Created by Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo, who also serve as co-showrunners production on Season Two is currently underway in Toronto. Season One of SORT OF is currently available to stream in the US on HBO Max on the free CBC Gem streaming service in Canada. Today’s Peabody win marks the latest major accolade across Sphere’s award-winning content slate.
SORT OF features Sabi Mehboob (Baig), a fluid millennial who straddles various identities from sexy bartender at a 2SLGBTQ+ bookstore/bar, to the youngest child in a large Pakistani family, to the de facto parent of a downtown hipster family. The second season of the series will be the season of love – romantic love, family love and friend love. Sabi decides not only are they ready for some uncomplicated romance, they also want everything to be loving with everyone. Unfortunately, with their dad's unexpected return from Dubai, the Kaneko-Bauers' struggles as Bessy is released from rehab, and issues at Bar Bük, Sabi is faced with situations and relationships that are anything but simple.
“We’re personally so honored not only to receive a Peabody but be able to make a show that speaks to transition and the fact that we are all, in some way, in transition,” said Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo, co-creators, co-showrunners, and executive producers. “It means a lot that SORT OF is reaching people as we’re making the series with so much care and generosity.”
“It’s amazing to be able to produce a show that we all care about putting into the world,” said Jennifer Kawaja, executive producer, Sphere Media. “To win a Peabody is so affirming and exciting for us because we know it will extend the reach of what we wanted to do.”
The first Peabody win for Sphere Media Toronto, the premier scripted content producer also recently launched its critically acclaimed civil rights drama THE PORTER on BET+ in the US and CBC in Canada. Sphere Media is also known for its award winning medical drama TRANSPLANT airing on NBC in the US and CTV in Canada, Sphere Media Toronto has several projects in development that reflect its high quality, top-rated programming currently in the marketplace.
SORT OF was recognized by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television earlier this year, winning three Canadian Screen Awards for Best Comedy Series, Best Writing, Comedy, and the Members’ Choice Series Ensemble Award. In April, Baig and Filippo received a Writer’s Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award. SORT OF received a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Outstanding New TV Series in addition to a Rockie Award nomination for Best Comedy Series, which will be announced later in June.
