekly)
Pretty Hard Cases: premiere (new episodes weekly)
February 5
Anthony
Call The Midwife (season 3)
Endlings (season 2, new episodes weekly)
Rachel Khoo: My Swedish Kitchen (season 1)
Sweet Daddy Siki
February 12
21 Black Futures
Another Kind Of Wedding
Love Me As I Am
Lovesick
Met While Incarcerated
Sakhi-Pitiyahte (Bright Light Comes Forth From It)
Until Further Notice
February 14
Belgravia (season 1)
The Great Canadian Baking Show (season 4, new episodes weekly)
February 16
Tallboyz (season 2, new episodes weekly)
Workin’ Moms (season 5, new episodes weekly)
February 19
Finding Sally
Lemonade
Nancy’s Pro Tips
Old Stone
February 26
Arctic Vets (new episodes weekly)
Blackbird
Grand Designs: New Zealand (season 2)
